Friday night wasn't always pretty, but when the game is a slugfest between two Top 15 teams, it's not always going to look pretty. No matter how ugly Nebraska basketball's win over No. 9 Michigan State was, it was beautiful to watch.
On Friday night, in a game that most analysts billed as the absolute biggest of the year so far, the Huskers answered the bell and then some. Once again, the home court presence of Pinnacle Bank Arena paired with an NU team that simply refuses to lose was too much for the defending Big Ten champs.
In the 58-56 Nebraska win, the Huskers didn't shoot great. They hit just 31.6% from the field and 35.1% from beyond the arc. However, it was NU's defense that handed the win to Fred Hoiberg and company.
Michigan State not only hit just 34% from the field, but they were absolutely plagued by ball control issues. When the smoke cleared, the Spartans turned the ball over a whopping 19 times. Compare that number to just 8 for Nebraska.
Nebraska basketball shows it can hang with the big guys in win over Michigan State
The stats from tonight don't tell the real story of this season. It truly is a season that needs to be looked at from a wide view.
Nebraska basketball is now not only 14-0, but have won 18 straight games dating back to the end of last season. They're also 3-0 in the Big Ten, with wins over three of the most storied, most accomplished programs in the history of the conference.
A blowout over Wisconsin, and then a close win over then-No. 13 Illinois at their home court, followed by a win over No. 9 Michigan State is a statement the rest of the country can't ignore. This version of the Huskers feels different than all that came before it. Now they just have to keep proving it.