Nebraska Postgame Notes/Quotes vs. Southern

Nebraska Postgame Notes
*-Bryce McGowens recorded the first double-double of his career, notching 18 points to go along with a season-high 11 rebounds.  It was Nebraska’s second double-double of the season (Alonzo Verge Jr. vs. Western Illinois). McGowens’ double-double is the first by a Husker freshman since Yvan Ouedraogo against Northwestern on March 1, 2020. McGowens also had season highs in both assists (four) and steals (two)
*- Derrick Walker posted a career high in points for the second straight game, as he tallied 15 points on 7-of-8 shooting. He topped his previous best of 14 set twice before, including Friday’s game against Idaho State.  Walker is 12-of-13 from the field the last two games.
-Nebraska tied a season high with four players in double figures (McGowens-18; Walker-15; Alonzo Verge Jr. 14; Keisei Tominaga 11).
-The Huskers’ 82 points scored marked a new season high for the Big Red, and their 23-point victory is the largest margin of victory on the season.
-Nebraska outrebounded Southern 38-30, the first time NU out-rebounded an opponent in 2021-21.
*-NU matched a season high with 18 assists (also vs. Idaho State)
*-Nebraska shot a season-best 80 percent from the foul line (24-30). NU has shot 70 percent or better from the line in all five games this season.
*-Nebraska got 33 points from its bench, the third straight game the NU reserves scored at least 30 points.

Nebraska Coach Fred Hoiberg
On getting points in the paint/from the free throw line
“With a switching defense, we knew coming in that we could do a couple things. We could slip and try to get some slip out opportunities at the rim, which we got early when the shots weren’t falling. To get 46 (points) in the paint is very important obviously when the ball’s not going in the hoop from the perimeter. I thought we had some good looks early, then I thought we forced some as well. I thought after that, we made a really good conscious effort. We got some high-low opportunities out there because they’re switching, and we really started sharing the ball after that. We had that one little stretch where I thought we forced the issue, the ball didn’t swing, but once we got that thing moving, I really thought we took advantage of the coverage. We put in a couple new plays in a short prep and it’s important when you have that, and we’ll have another one tomorrow, on a one-day prep, when you see a defense, to be able to put a few things in and go out and execute it is very important and I thought our guys did that very well.
 
On winning sloppy games
“Again, I thought we rebounded the ball very well. We won the battle of the boards, which I think is the first time. We tied last game. After having a nice lead, we gave up about five offensive rebounds in the last minute, but that was a big goal coming into this one. I thought we shared it better. We had a six-minute stretch where I really thought we lost our concentration. Anyway, once we got that cleaned up and we got it fixed, I thought we did a good job finishing. Overall, again, to get to the free throw line 30 times and to get as many opportunities in the paint is important when that ball’s not going in from the perimeter.”
 
On Derrick Walker's performance
“Yeah, Derrick, and I thought Wilhelm (Breidenbach) and Eduardo (Andre) had some good chemistry out there and that same type of action. But yeah, Derek has great hands. He’s really finishing well. That’s two excellent games in a row now for Derrick and very efficient games, as well. He's done a good job finishing in there at the rim. We're going to need that when that ball’s not going in. You have to find a way to score in other ways, and we did a much better job tonight than we have all year in that area. 
 
On Bryce McGowens
I thought the last game (vs. Idaho State) was Bryce's best. I talked to him about that and told him that. You can't get caught up in the box score. When you only score six points and get six shot attempts, but I thought he was terrific in the last game, making plays. I know I pointed that out after the game the other night, but he continues to grow and continues to get confident in ways other than just scoring the ball. I thought his attack was great. He’s getting to the rim, getting to the line 10 times. He's falling out of the shot a little bit right now. I just talked him about that. We'll get to work on it tomorrow. He's too good of a shooter to miss those open ones. Making plays, rebounding and getting 11 rebounds are all very important in his growth process.
 
On drawing fouls
Yeah, we're doing a pretty good job of that so far this year. Our free throw attempt rate has been high. It's obviously the number one shot you’re looking for, as far as offensive efficiency, is to get to the line. 30 of them tonight was very important. The ball’s not always going to go in. We shot it well the last couple nights, but tonight was not one of those nights. To get free throws and score 30 and 46 in the paint was huge. 
 
On missed shots by Keisei Tominaga
He had the one pull up where he normally takes those and makes them and he made unselfish play over to Bryce. Anytime you can see it go in as a shooter does wonders for your confidence. Sometimes it only takes one game to see it going in to get on a roll. As a guy that went through plenty of slumps, sometimes it just takes that one night to see that thing go through the hoop and hopefully Keisei can build off this one and especially in the confidence area.
 
On the attack/aggressiveness
I liked our attack. Like I said, we had a stretch there in the beginning where I didn't think we moved as well as we needed to, but once we got that thing moving, we had some really good possessions. I thought our bench got in and got us in some good offense there in that little stretch where we opened up a double digit lead, and then starters came in and finished it off for us.

Freshman Guard Bryce McGowens
On getting to the free throw line when shots are not falling
“You are not always going to be able to knock down shots and just being able to get to the free throw line and to draw fouls is great. I think we were in the bonus early so we stressed to keep attacking and get to the free throw line.”
 
On first half defensive performance during the first stretch
“They shot 2-16 out the gate. We stressed that to win the game, we had to lock up on defense. We did that pretty well out the gate.”
 
On Derrick Walker’s playmaking ability
“It’s major to have a big that is able to make plays, especially with the skills that a lot of our players have. It really helps the team and us being able to move the ball helps a lot. He’s a force inside so him being able to draw two and kick it to the shooters is major for us.”
 
Senior Guard Alonzo Verge Jr.
On getting points in the paint while shots are not falling
“We’ve got Derrick Walker down there battling and working hard every game so when we have chances like this to get him the ball and feed him, we try to get him the ball as much as possible. We know how much he bangs down there, and he does all of the little things for us. It’s games like this, that he has mismatches, we try to feed him as much as possible.
 
What’s changed with the ball movement?
“Me. It starts with me. I am the floor general, I'm the point guard. It starts with me getting my teammates involved and getting guys like Bryce and C.J. going. The first couple of real games I struggled with that, but now I am slowly but surely getting back into my groove.”
 
On his role change from Arizona State
“My role has changed a lot. I have the ball in my hand 90% of the time and these guys rely on me to get them the ball and get them shots. It’s a big and different role than I had at Arizona State, but I'm willing to take it head on and get better and better everyday.”

Southern Head Coach Sean Woods
On the loss to Nebraska
“It is tough when it is the third game of this long road trip for us, and I thought our guys just did not have the juice that we have had in games prior. But we executed well we just did not make shots. You cannot not make shots on the road especially against a team with a high-powered offense like Nebraska.”
 
On points in paint differential
“They got us on some slips and things like that and they were much bigger than us. I do not think we competed as tough as I wanted us to inside. That is why we play these games to get ready for conference and get better. Those are some things we need to work on and especially in that part of the game.”
 
On points off turnover differential
“We turned them over too 15 times. We just did not score off of it. Normally we do but we did not tonight. Just could not get it going from an offensive standpoint, missing bunnies, and pressing. To end at Nebraska against a high-powered offensive team like this on the third game of our road trip is tough but our guys defended. We have to put the ball in the hole to stop some type of bleeding and we just did not make enough shots today.”
NU Athletic Communications