3 keys and a prediction for Nebraska basketball vs. Iowa

Nebraska basketball has won six games in a row, but the Huskers will try to extend that streak against the Hawkeyes on Tuesday night in Iowa City, Iowa.

Nebraska and Iowa don’t like each other. This is as true on the football field as it is on the basketball court. Outside of Creighton,  there isn’t a team Husker fans want to see Nebraska beat more.

Iowa is 10-4 overall and 1-2 in the Big Ten. Nebraska basketball is 12-2 and 2-1 in the Big Ten. The Huskers feel like they could have a shot to contend in a wide-open Big Ten conference, but this is the kind of game you have to win to do that.

Here are three keys and a prediction for Nebraska vs. Iowa (7 PM CST, Peacock).

Travel with the defense

The Huskers have one of the best defenses in all of college basketball. After the UCLA game, Nebraska baskeball is ranked 10th in adjusted defensive efficiency according to Kenpom rankings. That’s second behind the Bruins who are ranked fourth.

Nebraska has some work to do on offense, but with a top-10 defense, you can win a lot of games, even if you don’t shoot that well, which is a lesson the Huskers learned on Saturday.

Iowa always seems to shoot it well. They average 10.3 3-point field goals per game. Payton Sandfort averages 2.5. Iowa ranks 25th in college basketball in 3-point makes as well as 29th in percentage (38). The good news is that Nebraska is 41st in 3-point defense (29.7 percent). However, they are 357th in 3-point field attempts allowed, which could be worrisome against Iowa.

Playing well in transition will be essential. The Hawkeyes love to run and get open 3-point shots that way. For Nebraska, defense in transition, and 3-point defense will be the key.

Those things often go hand-in-hand but if Iowa shoots above 40 percent from deep and hits double-digit 3-point field goals, that’s one way for Nebraska to lose this game.

Be fundamentally sound

Outside of defense, and the incredible play of Brice Williams, Nebraska basketball has been winning games by making free throws, protecting the ball, and limiting fouls.

UCLA had 15 turnovers compared to 13 for Nebraska, 24 fouls compared to 16, and about half as many free throws as the Huskers did last weekend. Of course, Iowa is one of the best teams in college basketball at not fouling. They allow just 9.7 free throw attempts per game. Nebraska attempts 23 per game (52nd).

Iowa also forces over 15.9 turnovers per game. The Huskers have cut their turnovers down to 12.7 per game. They had 13 on Saturday but if they could keep that number under 10, they’ll leave Iowa City victorious.

Attack the paint

Iowa is not a good defensive team. The Hawkeyes rank 332nd in college basketball in 2-point defense, so a key for Nebraska will be attacking the paint and not settling for too many 3-pointers.

Brice Williams has been stellar at getting to the free-throw line. Juwan Gary and Andrew Morgan have also been reliable scorers.

Connor Essegian will need to hit some shots. Nebraska probably needs to shoot better than the 28 percent it posted from 3-point range against UCLA, but getting to the line and winning the 2-point battle is essential.

Prediction

We’ll learn a lot about this Nebraska basketball team on Tuesday night. Winning on the road is never easy and Iowa would be a quad-1 win.

The defense is what gives me optimism. Nebraska has been one of the best defensive teams in college basketball. Iowa can shoot but that’s about it. As long as the Huskers take care of the ball and play well defensively, they’ll extend their win streak to seven.

Nebraska 69, Iowa 64 

For More Nebraska content, follow us on Twitter, like our Facebook Page, and Subscribe to the Husker Big Red YouTube Channel. You can also find our podcast on Apple or Spotify.