Nebraska is coming off a tough loss to Maryland on Tuesday night as they lost to the Terrapins 72-70. The loss to Maryland represents the Cornhuskers ninth straight loss and although the Cornhuskers are going through a losing streak as five of the nine losses have come by double digits, which includes losing to Wisconsin by 14 points in the first meeting the Badgers can’t take the Cornhuskers lightly. Considering Wisconsin hasn’t won consecutive conference games in a month when they won against Penn State on the road, which also represents the Badgers last road victory before beating Maryland.
In this Badgers Wire feature, we will look at the three keys or questions for Wisconsin as they prepare to play Nebraska on Saturday.
LAYUP: DISRUPTING NEBRASKA’S BALANCED SCORING
Nebraska has four players averaging double figures over conference play and in the first matchup against Wisconsin, the Cornhuskers put four players in double figures.
If Wisconsin wants to control the game on Saturday they will need to be sound in their defensive assignments in order to disrupt Nebraska’s offense.
Nebraska is led in scoring by Cam Mack as he’s averaging 12.5 points per game over Big Ten play and against Wisconsin earlier in the season he finished with 14 points on 5-for-15 shooting from the field.
Mack has struggled with his shot over the last three games for Nebraska. In those three games, he has only reached double figures once, as he only scored four points against Maryland and was held scoreless against Penn State. In that span, Mack is averaging 5.6 points on a combined 6-for-28 shooting from the field.
D’Mitrik Trice will likely draw the defensive assignment against Mack and Trice has been one of Wisconsin’s most consistent defenders this year. Trice’s defensive effort against Mack will be needed considering even if his shot isn’t falling he still has been able to set up his teammates for offensive success. Mack’s 7.2 assists over conference play lead the league making it important that not only does Trice try and disrupt Mack’s shot attempts but also takes away his passing lanes too.