NCAA Basketball: Nebraska, Maryland, and UNLV headlines Sunday Mailbag

I thought Nebraska would be a borderline tourney team this year. Likely finishing around 10h in the Big Ten maybe a tad higher than that. Why is that not happening? – Big Phil- (@HOHBigPhil)

Entering year three Nebraska and coach Fred Hoiberg had expectations for the first time since he has been the head coach of the Huskers. The talent the team brought in is a huge reason why as they were able to secure five-star guard Bryce McGowens and elite scorer and passer, a grad transfer from Arizona State, Alonzo Verge Jr. Those players were paired with a slew of shooters and that is why Nebraska had a lot of helium in the offseason. It seemed like Coach Hoiberg finally had the guys who could run his offense.

The Huskers looked good in their two exhibitions and were moving the ball. Then on opening night, the Huskers came out extremely flat against a Western Illinois team that Nebraska let hang around for far too long. They ended up getting beat in the same way that Nebraska has gotten beat in the Hoiberg era too many times. Nebraska had a late lead and then failed to make free throws down the stretch and didn’t find some three-point shooters which led to a loss by one point.

Then in the latest game, Nebraska came out flat again and found themselves with a double-digit lead early in the second half. This time though the Huskers were able to pick up the defensive intensity and made shots and free throws down the stretch to win the game. That win was huge as in the second half it seemed the Huskers had found their mojo again and were moving the ball and they did rebound with a fervor which kept them in the game.

There is a long way to in the season and the Huskers started playing with more confidence in the second half of their latest game. When McGowens and Verge are going well there is not a single player in the league who is going to be able to guard them one on one. The shooters are not making anything right now at all, Nebraska is not moving the ball that well, but they are going to keep shooting and they will eventually start to fall. It was proven tonight that when the Huskers move the ball and find the open man they can score pretty easily.

Nebraska is not very good right now but a lot can happen and they can still be a borderline tournament team, but they are going to have to play much better and play a complete game in order for that to be accomplished.