Nebraska basketball: What we’ve learned; Previewing a big week for both teams

After a 2-0 start with wins over West Georgia and FIU, which featured a triple-double from Rienk Mast, the Huskers will take on another low-major opponent on Tuesday, hosting Maryland-Eastern Shore (7 PM, BTN+).

Nebraska basketball is a 33-point favorite. This shouldn’t really be a contest, and frankly, it seems pointless to spend much time talking about another buy game to pad the win-loss record.

The real game of consequence this week for Nebraska basketball is Saturday, when the men’s team will play Oklahoma at the Sanford Pentagon. The women’s team will play Creighton on Wednesday night.

Maryland-Eastern Shore has been one of the worst offensive teams in college basketball. They are 1-2 so far this season, and it should be a good night to get some bench minutes.

Braden Frager has started incredibly strong for the Huskers. One thing we have learned about Nebraska basketball is that he’s legit. The redshirt freshman from Lincoln has seven triples in two games. Frager (18.5 ppg) is Nebraska’s leading scorer and is shooting 45.5 percent from deep.

Surely, the in-state kid will cool down a bit. But with Frager, Connor Essegian, and Pryce Sandfort knocking down six triples on nine attempts against FIU, the 3-point shooting has been upgraded. So far, the Huskers are shooting 40.9 percent (41st) from 3-point range.

We’ll see if that continues. Nebraska is also allowing just 59.5 points per game, so 60 points feels like the benchmark for a good defensive performance against a lowly opponent.

Rienk Mast might be even better

It’s only been two games against non-high-major opponents, so competition caveats apply, but Rienk Mast is scoring 14 points per game, grabbing 11.5 rebounds, and dishing out 5.5 assists. He’s also shooting 40 percent from 3-point range.

Mast was an All-Big Ten selection back in 2023-24. He looks even better this season. Oklahoma will be a better test, but Rienk has played like an NBA draft pick so far this season.

Defense has been impressive, too

Again, the competition matters. But good habits are good habits. Nebraska has held its first two opponents to just 34.6 percent shooting (40th). What’s even better is that teams are shooting just 21.3 percent from 3-point range (28th).

Nebraska fans will remember how poor the 3-point defense was last season. It’s just two games, but so far, the defense has been better than expected.

Backcourt has been dynamic

Nobody knows better than Fred Hoiberg that you need your guards to play well if you’re going to win games in the NCAA tournament.

Last season, Nebraska just wasn’t good enough, especially at point guard. Jamarques Lawrence transferred to Rhode Island. Now, he’s back and seems better than ever.

Through two games, Lawrence is averaging just two turnovers compared to four assists. He’s also shooting 55.6 percent from 3-point range. That won’t continue at that rate, just like Sam Hoiberg, the other starting guard, won’t shoot 28 percent all season. However, Hoiberg is dishing out 4.5 assists.

Combined, the starting guards are dishing out 8.5 assists compared to three turnovers. They are both plus defenders, too.

Tests await both Nebraska basketball teams

Nebraska women’s basketball will look to avenge the 80-74 loss to Creighton last season on Wednesday night as the two teams will meet inside the Vault.

Natalie Potts hasn’t made her return yet. But Britt Prince is scoring 21.5 points per game. A leap in production from Prince was a huge key this season. So far, so good.

This Nebraska team has just three seniors. Jessica Petre (15.5 ppg) and Petra Bozan (12 ppg) have been other key contributors. Defensively, the Huskers are allowing just 46 points per game.

Creighton and Nebraska will play on Wednesday at 8 PM CST on Fox Sports 1.

Nebraska will play Oklahoma in the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls on Saturday. Tip-off time is set for 6 p.m. on the Big Ten Network. Nebraska basketball is No. 42 in the KenPom rankings. Oklahoma is 57th.

The women’s basketball team will play North Dakota State in Sioux Falls on Sunday at 12 p.m. The Big Ten Network will carry the game. The Bison are 2-1 this season. They have also won over 20 games in consecutive seasons.

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