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Nebraska Cornhuskers: Fred Hoiberg says team lost its ‘edge’

By Oliver Vandervoort

PISCATAWAY, NJ - FEBRUARY 14: Head coach Fred Hoiberg of the Nebraska Cornhuskers reacts during the second half of a game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Jersey Mike's Arena on February 14, 2023 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Nebraska defeated Rutgers 82-72. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PISCATAWAY, NJ - FEBRUARY 14: Head coach Fred Hoiberg of the Nebraska Cornhuskers reacts during the second half of a game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Jersey Mike's Arena on February 14, 2023 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Nebraska defeated Rutgers 82-72. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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While the Nebraska Cornhuskers beat Cal State Fullerton to improve to 7-0 on the season, it wasn’t the dominant performance that the team is capable of.

One of the best signs that the Nebraska Cornhuskers basketball team is poised to take the next steps might be that they aren’t content with just winning a game. Despite the best start to the season that any Nebrasketball team has had since the early 1990s, head coach Fred Hoiberg wasn’t thrilled with his team’s effort on Sunday.

The Huskers toppled Cal State Fullerton 85-72 on Sunday and while there was never really any danger that they were going to lose, there were times they could have taken control and they didn’t.

In fact, they didn’t take control to the point that Titans guard Max Jones scored 30 points. Worse than that was a rebounding advantage of just one board. That comes on the heels of actually being outrebounded by the Duquesne Dukes in their last outing.

Both performances reversed how the Nebraska basketball team has won most of its games this year. The offense hasn’t been as good as it’s been the last two games, but the defense has been better. And the rebounding has been much better.

Fred Hoiberg noticed.

Nebraska Cornhuskers coach calls out team after win

“Now it’s about getting back to what we were doing earlier – especially on the defensive end,” Hoiberg said after the game. “I just feel like we’ve lost our edge a little bit on that side of the floor.”

He went on to point out that the Nebraska Cornhuskers leaned on offense in a way he doesn’t really like.

"“We won some games earlier this year when the ball wasn’t going in the basket. If the ball wasn’t going in tonight I’m not sure we win this game.”"

It’s not a mystery why Hoiberg sounds so nervous about his team’s defense. The Nebraska Cornhuskers have the next week off and then next Sunday will take on 8th-ranked Creighton.

It’s not overstating to say that will be the biggest game of the Fred Hoiberg era to date. A win goes a long way towards proving the Nebraska Cornhuskers have turned the corner.

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