Nebraska Stays Perfect, Washington Stumbles Again in Big Ten Play
The Huskies’ Big Ten growing pains continued Wednesday night in Lincoln, where No. 7 Nebraska flexed its muscle in a 76-66 win over Washington.
For the Cornhuskers, it was business as usual-another win in a season that’s quickly becoming the best in program history. For Washington, it was another frustrating step in a conference slate that just hasn’t clicked.
Nebraska jumped out early and never looked back, outscoring Washington by 13 in the first half and holding off any second-half surge. That early cushion proved more than enough to keep the Huskies at bay.
With the loss, Washington drops to 10-9 overall and 2-6 in Big Ten play. Nebraska, meanwhile, remains unbeaten at 19-0, including a spotless 8-0 conference record.
Injuries Continue to Hamper Huskies’ Depth
It’s hard to find rhythm when your rotation keeps changing, and that’s exactly what Washington is dealing with. Desmond Claude remained out with an ankle injury, and Wesley Yates, who’s already missed time this season, was unavailable again. The lack of depth is showing-and it’s showing up on the scoreboard.
Steinbach Shines Again
If there’s a silver lining for the Huskies, it’s the continued rise of freshman forward Maximus Steinbach. The German standout is putting together a freshman campaign that’s turning heads across the conference, and Wednesday was no different.
Steinbach poured in 21 points and grabbed 12 boards in 32 minutes, including five on the offensive glass. He added a block for good measure and once again looked like a future cornerstone for this program.
Diallo Delivers, But Help is Scarce
Freshman guard Zoom Diallo joined Steinbach in double figures, scoring 18 points on an efficient 8-of-14 from the field and knocking down a pair of threes. But beyond those two, the offensive production dropped off sharply. No other Husky scored more than six points, and the rest of the starting lineup combined for just eight.
Washington shot 44 percent from the field (27-of-61) but struggled from deep, hitting just 6-of-21 from beyond the arc. The Huskies also didn’t do themselves any favors at the free-throw line, earning only 10 attempts and converting six.
Nebraska’s Balanced Attack
On the other side, Nebraska showed why it’s a top-10 team. Four players scored in double figures, led by Pryce Sandfort’s 23 points on 8-of-13 shooting.
The Cornhuskers shot 51 percent from the field, 38 percent from three, and 75 percent from the line. They didn’t dominate the paint-Washington actually held a 40-26 edge there-but their efficiency and depth were the difference.
Both teams were relatively clean with the ball, committing just eight turnovers apiece.
What Needs to Change
The Huskies’ effort isn’t in question, but the production just isn’t there right now. Injuries are part of the story, but even with a thin roster, Washington needs more scoring options. When two players account for nearly 60 percent of your offense and the rest of the team can’t crack double digits, it’s tough to compete-especially against a team as complete as Nebraska.
Head coach Danny Sprinkle has seen flashes from this group, but consistency remains elusive. With the schedule offering little breathing room, the Huskies have to find a way to generate more offense, whether that comes from bench contributions, tempo changes, or simply better shot selection.
Looking Ahead
Washington has now lost three straight and five of its last six. The next opportunity to right the ship comes Sunday at home against Oregon.
Tipoff is set for 12 p.m. PT at Alaska Airlines Arena.
The timing may affect attendance-Seattle fans will be juggling the Huskies game with the Seahawks’ NFC Championship tilt later that afternoon-but for Washington, the focus has to be internal.
The Huskies need a win. And they need it soon.