The Nebraska men’s basketball team is at home on Sunday, boasting the best home court advantage in the Big Ten. The Huskers host Wisconsin and a standing room only crowd is expected for the Huskers’ regular-season finale. With 18 wins, a victory Sunday for Nebraska would go a long way in getting to the NCAA Tournament. The Huskers (18-11, 10-7 Big Ten) are in position for one of the four byes as next week’s Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis.
Ray Gallegos and Mike Peltz, and the pair will be honored in pregame ceremonies. Gallegos is a fifth-year senior who has been a starter for Nebraska for most of the last two seasons, while Peltz walked on in October of 2012. The ceremony will start at 6:15 p.m., with the tip scheduled for 6:30.
NU is red hot having won seven of its last eight games, including a 70-60 win at Indiana Wednesday evening, where sophomores Walter Pitchford and Shavon Shields combined for 34 points and 17 rebounds to lead the Huskers to their first-ever win at Assembly Hall.
Wisconsin (25-5, 12-5 B1G) hasn’t been a pushover either. They have won eight straight games for its longest conference winning streak in over 70 years following a 76-70 win over Purdue Wednesday night. The Badgers are playing for potential No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and could finish second in the Big Ten standings with a victory on Sunday.
This game is going to be about Wisconsin’s offense vs. Nebraska’s defense. The Badgers are averaging 73.3 points per game while ranking fourth in the Big Ten with a .457 field goal percentage. Wisconsin has four starters average double figures, led by Frank Kaminsky’s 13.0 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. He also shoots over 40 percent from 3-point range. Sam Dekker averages 13.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. UW’s top five scorers all shoot more than 33 percent from long range, while UW holds teams to just 33 percent from long distance.
The Huskers meanwhile have been very stingy on defense. After holding to Hoosiers to 37%, Tim Miles squad has now gone eight straight games in which they’ve held opponents under 40% shooting.
Watch Tim Miles press conference from Friday afternoon.