Nebraska Cornhuskers
2019-2020 Overall Rank: #139
Conference Rank: #13 Big Ten
Nebraska needed a change after a tough 2018-2019 campaign. The experienced Cornhuskers did reach the NIT, where they won a game, but they ended up 6-14 in Big Ten play. Coach Fred Hoiberg enters Lincoln after four years coaching the Chicago Bulls and five years previously with Iowa State. Nabbing Coach Hoiberg was a good get for Nebraska. It will take some rebuilding time, but Coach Hoiberg has brought in some experienced players to help bridge the gap.
2018-19 Record: 19-17, 6-14
2018-19 Postseason: NIT
Coach: Fred Hoiberg
Coach Record: 0-0 at Nebraska, 115-56 overall
Key Departed Players:
James Palmer Jr, Guard, 19.7 ppg
Isaac Copeland Jr, Forward, 14.0 ppg
Glynn Watson, Guard, 13.6 ppg
Isaiah Roby, Forward, 11.8 ppg
Thomas Allen, Guard, 8.7 ppg
Tanner Borchardt, Forward, 3.3 ppg
Key Returning Players:
Thor Thorbjarnarson, Junior, Guard, 2.0 ppg
Key New Players:
Akol Arop, Freshman, Forward
Dachon Burke Jr, Junior, Guard, Transfer from Robert Morris, eligible
Haanif Cheatham, Senior, Guard, Grad Transfer from Florida Gulf Coast
Kevin Cross, Freshman, Forward
Samari Curtis, Freshman, Guard
Charlie Easley, Freshman, Guard
Jervay Green, Junior, Guard, JC Transfer
Matej Kavas, Senior, Guard, Grad Transfer from Seattle
Cam Mack, Sophomore, Guard, JC Transfer
Yvan Oudraogo, Freshman, Forward
Jace Piatkowski, Freshman, Guard
Shamiel Stevenson, Junior, Guard, Transfer from Nevada, eligible 2nd Semester
Derrick Walker, Junior, Forward, Transfer from Tennessee, not eligible
Dalano Banton, Sophomore, Guard, Transfer from Western Kentucky, not eligible
Projection:
There are five transfers eligible at the beginning of this season and those players will provide the foundation for this year’s team. Dachon Burke is the only one of the five who was on the roster last season, sitting out as a redshirt after transferring in from Robert Morris. As a sophomore with the Colonials, the 6-4 guard averaged 17.6 points per game. The backcourt will also have Florida Gulf Coast transfer Haanif Cheatham. The former Marquette Golden Eagle is a proven scorer at this level when healthy. The other Division I transfer is Matej Kavas. The big 6-8 guard spent three seasons at Seattle where he was consistently one of the most dangerous outside shooters in the WAC. Jervay Green and Cam Mack come from the junior college ranks. Mack was one of the top point guards in the junior college ranks and it will be up to him to emerge as a coach on the floor and keep Coach Hoiberg’s offense rolling. In the end, this is an undersized group and they will run into some tough times in the Big Ten. However, if the pieces can fit together, there is enough talent here to win more Big Ten games than they did last year.
Projected Postseason Tournament: CBI/CIT
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 71.8 (194th in nation, 5th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 67.3 (61, 7)
Field-Goal Percentage: 42.9 (254, 11)
Field-Goal Defense: 42.1 (84, 8)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.5 (200, 7)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 33.8 (215, 9)
Free-Throw Percentage: 69.7 (205, 9)
Rebound Margin: -2.3 (270, 12)
Assists Per Game: 12.9 (211, 11)
Turnovers Per Game: 9.6 (6, 2)
Madness 2019 Men’s Basketball Recruit Rankings:
#131 Yvan Ouedraogo
