3 takeaways from massive Nebraska Basketball win over Iowa

Nebraska basketball knocked off Iowa on Sunday, clinching a regular-season sweep, and here are three takeaways.

Just when you think the amazing season of Nebraska basketball might come to an end, the Huskers give you a reason to keep believing.

Despite being a double-digit underdog on Sunday at Iowa, the Huskers wrapped up their first-ever regular-season sweep of the Hawkeyes since joining the Big Ten with an 81-77 victory.

Nebraska basketball trailed by eight points at one point in the second half, however, the Huskers made big shot after big shot. Keisei Tominaga, Derrick Walker, Sam Griesel, CJ Wilcher, Jamarques Lawrence, Wilhelm Briedenbach and of course, Sam Hoiberg, all made big shots and big plays in key moments.

Two clutch triples by Hoiberg helped the Huskers take the lead in the second half. Wilcher’s late three was maybe the biggest shot of his career and in a season of defining wins, Fred Hoiberg has another.

Love when the Huskers prove me wrong

I predicted Nebraska to cover the spread, but I said specifically that I didn’t think the Huskers would win a 3-point battle against Iowa and that’s exactly what they did. Six different players made shots from beyond the arc. Jamarques Lawrence made five.

Four Nebraska basketball players made multiple 3-pointers and none were Keisei Tominaga. It was a stellar performance. The defense got just enough stops late and while rebounding was an issue, Nebraska found a way to get just enough at the end.

The Sam Hoiberg charge, the one he took was huge and the importance of this win is hard to overstate.

Nebraska basketball NIT hopes are alive and well

Nebraska can’t finish with a losing record this season. At worst, the Huskers would be 16-16 if they lost in the Big Ten opener and with all of their wins over NCAA tournament teams — including three on the road in Rutgers, Iowa, and Creighton. Wisconsin, Penn State, Maryland, and Iowa were also beaten at the Vault.

The Huskers have a lot of quality wins. They should match up with Minnesota in the first round of the Big Ten tournament and a win in that game clinches a winning season.

Nebraska has played like an NCAA tournament team over the past month and deserves to play in the postseason. Win another game and that should become locked in.

Fred Hoiberg has proven his worth

I know it’s one season, but I think this is a glimpse of what’s to come under Fred Hoiberg. Lawrence looks like a star and even got a shout out from Tom Izzo on Tuesday.

We don’t know what the future holds for Tominaga. But another season of playing how he has for the past month could give him a shot to get drafted. You add him to Lawrence, Sam Hoiberg, and CJ Wilcher, and you have some solid guard play.

Add a transfer point guard and another solid big and this should be pretty good once again next season. There are a number of players who were outstanding. Griesel played one of his best games and made three triples. Derrick Walker was tough as hell and Wilcher had one of his best games too.

Hoiberg started the season on the hot seat, but now, he’s got a chance to build on this momentum and if Nebraska can make the NIT, it won’t be an easy out.

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