Nebraska Basketball defeated Michigan on Sunday by an 85-70 margin. They secured the No. 3 seed in the Big Ten tournament, and a double-bye as well. This was the first time in Nebraska basketball history that they finished higher than fourth in the conference overall.
This was a game where everything seemed to be clicking late. Keisei Tominaga was on fire to start the game, and he continued his steady play throughout the contest. Nebraska actually struggled quite a bit defensively on the perimeter and in the paint to start the first half. However, second half adjustments were made, and the Huskers really picked up their defensive effort .
Now, Nebraska is sitting pretty as they await postseason play. There were a lot of things to like about Sunday’s when over Michigan, and here are three takeaways from the game itself.
The Nebraska Basketball shooters are heating up
Keisei Tominaga was up to his old tricks again on Sunday in the best way possible. He finished with 30 points on Sunday, to go along with six rebounds and two assists. It was his highest point total since February 4 against Illinois when he had 31.
Tominaga is heating up at the right time for Nebraska basketball. He has looked a lot more comfortable during the second half of the season, and that has translated to productivity on the court. Sunday saw him bring efficiency to the table. He went 12-of-17 from the field and five-of-eight from beyond the arc.
His productivity and efficiency with his shots will be important with Big Ten tournament play starting next week. When he is at his best, he is able to move without the basketball and take high percentage shots. At times, it seems as if he rushes shots and slows down the offense. However, he has been much better at picking his spots and being efficient. In turn, he has kept his title as being one of the most dangerous three-point shooters in college basketball. Sunday was evidence of that.
Josiah Allick is finding his groove
Josiah Allick is another player who really showed up on Sunday and both the scoring and rebounding department.Not only did he sh ow up on Sunday, he has shown up throughout the entirety of the second half of the season. Sunday saw him record 15 points, and five rebounds.
However, it wasn’t just his statistical effort that stood out. It was his aggressiveness while doing so. Allick has done a much better job of crashing the boards and getting loose rebounds. This was something that he struggled with more in the beginning of the season. The second half of the season has seen him really turn into a complete player defensively.
Nebraska came into Sunday’s game with a 14-2 record when he scored six-plus points. His contributions on the offensive end in particular have really been an asset for the program. He was up to his usual tricks on Sunday, and this is a positive sign heading into the Big Ten tournament.
Fred Hoiberg is Big Ten Coach of the Year
Fred Hoiberg is undoubtedly Big Ten coach of the year. The Huskers were slated to finish 12th in the Big Ten coming into the season. They finished the season as the third overall seed.
The losses of Sam Griesel and Derrick Walker could have turned disastrous for the program. However, Hoiberg and his coaching staff masterfully overhauled the roster again this year. Allick, Brice Williams, and Rienk Mast have all played huge roles so far this season.
Of course, Hoiberg is no stranger to going into the transfer portal. However, these last two transfer portal classes in particular has been important to the program. Juwan Gary and CJ Wilcher are two other players that have really stepped up this season. Hoiberg has found a formula for success over these last few seasons in particular. The foundation was built last season, and now we are seeing his plan being executed at a high level.
It hasn’t always been easy for Hoiberg during his Nebraska basketball coaching career. However, he is beginning to see the fruits of his labor. In this particular case, he is leading Nebraska basketball through one of the best seasons in program history.
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