3 observations from Nebraska’s ass-kicking of Oregon

Fred Hoiberg has lamented recently about how Nebraska basketball needs to play a complete game. It’s hard to know if the 90-55 win over Oregon qualifies, but at the very least, it qualifies as an ass-kicking.

Oregon hung around for much of the first half. The score was tied 28-28, but then Pryce Sandfort hit a 3-pointer, one of many on the night, sparking a 19-2 run, which carried over from the first half into the second.

Sandfort hit three 3-pointers during that run. Braden Frager hit two. By the end of it, the game was all but over. The former Iowa Hawkeye, Sandfort, continued his stellar season with 28 points total. He was 7 of 11 from beyond the ar with four rebounds and two assists.

Frager wasn’t far behind. He continues to make a strong case for Big Ten 6th Man of the Year. The redshirt freshman scored 23 points, along with  7 of 11 shooting from beyond the arc. Sam Hoiberg added 11 points, six steals, which tied a PBA record, five assists, three rebounds, and zero turnovers.

Incredible.

Nebraska had six turnovers compared to 20 assists. Oregon turned it over 15 times and had 11 assists. The Huskers shot 47 percent from deep, Oregon shot 27 percent. Here are three observations from a 90-55 win.

Sam Hoiberg is Mr. Clean

It would be easy to start with Sandfort and his 28 points. However, Sam Hoiberg was incredible on both ends of the floor. His impact is hard to measure in the box score.

Tuesday made that easier in the blowout win over Oregon. Hoiberg attempted six shots and made five. He didn’t have a turnover and had just one personal foul. Beyond that, he dished out five assists, applied pressure on the ball throughout, and continues to be one of the most underrated players in college basketball.

Scoring 11 points, playing that kind of defense, dishing out five assists, and not turning it over once, with just one foul, is incredible. It’s hard to have a cleaner (perfect box score).

Deadly from deep

Again, it would be easy to highlight just Sandfort, who scored 28 points, but Frager was stellar with 23 off the bench, including a rim-shaking dunk in the second half.

The redshirt freshman from Lincoln has been one of the biggest steals in college basketball this season. He made more 3-pointers than Oregon did as a team (7). He also shot better. (63 percent). Sandfort’s hot night gave the Huskers 17 total triples, while holding the Ducks to six on 26 percent. It was kind of the same thing they did to Creighton.

Simply put, if Nebraska hits 17 3-pointers, or more accurately, Frager and Sandfort combine for anywhere close to that in a game, it’s hard to see this team losing.

A complete game

This was an ass-kicking. It’s really hard to complain about anything. The offense started a little slow. Some open looks were missed, but Nebraska defended well enough that it didn’t matter.

Nebraska shot 62 percent on 2s compared to 56 percent for Oregon. The Huskers only had six turnovers, out-rebounded Oregon 29-27 (6-5 on offensive boards), and forced 15 turnovers on defense.

Oregon shot 17 free throws, more than you would like. Yet, all in all, this was the best game Nebraska basketball has played in weeks as it improved to 17-0.

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 podcFast on Apple or Spotify.