Nebraska Cornhuskers offered up a blueprint to stop Creighton

When the Nebraska Cornhuskers romped over the Bluejays, they showed the basketball world how to beat their state rival.
Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images
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It’s not unusual for a team to claim that it “broke” its opponent when they get a big win over a rival. There’s also a tried and true claim that a team that beat a previously unbeaten team has given the sport a “blueprint” for beating that previously flawless team. The Nebraska Cornhuskers were the latest example of this when they not only beat Creighton, but stymied the Creighton Bluejays last Friday night.

Usually, that’s not much more than chest-thumping from the victorious side. This time, it appears the Huskers were right.

Don’t take my word for it. It’s not my opinion that the Nebraska Cornhuskers offered up a way for Creighton’s opponents to keep them down. San Diego State’s coach said the same. “Basically stole Nebraska’s game plan,” SDSU coach Brian Dutcher said. “Played them front and back as best we could, tried to get to the shooters. Without Ashworth, we were able to succeed in that. Takes a certain part of their game away not having him.”

Nebraska Cornhuskers might be hurting themselves

Trying to copy the approach the Huskers did gave the Aztecs a 71-53 win on Tuesday night. It meant that the Jays have now lost two straight. The schedule doesn’t get any easier from here.

On Wednesday night, Creighton takes on No. 20 Texas A&M. Then on December 4, they go up against No. 1 Kansas. And while it will be funny for Nebraska Cornhuskers fans to watch the Jays suddenly stumble hard, there’s an argument that NU fans should be rooting for CU fans.

After all, the Jays are the best win on the schedule for Fred Hoiberg’s squad. It’s a Quad 1 win for their resume. Should Creighton really start fumbling the bag it won’t help the Nebraska Cornhuskers basketball team make the tournament. Anytime McDermott’s squad wants to start winning again, it was funny yesterday, not so much moving forward..