Indiana returns to motion Wednesday night time in opposition to Nebraska at Meeting Corridor. The Huskers are 18-8 general and 8-7 in Massive Ten play.
Wednesday’s recreation will tip at 8:30 p.m. ET on BTN:
With a 4-8 document during the last 12 video games, Indiana is barreling in direction of a Wednesday spot within the Massive Ten match in Minneapolis subsequent month. The Hoosiers have misplaced two straight convention residence video games (Penn State and Northwestern) and its solely wins this calendar 12 months have come in opposition to Ohio State (twice), Minnesota and Iowa.
Nebraska, in the meantime, involves Bloomington in determined want of a win and a season sweep of the Hoosiers. The Huskers are 0-7 in convention highway video games and are at the moment one of many final groups within the NCAA match area, in keeping with bracketologist Andy Bottoms. A win on Wednesday would assist strengthen Nebraska’s March Insanity resume.
THE FIRST MATCHUP
Nebraska beat Indiana 86-70 in Lincoln on Jan. 3 in a disastrous efficiency for the Hoosiers.
The Huskers hit 12 3-pointers in opposition to Indiana at Pinnacle Financial institution Enviornment as Keisei Tominaga (4 3s), Brice Williams (three 3s) and CJ Wilcher (three 3s) all turned in sturdy performances.
However it wasn’t simply Nebraska’s stable 3-point taking pictures that was the distinction. Indiana turned the ball over 19 occasions within the loss, resulting in 27 factors for the Huskers.
The turnovers got here from everywhere in the roster as Xavier Johnson, Kel’el Ware and Malik Reneau every dedicated 4.
“We mainly gifted them 27 factors on turnovers,” Mike Woodson mentioned in his postgame press convention. “That was, I believed, the distinction within the recreation tonight.”
The loss additionally uncovered Indiana’s suspect guard play for the primary time in convention play. The Hoosiers entered the early January contest 2-0 in Massive Ten video games, however that prosperity was short-lived because of IU’s inept guard play to start out the brand new 12 months.
Xavier Johnson returned from an damage in opposition to the Huskers however logged 14 minutes and didn’t rating. Trey Galloway was the one guard to attain in double figures within the loss with 10 factors however was simply 4-for-10 from the sphere with three turnovers. And Gabe Cupps, Anthony Leal and CJ Gunn contributed little statistically within the loss.
In a postgame interview with Don Fischer, Woodson characterised the guard play for the Hoosiers as “terrible.”
The brilliant spot for Indiana within the loss was Kel’el Ware, who returned from a one-game absence because of COVID-19 to attain 20 factors with 10 rebounds, two assists, two blocked photographs and two steals in 34 minutes.
Past the sturdy night time from Ware, it was a night to overlook for Indiana.
TEMPO-FREE PREVIEW
All stats within the graphic under are by way of KenPom.com, are up to date by Monday’s video games and are for convention video games solely.
The power of Nebraska’s offense comes from its perimeter taking pictures. The Huskers rank first within the Massive Ten in each proportion of area aim makes an attempt from 3 (42.3) and level distribution from 3s (37.3). Indiana is already acquainted with Nebraska’s 3-point-heavy offense from the primary matchup when the Huskers hit 12-for-32 from distance.
Whereas Nebraska doesn’t get to the free throw line at a excessive clip – its free throw charge (FTA/FGA) is simply 30.2 p.c – the Huskers are taking pictures 78.7 from the stripe. That ranks second within the Massive Ten. Indiana, in contrast, is taking pictures 63.4 p.c from the road, which ranks final within the league.
Like Indiana, Nebraska is a poor rebounding staff on each ends, rating 14th in offensive rebounding proportion and eleventh in defensive rebounding proportion within the league. The Huskers have additionally struggled to deal with the ball, rating simply tenth within the convention in turnover proportion.
WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO
The KenPom projection is Nebraska by two with a 42 p.c probability of an Indiana victory. In line with Pomeroy, that is one of the best probability for a win of IU’s remaining six common season video games.
Nebraska’s struggles on the highway in Massive Ten play are well-documented. The Huskers are 0-7 with a median margin of 12.4 factors. Simply two of Nebraska’s highway convention losses have come by single digits.
As Woodson has repeatedly referenced, Indiana has performed properly “in spurts” this season however has been unable to place collectively many full video games all season. The Hoosiers have the expertise to win video games, however fundamentals like blocking out, making free throws and hustling for 50/50 balls have been absent in loads of their losses.
With back-to-back losses on the ledger and the postseason an extended shot, Woodson has vowed to maintain his staff from “chucking up the sponge.” Wednesday will likely be Indiana’s subsequent probability to show it nonetheless has some struggle left.
Filed to: Nebraska Cornhuskers
