Nebraska MBB Recap: Nebraska Comes up Short 80-77 in Overtime

FIRST HALF ANALYSIS:

If Nebraska was playing basketball on the NES (for you old school gamers), they definitely would have hit the reset button. Purdue started the game on a 16-1 run. Braden Frager hit Nebraska’s first field goal at the 4:18 mark. Purdue got way too many open looks, as they started 5 of 7 from the floor, including going 4 of 6 from deep. Purdue’s dominance was showing early, as the Boilermakers had more rebounds (12) in the opening eight minutes of the game than Nebraska did field goal attempts (11)

Purdue was never bothered in the opening half whatsoever, as Nebraska was outmatched in every single facet. Between Coach Hoiberg calling 2 timeouts to try and reset the team, and Mast using one to save a possession, Nebraska was left with just one timeout for the rest of the game with 6 minutes to go in the half. Nebraska wasn’t close to doing anything anywhere, and Purdue took a 40-24 lead into the half.

FIRST HALF STATS:

Purdue shot 16-37 for 43% from the floor. They went 5-19 for 26% from deep and 3-3 from the free-throw line. The Boilermakers collected an astonishing 25 rebounds, 9 of which were offensive. Purdue had 11 assists to just 4 turnovers, and had 4 steals.

The Boilermakers were led by Fletcher Loyer, who had 11 points. All-American candidate Braden Smith had 10 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals. Trey Kaufmann-Renn led Purdue with 9 rebounds. Oscar Cluff had 5 offensive boards.

Nebraska shot 8-25 for 32% from the floor. They went 4-16 for 25% from deep and 4-6 for 67% from the free-throw line. The Huskers collected 14 rebounds, 2 of which were offensive. Nebraska had 8 assists to 7 turnovers.

The Huskers were led by Rienk Mast, who had 8 points. Sam Hoiberg and Berke Buyuktuncel had 3 rebounds each. Hoiberg and Jamarques Lawrence had 3 assists each.

SECOND HALF ANALYSIS:

Nebraska needed to take a massive step up, but it took a hot minute to get things going. Purdue opened up with a 6-0 run, making their lead 22 points, and this was all but over. Someone forgot to tell Nebraska. By the under 16 timeout, Nebraska used a 9-2 run to cut the lead to 19 points. The Huskers defense was getting some stops, but the offense hadn’t quite gotten enough baskets to seriously cut into the lead. The halfway point is where things got interesting, like a rollercoaster without safety harnesses or bars interesting.

Nebraska used a 12-0 run to cut the lead to 9 points. It would continue to use that momentum, as Nebraska used a 18-2 run over a 6:33 timespan to eventually knock the lead down to 4. Purdue woke back up, as the Boilermakers countered with an 8-0 run to return the lead to twelve points courtesy of back to back 3’s by C.J Cox.

The Huskers defiance rose to a different level however, starting with the defensive change going to a 1-3-1 zone. Nebraska’s offense climbed all the way back again, tying the game with 12.8 seconds left on a Rienk Mast putback. Mast was fouled on the play, but missed the go-ahead free-throw, giving Purdue the chance to win. That capped a 15-1 Nebraska run. Braden Smith missed the bucket as time expired and we went to overtime.

Purdue opened overtime scoring the first 4 points, but Nebraska would claw its way back again. Nebraska eventually took its first lead of the night with 1:18 to go, but Purdue would hit a bucket on the following possession. After more missed free-throws from both sides, Nebraska was down just 1 with 4.1 seconds to go. The Huskers would inbound the ball to Jamarques Lawrence, who immediately slipped on a wet spot from where the Purdue bench was located when Nebraska took its last timeout. Purdue would hit 2 free-throws, and Nebraska would lose by 3.

FINAL STATS AND THOUGHTS:

Purdue shot 28-76 for 37% from the floor. They went 13-46 for 28% from deep and 11-20 for 55% from the free-throw line. The Boilermakers collected 54 rebounds, 21 of which were offensive. Purdue had 21 assists to 11 turnovers and had 8 steals defensively.

The Boilermakers were led by Fletcher Loyer, who had 18 points. Braden Smith had 13 points, 8 rebounds and 10 assists. Trey Kaufmann-Renn dominated with 19 rebounds. Oscar Cluff had 12 points and 14 rebounds.

Nebraska shot 26-59 for 44% from the floor. They went 12-32 for 38% from deep and 13-20 for 65% from the free-throw line. The Huskers collected 37 rebounds, 6 of which were offensive. Nebraska had 21 assists to 14 turnovers.

The Huskers were led by Rienk Mast, who had 18 points. Pryce Sandfort had 15, all of it coming in the second half and overtime. Mast led the way with 6 rebounds, while 5 different Huskers had 5 each. Mast had 7 assists to pace Nebraska.

Man, where to start with this. Nebraska could not have gotten off to a more wretched start, particularly defensively. Purdue was in complete control of this one, up 22 early in the second half. Nebraska’s heart found a different gear, one that hadn’t been hit yet this season. The Huskers had zero right to be in this one, little lone force overtime.

Mast had the chance to take the lead, but terrible free-throw shooting from both sides nearly lost the game for both teams. It was the most Nebrasketball way to end this, with Lawrence slipping on a wet spot on home court. The people who control the mops need tied to something and their faces buffed with a car waxer. All in all, it was a rollercoaster that amusement parks would be proud of. Started so low, going to extraordinary heights, only to plummet back down to Earth.

The story of the night will be Nebraska getting absolutely destroyed on the glass. If Nebraska wants to be serious contenders, they need to crash the glass much harder. At bare minimum, they need to learn the fundamentals of boxing out properly. Too many guys standing around and not finding a guy to remove from the area. The determination to force overtime was great, but ultimately came up just short. Nebraska faces Northwestern next on Saturday, February 14th. Tip-off is scheduled for 12 pm.