How to watch Nebraska Men’s Basketball vs. Indiana: Preview, Breakdown, TV Channel

The Nebraska men’s basketball team got a rude awakening last Saturday on the road in East Lansing to begin Big Ten Conference play.

When tested on the road it was a chance for that Huskers proving that its non-conference performance was no fluke and that it could compete with a top half team in the conference. That test failed in embarrassing fashion with the Spartans losing 89-52. MSU led by as many as 41 points while NU shot just 33.3% from the field and was just 4 of 22 from three-point range.

Transferred to North Dakota State Andrew Morgan was the only bright spot in the team rankings with 14 points and seven rebounds. Guard Brice Williams was the only other NU player in double figures with 11 points Juwan Gary And Rollie Worster Each added nine points.

Head coach Fred Hoiberg said in his postgame press release that his team’s practice in the week leading up to the game was an indicator of their poor performance against Michigan State. He will look to correct his team as it hosts a struggling Indiana team that beat it three times last season.

Here’s everything you need to know as NU returns home to take on the Hoosiers.

How to get involved

Indiana Scout

Head Coach: Mike Woodson | 4th season | 71-42 (.628) college HC record | Former NBA HC of the Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks | 2x NCAA tournament appearances, 1x All-Americans, 7x All-Big Ten selection, 2x B1G Freshman of the Year, 3x NBA draft picks.

2023-2024 record: 19-14 (10-10 B1G, T-6) | B1G Co-Freshman of the Year, 1x All-Big Ten Third Team, 1x Honorable Mention, 1x All-Freshman Team, 1x All-Defensive Team | Did not qualify for the postseason.

All-time series: Indiana leads 20-10 (last B1G quarterfinal in 2024, 93-66 NU).

Fun fact: Nebraska has won three straight games against Hoosiers, all of which came last season that ended with a 93-66 win in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament.

Important returnees: Malik Reneau, F, Jr. | Mackenzie Mgbako, F, Soph. | Trey Galloway, G, Gr. | Gabe Cupps, G, Soph.

Important additions: Oumar Ballo, C, Gr. (Arizona) | Myles Rice, G, R-Soph. (Washington State) | Bryson Tucker, F, Fr. (Recruiting) | Luke Goode, F, Sr. (Illinois).

Most important departures: Kel’el Ware, C (NBA Draft) | Xavier Johnson, G (Eligibility) | Anthony Walker, F (Eligibility) | CJ Gunn, G, Jr. (DePaul).

Outlook: Former Hoosier All-American Mike Woodson started the season somewhat on the hot seat and the talk became more heated after he was defeated by Louisville 89-61 and 89-73 against No. 3 Gonzaga in the Battle 4 Atlantis.

But since then, four straight wins have calmed the mood, including an 82-67 victory over Minnesota that opened conference play on Monday. The returning duo of Malik Reneau and reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year Mackenzie Mgbako led the Hoosiers in 10 games. Both forwards are averaging over 15 points and five rebounds per game, including Mgbako’s 43.9% mark from three-point land.

There’s a good reason Indiana finished second in the conference preseason poll, and that’s because it has one of the top-ranked transfer classes in the country. IU lost center Kel’el Ware to the Miami Heat in the first round of last spring’s NBA draft, and Woodson replaced him with Arizona transfer Oumar Ballo, who averaged 13.2 PPG on 70 percent shooting and rebounds per game Big Ten leaders include contests (9.0) and blocked shots (2.0). Myles Rice, a Freshman All-American with Washington State, is the fourth Hoosier in double figures with 10.8 ppg.

Woodson has Indiana, which has one of the nation’s deadliest offenses, allowing 80.4 points per game and shooting nearly 51 percent from the field – which ranks second in the Big Ten. The Hoosiers also rank in the top five in the conference in three-point and free throw percentage, defense, and total rebounds and assists per game.

It’s a difficult two-game stretch for the Huskers to begin conference play, but such is life in the Big Ten. A victory should not be the expectation here. Indiana has the better offense and roster on paper, but Nebraska has something to defend its home court. I still have Indiana in this game, but the Huskers should give the Hoosiers a test as they are at home and trying to prove themselves after getting shelled on the road.

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