3 takeaways from a bounce-back win for Nebraska basketball

Nebraska basketball needed to bounce back on Saturday against Northwestern, and the Huskers certainly did with a 68-49 win, although it took longer than expected.

At halftime, Nebraska had a one-point lead. Early in the second half, the Huskers had 11 turnovers. It felt like they were sleepwalking through the first few minutes again.

Northwestern is a pesky team, though. One that is much better than its 10-15 record. The Wildcats even grabbed a four-point lead in the second half, 34-30, before the Huskers finally started stringing together stops and 3-point makes.

In a 5:30 stretch, the Huskers drilled six treys. Two were from Cale Jacobsen, one was from Berke, while Pryce Sandfort added two, and Sam Hoiberg made one. When Hoibergs hit the bottom of the net at the 6:37 mark, the Huskers had turned a 39-39 tie into a 60-45 lead.

Nebraska basketball only scored eight points after that. Northwestern only had four. In the last 11:11, the Wildcats scored nine points. Sandfort was stellar, hitting six treys and scoring 29 points,. Hoiberg also reached double figures with 14 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.

Here are three takeaways (later than usual) from the Huskers’ bounce-back win over Northwestern.

A win is a win, but there are concerns

During its three losses in four games, before this one, Nebraska has turned the ball over 11 times per game. The season average in Big Ten games was 7.9, and just barely above eight before that four-game stretch.

On Saturday, the Huskers turned it over 16 times. It’s the reason Northwestern had a chance. Northwestern shot 40 percent from the field, 20 percent on 3s, and under 50 percent on 2s.

Nebraska out-rebounded the Wildcats 37-19. However, Northwestern thrived in points off turnovers. It didn’t cost Nebraska the game, but to win in March, it has to keep it under 10 turnovers.

Cleaning that up has to be priority No. 1 for Fred Hoiberg.

Vintage Pryce Sandfort

Not much was working for Nebraska basketball against Northwestern. The Huskers did make 11 3-pointers, yet the majority of those were made by Sandfort, who had one of his best performances of the season, which is saying something.

Nebraska basketball shot 44 percent from deep, thanks to that second-half flurry. Sandfort was also able to score near the rim. Defenses have been making him work, and also fouling him way too much, but on Saturday at least, he was able to overcome it, and remind people why he should be a First-Team All-Big Ten Selection.

Sam Hoiberg is the heart and soul

It’s going to be hard to watch Nebraska without Sam Hoiberg in the future. He just plays winning basketball. The senior was nearly perfect on Saturday, making 5-of-8 shots from the field, draining his only 3-pointer, scoring 14 points, grabbing seven rebounds, dishing out five assists, and coming away with four steals on top of it all.

Beyond that, he was responsible for just one turnover. His defense was exceptional, too, as it always is. The defense from the entire team was impressive. Northwestern shot under 50 percent on 2-pointers. Nebraska did, too.

But only one of the teams had Sam Hoiberg. The winning team, which wasn’t by accident.

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