Nebraska Basketball occasionally competitive in loss to Michigan

Nebraska basketball forward Derrick Walker (13) dribbles(Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports)
Nebraska basketball forward Derrick Walker (13) dribbles(Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports) /
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The Nebraska basketball team was occasionally competitive, but mostly not in Wednesday’s game against the Michigan Wolverines.

If there is one thing that has been consistent for Nebraska basketball under Fred Hoiberg, it’s a lack of consistency. One day, the Huskers look like a team that could actually cause some havoc in the Big Ten as they did against Penn State. The next game, they come out and allow Michigan to open their contest with a 41-17 lead.

To the Huskers’ credit, they battled back several times and made it a game at different moments on Wednesday. At one point in the second half, the Nebraska basketball team only trailed by nine  points. However, every time the Huskers put together a run to get back in the game, they allowed a run by the Wolverines to put the game out of reach again.

That’s how the Cornhuskers ended up getting thumped by a Michigan team that seems to be finding its stride, 93-72.

What went right for Nebraska basketball

Keisei Tominaga followed up a career-high 30 points against Penn State with what would have been a career high just a week ago, 24 points against Michigan. It seems at least in part that Fred Hoiberg has finally realized he needs to take the leash off Keisei and just let him cook. Keep in mind for reasons that are still pretty mysterious, Tominaga was taken out of the starting lineup three games ago.

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Derrick Walker continues to show that he can hang with centers in the Big Ten. Against Michigan, he scored 15 points seven rebounds and eight assists. Walker has been an assist machine lately as he seems to be adding another level to his game. It’s unfortunate that he’s having this kind of season in what is almost certainly going to be another losing record.

What went wrong for the Huskers

Everything else? Walker and Tominaga combined for 39 points. The rest of the Nebraska basketball team had 33. The big two also shot 54.8 percent from the field. The rest of the team shot 39 percent.  That includes Sam Griesel who was just 3-of-8 from the floor.

Meanhwhile, Michigan shot an insane 57.6 percent from the field and hit 14-of-26 from beyond the arc. One thing that has been concerning for weeks now, is just how bad the Huskers are at guarding the outside shot. There have been far too many open 3-point attempts this year. There were a ton on Wednesday night.

What’s next

The Huskers next take on a Wisconsin Badgers team that is being led by Chucky Hepburn, a former Nebraska basketball player. He leads the team in both points and assists per game. The two will tip off at 3pm on Saturday afternoon.