With NCAA monkey off its back, Nebraska is even more dangerous

After what felt like forever, Nebraska basketball, following eight previous losses, won its first NCAA Tournament game on Thursday against Troy.

The Huskers didn’t just win. They left no doubt. Pryce Sandfort scored 23 points, thanks to seven 3-pointers. Nebraska made 14, by the way, which was more than the 13 field goals made by the Trojans in the entire game.

That’s how dialed in Nebraska was on Thursday. The Trojans shot 28 percent from the field. They could barely make a bucket inside the arc, and if they didn’t get 13 points at the free throw line, they wouldn’t have broken 40.

Nebraska looked like the No. 7 defense in college basketball, according to KenPom. That’s why this team started 20-0. That and the deadly 3-point shooting of Sandfort, along with all of the other pieces.

We started to see some of those on Thursday.

Nebraska basketball found its mojo on offense

You knew it was going to be a good day when Jamarques Lawrence buried a step-back three. Rienk Mast only scored 11 points. He made 5 of 12 shots, but his impact was bigger than that with six rebounds and seven assists. Berke Buyuktuncel was great around the bucket with nine points, seven boards, and a block.

Offensive rebounds for Troy were a concern. Yet, it was Nebraska that won that battle. It pulled down 11 rebounds, dominated second-chance points and gave up six on the offensive glass.

The Huskers had just six turnovers and assisted on 20 of their 28 made baskets. Five different Huskers hit shots from beyond the arc, even Braden Frager, who has made just three of his last 19 from beyond the arc.

He’s too good for that to continue, though. The fact that he made 2-for-10, and Nebraska still won by 29 points, is another reminder of how good this team was on Thursday.

Nebraska played well enough to reach the Sweet 16 and even go beyond.

Of course, one game doesn’t mean anything. Not in this tournament.

But with that gigantic monkey taken off the back of this Nebraska basketball program, the Huskers have nothing to lose.

And for a team that just rediscovered its mojo, it could be the perfect recipe for an NCAA Tournament run that goes beyond this weekend.

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