Nebraska Preview

I will just get to the point with this preview, Nebraska is not very good.  They were an average Big 12 team that has been thrown into a completely different style of basketball and will likely struggle to get out of the basement for the next few years. The Huskers are currently 8-5, with 2 losses in conference play in two chances.  One thing going for them though, is the scheduling is not too kind to Nebraska.  They have lost to Wisconsin and MSU, and have to play Ohio State next. 

Offensively, Nebraska is led by guard Bo Spencer who is scoring 15 points a game so far, and center Jorge Diaz who is currently hurt.  With their best post player sidelined indefinitely, Nebraska is a perimeter team now.  They shot 25 3 pointers in their last game vs the Spartans.  For most of the game, the Huskers ran a 4 guard set that used mismatches on offense to get points.  Then they would crash the offensive glass to try to get putbacks.  All of the runs during the game came from MSU turnovers which led to a quick transition bucket. 

Defensively Nebraska tries to run a combination of a zone and a trapping defense.  They want to force turnovers to get their guards on the move.  When Michgan St ran a half court set and utilized their post players, the Spartans were able to score pretty easily.  Without their star center, the Huskers are a terrible rebounding team.  In the two conference games they have been outrebounded by 10+ boards each game.

Michigan matches up well with the Huskers with or without Diaz.  Overall, this Michigan team is just more athletic and better in almost every postion on the floor.  Nebraska will need the 3 point shot to fall in order to hang with Michigan.  If Diaz is playing, then it creates a good matchup with Morgan.  I think they can neutralize each other, an Michigan's talented guards can run away with the game.  We will have to be careful with turnovers, since Nebraska will look to convert them quickly.

Nebraska will be lucky to get out of the basemet of the B1G this year, and will likely finish 11th or 12th.  They are a long ways away from being considered an NCAA tourney team.