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Nevada vs. Nebraska Game Preview: How To Watch, Odds, Prediction
The Wolf Pack take on a Big Ten foe. Here’s how to watch and what to watch for.
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A Power Conference Win For Nevada?
Who: Nevada Wolf Pack (0-0) vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers (0-0)
When: Thursday, November 26th — 11:00 AM PST/1:00 PM CST/2:00 PM EST
Where: Pinnacle Bank Arena; Lincoln, Neb.
TV: Big Ten Network
Stream: FuboTV – Get a seven-day Free Trial
Radio: Stream the game on TuneIn
Odds (via BetMGM): Nebraska -2
Nevada Basketball: 2020-2021 Season Preview-Fresh Faces and Fresh Expectations
The Nevada Wolf Pack play their second game of the Golden Window Classic Thanksgiving day and they get a good test in the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Nebraska and Nevada ended the year on different notes with Nevada finishing third in the MW and Nebraska losing 17 straight games, however, both teams experienced massive roster turnover coming into the 2020 season.
Nevada loses four of their five starters, 80% of their scoring and four All-Mountain West honorees. While Steve Alford loses much of his roster that finished third in the MW last season, Nevada has transfer pieces in Desmond Cambridge, Grant Sherfield and Warren Washington that should be able to fill in. Add those transfers with Zane Meeks and Kane Milling who now have a season under their belts, this Wolf Pack team has a chance to shoot up MW standings come late in the season. This young team will have question marks around how they will all mesh together in their first year as a unit and how they will be able to defend high powered offenses, specifically defending the wing position.
Opposite of Nevada, Nebraska enters the 2020 season on a 17 game losing streak, along with a massive roster turnover of their own. However, there is a buzz in Lincoln due to how tall and athletic this new Cornhuskers team is. Nebraska is the second tallest team in the Big Ten even with having a 6’9 center. Not many teams in the country roll out a lineup with a 6’9 PG but that is exactly what the Cornhuskers are looking to do with Dalano Banton, the transfer out of Western Kentucky.
Nebraska is anchored by 6’9 sophomore Yvan Ouedraogo who not only holds the record for most rebounds by a freshman in Nebraska history but also holds the single season record for the Cornhuskers for most double-doubles by a freshman. Just like Nevada, the Cornhuskers will continue to get better as the year goes on due to the ability to work together as a new team. Four out of Nebraska’s five starters are transfers with two of them being from junior colleges.
Key to Victory:
For Nevada to get this key win against this Big Ten foe, the Wolf Pack needs to come out of the gates scoring and cannot let off the gas. Due to the massive roster turnover from the Cornhuskers, we won’t really know Nebraska’s weaknesses till they take the court at least a couple times. However, looking at Nebraska last year, they were one of the worst defensive teams in the country.
They allowed nearly 80 points per game and allowed teams to shoot 45% from the field. While this Cornhusker team might be able to score at a higher rate than last season, the biggest question mark about this team out of Lincoln continues to be on how they can defend. Another key for the Wolf Pack would be to use their strength in the front court.
Nevada has the opportunity to roll out an extremely long lineup with Warren Washington C, being 7’0, Robby Robinson PF, being 6’8 and Zane Meeks SF being 6’9. Nebraska’s forwards both come in at 6’9 providing real problems for Fred Hoiberg and company.
Prediction:
These two teams will have no problem scoring as they both will struggle on the defensive side of the ball. Also, expect this to not be the cleanest of games as both of these teams are young and haven’t played much together. I expect Nevada’s length down low to be a bit of a challenge for the Cornhuskers while Nebraska’s shooting, especially at the wing, will challenge this young Wolf Pack team. Ultimately, this will be a high scoring game but Alford and company will outlast this Cornhuskers team down the stretch. Nevada will win 68-64.
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