23-10; 12-8, Third in the Big Ten Conference
“It wasn’t all flamethrowers and four-wheelers to start,” Nebraska forward Josiah Allick told reporters following the Huskers’ January 3 win over Indiana. That evening, the Hoosiers had hung close with Allick’s crew for the first ten minutes of action before Nebraska turned it on and pulled away for an 86-70 victory. And when Allick dropped his legendary line, he had been speaking of the Indiana game in isolation, not Nebrasketball’s whole season. The metaphor works, though, to express the vibe of the Cornhuskers’ entire body of work.
Despite a 7-0 start, lots of people weren’t ready to buy Nebraska as a true contender to Dance early in the year. Back-to-back losses against Creighton and Minnesota to begin December – by a combined 46 points, no less – didn’t help. Once the Huskers got cooking for some big wins against good teams, the fireworks began in earnest. When playing at home this year, Nebrasketball proved to be must-watch excitement. Away from Lincoln, though, the people of the corn have been less intimidating. More’s the pity, NCAA Tournament games are played at neutral sites.
Thus, their season’s biggest question is yet to be answered. Under the brightest lights and away from Pinnacle Bank Arena, can Nebraska perform? Or will they prove to be just a husk on the wind?
You’ve undoubtedly been introduced to the team’s biggest star already. No, not their big-haired, big-hearted, big man Allick. The straw that stirs Nebrasketball’s drink is their supremely confident sharpshooter, Keisei Tominaga. After breaking out last season and then starring for Team Japan on the international stage this summer, Tominaga returned to Lincoln and has become less a beloved scorer and more, well, a folk hero. He may not be that big or the most versatile player ever to step onto a court, but Tominaga’s deadeye marksmanship and boundless enthusiasm are unmissable. Tominaga isn’t just a bomber, either; he’s slick and slippery off the bounce, and consistently rainbows in floaters and tough layups on his way through the lane. When he’s feeling it from the outside, though, Tominaga becomes a true showman. He’s mastered the Steph Curry-style lookaway shot, will squeeze off a momentum-swinging three no matter how well-guarded, and Tominaga relishes any chance to whip up the Husker fans in attendance and celebrate big plays. What’s more, this year’s Huskers are considerably stronger around him than the band with whom Tominaga first entered the spotlight.
First and foremost, Juwan Gary has had the best season of his career while providing a rambunctious effort at the 4-spot. Despite being sidelined for a few weeks in January with a leg injury, Gary has consistently scored in double figures, and such performances as his 13 points and 18 rebounds (11 offensive) at Kansas State demonstrate that his value to a Nebraska lineup which generally features just three non-guards. More incalculably, Gary brings the power with skill, versatility at size, and vast confidence to the team, and when he is on the floor, Nebraska is its best self. Head coach and stagnant-program-whisperer Fred Hoiberg wasn’t relying on Gary’s return for all the help Tominaga would need, though. So he found some other high-quality players during the offseason, and they’ve taken turns being celebrated alongside Nebraska’s established favorites.
Rienk Mast is a wonderfully skilled post player, and Brice Williams is a do-everything wing who can really shoot the rock. Each of them arrived in Lincoln from the mid-major ranks with a strong reputation, and each has shown yet more facets to their game than had already been known. Mast possess a playmaker’s feel for the game an indeed led the Huskers in assists despite missing a couple of games. A clever, patient player who is a dangerous shooter virtually anywhere inside of halfcourt, Mast largely facilitates Nebraska’s offense. His excellent awareness of where his buddies are and sense for what defenses are trying to make Mast difficult to guard, and in some ways, he’s just as valuable as Tominaga. Williams has also grown as a playmaker since coming to Nebraska. Fred Hoiberg’s time in the NBA taught him the value of having multiple ballhandlers; and to lean into the skills his players offer. As another larger-than-usual distributor, Williams joins Mast in by inverting the Husker offense and then cutting effectively behind the defense. He can also play a more traditional role posting up opponents in isolation, or by flat-out splashing jumpers; Williams tossed in 49 triples this year at a 39.2% clip. As a duo, Williams and Mast have handed out at least three assists in a game 26 times this season, and all of Nebraska’s other players have been better for it.
Unfortunately, the many things that Nebraska does very well at home are not so clearly evident when the team travels. At home, Nebraska owns the nation’s 35th-best offense per Bart Torvik’s Adjusted Efficiency, and the #23-ranked defense. In road and neutral games, though, Nebraska falls to 58th and 57th, respectively, and more. The Huskers tend to struggle mightily on the glass away from home, seemingly stop trying to focus on earning free throws, and their field goal rate allowed jumps in the wrong direction. Of the Huskers’ 22 regular season wins, just four of them came away from their home floor. With their Tournament foes sure to focus on Tominaga and his counterparts, Nebraska will need the type of big performances that have been huge off the bench in key games already.
Veteran bombardier CJ Wilcher popped off for 22 points on five treys in a win against Wisconsin in February, and he’s hit at least three triples in seven different games this year. Allick’s energy on the glass and willingness to throw his body after every loose ball or tough post matchup are gratefully relied upon by teammates. The coach’s son, Sam Hoiberg, proved capable of playing quality minutes in a pinch late last winter, and has now become a regular part of the rotation. The younger Hoiberg doesn’t score much but he’s a smart passer and high-effort defender who knows where to be and when. Possibly the Huskers’ biggest x-factor is sophomore Jamarques Lawrence. The kid who kicked in some needed points last year has grown into a talented passer and yet another solid shooter for Nebraska. Though he’s come off the bench the last month or so, Lawrence started much of the year and has turned in the second-most assists on the team.
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