Husker Men vs. Texas A&M: How Do These Teams Match Up?
When I first heard the news that both Husker basketball teams would be playing Texas A&M in their respective NCAA tournaments, I felt the way I did in November of 1978. Nebraska football in its seventh try had finally beaten #1 ranked Oklahoma in Lincoln. The next week, NU stumbled, losing at home to Missouri 35-31. Adding insult to injury was the news that Nebraska and Oklahoma would have a rematch in the Orange Bowl.
But after the basketball pairings were released Sunday, I realized the two incidents have very little in common. Of course I was factoring in that Trev Alberts had just quit his AD role at Nebraska and bolted for Texas A&M.
Nebraska is not playing Trev Alberts any more than A&M is playing Husker Interim AD Dennis Leblanc.
So how do these two teams stack up? Let's take a look at the stats.
Overall and conference records
- NU 23-10 (12-8)
- A&M 20-14 (9-9)
Series history
NU holds a 12-8 edge against A&M. The last time these teams met was during the 2010-11 season when NU beat the Aggies 57-48 at the Devaney Center.
Common opponents
- Ohio State and Penn State
- NU vs. those two teams: 2-1 (Beat OSU 83-69, lost to them 78-69 and then beat PSU 68-49).
- A&M: 2-0 Beat OSU 73-66 and PSU 89-77.
Ranked wins
- NU: Beat #1 Purdue and #6 Wisconsin (both at home)
- A&M: Beat #6 Kentucky 97-92 OT and #6 Tennessee 85-69 (both at College Station). Also beat #9 Kentucky 97-87 in the SEC tournament in Nashville.
Record over the last five games
- NU 3-2
- A&M 4-1
Scoring points per game
- NU 77.6
- A&M 74.8
Shooting percentage
- NU #117 (45.2)
- A&M #341 (39.9%)
Three-point shooting percentage
- NU #73 (35.8%)
- A&M #353 (28.4%)
Turnovers per game by opponents
- NU #113 (11.1)
- A&M #19 (9.6)
Rebounds ranking
- NU #263
- A&M #68
Scoring defense points per game
- NU #100 (70.1)
- A&M #123 (70.8)
Three-point shooting defense
- NU 31.9%
- A&M 33.9%
Blocks per game
- NU #286 (2.6)
- A&M #252 (3.9)
Steals given up per game
- NU #141 (6.2)
- A&M #41 (5.3)
Note: My preview of the women's matchup will appear later this week.
How 'Bout Them Huskers
Will and I have a ton to talk about including Trev Alberts bolting for A&M, Dennis Leblanc being named the Interim AD and the NCAA tournament pairings for the Husker men's and women's teams.
