Nebraska Basketball: Derrick Walker is dynamite in blowout win
Did the Nebraska basketball team find the formula for more wins than at any time in the Fred Hoiberg era on Sunday night? They just might have done so. That formula includes a healthy dose of Derrick Walker. In fact, Hoiberg’s squad should prepare to play the rest of the season, feeding the ball to Walker as often as he can handle it.
Against a Florida State team that is uncharacteristically bad, the Nebraska basketball star was easily the best player on the court. That’s especially impressive, considering this was just his second game of the season.
The senior forward, who is playing this year thanks to the 2020 COVID season has two double-doubles in those two games. He looked good scoring and rebounding on Friday against Memphis, but also looked rusty in turning the ball over nine times.
Against Florida State, Derrick Walker scored 20, hauled down 13 rebounds and dished out four assists. All while turning the ball over just one time. He also committed just one personal foul while playing the vast majority of the game.
In short, he told the rest of the Nebraska basketball team to hop on his back and he’d carry them home. In the process he led his squad to the first win of the tournament weekend and back over .500 at 4-3.
Even better news for the Huskers is that the rest of the team played pretty well too. After starting off looking a bit overmatched by the Seminoles, the Huskers were down early 15-9. From that point, however, they took control of the game and outscored FSU 66-43 the rest of the way.
There was also the fact that the Cornhuskers came out of the half and actually continued their dominant play. Playing a full 40 minutes has been an issue for this version of the Nebraska basketball team. They’ve looked game in the first half against St. John’s, Oklahoma and Memphis only to fade after the half.
On Sunday night, the Nebraska basketball team lead by seven after the first 20 minutes and outscored Florida State by 10 in the second half. After that slow start, the contest was never really in doubt.
Next up for Hoiberg’s squad is a matchup against a Boston College team the Cornhuskers should be able to handle. Then things get tougher as they’ll take on Creighton and get into their Big 10 schedule.