The Nebraska basketball team is back in the NCAA tournament, marking the ninth time in the program's history. This year, the Huskers have secured a fourth seed, their second-highest ever, and are set to face Troy, a formidable opponent with 22 wins and the Sun Belt regular-season and tournament titles under their belt.
Breaking down this matchup, Nebraska seems to have the edge, but Troy's strengths-particularly in 3-point shooting, offensive rebounding, and forcing turnovers-are not to be underestimated. For Nebraska, ball control is crucial.
Winning the battle on the boards and hitting their 3-point shots will be key. And let's not forget about Braden Frager.
Frager, a redshirt freshman and the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, has struggled recently, scoring just 16 points over the last three games and making only 1 of 9 from beyond the arc. This performance needs to improve if Nebraska hopes to make a deep run in the tournament.
In Nebraska's six losses this season, Frager has either been absent or held to single digits. Interestingly, when Frager scores at least 10 points, Nebraska boasts a 16-1 record.
While they’ve managed some wins without him hitting double figures, his scoring seems to be a significant factor in their success. Keep an eye on Frager as Nebraska takes on Troy and beyond.
Switching gears to Nebraska women’s basketball, they clinched a victory at Cameron Indoor, defeating Richmond 76-57 to move into the round of 64. Britt Prince was the standout, leading with 22 points on an impressive 10 of 14 shooting.
Callin Hake also contributed significantly, draining four 3-pointers and adding 14 points. Up next, they face Baylor on Friday.