Nebraska Basketball: Huskers Aim To Slay The Spartans

Winners of two straight games, the Nebraska basketball team looks to next put away Michigan State. Here’s how the Huskers can make it three wins in a row.

Coming off of a one-point win over Ohio State last Saturday, Nebraska (12-14, 6-8) is riding high. A nice road victory coupled with the return of Ed Morrow has revitalized the Big Red. Heading into East Lansing, they’ll need all the momentum they can get.

A Big Injury to Harris

Michigan State (16-11, 8-6) was delivered some bad news last Sunday as it was revealed that senior guard Eron Harris will have season-ending knee surgery. Harris suffered the injury in an 80-63 loss to No. 16 Purdue after coming down awkwardly on his right leg.

It’s particularly tough news considering Harris was the Spartans’ third-leading scorer. This injury will undoubtedly affect the way Michigan State attacks the Husker defense.

Tai Webster Continues His Dominance

What’s to say? It seems like we write about this guy scoring in double figures every week. That’s because he does.

The young man from New Zealand has scored double digits in every game this season (27 straight dating back to last season). By adding another 17 points against Ohio State, he became one of only two players in Power Five conferences to score in double figures in every game this year.

That puts him in the same category as Villanova’s Josh Hart, who is in consideration for National Player Of The Year. To put it simply Webster has been amazing.

The Return of Morrow Can’t Be Underestimated

It’s no coincidence that the Huskers have won two straight after Morrow’s return. The big guy has been a defensive force and a rebounding machine.

He is averaging 9.6 rebounds per game and the Big Red is 2-1 since his return. That’s following a 1-6 record without No. 30. It’s tough to speculate, but it’s likely the Huskers’ record would be in much better shape had Morrow been healthy all season.

Fuller Fulfilling His Role

We never get a chance to talk about Fuller, so why not? He had arguably the biggest play in Nebraska’s win against the Buckeyes, forcing a jump ball with under 22 seconds left in the game which would ensure another Husker possession.

Glynn Watson, Jr. would convert a three-point shot with just under 12 seconds left to play, ultimately giving the Huskers their 58-57 victory. Fuller did the dirty work and he’s a true team player. That’s why it was nice to see his patience rewarded. Perhaps he’ll make a few plays against Michigan State?

Not Your Typical Spartans

Tom Izzo’s Spartans aren’t your standard powerhouse this year, but that doesn’t mean they’re not dangerous. They’re young, talented and despite their record, they’re vying for the fourth seed in the Big Ten Tournament.

Northwestern currently holds a one-game lead over Michigan State, but the seeding is far from settled. That’s why a win over Nebraska is a priority for Sparty.

How The Huskers Can Win

Nebraska will need some solid play from Morrow once again to earn a victory. They also need Webster’s typical contributions and some strong guard play from Glynn Watson Jr. Limiting turnovers and good ball movement should put the Huskers in a winning position.

What Are The Implications For Nebraska?

Look, Nebraska has an extremely outside shot at making the NCAA tournament and at this point, they’re presumably playing for pride. However, if they can make a run in the Big Ten tournament, they’ll have a chance.