Nebraska Basketball: 2019-20 season preview for Cornhuskers

Projected Starters

The Huskers filled all 13 of their scholarships heading into the year. Two players are required to sit out the entire season because of a transfer. Those players are 6’8” guard Dalano Banton. Banton transferred to Nebraska by way of Western Kentucky. The big guard has shown in practice and the early exhibition games how dynamic of a player he is. He will be missed by the Huskers this year. The second sit out transfer is big man Derrick Walker from Tennessee. Walker played for Rick Barnes for two years and is a skilled big man who the Huskers will also miss.

Cam Mack – Sophomore

Mack arrives at Nebraska after one stellar season at the JUCO level. Mack was the No. 2 JUCO recruit in the country. The guard is familiar with one member of the Nebraska staff already and that is assistant coach and lead recruiter Matt Abdelmassih. The sophomore guard was originally a St. John’s commit and opened his recruitment after Chris Mullin was fired.

Husker fans are going to get a player in Mack who plays the game with quiet confidence. He has the potential to be one of the best to wear a Husker uniform when his career is over. An elite passer and scorer and the JUCO level. He is the one who is going to be asked to lead the offense. Hoiberg runs a position less system, but Mack is often going to be called upon to set up his teammates and lead the offense in the half court.

Jervay Green – Junior

Green is another top ranked JUCO player. He came in as the third-ranked JUCO player in the country. The junior guard was the prized commit for Tim Miles heading into this year. Coach Hoiberg and his staff had to convince the guard to still play in Lincoln. Green is all in and is the one at least through the early season trip to Italy and inter squad scrimmage who appears to still be a great scorer. He was one of the teams’ representatives at Big Ten media day, so it also appears that Coach Hoiberg is going to rely on the junior for some leadership.

Haanif Cheatham – Graduate Senior

The wing is the most experienced player on the roster as Cheatham is now in his sixth year and third team. The graduate transfer started his career at Marquette and left when he no longer fit into the plan for the Golden Eagles. Cheatham decided to transfer to Florida Gulf Coast and become a part of Dunk City. Dunk City fans only got to see Cheatham for a brief time as he hurt his shoulder and missed the remainder of the season.

Cheatham is healthy now and ready to roll for his last season in College. Cheatham is a double-digit scorer who is going to relied upon for his leadership and his ability on the defensive end. Many nights Cheatham may not come off the floor, especially when the rotations tighten up when conference play starts. At the wing position coach Hoiberg is hoping he can rebound well enough to keep Nebraska competitive. With the overall lack of height, rebounding is going to be an issue.

Thorir Thorbjarnarson – Junior

The Icelandic guard is the only player for the Huskers who received minutes last year. Thor as he is aptly nicknamed has become a fan favorite because of his style of play. The guard is not great at anything, but good at many things and plays good fundamental basketball. Thorbjarnarson has made his name for Nebraska by his relentless defense and his good rebounding for his size.

He has a good basketball IQ and seems to be the right place at the right time on defense. Thor is a good enough three-point shooter that teams are going to have to remember he is out on the floor. The scoring may be minimal but the defense and setting up his teammates with crisp passes is what the coaching staff expects out of Thor.

Matej Kavas – Graduate Senior

What would the Fred Hoiberg offense be without a player who was not a dead eye from three-point range?  Kavas is that player. A graduate transfer from Seattle, the 6’8” guard made over 40% of his three-point attempts a season. In fact, Kavas enters the season with a career 45% shooting percentage from deep. That is currently the sixth best percentage in the division 1 ranks.

Kavas, originally from Slovenia leaves a little be desired on the defensive end of the floor but provides enough on offense especially from deep that he is going to find his way onto the floor. Kavas also has experience playing at the college level, which is something Nebraska desperately needs. Kavas was one of the only players to start every game on the Italy trip along with Cheatham, so it would not be a surprise if he started the first game in November.