Link: Full Game Notes (Huskers.com)
Nebraska (11-8, 3-3) at #11/#10 Michigan State (16-3, 3-3)
When: Wednesday, January 20 | 5:30 p.m. (CT)
Where: Breslin Center | East Lansing, Michigan
TV: Big Ten Network (Joe Davis, Jon Cripsin)
Radio: Husker Sports Network (Kent Pavelka, Ben McLaughlin)
Satellite Radio: Sirius (Ch. 83) | XM (Ch. 195)
Internet Broadcast: Huskers.com (free audio) | BTN2Go (video w/ subscription)
The Huskers are coming off one of their best performances of the year, a 78-67 win at Illinois last Saturday afternoon. Nebraska shot 53.6 percent and had four players with at least 14 points in the program's first win at Champaign since 1921. Nebraska's has held its last three opponents to a combined 38 percent shooting and out-rebounded its opponents by over 18 caroms per contest to lead the Huskers on their current three-game conference winning streak. Four Huskers are averaging at least five rebounds per game during this stretch, led by Andrew White's 9.7 rebounds per game. In Nebraska's first three Big Ten games, the Huskers were out-rebounded by 6.7 boards per game. If Nebraska is to pick up a second straight win in East Lansing, the Huskers will need to limit the Spartans on the boards, as the Spartans lead the Big Ten in rebounding margin at +12.5 per game.
Michigan State comes into this game ranked #10 and #11 in the national polls and are looking to snap a two-game losing streak following a 77-76 loss at Wisconsin on Sunday afternoon. In that game, Denzel Valentine had 23 points, seven rebounds and five assists to pace four Spartans in double figures, but Wisconsin shot 45 percent from the field and went 29-of-36 at the foul line.
Probable Starters
Nebraska
G - Benny Parker (5-9, 175, SR) - 4.7 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.3 apg
G - Glynn Watson Jr. (6-0, 160, FR) - 7.8 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 2.6 apg
G/F - Andrew White III (6-7, 216, JR) - 17.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 1.0 spg
F - Shavon Shields (6-7, 225, SR) - 15.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.2 spg
F - Michael Jacobson (6-8, 222, FR) - 4.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg
Michigan State
G - Denzel Valentine (6-5, 220, SR) - 17.9 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 6.6 apg
G - Matt McQuaid (6-5, 190, FR) - 3.2 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 2.0 apg
G - Eron Harris (6-3, 185, JR) - 9.9 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.0 apg
F - Deyonta Davis (6-10, 240, FR) - 8.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 0.5 apg
F - Matt Costello (6-9, 245, SR) - 9.6 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 1.2 apg
Numbers to Know
1999 - The last time Nebraska won three consecutive games by double figures.
.842 - Freshman Ed Morrow Jr. is shooting 84.2 percent in Big Ten play and is averaging 8.3 ppg in NU's last three games. NU's two primary freshman posts, Morrow and Michael Jacobson, are combining for 10.4 points on 68 percent shooting and 6.8 rebounds per game in Big Ten play.
1998 - The last time Nebraska won three straight road games in conference play (Texas A&M, Colorado, Iowa State), something the Huskers are bidding for on Wednesday
2000-01 - The last time a Husker averaged at least 15.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, and 3.0 apg in a season (Cookie Belcher), numbers which Shavon Shields (15.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 3.1 apg) is threatening in 2015-16.
12 - Nebraska has scored 70+ points 10 times this season, which tops the number of times the Huskers did it during the entire 2014-15 season (nine times)
13 - Number of 20-point games by the Huskers in 2015-16 (6 for Andrew White III, 5 for Shavon Shields, 2 for Tai Webster). Prior to this season, the last time NU had three players with multiple 20-point games in a season was 2005-06.
Scouting Michigan State
Under Tom Izzo, the Spartans have been one of the flagship programs in the Big Ten. The Spartans have made seven Final Fours in the last 17 seasons and made 18 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. Izzo, who is in his 21st year at MSU, returns three starters from a team that won 27 games and reached the Final Four in 2015. MSU won its first 13 games before falling to Iowa in its Big Ten opener on Dec. 30. MSU had won three straight before dropping back-to-back games to Iowa and at Wisconsin.
MSU, which is ranked 11th in the AP Poll released Monday, comes into Wednesday's game averaging 78.9 points per game, while shooting 49 percent from the floor and 39 percent from 3-point range. The Spartans have been solid defensively, holding opponents to 37 percent shooting, including just 28 percent from 3-point range.
The Spartans feature one of the top players in the country in senior Denzel Valentine. The 6-foot-5 guard is one of the frontrunners for national player of the year, as he leads MSU in scoring (17.9 ppg) and assists (6.6 apg) while also grabbing 7.7 rebounds per game. Senior Bryn Forbes joins Valentine in double figures, averaging 13.6 points per game while shooting 47 percent from 3-point range. MSU has balance with three other players averaging at least eight points per game.
About Tim Miles
Tim Miles is in his fourth season at Nebraska and currently sports a record of 58-57 (.504) with the Huskers and is in his 21st season overall as a collegiate head coach with an overall record of 341-277 (.552). Miles has a Big Ten record of 24-36 through four seasons (.400). Miles has guided Nebraska to one NCAA Tournament appearance and has made two appearances in the tournament overall, guiding Colorado State to the big dance in the 2011-12 season.
About Tom Izzo
Tom Izzo is also in his 21st season and has spent his entire head coaching career at Michigan State. Izzo sports a career record of 511-202 (.717) and has a Big Ten record of 236-109 (.684). Izzo has won one NCAA national championship (1999-00) and has made seven trips to the Final Four. He has also won seven Big Ten Conference regular season championships and four Big Ten Tournament titles in his career. He has guided the Spartans to 18 NCAA Tournament appearances (every year since 1998) with 13 Sweet 16 appearances and nine Elite Eight berths.
Series History
Michigan State leads the all-time series 12-8, in a rivalry that dates back to February of 1920, and has won four of the six meetings since the Huskers joined the Big Ten in 2011-12. Nebraska brings a two-game winning streak against the Spartans into Wednesday's game. Nebraska has faced a ranked Michigan State team in 10 of the last 11 matchups. Michigan State leads the series 6-2 in games played in East Lansing and leads 4-2 in games played at the Breslin Center.
Nebraska won the first two meetings on consecutive days, posting a 43-26 win on Feb. 13, 1920 and a 39-20 win on the following day. The teams played six times between 1988 and 1994, splitting the six contests. Nebraska's three wins in the span came by a total of 11 points. Nebraska's last win vs. MSU in East Lansing came two seasons ago, when Terran Petteway and Walter Pitchford combined for 41 points to give NU its first road win over a top-10 team since 1997 with a 60-51 win over the ninth-ranked Spartans.
1920 - Nebraska 43, Michigan State 26 (Lincoln)
1920 - Nebraska 39, Michigan State 20 (Lincoln)
1956 - Michigan State 79, Nebraska 65 (neutral site)
1958 - #11 Michigan State 80, Nebraska 55 (East Lansing)
1959 - Michigan State 82, Nebraska 80 (2OT) (Lincoln)
1967 - Michigan State 74, Nebraska 70 (East Lansing)
1968 - Nebraska 73, Michigan State 59 (Lincoln)
1983 - Michigan State 58, Nebraska 45 (neutral site)
1988 - Michigan State 77, Nebraska 75 (Lincoln)
1989 - Michigan State 80, Nebraska 69 (East Lansing)
1990 - Nebraska 71, #5 Michigan State 69 (Lincoln)
1991 - #22 Michigan State 101, Nebraska 78 (East Lansing)
1993 - Nebraska 85, #6 Michigan State 81 (East Lansing)
1994 - Nebraska 96, #15 Michigan State 91 (OT) (Lincoln)
2011 - #16 Michigan State 68, Nebraska 55 (Lincoln)
2012 - #6 Michigan State 62, Nebraska 34 (East Lansing)
2013 - #22 Michigan State 66, Nebraska 56 (East Lansing)
2013 - #8 Michigan State 73, Nebraska 64 (Lincoln)
2014 - Nebraska 60, #9 Michigan State 51 (East Lansing)
2015 - Nebraska 79, Michigan State 77 (Lincoln)
Husker-Spartan Superlatives
- Most consecutive wins: Nebraska 2 (1920; 1993-94; 2014-present) | Michigan State 4 (2011-13)
- Most points scored: Nebraska 96 (at Lincoln, 1994) | Michigan State 101 (at East Lansing, 1991)
- Highest combined score: 187 (Nebraska 96, Michigan State 91 - at Lincoln, 1994)
- Biggest winning margin: Nebraska 19 (at Lincoln, 1920) | Michigan State 28 (at East Lansing, 2012)
Last Season's Meeting: Nebraska 79, Michigan State 77 (Jan. 24, 2015)
Terran Petteway and Shavon Shields combined for 53 points, as Nebraska built a double-digit lead and withstood a frantic Michigan State comeback in a 79-77 win. The Huskers thrilled a sellout crowd of 15,757 on #AveryStrong Day, as Petteway finished with a season-high 32 points, while Shavon Shields finished with 21 points and seven rebounds. Nebraska shot 49 percent from the floor, and turned in one of its best free throw shooting efforts, going 29-of-37 from the line. Michigan State trailed by as many as 17 points in the second half, cut the lead to two points with 2.2 seconds left after a Travis Trice layup, but the Huskers got the inbounds pass in and ran out the clock. Trice led Michigan State with 27 points while Denzel Valentine had 21 points and 11 rebounds.
Worth Noting
- Nebraska has shot 50 percent in each of its last three conference games, the first time that has happened since a four-game stretch in 2007-08 (Kansas State, at Texas A&M, Oklahoma and at Oklahoma State). It also marks just the third time in the last 25 years that NU has shot over 50 percent in three straight conference games (also in 2003-04)
- Nebraska has out-rebounded its last three opponents by double figures, the first time that has happened since a four-game stretch to start the 2004-05 season and the first time it has happened in three straight conference games in more than 35 years
- Nebraska has scored 75 or more points in each of the last three conference games, marking the first time it has happened since a four-game stretch in 2002
- The only Husker from the state of Michigan on the 2015-16 roster is freshman Bakari Evelyn, who is originally from Detroit, but spent his last year of high school in Arizona. Evelyn has appeared in 10 games as a true freshman, averaging 2.1 points per game. Evelyn won three state titles in the Breslin Center during his career at Southfield Christian.
- Glynn Watson Jr. has been one of the Big Ten's best newcomers at point guard this season. The Bellwood, Illinois product is averaging 7.8 ppg and 2.6 apg while his 2.47 assist-to-turnover ratio is the best by a Husker since Charles Richardson had a 2.57-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio in 2006-07.
- Andrew White III is one of only 18 players nationally averaging at least 15 points per game while shooting 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from three-point range and 75 percent from the foul line through Sunday's games.
- Nebraska is one of four programs in the nation (Florida State, Illinois and Washington) with multiple players averaging at least 15.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game, as both Andrew White III and Shavon Shields have reached that plateau. Entering this week, only 65 players in Division I reach those averages.
- Nebraska's ball movement has been better since putting freshman Glynn Watson Jr. into the starting lineup on Dec. 22. NU has averaged 13.7 assists per game over the last seven games, as compared to 12.1 for NU's first 12 contests. Benny Parker and Watson have combined for 35 assists and just 10 turnovers in that span, while Shavon Shields is averaging 3.2 assists per game.
- Nebraska looks to snap a 10-game losing streak to ranked opponents dating back to 2013-14
- Much of Nebraska's inconsistency can be attributed to youth, as freshmen account for 36 percent of the Huskers' minutes in 2015-16. In Big Ten action that number jumps to 39 percent of the Huskers' total playing time.
- Nebraska's 3-point shooting has jumped from 28.4 percent to 36.5 percent this season, which is on track to be the second-highest increase for the Huskers since the 3-point line was instituted in the 1986-87 season. NU jumped from 27.6 percent to 38.9 percent between the 2003-04 and 2004-05 seasons.
- Nebraska has three 90-point games this season, which matches the team's total for the previous eight seasons
- NU's 74.6 points per game average is the highest scoring average after 19 games since the 1995-96 season (86.4 ppg)
- At this pace, it would be Nebraska's highest scoring average since the 1995-96 team averaged 80.2 points per game. Since 2000, only the 2003-04 (70.5 ppg) and 2000-01 (71.1 ppg) teams have eclipsed the 70-points per game mark.
- In Big Ten play, the Huskers lead the conference in field goal percentage (.491) and is third in scoring offense (76.5 ppg)
- Ten Huskers have reached double figures at least once, while three players (White, Shields, Webster) have also recorded multiple 20-point efforts. It marks the first time in 10 years that Nebraska had three players with multiple 20-point games.
- Nebraska has three 90-point games with three others at least 80 points
- The biggest improvement has come from the 3-point line, as the Huskers were 340th in that category last season (.284) and are 97th (.365) entering Wednesday's game at Michigan State
- Five of Nebraska's top eight scorers are in their first year of competition as a Husker, as newcomers have accounted for 54 percent of NU's total offense in the first 19 games
- Five of NU's newcomers have already posted double digit efforts, including a team-high 16 by Andrew White III and seven by Glynn Watson Jr.
2015-16 Michigan State Schedule/Results (16-3, 3-3)
Florida Atlantic (W 80-56)
vs. #4 Kansas (at Chicago) (W 79-73)
Arkansas-Pine Bluff (W 92-46)
Eastern Michigan (W 89-65)
----Wooden Legacy Tournament (at Anaheim, CA)----
vs. Boston College (W 99-68)
vs. Boise State (W 77-67)
vs. Providence (W 77-64)
---------------------------------------------------------
#24 Louisville (W 71-67)
Binghamton (W 76-33)
Maryland-Eastern Shore (W 78-35)
Florida (W 58-52)
at Northeastern (W 78-58)
vs. Oakland (at Detroit) (W 99-93 OT)
at Iowa (L 70-83)
at Minnesota (W 69-61)
Illinois (W 79-54)
at Penn State (W 92-65)
#16 Iowa (L 59-76)
at Wisconsin (L 76-77)
Nebraska (11-8, 3-3) at #11/#10 Michigan State (16-3, 3-3)
When: Wednesday, January 20 | 5:30 p.m. (CT)
Where: Breslin Center | East Lansing, Michigan
TV: Big Ten Network (Joe Davis, Jon Cripsin)
Radio: Husker Sports Network (Kent Pavelka, Ben McLaughlin)
Satellite Radio: Sirius (Ch. 83) | XM (Ch. 195)
Internet Broadcast: Huskers.com (free audio) | BTN2Go (video w/ subscription)
The Huskers are coming off one of their best performances of the year, a 78-67 win at Illinois last Saturday afternoon. Nebraska shot 53.6 percent and had four players with at least 14 points in the program's first win at Champaign since 1921. Nebraska's has held its last three opponents to a combined 38 percent shooting and out-rebounded its opponents by over 18 caroms per contest to lead the Huskers on their current three-game conference winning streak. Four Huskers are averaging at least five rebounds per game during this stretch, led by Andrew White's 9.7 rebounds per game. In Nebraska's first three Big Ten games, the Huskers were out-rebounded by 6.7 boards per game. If Nebraska is to pick up a second straight win in East Lansing, the Huskers will need to limit the Spartans on the boards, as the Spartans lead the Big Ten in rebounding margin at +12.5 per game.
Michigan State comes into this game ranked #10 and #11 in the national polls and are looking to snap a two-game losing streak following a 77-76 loss at Wisconsin on Sunday afternoon. In that game, Denzel Valentine had 23 points, seven rebounds and five assists to pace four Spartans in double figures, but Wisconsin shot 45 percent from the field and went 29-of-36 at the foul line.
Probable Starters
Nebraska
G - Benny Parker (5-9, 175, SR) - 4.7 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.3 apg
G - Glynn Watson Jr. (6-0, 160, FR) - 7.8 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 2.6 apg
G/F - Andrew White III (6-7, 216, JR) - 17.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 1.0 spg
F - Shavon Shields (6-7, 225, SR) - 15.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.2 spg
F - Michael Jacobson (6-8, 222, FR) - 4.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg
Michigan State
G - Denzel Valentine (6-5, 220, SR) - 17.9 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 6.6 apg
G - Matt McQuaid (6-5, 190, FR) - 3.2 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 2.0 apg
G - Eron Harris (6-3, 185, JR) - 9.9 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.0 apg
F - Deyonta Davis (6-10, 240, FR) - 8.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 0.5 apg
F - Matt Costello (6-9, 245, SR) - 9.6 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 1.2 apg
Numbers to Know
1999 - The last time Nebraska won three consecutive games by double figures.
.842 - Freshman Ed Morrow Jr. is shooting 84.2 percent in Big Ten play and is averaging 8.3 ppg in NU's last three games. NU's two primary freshman posts, Morrow and Michael Jacobson, are combining for 10.4 points on 68 percent shooting and 6.8 rebounds per game in Big Ten play.
1998 - The last time Nebraska won three straight road games in conference play (Texas A&M, Colorado, Iowa State), something the Huskers are bidding for on Wednesday
2000-01 - The last time a Husker averaged at least 15.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, and 3.0 apg in a season (Cookie Belcher), numbers which Shavon Shields (15.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 3.1 apg) is threatening in 2015-16.
12 - Nebraska has scored 70+ points 10 times this season, which tops the number of times the Huskers did it during the entire 2014-15 season (nine times)
13 - Number of 20-point games by the Huskers in 2015-16 (6 for Andrew White III, 5 for Shavon Shields, 2 for Tai Webster). Prior to this season, the last time NU had three players with multiple 20-point games in a season was 2005-06.
Scouting Michigan State
Under Tom Izzo, the Spartans have been one of the flagship programs in the Big Ten. The Spartans have made seven Final Fours in the last 17 seasons and made 18 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. Izzo, who is in his 21st year at MSU, returns three starters from a team that won 27 games and reached the Final Four in 2015. MSU won its first 13 games before falling to Iowa in its Big Ten opener on Dec. 30. MSU had won three straight before dropping back-to-back games to Iowa and at Wisconsin.
MSU, which is ranked 11th in the AP Poll released Monday, comes into Wednesday's game averaging 78.9 points per game, while shooting 49 percent from the floor and 39 percent from 3-point range. The Spartans have been solid defensively, holding opponents to 37 percent shooting, including just 28 percent from 3-point range.
The Spartans feature one of the top players in the country in senior Denzel Valentine. The 6-foot-5 guard is one of the frontrunners for national player of the year, as he leads MSU in scoring (17.9 ppg) and assists (6.6 apg) while also grabbing 7.7 rebounds per game. Senior Bryn Forbes joins Valentine in double figures, averaging 13.6 points per game while shooting 47 percent from 3-point range. MSU has balance with three other players averaging at least eight points per game.
About Tim Miles
Tim Miles is in his fourth season at Nebraska and currently sports a record of 58-57 (.504) with the Huskers and is in his 21st season overall as a collegiate head coach with an overall record of 341-277 (.552). Miles has a Big Ten record of 24-36 through four seasons (.400). Miles has guided Nebraska to one NCAA Tournament appearance and has made two appearances in the tournament overall, guiding Colorado State to the big dance in the 2011-12 season.
About Tom Izzo
Tom Izzo is also in his 21st season and has spent his entire head coaching career at Michigan State. Izzo sports a career record of 511-202 (.717) and has a Big Ten record of 236-109 (.684). Izzo has won one NCAA national championship (1999-00) and has made seven trips to the Final Four. He has also won seven Big Ten Conference regular season championships and four Big Ten Tournament titles in his career. He has guided the Spartans to 18 NCAA Tournament appearances (every year since 1998) with 13 Sweet 16 appearances and nine Elite Eight berths.
Series History
Michigan State leads the all-time series 12-8, in a rivalry that dates back to February of 1920, and has won four of the six meetings since the Huskers joined the Big Ten in 2011-12. Nebraska brings a two-game winning streak against the Spartans into Wednesday's game. Nebraska has faced a ranked Michigan State team in 10 of the last 11 matchups. Michigan State leads the series 6-2 in games played in East Lansing and leads 4-2 in games played at the Breslin Center.
Nebraska won the first two meetings on consecutive days, posting a 43-26 win on Feb. 13, 1920 and a 39-20 win on the following day. The teams played six times between 1988 and 1994, splitting the six contests. Nebraska's three wins in the span came by a total of 11 points. Nebraska's last win vs. MSU in East Lansing came two seasons ago, when Terran Petteway and Walter Pitchford combined for 41 points to give NU its first road win over a top-10 team since 1997 with a 60-51 win over the ninth-ranked Spartans.
1920 - Nebraska 43, Michigan State 26 (Lincoln)
1920 - Nebraska 39, Michigan State 20 (Lincoln)
1956 - Michigan State 79, Nebraska 65 (neutral site)
1958 - #11 Michigan State 80, Nebraska 55 (East Lansing)
1959 - Michigan State 82, Nebraska 80 (2OT) (Lincoln)
1967 - Michigan State 74, Nebraska 70 (East Lansing)
1968 - Nebraska 73, Michigan State 59 (Lincoln)
1983 - Michigan State 58, Nebraska 45 (neutral site)
1988 - Michigan State 77, Nebraska 75 (Lincoln)
1989 - Michigan State 80, Nebraska 69 (East Lansing)
1990 - Nebraska 71, #5 Michigan State 69 (Lincoln)
1991 - #22 Michigan State 101, Nebraska 78 (East Lansing)
1993 - Nebraska 85, #6 Michigan State 81 (East Lansing)
1994 - Nebraska 96, #15 Michigan State 91 (OT) (Lincoln)
2011 - #16 Michigan State 68, Nebraska 55 (Lincoln)
2012 - #6 Michigan State 62, Nebraska 34 (East Lansing)
2013 - #22 Michigan State 66, Nebraska 56 (East Lansing)
2013 - #8 Michigan State 73, Nebraska 64 (Lincoln)
2014 - Nebraska 60, #9 Michigan State 51 (East Lansing)
2015 - Nebraska 79, Michigan State 77 (Lincoln)
Husker-Spartan Superlatives
- Most consecutive wins: Nebraska 2 (1920; 1993-94; 2014-present) | Michigan State 4 (2011-13)
- Most points scored: Nebraska 96 (at Lincoln, 1994) | Michigan State 101 (at East Lansing, 1991)
- Highest combined score: 187 (Nebraska 96, Michigan State 91 - at Lincoln, 1994)
- Biggest winning margin: Nebraska 19 (at Lincoln, 1920) | Michigan State 28 (at East Lansing, 2012)
Last Season's Meeting: Nebraska 79, Michigan State 77 (Jan. 24, 2015)
Terran Petteway and Shavon Shields combined for 53 points, as Nebraska built a double-digit lead and withstood a frantic Michigan State comeback in a 79-77 win. The Huskers thrilled a sellout crowd of 15,757 on #AveryStrong Day, as Petteway finished with a season-high 32 points, while Shavon Shields finished with 21 points and seven rebounds. Nebraska shot 49 percent from the floor, and turned in one of its best free throw shooting efforts, going 29-of-37 from the line. Michigan State trailed by as many as 17 points in the second half, cut the lead to two points with 2.2 seconds left after a Travis Trice layup, but the Huskers got the inbounds pass in and ran out the clock. Trice led Michigan State with 27 points while Denzel Valentine had 21 points and 11 rebounds.
Worth Noting
- Nebraska has shot 50 percent in each of its last three conference games, the first time that has happened since a four-game stretch in 2007-08 (Kansas State, at Texas A&M, Oklahoma and at Oklahoma State). It also marks just the third time in the last 25 years that NU has shot over 50 percent in three straight conference games (also in 2003-04)
- Nebraska has out-rebounded its last three opponents by double figures, the first time that has happened since a four-game stretch to start the 2004-05 season and the first time it has happened in three straight conference games in more than 35 years
- Nebraska has scored 75 or more points in each of the last three conference games, marking the first time it has happened since a four-game stretch in 2002
- The only Husker from the state of Michigan on the 2015-16 roster is freshman Bakari Evelyn, who is originally from Detroit, but spent his last year of high school in Arizona. Evelyn has appeared in 10 games as a true freshman, averaging 2.1 points per game. Evelyn won three state titles in the Breslin Center during his career at Southfield Christian.
- Glynn Watson Jr. has been one of the Big Ten's best newcomers at point guard this season. The Bellwood, Illinois product is averaging 7.8 ppg and 2.6 apg while his 2.47 assist-to-turnover ratio is the best by a Husker since Charles Richardson had a 2.57-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio in 2006-07.
- Andrew White III is one of only 18 players nationally averaging at least 15 points per game while shooting 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from three-point range and 75 percent from the foul line through Sunday's games.
- Nebraska is one of four programs in the nation (Florida State, Illinois and Washington) with multiple players averaging at least 15.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game, as both Andrew White III and Shavon Shields have reached that plateau. Entering this week, only 65 players in Division I reach those averages.
- Nebraska's ball movement has been better since putting freshman Glynn Watson Jr. into the starting lineup on Dec. 22. NU has averaged 13.7 assists per game over the last seven games, as compared to 12.1 for NU's first 12 contests. Benny Parker and Watson have combined for 35 assists and just 10 turnovers in that span, while Shavon Shields is averaging 3.2 assists per game.
- Nebraska looks to snap a 10-game losing streak to ranked opponents dating back to 2013-14
- Much of Nebraska's inconsistency can be attributed to youth, as freshmen account for 36 percent of the Huskers' minutes in 2015-16. In Big Ten action that number jumps to 39 percent of the Huskers' total playing time.
- Nebraska's 3-point shooting has jumped from 28.4 percent to 36.5 percent this season, which is on track to be the second-highest increase for the Huskers since the 3-point line was instituted in the 1986-87 season. NU jumped from 27.6 percent to 38.9 percent between the 2003-04 and 2004-05 seasons.
- Nebraska has three 90-point games this season, which matches the team's total for the previous eight seasons
- NU's 74.6 points per game average is the highest scoring average after 19 games since the 1995-96 season (86.4 ppg)
- At this pace, it would be Nebraska's highest scoring average since the 1995-96 team averaged 80.2 points per game. Since 2000, only the 2003-04 (70.5 ppg) and 2000-01 (71.1 ppg) teams have eclipsed the 70-points per game mark.
- In Big Ten play, the Huskers lead the conference in field goal percentage (.491) and is third in scoring offense (76.5 ppg)
- Ten Huskers have reached double figures at least once, while three players (White, Shields, Webster) have also recorded multiple 20-point efforts. It marks the first time in 10 years that Nebraska had three players with multiple 20-point games.
- Nebraska has three 90-point games with three others at least 80 points
- The biggest improvement has come from the 3-point line, as the Huskers were 340th in that category last season (.284) and are 97th (.365) entering Wednesday's game at Michigan State
- Five of Nebraska's top eight scorers are in their first year of competition as a Husker, as newcomers have accounted for 54 percent of NU's total offense in the first 19 games
- Five of NU's newcomers have already posted double digit efforts, including a team-high 16 by Andrew White III and seven by Glynn Watson Jr.
2015-16 Michigan State Schedule/Results (16-3, 3-3)
Florida Atlantic (W 80-56)
vs. #4 Kansas (at Chicago) (W 79-73)
Arkansas-Pine Bluff (W 92-46)
Eastern Michigan (W 89-65)
----Wooden Legacy Tournament (at Anaheim, CA)----
vs. Boston College (W 99-68)
vs. Boise State (W 77-67)
vs. Providence (W 77-64)
---------------------------------------------------------
#24 Louisville (W 71-67)
Binghamton (W 76-33)
Maryland-Eastern Shore (W 78-35)
Florida (W 58-52)
at Northeastern (W 78-58)
vs. Oakland (at Detroit) (W 99-93 OT)
at Iowa (L 70-83)
at Minnesota (W 69-61)
Illinois (W 79-54)
at Penn State (W 92-65)
#16 Iowa (L 59-76)
at Wisconsin (L 76-77)
