Scouting Notes: Nebraska

Indiana basketball is coming off of a last-second win over Penn State on Thursday night in its Big Ten opener and will face the 3-seed Nebraska Huskers on Friday night.

Nebraska enters Friday’s matchup at 22-9 overall and 12-8 in Big Ten play. Fred Hoiberg has his team squarely in position for an at-large bid regardless of what happens this week. The Huskers rank 42nd in the country with an offensive efficiency rating of 115.5. Defensively, they rank 28th overall with a rating of 97.8. Overall, they rank 30th in KenPom’s ratings.

Here is a deep dive into some of the challenges Nebraska could give the Indiana basketball program.

Key Players

Leading the Huskers is Keisei Tominaga. Tominaga has been unguardable against Indiana totaling 28 points and four 3s in the first matchup and 20 points and four 3s in the second matchup. After struggling with his shot the first few months of the season, he is shooting 39.3 percent from three in the last 18 games since the first Indiana matchup, making 2.4 3s per game. Tominaga is going to look for 3s on his first, second and even third look before either driving or passing. 55.6 percent of his shot attempts and 44.5 percent of his made field goals this year come on 3s. Tominaga is a difficult player to defend because of how much he moves without the ball. He utilizes numerous off ball screens to get open and typically does a great job at reading the defender. This year, however, Tominaga has been terrific off of the dribble and as a shot creator. He is a crafty finisher and is a very difficult shot maker from the mid range. Indiana can’t lose him off the ball like it has struggled with this year and may need to consistently bring another defender off the dribble.

In the backcourt with Tominaga is Brice Williams.  The Charlotte transfer is effective both on and off the ball and can score at all three levels. He’s shooting 37.7 percent on 1.4 made 3s per game and a major reason for that is limiting the forced looks from the perimeter over the last month — attempting about one less three per game. Most of his looks do come off of the catch, however, so Indiana will have to be aware of the space they give him. But, Williams has struggled over the last few games, shooting just 33.3 percent in the last four. Williams has very good length and size that helps him rise up over big defenders. He has fluid athleticism but isn’t going to typically play above the rim. He loves to draw contact on drives or at the rim, getting to the line nearly four times a game (83.5 percent).

Rienk Mast is 6-foot-10 and an extremely versatile forward who can play both in the paint and on the perimeter. He’s shooting 34.9 percent per game from three on 1.3 made 3s a game. Since the middle of January, Mast is shooting 40.4 percent on 1.8 made 3s per game. Mast is also a terrific post player who has great footwork and patience. He does a tremendous job getting deep in the paint and utilizing a variety of moves to score over and around defenders. He is averaging 3.0 assists per game with a top-16 assist rate in the Big Ten, so IU needs to be aware of cutters when he has the ball. He is 4-of-15 in two matchups with Indiana this year.

Juwan Gary brings a lot of versatility to the lineup as well and is something that will give Indiana basketball fits. He’s a 6-foot-6 forward who plays closer to 7-feet + with his length and motor. Gary can play on the perimeter or on the block, although he’s shooting just 28.6 percent on 3s in the four games since the last Indiana matchup. He ranks eighth in the Big Ten in efficiency rating and fifth in both offensive and defensive rating. Gary averages nearly three offensive rebounds per game so Indiana needs to keep him off the glass.

Josiah Allick is another member of the front court for the Huskers. Allick is a very defensive-minded forward who has good length and shot-impact ability. He’s not a tremendous shot blocker but makes life extremely difficult on opponents with his length. Allick gets most of his work on the offensive end off of offensive rebounds. He has seven offensive rebounds in the last two games.

Coming off the bench is CJ Wilcher — a 6-foot-5 wing. Wilcher was extremely streaky in the first few years of his career but now consistently lights it up from three. 57.6 percent of his made field goals this year are 3s, shooting 40.5 percent on the season. Wilcher is out there to shoot and most of it is off the catch. If Indiana can push him off the three-point line, that will be critical in making him much less effective. He has struggled in the last nine games, however, shooting just 18.8 percent on 3s (6-of-32). He hasn’t scored in double-figures since Feb. 1 after a string of 10 of 13 games in double-figures.

Key Tendencies

Nebraska is going to live and die by 3s. Six players attempt at least three 3s per game and as a team the Huskers take 26.2 3s per game — ranked 33rd nationally. 44.5 percent of their total shot attempts come from three, also 33rd in the country. And, 36.6 percent of their total points are 3s – 36th nationally. The Huskers lead the Big Ten with 9.4 made 3s per game. They are going to play fast, utilize their versatile forwards and spread the floor when they are in the half court, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they will push the tempo in the open floor. Nebraska was a phenomenal offensive rebounding team in the non-conference but were without a double-digit offensive rebounding game in conference play in the first 15 league games. Then, three of the last seven contests have yielded 10+ offensive rebounds — with six of seven with at least seven offensive rebounds. They are also last in the Big Ten in offensive rebound percent.

Defensively, Nebraska makes its opponents work and they do so without fouling. Nebraska ranks third in the Big Ten in foul rate as well as allowing just 17.3 percent of opponents points coming from free throws — second best rate in the league. What Nebraska struggles with, however is defending the three. The Huskers are seeing conference opponents make nine 3s per game while seeing 37.4 percent of their total points come from three — worst from a defensive perspective. In the last month, however, opponents are making just 7.4 3s per game and shooting just 29 percent from three.

Overall, Nebraska has versatility all over the floor on both ends. Indiana basketball needs to be ready for major floor spacing on the offensive end. All five players on the floor for the Huskers will be able to shoot from the perimeter. IU’s ability to play 1-on-1 defense will be critical, mainly in its ability to limit over helping and as a result — open 3s. Indiana basketball will have open 3s and likely get to the foul line at will — so converting on both is a must.

Projected Starters

G – Keisei Tominaga (Senior; 6-2, 179)

Stats: 14.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 37.1% 3pt

G – Brice Williams (Junior; 6-7, 213)

Stats: 12.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.5 apg, 37.7% 3pt

F – Juwan Gary (Senior; 6-6, 221)

Stats: 11.9 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.2 spg

F – Rienk Mast (Junior; 6-9, 240)

Stats: 12.7 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 3.0 apg, 34.9% 3pt

F – Josiah Allick (Senior; 6-8, 231)

Stats: 7.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg

Key Notes

• Nebraska’s 76.8 points per game this season are the highest season average since the 1995-96 season
• Nebraska has won 21 games in a row when holding an opponent to 70 points or less
• Nebraska has won 24 straight games when out-rebounding its opponent
• The Huskers lead the Big Ten in made 3s per game with 9.4 and are 10-3 this year when hitting at least 10 3s

SEE ALSO: ‘It’s winning time, it’s time to win this game’: Indiana basketball’s Big Ten opening win was déjà vu from last month — just find a way.

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