Why Nebraska basketball will be exceptionally dangerous this March

When Juwan Gary's first 3-pointer hit the bottom of the net, I knew it was going to be one of those nights for Nebraska basketball.

What Nebraska showed in their 73-55 win over Minnesota is what makes them so dangerous as the college basketball season is about to hit March Madness.

On any given night, any player on this Nebraska basketball team can go off.

Gary did it last night. He finished with a game-high 22 points, going 4-7 from deep and 4-4 from the line. He's known for being a rebounding dawg, an energy injector, and a slasher. Not a deep threat--he's a career 27 percent 3-point shooter.

But Sunday night was just one of those nights.

"GOT IT! GOT IT! GOT IT!" (Thank you, Kent.)

It's what makes this Husker team so fun to watch. You never know who will beat you. They are unpredictable in the best kind of way.

And so dangerous heading into the most important part of the season.

How do you prepare for a team like this? Naturally, an opposing coach's focus is going to be on Keisei or Mast.

But then you also have to stop Williams and Gary, then Lawrence and CJ off the bench.

And sometimes, randomly, Josiah Allick will play like a man possessed like he did against Michigan (16 points) two weeks ago or Northwestern (15 points) last month.

In the first few years of Fred Hoiberg's tenure, it seemed that he had limited offensive options. If his one or two main guys had an off night, the Huskers would take an "L."

Sunday, Keisei Tominaga had 6 points. SIX.

And Nebraska won by 18.

Think about that for a second.

In a "me-first" sports world (and society in general), Hoiberg has built a culture of "we." You heard that from Brice Williams in the postgame presser."

"I just like seeing my boys go off," he said. "It doesn't really matter whose night it is, whether it's Keisei, Rienk, me, 'Wan, or if it's C.J., or anybody...I just want everybody to go crazy and have that moment."

Williams added 15 points of his own last night, by the way.

Add to this phenomenon how well Nebraska has been playing defense (32nd nationally in KenPom's defensive efficiency; 16th in opponent field goal percentage), and Hoiberg has quite the recipe for success.

There isn't a superstar on this Nebraska basketball team--even though Keisei has Hollywood status (and always will) in Lincoln.

It's a team of humble, gritty players who play stunningly hard for each other, their coach, and the amazing, long-suffering Husker basketball fans who cheer them on.

It's hard to believe I'm saying this, but Nebraska is not a team anyone in the country wants to be playing right now.

March is five days away. And for the first time in a very long time as a Nebraska basketball fan, I absolutely can't wait.