Oh yeah ladies and gentlemen, it is indeed that time of year. The calendar turns to November and Fred Hoiberg will hopefully lead Nebrasketball to an NCAA Tournament win. The team has had really good momentum
by its standards the last two seasons. The NCAA Tournament berth followed by the College Basketball Crown Tournament win has provided decent steppingstones for the Huskers to keep going.
I’m well aware that missing the Big Ten Tournament entirely last season was a bad look, but to end on a high note by winning four straight is pretty solid. Last seasons’ team had a fair number of flaws in my opinion, but this season Coach Hoiberg has seemingly rectified that with the transfers that have come in.
The biggest (emphasis on BIG) difference between last year and this year is the capabilities of the big men on the floor. First and foremost, welcome back to All-B1G member Rienk Mast, who missed all of last season through knee surgery. Berke Büyüktuncel returns as another bruiser in the middle. They will be able to spread the floor a lot better than what Andrew Morgan and Braxton Meah could. Berke and Rienk are decent outside shooters.
Add in guys like Ugnius Jarusevicius, Leo Curtis and Jared Garcia and Nebraska has some genuine size. Mix in the fact that they will be able to shoot the ball from distance and are decent passers and this team is built like the one two years ago that made the big dance. Being able to spread the floor with all five positions will keep defenses on their toes.
There are also some pretty decent guards for the Huskers. Connor Essegian returns for his senior year, where he will look to continue his 3-point threat. Pryce Sandfort is another 3-point specialist that transferred from Iowa. If you wonder how he might be, just go back and look at the stats against the Huskers…you’ll be glad he’s with us now. Lastly, don’t forget the return of Jamarques Lawrence, who being here two years ago returns after spending last year at Rhode Island.
Lawrence will have plenty of help in the backcourt with the likes of Cale Jacobsen and Kendall Blue. Blue is a fantastic all-around player who will be crucial for the Huskers, particularly in Big Ten play. Jacobsen and Sam Hoiberg will provide some much-needed scrappiness defensively, causing opposing guards plenty of fits.
In another preseason publication, I picked Nebraska to finish 11th this year in the Big Ten. I know that isn’t very high, but the Big Ten gained a lot from the transfer portal. Having said that, this year’s team is built very much like the one two years ago, and I firmly believe the Huskers could surprise people and finish as high as 7th. If that’s the case, they genuinely would not have to worry about being a bubble team…again.
Losing Brice Williams and Juwan Gary will be the biggest scoring misses from last year, but the overall number of guys who can score at will is higher than last year. Two years ago, it would change hands who would lead the scoring. One night it was Mast, another night it was Keisei Tominaga, another night it was C.J Wilcher, the next night was Jamarques Lawrence.
This year has that same feeling. It could be Mast, Lawrence, Essegian, Blue, Sandfort, Jarussevicius, or even Braden Frager. There will be plenty of games where the scoring will be pretty balanced, which is why I feel confident this group can get back to the NCAA Tournament. It will have the firepower to compete with almost anyone in the country.
SEASON PREDICTIONS:
Overall Record 19-12 (9-11 B1G)
Finish 11th in B1G Conference
Make it to the NCAA Tournament as an 11 seed. Play and win a play-in game. Win a round of 64 game and get the darn curse off our backs.
Build statue of Fred Hoiberg.
