(Photo: Getty)
Portal plucking while cramming for a test. While in Vegas, no less.
Husker head coach Fred Hoiberg on Friday told reporters that of the 74 offensive possessions that Saturday’s opponent Boise State had last time on the floor, the Broncos ran 56 different sets.
OK, Nebraska isn’t going over all those before Saturday’s game at the College Basketball Crown. The defensive plan will be more conceptual.
“And hopefully go out there and execute it at a high level knowing that they’re going to make some tough spots,” Hoiberg said. “You can’t get deflated.”
This Boise State team has scored 100 in one game in this tournament, and 89 in another. In the latter, Hoiberg notes the Broncos had a 7-point lead with about eight minutes to play and beat George Washington by 30. The program, not the man.
Still, impressive. It’s a team that can pounce on you if heads are hanging.
“Besides their point guard who is a great player, everybody else is between 6-7 and 6-9,” Hoiberg said. “And they pose a lot of problems because they can all shoot and they’re very skilled.”
They’re a disciplined team that won’t beat themselves. Their style reminds Nebraska’s head coach of Saint Mary’s and Purdue. He said the Boilermakers will have 28 possessions in the first half and run 26 different actions. Boise State is similar.
A fast Husker start again would be appreciated. It did on Wednesday when Nebraska won by 12 and led by as many as 19 early in the second half.
“I thought the key to the Georgetown win was getting off to a great start,” Hoiberg said. “They made a run at the end but we allowed ourselves a cushion because of how well we played for those first 30 minutes.”
Nebraska (19-14) is trying to net its 20th win of the season, which would give it 42 over the course of the last two years. That would be the second-highest consecutive two-year total in program history. The Huskers won 45 games in 1990-91 and the 91-92 seasons.
So there’s that. But just winning for the chance to play one more day and allowing an opportunity for the final game of the season to be a win? It’s not something available to many. Grab it when you can.
Let’s set it up.
