Husker Men vs. Texas A&M: How Do These Teams Match Up?

Nebraska draws Aggies in the NCAA Basketball South Regional on Friday

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.

Stukenholtz: The Time Is Now for Nebraska Men's Basketball's