After dropping back-to-back games at home, Nebraska men’s basketball is looking to get back in rhythm as it hosts Northwestern on Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Tip-off is set for noon, and the Huskers will be aiming to sweep the season series against the Wildcats after a dominant 77-58 win in Evanston back in January.
That win snapped a seven-game skid against Northwestern and gave Nebraska a shot at flipping the script in this matchup. A win Saturday would mark three straight over the Wildcats - a streak that felt unlikely not long ago.
But before Nebraska can think about streaks, they’ve got to clean up what went wrong in Tuesday’s narrow 80-77 loss to Purdue. The Huskers were outmuscled on the offensive glass, giving up a staggering 21 offensive rebounds to the Boilermakers. That disparity translated into Purdue taking 17 more shots - 76 attempts to Nebraska’s 59 - and that’s a tough math problem to solve, even with a strong shooting night.
Head coach Fred Hoiberg didn’t sugarcoat it.
“It’s hard to win,” he said. “Not only the offensive rebounds, but the sloppiness and the turnovers. A lot of that had to do with Purdue - they do a great job with their deflections - but we had a lot of unforced ones as well.”
So the message in practice this week was clear: get tougher, get cleaner. And the response? Encouraging.
“Obviously, we watched every one of those offensive rebounds on film,” Hoiberg said. “Our guys came out and really had a good, hard, physical practice.”
That physicality will be key against a Northwestern team that, while struggling in the Big Ten standings at 2-12, has shown it can hang with anyone. Just ask Michigan.
The Wildcats led by double digits for much of the second half before falling 87-75 on Wednesday night. Earlier this season, they pushed Iowa to the brink on the road.
This is a team that doesn’t quit.
“They continue to come at you, and new guys are stepping up,” Hoiberg said. “They’re playing with a lot of confidence right now.”
Northwestern’s strength starts with how well they take care of the basketball. The Wildcats rank second nationally in turnover percentage at just 12.4%, and they’re elite at avoiding steals - giving up a steal on only 7.3% of possessions, 12th-best in the country. In the first meeting, Nebraska forced 11 turnovers and picked up seven steals - a big reason for the 19-point win.
Don’t expect Northwestern to give the ball away easily, though. Their offense is built on precision.
They rank in the top 10 nationally in assist rate (64.7%) and non-steal turnover percentage (5.1%). That means Nebraska will need to play disciplined, connected defense for the full shot clock - no shortcuts.
“They take care of the ball better than anybody in the country,” Hoiberg said. “If you can get some of those deflections and get out on the break, certainly that’s going to help your offense.”
That leads to one of the key areas Nebraska will try to exploit: transition. In the first meeting, the Huskers racked up 15 fast break points.
Creating those chances again - especially by speeding up Northwestern’s guards - could open the door for a few rhythm looks for shooters like Pryce Sandfort. Getting Sandfort back in a groove from deep could pay dividends down the stretch of the season.
Another area to watch: the glass. While Nebraska didn’t need a rebounding edge to win the first matchup, they were still outdone 9-6 on the offensive boards. After what happened against Purdue, you can bet that’s a point of emphasis.
Northwestern’s offense is led by forward Nick Martinelli, who’s been a scoring machine all season. He’s averaging 22.5 points per game overall and 22.4 in Big Ten play - third in the league behind Indiana’s Lamar Wilkerson and Iowa’s Bennett Stirtz. Martinelli’s ability to score at all three levels makes him a tough cover, and Nebraska’s defensive rotations will need to be sharp to keep him in check.
The Wildcats have also shuffled their starting five, with junior guard Jayden Reid and freshman Tre Singleton bringing a new dynamic to the backcourt. Singleton, in particular, has impressed with his physicality, while Arrieten Paige turned heads with his performance against Michigan, battling the Wolverines’ bigs with real toughness.
“They’re very dynamic in the backcourt,” Hoiberg said. “Those two guys are really playing with a high level of confidence. Singleton has got great physicality with the way he’s playing.”
Saturday’s game also carries extra meaning off the court as Nebraska celebrates Alumni Weekend. More than 75 former players, coaches, and staff are expected back on campus, including a reunion of the 1996 NIT Champion Huskers, led by former head coach Danny Nee. The team will be honored at a private banquet Friday night and recognized during Saturday’s game.
“We love welcoming them back,” Hoiberg said. “It brings back great memories for these guys.”
And it’s not just a nostalgia trip. Many of the alumni attended practice Friday morning and shared their appreciation for the current team’s effort and chemistry.
“They love how this group competes, how hard they play, how unselfish they are, how they play for each other,” Hoiberg said. “And I think it brings back great memories for these guys.”
For Nebraska, Saturday is about more than just bouncing back from two home losses. It’s about honoring the past while continuing to build something in the present. With a chance to sweep Northwestern and restore some momentum, the Huskers will need to bring the physicality, clean up the mistakes, and stay locked in against a Wildcats team that - despite its record - won’t go quietly.
Tip-off is at noon. Expect a battle.