Sometimes it feels like the Nebraska basketball team makes it harder on itself in order to see what it can overcome.
The Huskers played what was the worst half of basketball all season to open their contest against Northwestern. At the half, they were shooting 27 percent from the field. They didn’t score their first point until almost five minutes had gone by. They didn’t hit their first field goal until almost seven minutes had elapsed.
The Nebraska basketball team trailed by 15 points at the break. And yet, it still somehow managed to win. And in doing so, took what would have been an ugly, ugly loss and turned it into another Quad 1 win, improving their resume.
3 amazing aspects of Nebraska basketball’s win over the Northwestern Wildcats
At one point, there was a 98% chance the Huskers would lose
In other words, the Huskers were almost guaranteed to lose to the Wildcats. Considering at one point they were down by 20 in the first half, the odds of a loss being that high aren’t surprising. That Nebrasketball came back and won, and held a lead down the stretch is nuts.
The Cornhuskers were absolutely destroyed on the boards and still won
Granted, that’s not a stat you want to see the Nebraska basketball team repeat all that often. Or really at all. But finding a way to win a game by four points when they’re outrebounded 46-27 is a feat. Allowing 23 offensive rebounds and recording just 5 and winning. Those are some crazy numbers.
No wonder Fred Hoiberg punched a whiteboard during halftime out of frustration. It’s nice that the Nebraska basketball team woke up because of it.
Nebraska basketball made a little history
The comeback, from being down 20, was the first time a Big Ten team has done that on the road in seven years. Oddly enough, it was Northwestern that blew the big lead back then too. In 2018, they allowed Michigan State to rally from 27 down to win in Evanston.
The Nebraska basketball team is now 7-8 in the Big Ten and eighth in the standings. That’s massive for a conference that will likely get “only” 10 teams into the tournament. Next up is another road game, against last place Penn State. That too, will be a must win.