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With the beginning of school basketball season approaching, we’ll have a look at the convention at giant and Indiana’s roster over the subsequent month.
At the moment, our group previews proceed with Nebraska.
Beforehand: Penn State, Minnesota, Rutgers, Michigan
Is there lastly a motive for optimism for Nebraska basketball below Fred Hoiberg?
After three underwhelming seasons to start the Hoiberg period in Lincoln, the Huskers lastly confirmed enchancment final winter.
Nebraska rebounded from a 2-6 begin in convention play to complete 11th of September within the Massive Ten and 16-16 total. By the top of the season, nobody within the Massive Ten wished to play the Huskers. Regardless of some key roster losses – Derrick Walker, Emmanuel Bandoumel and Sam Griesel all graduated – a mixture of returnees and switch additions may assist Hoiberg maintain the momentum constructed late final season.
Guard Keisei Tominaga will lead the Huskers after averaging 13.1 factors and capturing 40 % on 3s (on 165 makes an attempt) a season in the past. The artful 6-foot-2 guard is aware of the way to transfer with out the ball and get open. Over the ultimate 15 video games final season, Tominaga averaged 17.3 factors per sport.
Over the summer time, Tominaga helped lead Japan to a berth within the 2024 Paris Olympics together with his play within the FIBA World Cup. He averaged 11.4 factors on 45 % capturing over 5 video games within the occasion. Japan gained three video games for the primary time within the FIBA World Cup.
Juwan Gary, who suffered a season-ending shoulder harm final season, can also be again as is guard C.J. Wilcher. The 6-foot-6 Gary averaged 9.5 factors and 6.5 rebounds in 17 video games final season. Hoiberg not too long ago mentioned Gary is again wholesome and known as him one of many “elite offensive rebounders within the nation.” Wilcher, a 6-foot-5 guard, averaged eight factors in 27.2 minutes per sport.
Whereas Gary and Wilcher will likely be within the rotation, a few incoming transfers might have a better upside.
Charlotte switch Brice Williams ought to instantly influence the wing after averaging 13.8 factors and 5.3 rebounds final season for the 49ers. Williams shot 39.7 % on 3s final season on a 22-win Charlotte group and needs to be one of many league’s most impactful transfers.
“Together with his dimension, a 6-foot-8, provides us nice versatility all around the flooring,” Hoiberg mentioned of Williams at Nebraska’s media day.
Ahead Josiah Allick is a fifth-year senior who beforehand performed at UMKC and New Mexico earlier than transferring to Lincoln for his remaining season. The 6-foot-8 ahead is a Lincoln native who finishes properly – he shot 64.4 % on 2s final season – and likewise assaults the offensive glass.
Bradley switch Rienk Mast will substitute Walker because the beginning middle. The 6-foot-10 massive man averaged 13.8 factors, eight rebounds and a couple of.4 assists final season within the Missouri Valley. Not like Walker, Mast can step out and knock down perimeter photographs. Over three seasons at Bradley, Mast linked on 82 triples and he’s additionally made 57.3 % of his 2s in his profession.
Freshman Eli Rice, a 6-foot-8 wing from IMG Academy, averaged 16 factors per sport throughout the group’s offseason journey to Spain.
Search for guards Jamarques Lawrence and Jarron Coleman to battle for the purpose guard minutes. Ahron Ulis additionally transferred in, however was concerned in a sports activities betting probe whereas at Iowa and is unlikely to play.
The 6-foot-5 Coleman averaged 14.3 factors, 4.9 rebounds and three.8 assists final season at Ball State. Lawrence, a 6-foot-3 sophomore from New Jersey, knocked down 36.7 % of his 3s final season for the Huskers in Massive Ten play.
Backside Line: Nebraska has but to achieve the postseason below Hoiberg, however the Huskers may lastly be in line for a run on the NIT this season. That might be important progress for a program that has but to smell the postseason below Hoiberg to this point. The expertise on the roster nonetheless isn’t as much as the usual of many Massive Ten groups, however there’s sufficient to maneuver up a couple of spots within the Massive Ten standings. Tominaga is likely one of the nation’s most entertaining gamers, and Williams is likely to be the most effective Massive Ten switch no person is speaking about.
Quotable: “One factor that I’ve actually been impressed with this group is the aggressive spirit. Every single day you recognize precisely what you’re going to get from these guys. There’s a physicality with this group, there’s a whole lot of expertise with this group. We’ve got 9 gamers on our roster which have 4 years or extra expertise. We’re the oldest group within the Massive Ten and that issues.” – Hoiberg earlier this week on the program’s media day.
(Photograph credit score: Nebraska Athletics)
Filed to: 2023-24 season preview, Nebraska Cornhuskers
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