After suffering its first loss of the season, Nebraska basketball must quickly regroup for its annual rivalry game with Creighton tonight.

Here’s what you need to know as you face the Huskers in Omaha…

Who, what, where, when

Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-1, 0-0) and Creighton Bluejays (4-0, 0-0)

Friday, November 22, 2024 – 7:00 PM CT

CHI Health Center (Omaha, Neb.) (17,560)

Television: FS1

Radio: Huskers Radio Network

Internet/streaming: Fox Sports App

Subscribe to receive exclusive Huskers content on HuskerOnline today!

Nebraska predicted starters

Creighton predicted starters

3 keys to victory

Try to restrain Kalkbrenner

Few players in college basketball have been as dominant on both ends of the floor as Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner. The Preseason Big East Player of the Year and three-time conference Defensive Player of the Year have lived up to every part of his billing thus far. The 7-foot center is averaging 25.8 points per game and shooting a ridiculous 89.1% from the field. He is also 18-of-20 (90%) on free throws and 3-of-4 (75%) on 3-pointers this season. Few teams, including Nebraska, can feature a player of Kalkbrenner’s size and caliber one-on-one. The Huskers need to overwhelm him with every touch and make it as difficult as possible for him for 40 minutes. That could open up opportunities for other Creighton players, but if NU lets him dominate the paint, it doesn’t stand a chance.

Screw it

The best way to nullify an offense as potent as Creighton’s is to shorten the game and make them work for everything in the half court. Flashback to Nebraska’s victory in Omaha two years ago. The Huskers took the air out of the ball, played a bully ball on both ends and dared the Bluejays (not Kalkbrenner) to beat them. That’s a dangerous proposition against a team that can light it up like CU, but it’s probably NU’s best chance tonight. In the 2022-23 win, Derrick Walker defeated Kalkbrenner 22-10, while Sam Griesel held off Creighton’s smaller guards for 18 points and 12 boards. Just as crucial, Kalbrenner took just eight shots and the Bluejays shot 10 of 40 (25%) from behind the arc. That’s the path Nebraska must try to follow again tonight.

Stay outside of a track race

As good as Creighton’s half-court offense has been this season, the Bluejays are at their most dangerous when they’re on the road. The transition game has defined the CU head coach Greg McDermott’s success, as few teams benefit from the fast pace more than his teams. This creates a dangerous situation for Nebraska. The Huskers have struggled with turnovers and sloppy ball security all season. They’ve also pushed the ball into the paint far too often without a plan, leading to countless giveaways and bad shots. If NU makes these mistakes again, all those turnovers, contested misses and blocked shots will turn into Bluejay fastbreak points. Flashback to 2022: Nebraska remained in control from start to finish and Creighton managed just five fewer turnovers and two fastbreak points. That has to happen again.

Quotable

“I’m going into my sixth year in this state rivalry. The weird thing about this one is that the next day, a lot of those (Creighton) fans will be on a football field cheering for Nebraska. That’s always been a bit bizarre to me. But you know, these rivalry games are a lot of fun for the fans. That’s not much fun for the coaches.”

-Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg on the unique fan dynamics surrounding the Nebraska-Creighton rivalry.

Prediction

Creighton (-10.5) 85, Nebraska 73

Robin’s season record: 4-0

vs. the spread: 3-1

Never miss the latest news or another HuskerOnline article. Click HERE to sign up for our daily and latest newsletters.