Nebraska basketball: Huskers win ugly but still impress against Maryland
The Nebraska basketball team did not play its best game of the year. The fact that they won might be a testament to how good they really are.
When it comes to the Nebraska basketball team, it’s hard to tell just what version of the team is going to show up. A few years back, that statement meant we didn’t know whether good Nebraska or bad Nebraska was going to show up.
These days, wondering which team was going to show up simply meant it was unclear who was going to step forward and carry the Huskers to victory. Last time out, it was Isaiah Roby nabbing a double-double and the rest of the team doing just enough to knock off Rutgers.
On Tuesday night, the first half saw Roby and Isaac Copeland carry the team. James Palmer and Glynn Watson, on the other hand, were having a terrible night, combining to go just 3 for 13 in the first half.
Having said that, Palmer has to find a way to get on track. Not only is he 1-6 from the field, but he's 0-2 from the charity stripe. If he can have a "JPJ" type second half, the #Huskers could go on a run.
— Husker Corner (@theHuskerCorner) February 14, 2018
The second half was not only a whole other story, it was kind of a bizarre story. James Palmer caught fire on a level we’ve probably only seen against Ohio State. Like that Ohio State game, the rest of the Huskers pretty much completely disappeared.
TWENTY (20) in the second half.
— Husker Corner (@theHuskerCorner) February 14, 2018
It's safe to say without his outburst, the Huskers would be in some trouble right now. Because no one else is hitting much. https://t.co/p8TsGCY5GZ
Think I’m being harsh? Over the game’s final 14 minutes and 34 seconds, JPJ was the only Cornhusker to hit a field goal. After the 14:34 mark in the second half, outside of Palmer Isaiah Roby had three points and Glynn Watson had two points; all on free throws.
While the rest of the Nebrasketball team was scoring a grand total of five points, Palmer was laying down 17. Even with his scoring the team still managed to go more than five minutes to close out the game without a single field goal.
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So how exactly did Nebraska win? The same way they’ve won a lot of games this season. With surprisingly solid defense.
Isaiah Roby once again looked like someone who is going to be a man among boys very soon. The sophomore (SOPHOMORE!) forward notched his second double-double in a row. The game before that he went for 21 points and eight rebounds.
It’s not the scoring and the rebounds alone either. Roby blocked three shots on Tuesday night.
Roby now has multiple blocked shots in nine of his last 10 games. That game where he went for 21 and eight? He also had five blocked shots.
In total, the Huskers blocked six shots, to just three for Maryland. They also outrebounded the Terrapins 35-31. Best of all, the Cornhuskers beat the Terps on the offensive glass, getting 10 offensive rebounds to eight for Maryland.
When the smoke cleared on what was a heart-stopping finish to the 70-66 win, the Nebraska basketball team had improved to 20-8 and 11-4 in the Big Ten. Even if it’s not pretty, all the Huskers are doing these days is winning.