Over the past two games, Nebraska basketball has been a completely different team. They are the team that defeated Creighton and UCLA earlier in the season.
Frankly, after six straight losses, the idea of making the NCAA tournament seemed laughable. But a pair of quadrant-1 wins can change that in a hurry.
Nebraska basketball beat Illinois, then upset Oregon on the road. Suddenly, the Huskers are projected to make the NCAA tournament again by ESPN’s bracketology. However, the win on Sunday won’t mean much without a win against Washington, the last-place team in the Big Ten.
The Big Ten is loaded and even the worst teams are capable of winning on any given night, but especially at home. Danny Sprinkle is in his first season as head coach. Washington is 11-10 overall and 2-8 in the Big Ten. The Huskies are a 1.5-point underdog and here are three keys for Nebraska basketball and a prediction.
Contain Great Osobor
Great Osobor has been great for the Washington Huskies just like he was under Sprinkle for Utah State and Washington State. The 6-foot-8 forward leads the Huskies in scoring, rebounding, steals and assists.
There might be more put on his plate than any other player in the Big Ten. What’s impressive is that his scoring average is higher in 10 Big Ten games. He’s also shooting 34.5 percent from 3-point range during conference play.
Osobor has had double-doubles in both Big Ten victories and getting a huge game from him is one way that the Huskies can knock off the visiting Nebraska basketball team.
Stay Gritty
It seemed like an attitude adjustment was the biggest difference on defense during the six-game losing streak and the past two games. Juwan Gary set the tone. He’s played like a junkyard dog and when he does that, Nebraska basketball is at its best.
Sam Hoiberg has also been a catalyst. Illinois and Oregon each shot below 30 percent from 3-point range. It will be tough to do that again but if the Huskers can keep Washington in the 30s that will be key.
Washington is ranked 92nd via the Kenpom rankings but its adjusted offense is ranked 146th. Nebraska’s defense is ranked 32nd. That should be an advantage for Nebraska but only if the Huskers maintain their intensity.
Brice Williams has to stay hot
Williams, who was the Big Ten Player of the Week and AP National Player of the Week thanks to his 55 points in wins over Oregon and Illinois, needs to keep scoring at a high level.
Juwan Gary is the second-best option, after that, it gets sparse. Connor Essegian is the 3-point specialist. Andrew Morgan and Rollie Worster have flashed but if Williams doesn’t score 20 points, it’s hard to see Nebraska scoring enough to win.
Washington is among the worst defensive teams in the Big Ten. They rank in the top 10 of the conference in just three categories: field goal attempts, 3-pointers made, and 3-pointers attempted. Washington plays at a slow pace and is also 18th in field-goal attempts in the league on the offensive end.
The Huskies are allowing teams to shoot 57.1 percent from 2 in Big Ten play. Nebraska, with Williams and Gary, fresh off shooting over 70 percent on 2s against Oregon, should be licking its chops, Williams in particular.
Prediction: Nebraska 69, Washington 64
It’s a late start and both teams will be sluggish, but Nebraska’s defense will translate and Williams will score just enough to get the Huskers across the finish line at the end.
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