Nebraska Cornhuskers
Big Ten (24-8, 10-6)
Nebraska roared into the Big Ten and have proven they will be a team to reckon with over the years. This is a pretty young squad led by head coach Connie Yori and any postseason success they have this season will carry over into the upcoming seasons. But for now, that youth and inexperience may be what keeps the Cornhuskers from making a deep run in March.
Big Wins: 12/30 at Penn State (71-63), 2/2 at Purdue (93-89), 2/26 Ohio State (71-57)
Bad Losses: 11/30 at Georgia Tech (57-73), 2/13 at Minnesota (58-64), 2/16 Northwestern (51-63)
Coach: Connie Yori (10 seasons at Nebraska)
Why They Can Surprise:
Lindsey Moore and Jordan Hooper form one of the best inside-outside duos in the nation. Moore is the crafty point guard who can do a little bit of everything. She is a great all-around scorer, but also sets up her teammates with great efficiency. Moore even spearheads the defensive effort. Hooper is the inside threat, but she certainly does not stay inside. The 6-2 sophomore hoists up a ton of long balls, but she can score in the paint as well and is one of the best rebounders in the Big Ten. There really is not a player on the team who will not shoot from long range. The Cornhuskers may not be the most consistent outside shooters around, but when the team, or a few players, get hot from long range, this is a team that can put up a ton of points in a hurry.
Why They Can Disappoint:
Nebraska has a lot of size and it shows on the glass and in the scoring column. Freshman Emily Cady is 6-2 and scores inside and out just like Hooper. Hailie Sample is another freshman that stands at 6-1 and can hit the glass. However, none of those big players are shot blocking threats, and a season ending injury to 6-3 sophomore Adrianna Maurer does not help. Nebraska’s size can work against them in some cases when they go up against quick teams that can attack the basket effectively. Without a shot blocking threat under the basket, the Cornhuskers are susceptible to allowing a lot of easy buckets. This is a team that allowed 88 points against Northern Arizona, 71 points to South Dakota State, 72 points to Iowa and 93 points to Penn State.
Probable Starters:
Lindsey Moore, Junior, Guard, 15.8 ppg, 5.2 apg, 2.2 spg
Kaitlyn Burke, Senior, Guard, 5.9 ppg, 2.4 apg
Emily Cady, Freshman, Forward, 9.9 ppg, 6.4 rpg
Hailie Sample, Freshman, Forward, 3.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg
Jordan Hooper, Sophomore, Forward, 19.2 ppg, 9.3 rpg
Key Roleplayers:
Brandi Jeffery, Freshman, Guard, 3.9 ppg, 1.1 apg
Tear’a Laudermill, Freshman, Guard, 4.2 ppg, 1.4 rpg
Meghin Williams, Junior, Forward, 2.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg
Rebecca Woodberry, Freshman, Guard, 4.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 71.7 (32nd in nation, 3rd in conference)
Scoring Defense: 61.3 (163, 5)
Field-Goal Percentage: 39.1 (156, 11)
Field-Goal Defense: 38.3 (149, 7)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.2 (18, 1)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 30.9 (130, 7)
Free-Throw Percentage: 71.1 (99, 8)
Rebound Margin: 3.8 (72, 4)
Assists Per Game: 13.6 (96, 6)
Turnovers Per Game: 16.8 (143, 7)
Recent Postseason Appearances:
Nebraska 2010 NCAA Round of 64 win over Northern Iowa
Nebraska 2010 NCAA Round of 32 win over UCLA
Nebraska 2010 NCAA Regional Semifinal loss to Kentucky
Nebraska 2009 NIT Second Round loss to New Mexico
Nebraska 2008 NCAA Round of 64 win over Xavier
Nebraska 2008 NCAA Round of 32 loss to Maryland
Nebraska 2007 NCAA Round of 64 loss to Temple
Nebraska 2006 NIT First Round win over Drake
Nebraska 2006 NIT Second Round win over Wyoming
Nebraska 2006 NIT Regional Semifinal loss to Kansas State
*all team stats through 3/1
See All Women’s Basketball Postseason Capsules
