3 keys and a prediction for Nebraska basketball at Ohio State

After three straight losses and four defeats in the past five games, Nebraska basketball is probably on the wrong side of the bubble.

Some of the bracketology projections still have Nebraska basketball in the field of 68, for now, but that won’t last unless the Huskers start winning.

Tuesday night in Columbus, against Ohio State (8 PM CST, Peacock), another team on the bubble according to the latest projection from ESPN, which has the Buckeyes and Nebraska among the last four teams in.

Tonight isn’t a play-in game, but it might be the closest thing. A win over Ohio State would make up for Saturday’s loss to Minnesota, and with that in mind, here are three keys and a prediction.

Have some urgency

The first key has nothing to do with the Xs and Os. Nebraska basketball’s season is on the line, and the Huskers need to play like it.

They didn’t play that way against Penn State or Minnesota. They were competitive against Michigan, but this team has been missing that edge that helped it win four straight after a six-game losing streak.

If Nebraska is going to save its season, it needs to find the chip it was playing with. The Huskers were tencious, and in the past few games, they looked tame.

The energy has to be there, and if it’s not, Nebraska will probably get blown out by another team that desperately needs a win.

Be competitive at the 3-point line

This might be the most important key. Ohio State is 7th in the Big Ten in 3-point field-goal percentage at 35 percent. They are also seventh in the Big Ten with 7.6 3-point field goals per game.

That doesn’t bode well for Nebraska, which ranks 17th in 3-point percentage on offense in the conference (31.1 percent), as well as 14th defending the 3-pointer, allowing 36 percent. Nebraska basketball is last in the Big Ten in 3-point attempts and makes allowed.

Connor Essegian was able to hit three treys against Minnesota. He’ll need a similar effort tonight. Ohio State made 10 3-pointers in Lincoln. Nebraska made seven. That gave the Buckeyes a nine-point advantage, but it was close enough that Nebraska could win in other areas.

I’d be stunned if Nebraska made more 3-pointers than Ohio State. But to win, they need to keep the 3-point advantage of the Buckyes to a minimum.

Juwan Gary and Brice Williams need to dominate

Nebraska’s big two have had to carry the load far too often this season, and it’s taking a toll. There’s a reason some of these dudes look absolutely gassed.

Williams has been scoring 20-plus points every night. That will need to continue against Ohio State. But Juwan Gary also needs a 2o-point effort or close. In the two losses to Michigan and Penn State, Gary went 3-of-20 from the field, and Nebraska’s offense fell off a cliff.

The Huskers scored 1.17 points per possession in the first game, and Gary was a huge part of that. Ohio State’s 2-point defense is suspect, so Williams and Gary should be able to get the cup. They just need to convert and hope that some of their teammates can deliver, too.

Prediction: Ohio State 75, Nebraska 71

This has been such a weird team. When you think they are done, they play their best basketball, but when the expectations are high, they crumble.

I’m not sure what to expect in terms of the final score, but I expect Nebraska basketball to fight and lose a close game.

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