In Fred Hoiberg’s seconds season at Nebraska (4-4, 0-1 Big Ten), the same issues continue to plague the team: layups and droughts.
For the latter, the Huskers were up 21-11 then went four minutes without a point in the first half while No. 9 Wisconsin (7-1, 1-0 Big Ten) scored 14 straight. Then in the second half, a Trey McGowens 3 put Nebraska up 33-32, but Huskers didn’t make a shot for the next 8:11 as the Badgers went up 53-37.
Both droughts saw multiple shots at the rim miss. Nebraska finished the game shooting 30-percent on layups. Overall, Nebraska shot 33.3-percent from the field, 29.6-percent from 3, and 52.9 percent from the line. Wisconsin, meanwhile, shot 40-percent, 30.8-percent, and 100-percent en route to the 67-53 win.
Dalano Banton paced Nebraska with 15 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. Teddy Allen (11) and McGowens (10) were the only other Huskers to score in double digits.
Nebraska’s home opener is Christmas Day against No. 19 Michigan (6-0, 1-0 Big Ten).
Game Notes from Nebraska Athletic Communications
*-Wisconsin leads the all-time series, 19-14 after tonight’s win.
*-NU is now 0-2 against ranked teams this season with both being top-10 teams
*-Nebraska used its second different starting lineup of the season, as Yvan Ouedraogo replaced Thorir Thorbjararson in the starting lineup. The Huskers used the same starting five in each of the first seven contests.
*-Dalano Banton (15) and Teddy Allen both reached double figures in all eight games this season. Banton also led NU with eight rebounds and four assists
*-Nebraska had nine turnovers, the fifth time in eight games NU has had 10 or less turnovers. NU forced Wisconsin into 11 turnovers, well above its season average.
*-Nebraska held Wisconsin to 25 first-half points, NU’s best defensive first half of the season (26 vs. Doane). It is the fourth time in eight games NU has held an opponent under 30 first-half points. It is the lowest first half by a Husker defense since holding Texas A&M-Corpus Christi to 21 first-half points on Dec. 29, 2019.
*-Nebraska led at the U-16 Media timeout for the sixth time in eight games.
*-Lat Mayen set a career high with three blocked shots, as his previous high was one on six occasions.
*-Nebraska has now lost 10 straight against ranked teams dating back to the 2018-19 season.
Feature Image Courtesy Nebraska Athletics Communications Office