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The Nebraska men's basketball team looks to bounce back on Thursday night, as the Huskers welcome the Michigan State Spartans to Pinnacle Bank Arena. Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m. and Thursday's game is sold out. Any returned tickets for the NU-MSU game will go on sale at the Pinnacle Bank Arena box office beginning at 6 p.m. on Thursday.
Thursday's game will be televised on FS1 with Kevin Kugler and Bill Raftery on the call. The game can also be streamed via the web, smartphones, tablets and connected devices through the Fox Sports app.
| GAME 26: NEBRASKA vs. MICHIGAN STATE Date: Thursday, Feb. 20 Time: 7:30 p.m. (CT) Location: Lincoln, Neb. Arena: Pinnacle Bank Arena Tickets: Huskers.com/Tickets NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS 2019-20 Record: 7-18 (2-12 Big Ten) Head coach: Fred Hoiberg Record at Nebraska: 7-18 (1st year) Career NCAA Record: 122-74 (6th year) NO. -/25 MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS 2019-20 Record: 17-9 (9-6 Big Ten) Head coach: Tom Izzo Record at Michigan State: 623-241 (25th year) Career Record: Same BROADCAST INFO Television: FS1 Play-by-play: Kevin Kugler Analyst: Bill Raftery Online Broadcast: FOX Sports App Radio: Learfield IMG College Husker Sports Network, including 590 AM (Omaha), 1400 AM (Lincoln) and 880 AM (Lexington) Play-by-play: Kent Pavelka Analyst: Jake Muhleisen Online Radio: Available on Huskers.com, Huskers App, TuneIn.com/Huskers and TuneIn App. SiriusXM (Internet): Ch. 972 XM: Ch. 382 |
Fans can follow all of the action across the state of Nebraska on the Learfield IMG College Husker Sports Network with Kent Pavelka and Jake Muhleisen on the call. The game will also be available on Huskers.com, the Huskers app and TuneIn radio. The pregame show begins one hour prior to tipoff.
Nebraska (7-18, 2-12 Big Ten) looks to snap a 10-game losing streak following an 81-64 loss to Wisconsin Saturday afternoon. Wisconsin broke open a one-point game at halftime by shooting 54 percent from the field, including 9-of-13 from 3-point range, in the second half. Brad Davison and D'Mitrik Trice combined for 13 of Wisconsin's 15 3-pointers.
For the Huskers, Haanif Cheatham continued his strong play with 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting, while Cam Mack turned in a gutty performance with eight points, nine rebounds and eight assists while battling illness.
Cheatham has been steady for a young Husker roster. Over his last five games, the 6-foot-5 guard is shooting 56 percent from the floor and has four double-figure performances. The only game he didn't reach double figures was when he left the Iowa game with a calf injury after just 14 minutes. On the season, he is tied with Mack for the team lead at 12.4 points per game while shooting nearly 50 percent from the field.
Michigan State (17-9, 9-6 Big Ten) look to bounce back after a tough 67-60 loss to ninth-ranked Maryland on Saturday. MSU led by seven with just over three minutes to play, but Maryland closed the game on a 14-0 surge to steal a win in East Lansing. Xavier Tillman finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds, while Cassius Winston had 14 points and five assists in a losing effort. On the season, Winston averages 18.2 points per game and is fourth in the Big Ten with 5.7 assists per game.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT
With 164 assists, Cam Mack needs just three assists to move past Brian Carr (166, 1986-87) for fourth place on Nebraska's single-season list. In Big Ten play only, Mack is second with 7.2 assists per game. Last week, he averaged 8.0 assists per game and had a 5.3-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
NUMBERS TO KNOW
1 - Freshman Yvan Ouedraogo needs one rebound to be the fifth Husker freshman with 150 or more caroms in a season, joining Aleks Maric, John Turek, Venson Hamilton and Dave Hoppen.
1.30 - Nebraska's assist-to-turnover ratio which is on pace to rank fifth in school history. The Huskers are currently fourth in the Big Ten in assist-to-turnover ratio, including first in Big Ten action. In addition, NU's 14.6 assists per game is on pace to be the Huskers' highest total since the 2006-07 season.
Best Assist-to-Turnover Ratios in School History
| No | Year | Ratio |
| 1. | 1984-85 | 1.81 |
| 2. | 1985-86 | 1.64 |
| 3. | 1983-84 | 1.34 |
| 4. | 2018-19 | 1.32 |
| 5. | 2019-20 | 1.30 |
| 6. | 1981-82 | 1.29 |
9 - Cam Mack is one of just nine players in Division I - and just five in power conferences - averaging at least 12.0 points, 6.0 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game as of Feb. 17. The other power conference players include Tre Jones (Duke), Tyrese Haliburton (Iowa State), Markell Johnson (NC State) and Ashton Haggans (Kentucky).
50 - Returning point total from last season, all by Thorir Thorbjarnarson. That is the lowest by any power conference team in the last decade.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN STATE
Under Hall of Fame Coach Tom Izzo, the Spartans have been the flagship program in the Big Ten over the last two-plus decades. The Spartans have made eight Final Fours in the last 21 seasons and made 22 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. Izzo, who is in his 25th year at MSU, entered the year as the nation's top team and were in the top 15 for most of the season before struggling at times this month.
The Spartans average 75.1 points per game and lead the conference in assists (17.6 apg) while ranking second in field goal percentage (.453). Defensively, the Spartans allow an average of 64.1 points per game and lead the Big Ten in field goal percentage defense (.377), 3-point percentage defense (.289) and blocked shots (5.2 bpg) while ranking second in rebounding margin (+7.5).
MSU entered the year with one of the nation's top back courts with Big Ten Player of the Year Cassius Winston and Joshua Langford (15.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg), but Langford has missed the entire season because of an injury. Winston has been one of the Big Ten's premier players, as he averages 18.2 points per game while shooting nearly 40 percent from 3-point range and dishing out 5.7 assists per game. He already holds the MSU and Big Ten record for most assists (856). Junior Xavier Tillman is the other Spartan averaging double figures, as he averages 13.7 points and ranks second in the Big Ten in rebounding (10.3 rpg). Aaron Henry (9.5 ppg), Rocket Watts (7.7 ppg) and Gabe Brown (7.2 ppg) all provide scoring punch.
Series History: Michigan State leads the all-time series, 17-9, in a rivalry that dates back to February of 1920. The Huskers are 3-9 against Michigan State since joining the Big Ten, while the Spartans have won the last five meetings. Since joining the Big Ten, NU has faced a ranked Spartan team in nine of the previous 12 meetings heading into Thursday. Last year, MSU's 70-64 win ended the Huskers' 20-game home win streak.
LAST TIME OUT
A decisive 21-5 second half run lifted Wisconsin to a 81-64 victory over Nebraska on Feb. 15. The Huskers led 43-41 after Kevin Cross' 3-pointer with 18:28 remaining. From there, Wisconsin took control, as D'Mitirk Trice hit three of his five 3-pointers in the spurt, pushing the Badger lead to 17 before Thorir Thorbjarnarson's 3-pointer ended the Badger run.
Nebraska pulled to within 10 with just under eight minutes remaining. The Huskers had two open looks on the next two possessions, but could not pull any closer before Wisconsin ran off eight straight points, including a pair of 3-pointers from Brad Davison to push the lead back to 18 with just over five minutes remaining. Davison led all scorers with 30 points, including eight 3-pointers, while Trice finished with 15 points, including 5-of-6 from 3-point range.
Haanif Cheatham paced Nebraska with 17 points. Dachon Burke Jr. would add 10 for the Huskers, while Cam Mack flirted with a triple double, finishing with eight points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Yvan Ouedraego would have a solid game coming off the bench for the Huskers with eight points and 10 rebounds.
STORYLINES
• Nebraska Head Coach Fred Hoiberg will see a familiar face on the opposite sideline on Thursday, as his son Jack is a sophomore guard at Michigan State. Jack, the second-oldest of the Hoiberg kids, has played in 12 games, totaling 15 points and 10 assists in 35:45 of playing time this season.
• Thursday's game features two of the top point guards in the Big Ten, as Cam Mack ranks third in the Big Ten in assists (6.6 apg), while Cassius Winston is fourth with 5.7 assists per game.
• While the Huskers have lost 10 straight entering Thursday's game, NU Head Coach Fred Hoiberg experienced a similar double-figure losing streak during his first season at Iowa State. That year, the Cyclones were short-handed with four sit-out transfers en route to going 3-13 in the Big 12. The next season, the Cyclones put together the largest turnaround in Big 12 history and went 12-6 en route to the first of four straight NCAA Tournament appearances under Hoiberg.
• No active Husker has played Michigan State in Lincoln. Junior Thorir Thorbjarnarson played a combined seven minutes in two games in East Lansing (December of 2017 and March of 2019). Haanif Cheatham had eight points in 13 minutes for Florida Gulf Coast last season in East Lansing.
• NU's game against Michigan State, which is 12th in the NET as of Feb. 18 will mark the eighth straight opponent in the top 40 of the NET. NU streak could stretch to 10 straight games, as NU's next two games are at Illinois (38) and vs. Ohio State (18).
• ESPN's BPI has Nebraska with the ninth-hardest strength of schedule remaining as of Feb. 17. In all, eight of the top 11 toughest remaining schedules are from the Big Ten.
• Cam Mack is in fifth place on NU's single-season assist list with 164 and needs just two assists to tie Brian Carr (166, 1986-87) for fourth place. Carr currently holds three of the top four assist marks in school history. Mack is one of only four Huskers to ever dish out at least 150 assists (also Brian Carr-3x; Charles Richardson Jr. and Tyronn Lue).
• Haanif Cheatham's 20-point effort at No. 9 Maryland on Feb. 11 marked the Huskers' ninth 20-point game of the season (Burke-3; Cheatham-3; Mack-2; Green-1).
• With 208 3-pointers this year, the 2019-20 Huskers have hit 200-or-more 3-pointers for the 10th time in program history. NU needs two 3-pointers to move into a tie for eighth and nine to move into a tie for seventh. The Huskers have hit 10-or-more 3-pointers six times this season and lead the Big Ten in 3-pointers per game in conference play (8.7 per game).
• Nebraska enters Thursday's game leading in the Big Ten in turnover margin with +2.7 per game. The Huskers are second in the Big Ten in forcing turnovers (13.9 per game) and third in taking care of the basketball (11.2 per game). NU is 23rd nationally in fewest turnovers per game as of Feb. 17. During his tenure at Iowa State, Hoiberg's teams ranked in the top three in the Big 12 in fewest turnovers per game in four of his five seasons at the school.
• Despite being undersized and having just one player who had played in a Big Ten game entering the season, Nebraska's play in Big Ten action is starting to resemble the team's that Coach Hoiberg had at Iowa State, especially with ball movement and limiting turnovers. In Big Ten games only, NU is in the top two in four offensive categories entering the week, including assist-to-turnover ratio and 3-point shooting.
Big Strides in Conference Play
| Category | 2019-20 (B1G) | 2018-19 (B1G) | Times ISU Led Big 12 Under Hoiberg |
| 3-Pt./GM | 8.7 (1st) | 6.8 (8th) | (3) 2011-12; 2012-13; 2014-15 |
| Asst/GM | 15.6 (2nd) | 11.7 (10th) | (2) 2013-14; 2014-15 |
| Asst-to-TO Ratio | 1.5-to-1 (1st) | 1.2-to-1 (5th) | (2) 2013-14; 2014-15 |
| Turnover Margin | +2.5 (1st) | +2.0 (4th) | (0) None |
as of Feb. 17
• Nebraska has relied on its balance with four double-figure scorers in conference play. NU has had at least three players reach double figures in 20 of 25 games this year, but saw its streak of at least three players in double figures end at eight against Wisconsin on Feb. 15. The Huskers put five players in double figures three times, most recently against Iowa on Jan. 7.
• It is not surprising that Nebraska has relied on its 3-point shooting, as Hoiberg's Iowa State teams led the Big 12 in 3-pointers in four of his five seasons at the school. The Huskers, who are fourth in the Big Ten in 3-pointers per game, are on pace to average 8.3 3-pointers per game, a total which would rank second in school history and be the most since the 2001-02 campaign.
Most 3-Pointers/Game in School History
| No. | School | Games | 3-Pointers/Game |
| 1. | 2001-02 | 28 | 9.54 |
| - | 2019-20 | 25 | 8.32 |
| 2. | 2006-07 | 31 | 7.87 |
| 3. | 2018-19 | 36 | 7.50 |
• Cam Mack has made an impact in his first season at Nebraska. He is 13th nationally with 6.6 assists per game, which is on pace to be the most by a Husker since the 1984-85 season, and ranks 34th nationally with his 2.29-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. Mack's assist-to-turnover ratio is on pace to be one of the best in school history.
Best Assist/Turnover Ratios (Since 1979)
| No. | Ratio | Player | Asst.-TO | Year |
| 1. | 3.05 | Brian Carr | 201-66 | 1985-86 |
| 2. | 2.73 | Jamar Johnson | 123-45 | 1993-94 |
| 3. | 2.58 | Brian Carr | 237-92 | 1984-85 |
| 4. | 2.54 | Jack Moore | 109-43 | 1981-82 |
| 5. | 2.52 | Charles Richardson Jr. | 179-71 | 2006-07 |
| - | 2.41 | Cam Mack | 166-68 | 2019-20 |
min. 3.0 assists/gm
• Cam Mack is the only Husker in the last 30 years to have multiple points-assists double-doubles in the same season as he has four this season, including three in Big Ten play. From 1989-90 to the end of the 2018-19 season, it had happened just five times. Mack's consecutive points-assists double-doubles against Indiana and Purdue were the first since Brian Carr in December of 1985 (vs. UC-Irvine and Creighton).
Husker Points/Assists Double-Doubles (Last 30 years)
| No. | Pts. | Asst. | Opponent |
| Cam Mack | 15 | 10 | vs. Iowa, 1/7/20 |
| Cam Mack | 11 | 12 | vs. Purdue, 12/13/19 |
| Cam Mack | 15 | 10 | at Indiana, 12/13/19 |
| Cam Mack | 13 | 11 | vs. Southern Utah, 11/11/19 |
| Glynn Watson Jr. | 10 | 10 | vs. Cal State Fullerton, 12/20/18 |
| Lance Jeter | 10 | 10 | vs. Kansas, 2/5/11 |
| Lance Jeter | 12 | 12 | at Kansas State, 2/7/10 |
| Sek Henry | 11 | 11 | at TCU, 11/21/09 |
| Tom Wald | 11 | 11 | vs. Appalachian State, 12/31/94 |
• Nebraska has used six different starting lineups this season and is down to just nine eligible players following the season-ending injury to Matej Kavas against Wisconsin. Kavas suffered a left (non-shooting) hand injury and has been ruled out for the remainder of the season. Kavas averaged 5.3 points per game and had totaled 23 3-pointers in 22 contests. Of the 13 scholarship players that began the year, NU now has only eight available, as three players (Derrick Walker, Shamiel Stevenson and Dalano Banton) are sitting out this year, while Samari Curtis transferred to Evansville at the semester.
• Freshman Charlie Easley was put on scholarship for the spring semester. Easley has played in 21 games as a backup guard, including all 14 Big Ten contests, and has played double-figure minutes in 10 of the Huskers' last 12 contests. Easley is 10th in the Big Ten in steals (1.1 spg) in conference play despite averaging just 12.8 minutes per game.
• Nebraska returned a national-low 1.9 percent of its scoring from last season and the 50 returning points is the lowest by any power conference team since the 2008-09 season according to noted statistician Ken Pomeroy. That team was the 2008-09 Indiana Hoosiers, who went 6-26 overall (1-17 in Big Ten) and had two double-figure losing streaks. The Big Ten had seven teams reach the NCAA Tournament this season.
SETTING A FAST PACE
Not only are the Huskers adjusting to a whole new roster, but playing at a significantly faster pace than in previous years. The Huskers are 10th nationally in offensive tempo, as their average possession is 15.4 seconds per possession as of Feb. 16.
• The only power conference school that plays at a faster pace is Alabama, which is sixth nationally as of Feb. 16. No other Big Ten team is in the top 50 nationally, as Penn State is 51st nationally.
• Over the last five years (2014-15 to 2018-19), only two Big Ten teams - Ohio State (16, 2014-15) and Minnesota (20, 2014-15) - ranked in the top 20 nationally in possession length.
• Of the top 25 teams in terms of pace nationally, Nebraska has the lowest turnover rate as of Feb. 16. Nebraska, Gonzaga, Belmont and St. John's are the only teams nationally to currently rank in the top-25 in both offensive pace and turnover percentage.
• In his five full seasons as a college coach, Hoiberg's teams have ranked in the top 20 in offensive tempo four times, including top-10 rankings in both 2014 and 2015.
• Hoiberg's first Iowa State team in 2010-11 jumped from 67th to 20th nationally in offensive pace and ranked in the top 40 nationally in adjusted tempo in four of his five seasons in Ames, including top-15 nationally in his last two campaigns.
• In the KenPom era (1997-present), only one Husker team has ranked among the top 100 nationally in adjusted tempo - the 1999-2000 Huskers under Danny Nee. The Huskers' quickest offensive tempo in the last decade was in 2017-18 when the Huskers were 140th in offensive tempo.
MACK DELIVERS AS HUSKERS' LEAD GUARD
Junior college transfer Cam Mack was the cornerstone of the Huskers' recruiting class, and has lived up to the billing in his first season at Nebraska. Mack was the No. 3 JUCO recruit in the country last year at Salt Lake CC and has been one of the Big Ten's top newcomers this season. Mack, who was listed as the top JC point guard recruit in the country, enters the Michigan State contest averaging 12.4 points per game while leading the Huskers in assists (6.6) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.4-to-1).
• He is third in the Big Ten in assists per game and fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio as of Feb. 16.
• Mack is third nationally with four games with at least 10 points and 10 assists. In fact, only eight players in Division I have at least four double-doubles with points and assists this season as of Feb. 17.
• His 6.6 assists per game is on pace to rank third in school history trailing only Brian Carr, who averaged 7.9 assists per game in 1984-85 and 6.7 assists per game in 1985-86.
• Mack has been even better in Big Ten play, as he is second in the Big Ten in assists (7.2) and third in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.7-to-1) in conference games only.
• Mack has four of his five double-doubles in Big Ten action, including the first triple-double in school history against Purude on Dec. 15 with 11 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists in the Huskers' 70-54 win.
• Mack ranks fourth on NU's single-season assist list with 164 and needs just 15 assists to move into third place.
• He's reached double figures 20 times, including a season-high 24-point performance against South Dakota State on Nov. 15 and a 20-point, nine-assist effort against Indiana on Jan. 18.
• He shined against Michigan on Jan. 28 with 19 points, including a season-high five 3-pointers, nine assists and seven rebounds.
• Mack nearly led the Huskers to a comeback win at No. 24 Rutgers on Jan. 25, scoring 16 of his 19 points in the second half as Nebraska rallied back from 14 points down to take the lead before falling 75-72.
• Last season at Salt Lake CC, Mack averaged 19.1 points, 7.6 assists and 5.9 rebounds per game, ranking fifth nationally in assists per game. He totaled nine double-doubles and three triple-doubles as a freshman and dished out 10-or-more assists nine times.
CHEATHAM MAKES IMPACT ON BOTH ENDS
Fifth-year senior Haanif Cheatham has been one of the leaders for a young Husker team. The guard from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., has made 103 career appearances, including 95 starts during a career which has seen him play at Marquette and Florida Gulf Coast before coming to Nebraska.
• After a slow start, Cheatham has been one of NU's most consistent offensive threats, as he leads NU in scoring (12.4 ppg) and field goal percentage (.496) and ranks third in assists (1.3 apg). He has been in double figures 18 times, including a trio of 20-point contests.
• Cheatham comes off a 17-point effort on Saturday against Wisconsin, his fourth double-figure effort in the last five contests.
• He had one of his best performances of the season at No. 9 Maryland on Feb. 11. In that game, he finished with 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting and six boards. Cheatham, who was questionable for the game with a calf injury, had 18 points in the second half as Nebraska rallied back from a 14-point deficit.
• He went over 1,000 career points with a 17-point performance against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Dec. 29.
• Cheatham posted his first career double-double with 14 points and a career-high 11 rebounds at Georgia Tech on Dec. 4.
• He was in double figures all three games of the Cayman Islands Classic, averaging 19.0 ppg including a career-best 26-point effort against South Florida to garner all-tournament honors.
A former top-100 recruit out of high school, he was named Marquette's top defensive performer in each of his two full seasons at Marquette.
THOR EMERGES AS SCORING THREAT
Junior Thorir Thorbjarnarson emerged as a vital part of the Huskers' offensive attack and one of the most improved players in the Big Ten. The 6-foot-6 guard is fourth on the team in scoring at 9.0 ppg, while shooting 50 percent from the field and 43 percent from 3-point range.
• Thorbjarnarson is fourth in the Big Ten in 3-point percentage (.433) after shooting just 21.4 percent (6-of-28) from 3-point range in his first two seasons.
• In conference play, he is averaging 11.6 ppg while leading NU in field goal percentage (.500), 3-point percentage (.423) and steals. He is also second in rebounding (5.4 rpg) and assists (1.7 apg).
• He is seventh in 3-point percentage (.423) and fourth in 3-pointers per game (2.1) in Big Ten games only.
• His 10.1 ppg increase in conference play from last season is the fourth-highest jump in the Big Ten, and he is one of four players who have increased their conference scoring average by at least 10 ppg this season.
• He has been on a roll as of late, reaching double figures 11 times in NU's last 18 games after not reaching double figures in his first 41 contests at Nebraska. Since Dec. 4, he has tied or set a career high in points five times, including 17 points at No. 24 Rutgers on Jan. 25.
• He nearly had a double-double in the win over Iowa on Jan. 7, finishing with 17 points, including three 3-pointers, and a season-high nine rebounds. He tied his season high originally set at Indiana on Dec. 13.
• Thorbjarnarson nearly helped NU knock off No. 9 Maryland with 15 points seven rebounds and a pair of assists in a 72-70 loss on Feb. 11.
BURKE SHOWS SCORING TOUCH
The other returnee from the 2018-19 season, Dachon Burke Jr. waited in the wings after transferring from Robert Morris. A 6-foot-4 guard, Burke has quickly shown the skills to flourish in Fred Hoiberg's attack, averaging 11.4 points, 3.8 rebounds per game and 1.3 steals per game.
• He leads NU and ranks second in the Big Ten in steals and paces the Huskers in blocked shots (15).
• Burke has three 20-point efforts this year, including a 25-point effort against Indiana on Dec. 13, a 21-point performance against South Florida on Nov. 27 and a 20-point, eight-rebound outing at Wisconsin on Jan. 21.
• He has nine games with at least two steals, including a five-steal effort against George Mason on Nov. 25.
Two years ago, Burke was one of the best players in the Northeast Conference, averaging 17.6 points per game while adding 5.8 rebounds and a conference-best 2.1 steals per contest to earn second-team all-conference recognition.
OUEDRAOGO IS YOUNGSTER WITH BIG ROLE
Freshman Yvan Ouedraogo became the first true freshman to start a season opener at Nebraska since 2013 and has been a mainstay of the Husker lineup for most of the season.
• He is one of the youngest players in the country, as he won't turn 18 until after the 2020 Big Ten Tournament.
• Ouedraogo has made 23 starts and played in all 25 games, averaging 5.4 points and a team-high 6.0 rebounds per game in just under 21 minutes per game. He is third among Big Ten true freshmen in rebounding as of Feb. 17.
• He is on track to be the third freshman to lead NU in rebounding in a season, joining Aleks Maric (2005-06) and John Turek (2001-02).
• Ouedraogo is now fifth all-time among Husker freshmen in rebounding following his 10-rebound effort against Wisconsin. It marked his fourth double-figure rebound effort of the year.
• He has reached double figures in scoring three times, most recently at Ohio State on Jan. 14, finishing with 10 points and five boards.
• Ouedraogo picked up his first career double-double against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Dec. 29 with 11 points and 14 rebounds. His double-double was the first by a Husker freshman since Shavon Shields in 2013 and Ouedraogo became just the 10th NU freshman to ever record a double-double.
• His other double-figure effort was an 11-point performance against Southern on Nov. 22, including six in overtime.
• His 10 rebounds against Indiana on Dec. 13 marked the second-highest rebounding total for a Husker freshman in his first conference game, trailing only Dave Hoppen in 1983. It is one of four double-figure rebounding efforts in 2019-20, as he also had 12 against South Dakota State on Nov. 15.
• Ouedraogo played for the French U-18 squad at the 2019 European Championships in July, as France went 6-1 and finished fifth in the competition.
CROSS LIFTS BENCH PRODUCTION
Freshman Kevin Cross has been a key contributor for the Huskers. The 6-foot-8 freshman from Little Rock, Ark., has been Nebraska's sixth man for most of 2019-20, averaging 7.3 points and 4.0 rebounds per game.
• Cross is third on the team with 25 3-pointers and fourth in assists (32) while playing just 18.6 minutes per game. Because of the Huskers' lack of interior size, Cross has played center as a true freshman after being a forward during his high school career.
• He ranks seventh among Big Ten true freshman in scoring and fifth in rebounding as of Feb. 17.
• Cross has reached double figures seven times, which is the most by a Husker since Glynn Watson (15) in 2015-16.
• He matched his conference high in points (17) and 3-pointers (three) while dishing out a pair of assists against Michigan on Jan. 28.
• Cross enjoyed one of his best efforts of the season at Wisconsin on Jan. 21, finishing with 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting in 20 minutes. He also had a season-best three steals against the Badgers.
• He played a complete game in the win over Washington State on Nov. 25, scoring 14 points, grabbing a season-high eight rebounds and blocking two shots in 27 minutes.
• Against Southern Utah on Nov. 9, Cross had a season-high 19 points, which is the most by a Husker freshman since the 2016-17 season. It was also the most by a Husker freshman since Shavon Shields also had 19 against Michigan State in 2013.