NCAA Basketball: A look at Nebraska Cornhusker-hosted MTE field
By Erik Mauro
A look at the NCAA Basketball MTE event that the Nebraska Cornhuskers are hosting.
The MTE in Lincoln has had an ever-changing field. It started with over 10 NCAA Basketball teams, but many have dropped out. Some have been replaced, and some have not. Currently, the field consists of Nebraska and Nevada, with North Dakota State recently being added. Division III Chadron State was added, but they will no longer participate. Schools such as St. Louis, San Francisco, and Northern Iowa have dropped out.
Nebraska opens the MTE on Thanksgiving Day against Nevada at 1:00 on the Big Ten Network. They have Friday off and then will face the Bison on Saturday at 11:00. The Huskers begin their season on Wednesday against McNeese State, who is not part of the MTE field. The Wolf Pack and NDSU will open their seasons against each other on Wednesday as part of the event.
The Bison won 25 games last year while winning both the Summit regular-season championship as well as the conference tournament. The Wolf Pack won 19 games last year but lost their top three scorers. Nebraska can only go up from here, winning just seven games last year and not being competitive in many games.
Fred Hoiberg has a chance to utilize some of his transfers, notably Teddy Allen, who originally attended West Virginia before transferring to Wichita State, and then again to Western Nebraska Community College before ending up in Lincoln. Allen played his high school basketball in Omaha so he is a little familiar with the program. Trey McGowens, a former top 100 recruit, transferred to the program from Pitt and is immediately eligible.
NDSU lost their top two guards but still return plenty of experience. Sam Griesel, a graduate of Lincoln East, will be eager to get a chance to play back in his hometown. Unfortunately, no fans will be able to see him play. Griesel averaged 6.6 PPG last season as well as 5.5 rebounds.
Another possible name to keep an eye on for the Big Red is Lat Mayen. Reportedly, during drills, he made 86 out of 100 three’s and did the same drill again while making 82. If Mayen can live up to that billing, that will make the Huskers a lot harder to defend.
Next. Ranking all teams 357-1 in the preseason. dark
It’s still possible another team is added to the MTE, but what was once a big spectacle known as the “Golden Window,” has now turned into a little known event.