Ready-made replacement for Rienk Mast available for Nebraska in transfer portal

Nebraska basketball fans don’t want to start thinking about the future. Why would they when there is a game against Iowa on Thursday for a berth in the Elite 8?

That’s the only thing Nebraska basketball fans should be thinking about. However, if anyone wants to look ahead, just for a second, the Huskers have three seniors in their starting lineup that they will have to replace this offseason.

Maybe the most difficult to replace will be Rienk Mast. Sam Hoiberg is the heart and soul of this team, but some others, like Cale Jacobsen might be able to fill in some of what he does, although certainly not all of it, with his defense and playmaking, as well as defensive rebounding.

Jacobsen and Connor Essegian give Nebraska options. It will need a point guard. The Huskers also need a skilled four-man. Fred Hoiberg’s teams have always had talented bigs. There are some good ones on the roster, but the Huskers need a pick-and-pop guy.

Treyson Anderson, a Lincoln native, who played for North Dakota State, just entered the portal. The 6-foot-10 forward coming off his sophomore season would be perfect.

Why Nebraska basketball needs to target Treyson Anderson in the transfer portal

Anderson only attempted three 3-point shots per game last season, but made 35 percent. He shot 60 percent on 2-point attempts (50 percent overall) on his way to an average of 10.4 points and 5.3 rebounds last season.

Anderson only started half of the season, but per 40 minutes, he averaged 22 points and 11 rebounds per game. Even per 40 minutes, Mast has never had an average that high. His defensive rating is also 99.3 per 100 possessions. That means his team allowed 0.99 points per possession with him on the court, which would rank fifth among rotation players on the roster.

Anderson is skilled. He can defend, has size, and can make 3-point shots. He’s also from Lincoln and wouldn’t break the bank in terms of NIL.

The forward started 19 of the past 20 games for an NCAA Tournament team, and he scored 10 points on 4-for-6 shooting against Michigan State. Anderson averaged 12.4 points per game as a starter, plus eight games with multiple 3-pointers, including two separate games with four treys.

From every angle, this move would make a ton of sense, and once player acquisition becomes a focus, Anderson should be a Nebraska basketball target.

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