3 keys and a prediction for Nebraska basketball vs. Georgetown in the Crown

For the first time, Nebraska basketball will play Georgetown, and the game will come in the quarterfinals of the College Basketball Crown.

Nebraska basketball advanced past Arizona State on Monday, despite falling behind by 10 points early in the second half. Brice Williams and Juwan Gary combined for 47 points, while Connor Essegian scored 17 off the bench. Cale Jacobsen also provided a huge lift with two points, three steals, and five assists.

Georgetown, an 18-win team just like Nebraska, beat Washington State thanks to 13 3-pointers. The Hoyas are without their top three scorers, as well as three rotation players. However, after three consecutive single-digit win seasons, this is the first postseason trip in a while for the Hoyas.

They have some younger guys playing, who will be part of the future, as Georgetown will start three sophomores and two freshmen. The Hoyas are ranked 86th via the Kenpom rankings. Nebraska basketball is 49th. Every time remaining ranks in the top 86, and Georgetown is the lowest team left.

Tip-off time is set for 8:30 PM CST, and here are three keys, plus our prediction.

Be Motivated

This wasn’t a problem in game one. Nebraska basketball could have mailed it in down by 10 points, but they didn’t. That was impressive and endeared me to this team even more.

Heart still matters and this team, even if it didn’t make the NCAA tournament, still has it. Georgetown is hungry, though. Ed Cooley is trying to build something, and winning a few more games could really give the Hoyas some momentum heading into 2025-26, especially since their playing all young players.

Nebraska basketball can’t just show up. It has to have a sense of urgency and can’t sleepwalk through the first 20 minutes or so as it did on Monday, which was understandable given the long layoff.

The Huskers played hard on Monday, but on Wednesday, they need to be sharper at the start.

Guard the 3-point line

During the season, Georgetown ranked 292nd in the NCAA in 3-point percentage. The Hoyas aren’t a great shooting team. Yet, what makes this scout a little different is that the personnel is so different.

Malik Mack is what will make the offense go. The 6-foot-1 point guard averaged 12.5 points and 4.3 assists during the season, but scored 37 points in 40 minutes against Wazzu. He was 8 of 12 from 3-point range.

Quick guards can give the Huskers problems, and Sam Hoiberg seems like a good defensive option. Maybe even Cale Jacobsen off the bench, who did a stellar job on Adam Miller on Monday.

Georgetown made 13 triples on Monday. Yet, three of their five starters played 39 minutes and the bench only played 17 total. Jordan Burks had a double-double, so he’s another player to know along with Caleb and Curtis Williams.

The talent is there, but unless Georgetown stays hot from deep, Nebraska basketball should win, although the Huskers have one of the worst 3-point defenses in college basketball.

Nebraska basketball needs to limit extra possessions

Georgetown forced 13.3 turnovers per game this season, which ranked 68th in college basketball. That’s been an issue at times for Nebraska, especially without a point guard.

Georgetown also had a 1.7-per-game edge when it comes to offensive rebounds. The Hoyas won the turnover battle against Washington State, and also won on the glass, rebounding 31 percent of their misses compared to 17 percent.

Georgetown turned it over on less than 10 percent of its possessions. Nebraska should do a better job of forcing turnovers, plus if it can take care of the ball and clean up on the defensive boards, the Huskers should have a good shot of playing in the semifinals on Saturday.

Prediction: Nebraska 82, Georgetown 74

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