Purdue’s size was troublesome
Nebraska basketball had trouble with Purdue’s length and size. Oftentimes, it seemed like Purdue was able to shoot over the Nebraska defenders. The size created a disadvantage in terms of rebounds, allowing for Purdue to get second chances. It was too much for Nebraska to handle. The lack of height is also something that has been an Achilles’ heel for Nebraska this season.
On Saturday, Nebraska basketball was outrebounded by a 39-24 margin. This included a 27-16 edge for Purdue on the defensive glass. The top rebounder for the game was Nojel Eastern. He recorded seven on the defensive glass and three on the offensive glass. For Nebraska, Tanner Borchardt did a nice job of trying to offset the rebounding difficulties. He recorded five in total on the evening.
Also providing a spark was sophomore guard Nana Akenten off the bench. He recorded five rebounds on the night. Coach Miles should definitely consider getting him more minutes as the season winds down. He can definitely be an impact player for them next year and should be able to see ample minutes. It was great to see Nebraska’s depth come through on Saturday. With injuries piling up at this point in the season, it is always important to have all your players ready to compete. That is what we saw on Saturday and despite their rebounding problems, Nebraska basketball did a much better job of trying to attack the glass.