3 takeaways from a dominant win for Nebraska basketball

Nebraska basketball needed a win on Sunday over Minnesota and the Huskers continued their late-season domination. Here are three takeaways.

With each win, you can sense that Nebraska basketball is getting closer to an NCAA tournament berth, and after watching the Huskers get a fourth straight double-digit win, their 20th of the season thanks to a 73-55 victory Sunday at the Vault, you can almost taste it.

Pinnacle Bank Arena was sold out and the crowd brought it, just like the Huskers did on defense. Minnesota was held to 55 points total as well as just 20 in the first half.

Minnesota shot 31 percent from the field and turned the ball over 12 times. Minnesota did grab nine offensive rebounds but was two fewer than the Huskers’ 11.

Juwan Gary caught fire and connected on four 3-pointers on his way to 22 points and eight rebounds. Brice Williams pitched in with 14, while Jamarques Lawrence continued to stay hot coming off the bench with 12, an effort that included three more 3-pointers.

Here are three takeaways.

This is an NCAA tournament team

The Huskers still have three games to go, plus the Big Ten tournament, but I’d be shocked if they don’t make the NCAA tournament.

It’s not easy to win games in the Big Ten. I know some fans were worried after the loss to Northwestern, but the Huskers responded with four straight double-digit wins. That’s impressive as hell and they are living up to their top-40 Kenpom ranking.

It’s time for the bracketologists to take notice. Nebraska is 20-8. Minnesota and Indiana are borderline top-100 teams and Nebraska blew the doors off of both.

The goal isn’t just to survive on the bubble. Nebraska basketball has a chance to earn the double bye in the Big Ten tournament and each of the last three games are winnable, even with two on the road.

I’m not trying to put the cart before the horse, but this is the best Nebraska team I’ve seen in a long time, maybe ever.

The defense has been the difference

Over the past three games, Nebraska basketball has been elite on defense. The Huskers held Penn State to just 0.71 points per possession. Nebraska held Indiana to 0.98 points per possession and they held the Gophers to under a point per possession as well.

Holding any team to 20 points in a half is an accomplishment and while I had doubts about the lineup change, Lawrence has been a godsend off the bench. Fred Hoiberg has found the perfect rotation. The Huskers have size, they have athletic defenders, can handle the point guard, and have a slew of 3-point shooters, mid-range scorers, and low-post threats.

The offense has always been good this season, however, if the defense keeps playing the way it has over the past four games, this is a team capable of not just making the NCAA tournament but winning in the NCAA tournament — something Nebraska basketball has never done.

Juwan Gary was off the charts

Just about every Nebraska basketball player had a good night, yet Juwan Gary took it to another level with 22 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and four 3-pointers.

Gary tied a career-high and he was just as effective on defense as he was on offense. You could see the impact of Gary due to his absence earlier this season. He might not always have the best stats, but he might be Nebraska’s most important player.

What’s great though is that this group is gelling in every way possible. They are connected on defense, being unselfish on offense, and firing on all cylinders at exactly the right time.

It’s an exciting time to be a Nebraska baskeball fan.