Huskers Battle Illini Monday Night

The Nebraska men's basketball team goes on the road for a rare Monday night game, as the Huskers travel to Champaign, Ill., to take on the Illinois Fighting Illini. Tipoff at the State Farm Center is set for 7 p.m. and the game will be televised on BTN with Dave Revsine and Stephen Bardo on the call. The game can also be streamed via the web, smartphones, tablets and connected devices through the Fox Sports app.
 

GAME 27: NEBRASKA AT ILLINOIS Date:     Monday, Feb. 24 Time:     7 p.m. (CT) Location:     Champaign, Ill. Arena:     State Farm Center NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS 2019-20 Record: 7-19 (2-13 Big Ten) Head coach: Fred Hoiberg     Record at Nebraska: 7-19 (1st year)     Career NCAA Record: 122-75 (6th year) ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI 2019-20 Record: 17-9 (9-6 Big Ten) Head coach: Brad Underwood     Record at Illinois: 43-48 (3rd year)     Career Record: 152-75 (7th year) BROADCAST INFO Television: BTN     Play-by-play: Dave Revsine     Analyst: Stephen Bardo 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.  971        XM: Ch. 381

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 (7-19, 2-13 Big Ten) looks to bounce back from an 86-65 loss to Michigan State last Thursday. The Huskers got 21 points off the bench from Dachon Burke Jr., including 18 in the first half, but a cold shooting second half sealed NU's fate. Nebraska was within 48-46 with 14:39 left, but MSU used runs of 11-1 and 9-0 to pull away down the stretch. Cassius Winston's 23 points led five Spartans in double figures. Burke was one of three Huskers in double figures, as Haanif Cheatham and Yvan Ouedraogo added 14 and 10 points, respectively.

Cheatham, the lone active senior on the Husker roster, will make his 100th career start on Monday and comes into the homestretch of his college career playing solid basketball. Since suffering a calf injury against Iowa on Feb. 8, he is averaging 17.0 points per game on 56 percent shooting over the Huskers' last three contests. Against Michigan State, Cheatham had five of the Huskers' 11 steals, as Nebraska forced 22 MSU turnovers.

Illinois (17-9, 9-6 Big Ten) has been off since a 62-56 win over ninth-ranked Penn State on Feb. 18.  Ayo Dosunmu had a game-high 24 points on 9-of-15 shooting while freshman Kofi Cockburn added 14 points and seven rebounds. Illinois led 58-56 before Dosunmu's basket with 16.1 seconds left gave the Illini breathing room. The win snapped a four-game losing streak for Illinois, while Dosunmu returned to action after suffering a knee injury on the final play of the loss to Michigan State on Feb. 11.

Monday's game begins a busy week with three games in a seven-day span, as the Huskers return home for Ohio State (Feb. 27) and Northwestern (March 1).
 
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT
Dachon Burke's 21-point effort against Michigan State on Thursday was the most points by a Husker reserve since Jack McVeigh had 21 in a win over No. 20 Purdue on Jan. 29, 2017. Burke has scored in double figures in both games since missing the Maryland game with an illness.
 
NUMBERS TO KNOW
5 - Yvan Ouedraogo grabbed seven rebounds vs. MSU, becoming just the fifth Husker freshman to grab 150 rebounds in a season, joining Aleks Maric, John Turek, Venson Hamilton and Dave Hoppen on that list. Ouedraogo is 13 rebounds away from tying Aleks Maric's freshman record (169, 2004-05).
 
1.30 - Nebraska's assist-to-turnover ratio is on pace to rank fifth in school history. The Huskers are currently fourth in the Big Ten in assist-to-turnover ratio, including tied for 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

 
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. 23. 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 ILLINOIS
Brad Underwood is in his third year at Illinois after previous coaching stops at Oklahoma State and Stephen F. Austin.  After winning 14 and 12 games in his first two seasons, the Fighting Illini are 17-9 overall and 9-6 in the Big Ten heading into this week's action. Underwood guided Oklahoma State to a 20-13 record and a berth in the 2017 NCAA Tournament in his only season in Stillwater. Prior to that, he led Stephen F. Austin to three straight Southland Conference titles and three straight NCAA Tournament appearances. Longtime Husker fans may remember him from his stint as an assistant for six seasons at Kansas State under Bob Huggins and Frank Martin.

The Fighting Illini have been streaky since the start of January, winning seven straight games following a loss to Michigan State on Jan. 2. The win streak was highlighted by wins at Purdue and Michigan before a four-game losing streak that included late-game losses to both Maryland and Michigan State. Illinois rebounded with a 62-56 win at No. 9 Penn State in its last outing. The Fighting Illini have been stout on the defensive end, holding opponents to a conference-best 63.1 points per game while ranking among the league leaders in field goal defense (.404, fourth), 3-point defense (.307, third) and rebounding margin (+5.3, second) in conference play.

Sophomore Ayo Dosunmu has been one of the Big Ten's best players, as he is averaging 16.2 ppg while chipping in 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. Freshman Kofi Cockburn has been a force inside, averaging 13.6 ppg along with team-highs in both rebounds (8.9 rpg) and blocked shots (1.2 bpg), while senior Andres Feliz chips in 11.0 ppg. Illinois, which returned four starters and 11 letterwinners from a year ago, has six players averaging at least 7.5 points per game and five who pull down at least four rebounds per game.

Series History: Illinois leads the all-time series, 15-8, over Nebraska in a series that dates back to 1921. Nebraska is 6-8 against Illinois since joining the Big Ten and Monday's game is the only regular-season meeting between the two teams. NU has won once in the State Farm Center, a 78-67 win in 2016. NU's other win in Champaign came in the first meeting of the teams back in 1921.  Prior to Nebraska joining the conference in 2011-12, the Huskers and Illini had played only once since 1976 - a 100-73 Husker victory in the 1990 San Juan Shootout.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Dachon Burke Jr. had 18 of his 21 points in the first half, but Nebraska was unable to slow down Michigan State, falling 86-65 on Feb. 20. Nebraska trailed just 39-36 at the break, but shot just 28 percent in the second half, while the Spartans shot 61 percent after the break to pull away in the final 20 minutes.

Burke finished the night with 21 points on 7-of-15 shooting, including 4-of-8 from 3-point range. Haanif Cheatam (14 points and five steals) and Yvan Ouedrago (10 points and seven rebounds) joined Burke in double figures.

Nebraska made a couple early runs in the second half, and was within 48-46 before Aaron Henry keyed a 11-1 Spartan surge, scoring six of his 13 points to help MSU take a 59-47 lead. The Huskers chipped away and got within 61-54 after a Jervay Green 3-pointer with 8:54 left, but could get no closer as Michigan State ran off nine straight points, including 3-pointers from Gabe Brown and Kyle Ahrens to push the lead back to 16.

In all, the Spartans committed 22 turnovers, but went 13-of-27 from 3-point range and enjoyed a commanding 51-26 rebounding advantage for the contest.  Cassius Winston led all scorers with 23 points and six assists, while Gabe Brown finished with 17 points, including 5-of-8 from 3-point range.
 
STORYLINES
• Nebraska has played some of its best basketball on the road over the last month, including chances to win at both Rutgers (lost on a 3-pointer with 1.1 second remaining) and at No. 9 Maryland (had potential game winner blocked with 4.2 seconds remaining). Those two teams
entered the weekend a combined 32-1 at home this season.

• While the Huskers have lost 11 straight entering Monday'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 on its way to the first of four straight NCAA Tournament appearances under Hoiberg.

• NU's game against Illinois which is 35th in the NET as of Feb. 23, will mark the ninth straight opponent in the top 40 of the NET. In all, 10 of the 14 Big Ten teams are in the top 40 of the NET as of Feb. 23.

• Cam Mack is in fourth place on NU's single-season assist list with 170 and needs just nine assists to tie Charles Richardson Jr. (179, 2006-07) for third place. Mack and Michigan State's Cassius Winston are the only Big Ten players in the top five in both assists and steals as of Feb. 22.

• Dachon Burke's 21-point effort against Michigan State on Feb. 20 marked the Huskers' 10th 20-point game of the season (Burke-4; Cheatham-3; Mack-2; Green-1).

• Nebraska has 216 3-pointers this year to rank eighth in school history. NU will move into a tie for seventh with its first 3-pointer on Monday, and NU needs six 3-pointers to jump from eighth to sole possession of fifth place on NU's single-season chart. 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 Monday's game leading in the Big Ten in turnover margin with +3.0 per game. The Huskers are second in the Big Ten in forcing turnovers (14.2 per game) and fourth in taking care of the basketball (11.2 per game). NU is 25th nationally in fewest turnovers per game as of Feb. 22.  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 three 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 (t-1st)	6.8 (8th)	(3) 2011-12; 2012-13; 2014-15
Asst/GM	15.6 (3rd)	11.7 (10th)	(2) 2013-14; 2014-15
Asst-to-TO Ratio	1.5-to-1 (t-1st)	1.2-to-1 (5th)	(2) 2013-14; 2014-15
Turnover Margin	+3.1 (1st)	+2.0 (4th)	(0) None

as of Feb. 22
 
• 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 21 of 26 games this year, including a trio of games with five double-figure scorers.

• 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 third 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	8.30
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 11th nationally with 6.5 assists per game, which is on pace to be the most by a Husker since the 1985-86 season, and ranks 27th nationally with his 2.50-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
-	2.50	Cam Mack	170-68	2019-20

min. 3.0 assists/gm
 
• Nebraska has used seven 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 after surgery last week. 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 22 games as a backup guard, including all 15 Big Ten contests, and has played double-figure minutes in 11 of the Huskers' last 13 contests. Easley is seventh in the Big Ten in steals (1.1 spg) in conference play despite averaging just 12.9 minutes per game.

• 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 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 15.3 seconds per possession as of Feb. 23.

• The only power conference school that plays at a faster pace is Alabama, which is sixth nationally as of Feb. 16. Iowa, which is 48th, is the only other Big Ten team in the top-50 nationally.

• Over the last five years (2014-15 to 2018-19), only two Big Ten teams - Ohio State (16th, 2014-15) and Minnesota (20th, 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. 23. 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 as of Feb. 23.

• 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 Illinois contest averaging 12.0 points per game while leading the Huskers in assists (6.5) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.5-to-1).

• He is third in the Big Ten in assists per game and second in assist-to-turnover ratio as of Feb. 22.

• 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. 22.

• His 6.5 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 leads the Big Ten in assists (7.1) and is second in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.9-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 Purdue 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 170 and needs just nine assists to move into a tie for 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 106 career appearances, including 99 starts during a career which has seen him play at Marquette and Florida Gulf Coast before coming to Nebraska.

• Cheatham has been one of NU's most consistent offensive threats, as he leads NU in scoring (12.5 ppg) and field goal percentage (.494) and ranks third in assists (1.4 apg). He has been in double figures 19 times, including a trio of 20-point contests.

• Cheatham has been in double figures in six of the last seven contests, sandwiched around the Iowa game where he played just 15 minutes because of a calf injury.

• He put together a strong effort against Michigan State with 14 points and a career-high five steals, matching the most by a Husker this season.

• Cheatham 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 8.8 ppg, while shooting 47 percent from the field and 41 percent from 3-point range.

• Thorbjarnarson is sixth in the Big Ten in 3-point percentage (.412) after shooting just 21.4 percent (6-of-28) from 3-point range in his first two seasons.

• In conference play, he is averaging 11.2 ppg while leading NU in field goal percentage (.472), 3-point percentage (.395) and steals (1.1). He is also second both rebounding (5.4 rpg) and assists (1.7 apg).

• He is fourth in 3-pointers per game (2.0) and 12th in 3-point percentage (.423) in Big Ten games only.

• His 9.7 ppg increase in conference play from last season ties for the second-largest jump in the Big Ten.

• He has reached double figures 11 times in NU's last 19 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 11.8 points, 3.7 rebounds per game and 1.3 steals per game.

• He is second in the Big Ten in steals and paces the Huskers in blocked shots (15).

• Since missing the Maryland game with Illness, Burke has come off the bench the last two games, and is averaging 15.5 ppg on 46 percent shooting, including 50 percent from 3-point range.

• He posted his fourth 20-point game of the season against Michigan State, finishing with 21 points on 7-of-15 shooting and tied his season high with four 3-pointers.

• His other 20-point efforts this season include a season-high 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 24 starts and played in all 26 games, averaging 5.6 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. 23.

• 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 and needs seven rebounds to jump into sole possession of second place on NU's freshman list.

• He is playing some of his best basketball over the last two weeks, averaging 8.3 points on 67 percent shooting and 7.0 rebounds per game over Nebraska's last three games.

• He has reached double figures in scoring four times, including a 10-point, seven rebound effort against Michigan State on Feb. 20.

• 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 peformance against Southern on Nov. 22, including six in overtime.

• He also has four double-figure rebounding efforts, including 10 against Wisconsin on Feb. 15.

• 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 7.1 points and 4.0 rebounds per game.

• Cross is fourth on the team in both 3-pointers (25) and assists (32) while playing just 18.5 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. 23.

• 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.