Nebraska men’s basketball with balanced production

He noticed that teams wanted to force him to dribble with his left hand more often, knowing that he liked to attack the basket with his right. And with Keisei Tominaga gone, Williams often relies on the opponent’s best full-back.

As Williams gained more attention, Nebraska’s role players took advantage.

“We have so many different talented people who can make it happen. So if you stop one, the other can get it going,” Williams said.

Two of Nebraska’s top four scorers come off the bench. Connor Essegian is averaging 13.1 points per game and Andrew Morgan is averaging 8.6. Overall, 39.4% of the Huskers’ minutes came from outside the starting lineup, the 23rd highest mark in the country and an increase from 34.7% a year ago.

Essegian started three games this season when Braxton Meah and Berke Buyuktuncel were injured. He and Morgan both started at times for their respective schools, Wisconsin and North Dakota State.

At Nebraska, Essegian often ends games, swapping with Sam Hoiberg in the final minutes of the Huskers’ victories over Creighton and Indiana. In both games, Essegian checked in for Hoiberg before any offensive possession occurred; Hoiberg was on the field when Nebraska needed stops.

Morgan was NU’s leading low-block scorer with 10 points and five rebounds against Indiana, and coach Fred Hoiberg called him a bright spot in an 89-52 loss at Michigan State. The nimble Morgan usually comes into play after about four minutes, in contrast to Meah’s brute force and rim defense. Sam Hoiberg provides energy and defensive intensity, and Ahron Ulis is a veteran point guard who splits time with starter Rollie Worster.

Juwan Gary said after Nebraska’s 85-68 win over Indiana that the bench “will always be ready.”

“If your name and number are called, I’m pretty sure the guys will be ready, and they did today,” Gary said. “The guys on the bench, their preparation is just like that of the starting eleven. They come off the bench and give us a lot of juice.”

Gavin Griffiths didn’t play in the Huskers’ Big Ten opener against Michigan State until Nebraska trailed by 26 points in the second half, and he was on the bench for the entire Indiana game. If he ended up being the underdog, there would be a precedent. Jarron Coleman played the first month of last season but didn’t get significant minutes after early December as NU moved to an eight-man rotation.

Should Griffiths move out of the current rotation, the Huskers would still have nine players as well as backup minutes from redshirt sophomore guard Cale Jacobsen if needed. It is enough that players have versatility and the ability to play big or small depending on the opponent. That level of depth will also be important in Nebraska’s upcoming trip to Hawaii for the Diamond Head Classic, where three games will be played in four days.

“It’s going to be a tough team, a long season, but everyone is ready,” Williams said. “Everyone is preparing. Everyone is ready for their moment. Everyone is ready to have their name called.”