Nebraska basketball: Latest win illustrates Huskers’ depth
The Nebraska basketball team found a different way to win than they had recently, showing this team is for real.
No, the Nebraska basketball team didn’t blow out the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. The Huskers were also rarely in danger of losing the game.
In beating Rutgers, the Cornhuskers showed they are for real. This is a team that has gone from one that has problems finishing, to a team that can play confidently from opening tip to final buzzer.
In the last few weeks, Nebraska has been winning thanks to massive performances from James Palmer Jr. Coming into Saturday, JPJ had been averaging 24.3 points per game over his last seven games.
More from Nebraska Basketball
- Nebraska Cornhuskers News: From walk-on to scholly, more
- Nebraska Cornhuskers News: Alt unis left fans feeling blue, more
- Nebraska Cornhuskers: Jarron Coleman fills a rather sudden need
- Nebraska Cornhuskers News: Barret Liebentritt is a ‘tough dude,’ more
- Nebraska Cornhuskers News: One big bad Wednesday, more
Despite scoring the lowest point total since the Penn State game on January 12, Palmer’s team got an easy victory. That was thanks to him being one of four players who managed to score in double digits.
The game also appeared to show further development of Isaiah Roby. Coming off a career high 21 points, the sophomore logged a triple-double against the Scarlet Knights scoring 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Over his last four games, Roby has averaged 12 points and 7.8 rebounds a game. Take out a throwaway performance against Wisconsin that was limited by foul trouble and the young forward is averaging 16 points and nine rebounds.
When talking about about the team effort the Huskers put together on Saturday, it’s also hard to ignore the performance Duby Okeke put together. Okeke has seen his minutes diminish the further into the conference season Nebraska has gone.
Okeke hasn’t even played in two of the last four games. In his last outing, Wisconsin played just four minutes and committed three fouls.
Against Rutgers he played just six minutes, but those minutes were much more productive. While he did once again find himself in foul trouble, he also hauled down four rebounds and blocked four shots.
Those blocks, especially helped turn the game at an important moment and allowed the Huskers to go on a run. The win got the Nebraska basketball team to 19 wins for just the third time in the last 11 years. This time around, they found a new way to win and showed the country this is a real team and not one carried by one or two players.