Gophers Brace for Unbeaten Nebraska in Saturday Showdown
The Gophers have had their moments this season-big wins at home against Indiana and Iowa showed flashes of what this group is capable of when things click. But Saturday offers a different kind of test, and a massive opportunity.
Seventh-ranked Nebraska rolls into town riding a 23-game winning streak that stretches back to last season. At 19-0 overall and 8-0 in the Big Ten, the Huskers are not just undefeated-they’re in complete control of the conference and climbing to the highest ranking in program history. Their latest win came in dominant fashion over a banged-up Washington squad, and they’re showing no signs of slowing down.
Tip-off is set for 11 a.m. Saturday, and for Minnesota, this is a chance to make a serious statement.
The Gophers come in looking to snap a four-game skid. Sitting at 10-9 overall and 3-5 in Big Ten play, the team is searching for consistency, especially against the elite competition that defines this part of the schedule. But there’s one bright spot that’s hard to ignore: Jaylen Crocker-Johnson.
The sophomore forward/center has been on an absolute tear, putting up 20-plus points in three straight games. His blend of size, touch, and growing confidence has made him a focal point of Minnesota’s offense-and he’ll need to be at his best if the Gophers are going to hang with the Huskers.
Head coach Niko Medved knows the challenge ahead. Speaking Thursday, he acknowledged the uphill battle his team faces-not just against Nebraska, but with the roster itself.
Forward BJ Omot, who had been working his way back from a shin injury, recently underwent another procedure and is now officially done for the season. He’ll pursue a medical redshirt. That makes four scholarship players the Gophers have lost for the year, with Omot joining guard Chance Stephens, center Rob Vaihola, and guard Chansey Willis Jr. on the sideline.
That kind of attrition tests a team’s depth and resilience. But it also opens the door for younger players to step up and for leaders like Crocker-Johnson to take on even more responsibility.
Saturday’s matchup isn’t just about trying to end a losing streak or pull off an upset-it’s a measuring stick. Nebraska is playing like a team with Final Four aspirations. For Minnesota, it’s a chance to prove they can hang with the best the Big Ten has to offer, even while shorthanded.
The stage is set. Now it’s about execution.