Meet the Opponent: Nebraska Hosts Indiana as Big Ten Play Resumes

After winning just 40 total games in coach Fred Hoiberg's first four seasons, Nebraska is on pace for its best season in years with an 11-2 record as Big Ten play resumes. Here's a breakdown of the Cornhuskers.

Indiana resumes Big Ten play Wednesday at Nebraska, which is putting together by far its best season under coach Fred Hoiberg.

The Hoosiers enter the game 10-3 overall, plus an important 2-0 in Big Ten play with wins over Maryland and at Michigan. Nebraska was a Big Ten bottom-feeder the first four seasons with Hoiberg, but that could change this year. The Cornhuskers are 11-2, already having won more games than each of the first three seasons with Hoiberg. 

Tipoff between the Hoosiers and Cornhuskers is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET. 

Here's a breakdown of the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Key returners

(2023-24 stats)

• F Juwan Gary: 13.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 37.1 3-pt FG%
• G Keisei Tominaga: 12.7 ppg, 33.3 3-pt FG%
• G C.J. Wilcher: 7.8 ppg, 38.6 3-pt FG%
• G Jamarques Lawrence: 6.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.8 apg, 26.2 3-pt FG%
• G Sam Hoiberg: 4.1 ppg, 39.1 3-pt FG%

Key departures

(2022-23 stats)

• F Derrick Walker: 13.6 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 3.9 apg
• G Sam Griesel: 12.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 3.8 apg
• G Emmanuel Bandoumel: 8.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.3 apg
• F Wilhelm Breidenbach: 3.6 ppg, 2.7 rpg

Key newcomers

(2023-24 stats)

• G Brice Williams (Charlotte transfer): 13.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 34.6 3-pt FG%
• F Rienk Mast (Bradley transfer): 13.0 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 33.3 3-pt FG%
• Mast has not played since Dec. 17 with knee injury.
• F Josiah Allick (New Mexico transfer): 7.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg 
• G Eli Rice (No. 200 freshman): 4.3 ppg, 38.1 3-pt FG%
• G Jarron Coleman (Ball State transfer): 2.7 ppg, 2.6 apg, 19.0 3-pt FG%

Schedule (11-2, 1-1 in Big Ten)

• W, 84-52 vs. Lindenwood
• W, 81-54 vs. Florida A&M
• W, 64-50 vs. Rider
• W, 84-63 vs. Stony Brook
• W, 84-63 vs. Oregon State (neutral site, South Dakota)
• W, 89-79 vs. Duquesne
• W, 85-72 vs. Cal State Fullerton
• L, 89-60 vs. Creighton
• L, 76-65 at Minnesota
• W, 77-70 vs. Michigan State
• W, 62-46 at Kansas State
• W, 83-75 vs. North Dakota
• W, 91-62 vs. South Carolina State

Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Brice Williams (3) dribbles the ball against the Creighton Bluejays during the first half at Pinnacle Bank Arena / Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Strengths

Brice Williams, a former All-Conference USA player at Charlotte, is one of the most underrated transfers in the Big Ten this season. His 6-foot-7 frame allows him to score inside and grab rebounds, but Williams is also shooting 34.7% from three-point range on four attempts per game and leading Nebraska with 13.7 points. He'll be a tough cover for Trey Galloway, Mackenzie Mgbako and others. 

Part of the reason this Nebraska team has been more successful than past iterations under Hoiberg is that it has several scoring options. While forward Rienk Mast's status is uncertain, Nebraska has four players scoring in double figures and a few solid contributors off the bench. Indiana has faced 6-foot-2 Keisei Tominaga the last three seasons, and his 3-point shooting presents a threat to an Indiana team that's often been burned by outside shooters this year. Juwan Gary has increased his 3-point shooting by nearly 11%, and C.J. Wilcher is certainly capable at 38.6%. Indiana would rather give up threes than twos, and this defensive strategy could be costly if Nebraska is knocking down shots.

Weaknesses

It's hard to fully buy into this Nebraska team through 13 games because it ranks 296th in strength of schedule. The Cornhuskers have defeated all of their mid-major opponents by double figures, including five by 20-plus points. They deserve credit for easily taking care of business in those games. But in their first real test, Nebraska failed in embarrassing fashion on its home court, losing 89-60 to a ranked Creighton team. That loss carried over three days later in Nebraska's first true road game, a 76-65 loss at Minnesota. Nebraska shot just 33.8% against Creighton, then turned the ball over 18 times against Minnesota. 

Though Nebraska rebounded from those losses with wins over Michigan State and Kansas State, a major question heading into the matchup against Indiana is the health of starting forward Rienk Mast, who was averaging 13 points and 9.9 rebounds through 11 games before undergoing knee surgery.

"He's doing really well," Hoiberg said on the College Hoops Today podcast with Jon Rothstein on Dec. 26. "He's on track to return in early January. Does that mean Indiana? I don't know yet."

If Mast is unable to play, Nebraska's front court will be extremely thin. The 6-foot-9 Mast is the team's leading rebounder and tallest player in the rotation. The Cornhuskers would need 6-foot-8 Josiah Allick, 6-foot-7 Brice Williams and 6-foot-6 Juwan Gary to handle an Indiana front court that would have a major height and depth advantage. Even with Mast in 11 of the team's 13 games so far, Nebraska ranks 311th in block percentage and was out-rebounded by 11 against Creighton. Mast is not much of a rim protector, but Nebraska could surely use his rebounding and size against an Indiana team focused on scoring inside most of the time.

Season outlook

Nebraska went 40-83 in the first four seasons under coach Fred Hoiberg, but it has jumped out to an 11-2 start this year. Barring total collapse, it'll be Hoiberg's first season with a record above .500. And with wins over Michigan State and Kansas State already, a winning record in Big Ten play could mean the Cornhuskers' first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2014. The talent level is clearly up with the addition of Williams to Tominaga and Gary, but Nebraska needs Mast to be at his best, especially against Indiana.