Nebraska basketball has enjoyed his contributions.
As Nebraska basketball enters a difficult part of their schedule, it’s worth looking at who has been extremely valuable for the program. One of the names that comes to mind instantly is Derrick Walker.
As you all know, Walker was suspended for the first half of the season for infractions he committed at Tennessee. His debut game was January 10 against Indiana. Of course, we all know that Nebraska had to stop play due to the coronavirus sweeping through the program. As a result, Walker never had a chance to get his feet wet in consecutive games.
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Ever since the stoppage, he has begun to really show his worth. In the last two Nebraska basketball games, I have noticed him really playing well. Friday against Illinois, he recorded five points eight rebounds and three assists in 23 minutes of play. On Sunday against Penn State, he recorded eight points and went four-of-six from the field. In addition to his points, he also recorded four rebounds a block, and a steal.
He is the MVP for this team right now. He is not someone who is going to get points in bunches, but he can do a little bit of everything. He brings toughness and grit to this roster, and is not afraid to get into the dirty areas to make a big play. His impact is extremely noticeable every time he steps on the floor.
Nebraska basketball certainly could have used him in the first half of the season. However, it’s better to not dwell on that and just focus on the impact he is making right now. He is coming up for Nebraska basketball in a big way. He is not afraid to oppose his will physically, and he is making others around him better by bringing that energy.
I will be interested to see how he plays through the rest of the season. He is becoming a huge factor for Nebraska basketball, and he is giving them the energy they need. I’m not saying the entire team does not have energy. It’s just that Walker brings so much of it when he is on the floor.
It’s translating to success and solid outings for him. He is fitting into this program nicely, and he is allowing them to remain competitive in several games. We saw it on Sunday, and we even saw it a little bit on Friday despite the result. Hopefully, he can keep it up.