Nebraska basketball redshirt freshman Denim Dawson entered the transfer portal on Wednesday, as more moves continue to be made within the basketball team. This was first reported by 247Sports’ Travis Branham.

Dawson had his moments for Nebraska basketball this season. He made his first start against Purdue back in December. He had three rebounds and two assists in 25 minutes of play. He then was able to continue his strong play in the second half of the season when he had seven points and eight rebounds in 30 minutes. Dawson was active on the glass against Penn State when he recorded nine rebounds.

It could be said that Dawson never had a fair chance to crack the rotation due to the players in front of him. Nevertheless, Dawson had raw athletic ability, and it was easy to see why he was recruited to the program.

Dawson was a three-star recruit and was the 32^nd overall player in the state of California for the 2022 class.

Nebraska wing Denim Dawson intends to enter the transfer portal, a source tells @247SportsPortal.

Freshman that started in eight games for the Cornhuskers this season. Former three-star recruit in the 2021 class.https://t.co/RcNdldQaTz

— Travis Branham (@TravisBranham_) March 15, 2023

What does this move mean for Nebraska basketball?

This move makes sense for Dawson, as Nebraska basketball has several guards on the roster already. Jamarques Lawrence is one of them, and he was able to take on a big role for the program. This is a case of there being too many mouths to feed on the roster. The emergence of Lawrence also probably played a bit of a role as the latter looks to be a staple for the program.

It will be interesting to see where Dawson ends up. He is certainly a talented player, but Nebraska basketball was not the right fit for him at this time.

Nebraska basketball lost to the Minnesota Golden Gophers by a 78-75 margin on Wednesday night. There were several crucial plays towards the end of the game. The basketball bouncing off of Sam Griesel while Nebraska tried to score was a difficult break. Two illegal screens in a row also did not help matters. Nevertheless, there was one major theme. The defense struggled throughout the evening.

It wasn’t as if Nebraska had answers for Minnesota either. Minnesota shot 51.9% from the field and 41.7% from beyond the arc.

One of the biggest problems for Nebraska on Wednesday night was being able to stop scores from the inside. Minnesota was able to have their way inside in several aspects. Minnesota freshman Pharrel Payne had six points and four rebounds on the evening. On the other end of the floor, he played solid defensively, shutting down Nebraska big man Derrick Walker.

Jaden Henley and Dawson Garcia had their way inside as well. They finished with 14 and 18 points respectively. They were able to pick apart the Nebraska basketball defense with quick passes and their ability to muscle inside. To be frank, Nebraska basketball had no answer for the inside game, and it became clear that this was going to be a major problem throughout the course of the game.

The defense inside the paint was not the only problem. Nebraska basketball struggled all night in terms of rotations and not getting to the shooter quick enough. They were unable to close out on a player such as Garcia, and he made them pay, going seven-of-13 from the field. He gave Minnesota the lead on a three-ball with 8:35 left in the first half, and the Gophers never looked back.

The aggressive rotations and aggressiveness overall that Nebraska displayed all season defensively was missing. They did not have the defensive energy to match Minnesota and it was noticeable early on. Minnesota was able to play however they wanted offensively, and they were able to establish their dominance inside, opening up space for perimeter shooters. It looked like a cat playing with a mouse.

It was a defensive thud to end the season for Nebraska basketball. Now the offseason begins and questions remain unanswered.

Nebraska basketball is set to face off against Minnesota in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament. There are several keys to the game in order for the Huskers to be successful. One player who will be worth watching on Wednesday night is C.J. Wilcher.

Wilcher came into the program with the reputation for shooting the three-point shot. This season has been a bit of a roller coaster for him. Take the last week for example. Wilcher had a game against Michigan State on February 28. He saw 20% from the field in 21 minutes of play. He tallied two points 1-of-5 shooting. The software attempted three three-pointers and made none.

On the other side of the spectrum, he performed a high level against Iowa. In 30 minutes of play, he shot 71.4% from the field. He was five-of-seven from the field and two of four from behind the three-point line.

Peaks and valleys for Nebraska basketball

This week alone showcased the peaks and valleys that Wilcher goes through when shooting the basketball. Some games, he is ice cold. Other games, he is scorching hot. With him, there really is no middle ground. Sunday’s performance against Iowa was a good way to end the regular season.

Nebraska basketball needs Wilcher to have a hot hand. Minnesota is going to be ready for Sam Griesel and Derrick Walker. Those two are the focal points of the Nebraska basketball offense. They will undoubtedly be accounted for. The Huskers need a shooter like Wilcher to get going, and get going early. For instance, the Huskers cannot afford for Wilcher to take a shooting slump into the second half. He needs to establish himself as an offensive weapon early and often.

The Huskers are going to need stellar play from their complementary players. They cannot afford for a shooter like Wilcher to have an off-night. He could be essential for a Nebraska basketball victory on Wednesday night, and it will be intriguing to see which version of him shows up.