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Big Ten Basketball Preview: #4 Nebraska Cornhuskers

By Alex Miller

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In mid-January last year, the Huskers looked like a team that was dead in the water – they were 0-4 in conference, 8-8 overall, and had lost 5 in a row. Nebraska, who was picked by most to finish near the bottom of the conference, then reeled off 11 wins in their final 14 conference games, including a win over Wisconsin to end the season and catapult the Huskers into the NCAA tournament.

The appearance in the tournament ended a 15-year drought for the Huskers, who were quickly dispatched by Baylor in the first round. Now, Nebraska looks to build on that success; can the Huskers, who are 0-7 all time in the NCAA tournament, get that elusive first win? What can we expect from Tim Miles’ club in his third year at the helm in Lincoln?

Key Losses

Ray Gallagos is Nebraska’s biggest loss, and really the only departure who saw meaningful minutes last season. Gallagos was primarily a 3-point shooter where he shot the ball at 33.5 % – not exactly great for someone who attempted over 5 threes per game. Hawkins and Peltz only saw action in garbage time for the Huskers.

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Key Newcomers

  • G Andrew White
  • C Moses Abraham
  • G Tarin Smith
  • F Jake Hammond
  • F BJ Day

Andrew White was the biggest pickup over the off-season for the Huskers. The former top 50 recruit decided to transfer from Kansas as he was buried on the bench. Unfortunately for the Huskers, he will sit out the upcoming season due to NCAA transfer rules but will have two years of eligibility remaining. Abraham also transferred into Nebraska from Georgetown. He figures to see some minutes as the backup center, and while he won’t bring much to the table offensively, Abraham is a very good rim protector and shot blocker. Smith, Hammond, and Day are all consensus 3-star recruits who probably won’t see much playing time this season.

Starting Lineup

Nebraska brings back a roster with 5 players who started at least 14 games last season. Terran Petteway is one of the best returning players in the conference and an easy pick for preseason 1st team All-Big Ten accolades. The 6’6″ wing led the Big Ten in scoring with 18.1 ppg last season and can get to the rim with ease, drawing fouls and getting to the free throw line where he shoots 81.9%. Petteway also had a knack for hitting back-breaking, unguardable 3 point shots.

Together, he and Shavon Shields form one of the best 1-2 punches in the country.

Shields can drive to the basket almost as well as Petteway, but he wasn’t nearly as consistent – Petteway scored double figures in 30 of Nebraska’s 32 contests, compared to 21 for Shields. To go along with his 12.8 ppg, the 6’7″ Shields is one of the better rebounders for the Huskers.

Pitchford came on strong at the end of last season scoring 10 ppg in Big Ten play. The junior was Nebraska’s best weapon from beyond the arc hitting 41% from downtown. His play, along with David Rivers will be key for Nebraska this year, as their is a lack of depth at those positions – the Huskers’ best rebounder and shot blocker last year, Leslee Smith, tore his ACL over the summer.

Even more important is the development of the point guards Tai Webster and Benny Parker. Webster, who participated in the FIBA World Cup with New Zealand this summer, needs to improve his shot – 30.4% overall and 17.1% from 3 isn’t going to cut it if this team hopes to win in the tournament. According to reports, Webster’s shot improved tremendously over the offseason, which will be huge for the Huskers and open up more lanes for Petteway and Shields to drive to the basket.

Parker was chosen by his teammates as the defensive MVP last season; impressive considering Nebraska was a very good defensive team as a whole last year, ranking 25th in defensive efficiency by Kenpom. With most of their rotation back the defense should be as good, if not better this season.

Nebraska lacks depth but the starting five is very good and led by Petteway and Shields, Nebrasketball, as it’s now called, should be celebrating the first NCAA tournament win in program history come March.

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