Nebraska faces robust New 12 months’s Day take a look at at No. 4 Indiana

Luke Mullin and Amie Simply talk about Nebraska soccer’s current efforts and have a look forward to what 2023 would possibly imply for Nebraska within the newest episode of Life within the Crimson. For extra, go to https://journalstar.com/huskers/.

The Nebraska ladies’s basketball group didn’t deal with the frying pan of Michigan’s protection very properly.

A New 12 months’s Day recreation at No. 4 Indiana might as properly be a visit to the fireplace. What Michigan did to beat Nebraska 76-59, IU does even higher.

The Hoosiers (12-1 total, 2-1 within the Massive Ten) power 17 turnovers per recreation with sturdy defensive strain on opposing guards. Half of these takeaways are the byproduct of steals, and IU is very stingy within the first halves of video games, permitting foes simply 27 factors over the opening 20 minutes.

The Huskers (10-4, 2-2) have struggled with gradual begins all season. They scored 27 within the first half of a 26-point loss at Creighton, 26 in an 18-point loss at Drake, 24 in a 31-point loss at Virginia Tech, 16 in a win over Samford and 26 in opposition to Michigan.

“They pressured us and we didn’t deal with it properly,” Nebraska coach Amy Williams stated of Michigan.

A lot of these groups, sensing that NU guard Jaz Shelley is the first driving menace, try and entice her when she requires screens. Even when she eliminates the ball, teammates have struggled to make photographs or get by their defenders.

The problem is exacerbated by the season-ending damage knee suffered by Allison Weidner, who was one of many few Huskers able to a tough drive to the rim for factors. Weidner may begin a break, too, as a result of she was an excellent defensive rebounder.

“Coach stated we have to have individuals have one or two further rebounds a recreation to take a few of what Allison did for our group,” Shelley stated after the Michigan loss.

Nebraska already had damage considerations. Trinity Brady hasn’t returned since getting hit within the head at Virginia Tech, and Sam Haiby, whereas again on the court docket, averages simply 13.3 minutes per recreation as she will get again to hurry from her personal knee damage.

“It’s irritating for her, it’s irritating for me, it’s irritating for our fan base,” Williams stated of Haiby’s restricted minutes. “However her well being and security is most necessary.”

One IU’s high guards, Grace Berger, has missed half of her season, too. It hasn’t slowed the Hoosiers a lot, though they misplaced their first recreation of the season final week to Michigan State. Indiana has double-digit wins this season over North Carolina, Auburn and Tennessee, and has gained eight of the final 10 matchups in opposition to Nebraska.

The Hoosiers additionally dipped into the switch portal to construct a stronger beginning lineup, including three-point shooter Sara Scalia from Minnesota and Oregon guard Sydney Parrish, who performed with Shelley two years in the past at Oregon. Windfall switch Alyssa Geary offers put up protection off the bench.

Nebraska has its fingers full, and plans to play quick in an effort to defeat IU’s protection.

“If we begin to play with tempo and push it in transition a bit of higher,” Shelley stated, “we’re in a position to come off ball screens tougher, set higher screens, and hopefully the protection now performs catch up.”