3 keys and prediction for Nebraska basketball at Minnesota

Nebraska basketball will hit the road on Saturday in search of a 20-0 start. The Huskers are ranked 8th in the AP poll, and are 8-0 in the Big Ten, alone in first place.

There is a massive game that looms on Tuesday in Ann Arbor against Michigan (18-1). First, though, Nebraska has to take on a scrappy Minnesota (10-9, 3-5) team on the road.

Niko Medved is in his first season as the head coach after a successful stint with Colorado State. Cade Tyson, a 6-foot-7 forward who transferred from North Carolina, is Minnesota’s leading scorer. Jaylen Crocker-Johnson, who followed Medved from Colorado State, is scoring 14 points per game.

The Gophers are a small team. They have one player in the rotation who is 6-foot-9, and it shows on the boards, where they rank outside the top 235 in each category. Offensively, Minnesota is 18th in assists (18.1 per game) and is 96th when it comes to 2-point shooting percentage. Outside of that, they are 176th in field-goal percentage, 242nd in 3-point percentage, and 273rd in points per game.

Minnesota is ranked 81st in the Kenpom rankings with the No. 103 adjusted offense and the No. 63 adjusted defense. Nebraska basketball is 12th, with the No. 12 defense. The Huskers are 5.5-point favorites. Tip-off time is at 11 AM CST, and here are the keys and a prediction.

Travel with defense

It will be easier said than done without Frager, but the Nebraska defense should have the upper hand is this matchup. Minnesota is capable of winning this game. But it really feels like the Huskers should be able to lock down a win with a strong defensive effort. The Gophers are a poor 3-point shooting team. Nebraska has had one of the best 3-point defenses in college basketball.

If all that holds, Nebraska should leave the barn with a win.

Don’t look past Minnesota

Two of Minnesota’s losses in Big Ten play have come in overtime, along with another by a single possession. Nebraska has done a great job of staying in the moment and avoiding any letdowns.

Saturday might be the most difficult test. Michigan is waiting for a game that essentially will be for first place. Illinois is also on the schedule next week.

It would be easy to look past this game. But the barn is weird. Teams shoot poorly, and Minnesota knows how to capitalize on it. Better teams than Nebraska have lost in that gym, and on a Saturday morning, they need to be on upset alert.

Keep with the fundamentals

Braden Frager or not, it didn’t matter against Washington. It could really matter, but as long as the Huskers stick to their identity, they should be fine.

Nebraska has been a dominant offensive team. They are one of the best 2-point shooting and 3-point shooting teams in the sport. Nebraska rarely turns it over, shares the ball, doesn’t foul, and defends well.

If it does that, it should leave Minnesota with a win. So take care of the ball, hit some 3’s, and don’t foul.

Prediction: Nebraska 79, Minnesota 72.