Michigan Faces Unbeaten Nebraska in a Clash of Big Ten Heavyweights
Tuesday night in Ann Arbor isn’t just another game on the schedule - it’s a litmus test. No.
3 Michigan welcomes No. 5 Nebraska, a team that hasn't tasted defeat all season and doesn’t look interested in starting now.
Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET, and if you’re a fan of high-level, high-stakes college hoops, this is one you circle in red.
Let’s set the stage. As of January 26, only three teams in the country remain unbeaten: Arizona, Miami (OH), and Nebraska - all sitting at 20-0.
But Nebraska’s résumé might be the most battle-tested of the bunch. Wins over Illinois, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Creighton, Indiana - and most recently, a gritty comeback victory at Minnesota after trailing by six at halftime - have catapulted the Cornhuskers into national title conversations.
They’re currently projected as a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, and they’re playing like a team with eyes on the top line.
Michigan head coach Dusty May isn’t downplaying the challenge.
“It’s the biggest game of the year because it’s the next game,” May said Monday, before going on to praise Nebraska’s discipline and cohesion. “They all bring their own special sauce to the equation and really function well as a team. They’re fun to watch, they’re fun to scout.”
Translation: Nebraska isn’t just good - they’re dangerous.
Nebraska’s Balanced Attack
What makes this Cornhuskers squad so tough to game plan for is their balance. Four players average double figures, five pull down at least five boards per game, and the team is shooting north of 35% from deep. That’s a lot of firepower - and it’s coming from everywhere.
Leading the charge is forward Pryce Sandfort, who’s been in full-on takeover mode lately. He’s dropped at least 22 points in each of his last four games and has been lights-out from three, hitting at least 50% from distance in four of his last five. He’s not just getting hot - he’s staying hot.
Down low, Rienk Mast brings size and skill at 6-foot-10. The second-year forward is averaging 14.6 points and six rebounds, and he’s become a two-way presence that Michigan will have to account for on every possession. Then there’s Jamarques Lawrence, who’s been quietly efficient all season, shooting over 44% from the field and nearly 80% from the free throw line.
But Nebraska’s success isn’t just about individual talent - it’s about the system.
Spacing, Shooting, and Relentless Pace
The Huskers run a “five-out” offense, which means all five players are spaced out around the perimeter. It’s a nightmare for traditional defensive schemes. Everyone’s a shooting threat, and they’re constantly moving, cutting, and looking for open looks.
“They might be No. 1 in the country in transition three-point shots,” May said. “They don’t really slow it down.”
That transition game is lethal. If you’re late getting back, Nebraska will make you pay.
And once they’re in the half court, they don’t stop moving. The cuts are sharp, the spacing is textbook, and the ball doesn’t stick.
It’s the kind of offense that forces defenders into constant decisions - and constant mistakes.
May emphasized the importance of Michigan’s communication in transition defense. “If you run back to the paint, you’re gonna be looking around trying to find someone to guard,” he said. “We’ve got to be communicating and taking in information as we’re running back… and we’re gonna have to change coverages.”
Translation: Michigan’s going to need to stay locked in - and flexible - for 40 straight minutes.
The Danger from Deep
Sandfort isn’t the only Cornhusker lighting it up from beyond the arc. Braden Frager, Sam Hoiberg, and Lawrence are all shooting better than 37% from deep. That kind of shooting depth puts pressure on every rotation, every closeout, every defensive switch.
For a Michigan team that has struggled at times from three, particularly in games like the one against Wisconsin, this could be a key battleground. If the Wolverines can’t keep pace from deep, they’ll be playing catch-up - and that’s not where you want to be against a team that knows how to close.
Beware the Second-Half Surge
If there’s one thing Nebraska has made a habit of, it’s flipping the switch after halftime. Just ask Minnesota, who was outscored by 25 in the second half.
Or Northwestern (minus-14), Oregon (minus-23), and Indiana (minus-15). Nebraska doesn’t just adjust - they come out of the locker room with a different gear.
That’s a challenge for a Michigan squad that’s had its own issues with consistency in January. The Wolverines can’t afford to ease off the gas - not for a single possession. This is going to be a full-throttle, four-quarter kind of game.
The Bottom Line
This one’s got all the ingredients: two top-five teams, an undefeated record on the line, and a clash of styles that could define the Big Ten race. For Michigan, it’s a chance to make a statement. For Nebraska, it’s another opportunity to prove that this run is no fluke.
Tuesday night in Ann Arbor? It’s more than just a game. It’s a showdown between a team trying to protect its perfect season and another trying to remind the country just how dangerous it can be when it plays its brand of basketball - for all 40 minutes.