Nebraska Basketball: 3 keys for Cornhuskers to win against Penn State
By Bryan Mauro
Better defensive performance
In the games that Nebraska has won this year, they have been extremely active on the defensive end and have contested every shot that has gone up. Nebraska has rebounded well and usually has played defense without fouling. Nebraska tries to take away the middle against everyone they play and that defensive strategy has worked most of the season. However, there have been some times when it has spiraled as a team is making shots from the perimeter.
When the defense is working well for Nebraska they force teams into taking some bad and tough contested jump shots and force them into taking a ton of three-pointers. For the majority of the games Nebraska plays that is going to work and that is why they have experienced some success this season, however, Penn State is different than any other team Nebraska has faced this season.
The Nittany Lions want you to take away the paint so they can get open looks for their shooters. Shooters are something that Penn State has. It is an embarrassment of riches how many guys the Nittany Lions have who can shoot the ball. If Nebraska is going to let them take 30 threes they will gladly take them all. It is how they play and how they beat people. If Penn State can get a ton of open looks they have the guys who can knock them down and when they are hitting shots, especially from deep they can beat anyone in the country.
Nebraska has two previous games against teams who run the Let it Fly system. Nebraska was able to slow the game down enough that it messed with the flow of the offense for those teams. In those wins against Iowa and Creighton, the defense was active, was flying around, and had quick hands. Penn State also likes to move the ball around the perimeter to try and get the best shot, it is going to be a battle for 40 minutes on the defensive end of the floor and the Huskers are going to need to play like they did against Creighton and Iowa even to have a chance in this game. They must contest and have their hands up on every shot or they may get run out of the gym.