Nebraska Postgame Notes/Quotes vs. Kennesaw State

Nebraska Postgame Notes

• The Huskers shot 15-of-29 from beyond the arc, setting a season-high for treys in a game. The previous high was 10 against Creighton on Nov. 16, 2021.
• The 15 three-pointers are the most by the Big Red since knocking in 15 three-pointers against Mississippi Valley State on Nov. 6, 2018.
• Nebraska had a shooting percentage of .526 from the floor (30-for-57). It marked the fourth time this season the Huskers shot over 50 percent in a game.
• The Huskers dished out a season-high 20 assists on the night. NU’s previous high was 18 on five occasions.
• Alonzo Verge Jr. had his fourth double-double of the season with 16 points, 12 assists and seven boards. The 12 assists are a new career high (previous was 11 vs. NC State). Verge’s 12 assists are the most by any Big Ten player in 2021-22. 
• Four Huskers scored in double-figures, led by Keisei Tominaga’s 18 points. Verge Jr. added 16, followed by 11 apiece from Bryce McGowens and Derrick Walker Jr.
• On the defensive end, Nebraska had their second consecutive game with double-digit steals by forcing 11 steals on Wednesday night.
• Nebraska scored 88 points in the win, setting a new season-high for points in regulation.
• The Huskers recorded a season-high 45 first-half points on Wednesday, surpassing the previous high of 43 against South Dakota.
• Nebraska’s 15-0 first-half run tied for NU’s largest run of the season (also vs. South Dakota)
• Trevor Lakes entered tonight’s game with just four points in 22 minutes, spanning four games. He had six in the first half, including a 3-pointer to beat the first half buzzer and finished with a season-high eight points.

Nebraska Coach Fred Hoiberg
Opening Statement
“The one thing I really commended our team in the locker room after the game was how they did not take the film session personally. They carried it over and took it constructively. We had two good days of work where we really worked on our execution and our shot selection, and I thought that carried over in a big way pretty much the entire game. I thought our energy out of the gate was not very good. We made a couple of subs and put the starters back in and I thought it was terrific. Alonzo (Verge Jr.) was phenomenal moving the ball, making the pass and making the simple play. Very few times did he change direction and over penetrate into the paint. He really set the tone out there with movement and that carried over to all of our guys. Derrick (Walker) made good plays in the pocket. I thought we did a solid job for the most part reading that opposite low man and that is what got our guys some good open looks.”
 
On adversity at practice 
“I hope so. It just has to continue to carry over. The true test will be when we hit a rough patch how are we going to handle it. And we are going to hit some rough patches obviously with our schedule that is coming up here the rest of the way with 18 league games against really high-quality opponents. We just have to continue to build and get better. I told them to enjoy it this break with their families. They get four days to recoup and recover and get their minds and bodies right. Hopefully with seeing the ball go through the basket it will give them some confidence and clear their head space for when they get back and we get back in the gym the evening of the 27^th. Overall a really solid effort against a good team. I was really concerned with this team. It is always a concern playing a getaway team before your players go home. Again except for those first three or four minutes we were really good tonight.”
 
On the confidence gained from shooting well 
“It picks up your energy. It gets your defense set. I thought we turned it over too much, but they were not like pick six turnovers like we had been doing. We still need to clean that up, but 20 assists that is a huge step in the right direction. And your energy. It is human nature. It is the way this game has always been. It is the way the game will always be. Your energy is better defensively when the ball goes through the basket and you are playing confidently out there and you are playing with a swagger. It should not be that way but it is just the way it works in this game a lot of times. A lot of good things happened tonight. I was proud of Trevor (Lakes) for going out there and giving us great minutes. He hit the big one before the half which is a great momentum builder. I thought he gave us just really good solid minutes. Everybody that stepped on the floor contributed tonight.”
 
On how to continue the confidence into the next game
“We will go back and watch it. We will have a late practice just to get our guys back and conditioning and shooting session on the 27^th of the evening and then we will potentially do some two-a-day type work. Some film sessions. Execution type work outs and just continue to try and build. If we play like this we have a chance. That is the bottom line.”

Junior Forward Lat Mayen
On the lid coming off the basket
“It felt great seeing everybody out there having fun. I think Alonzo did a good job getting everybody involved and making sure the ball touches everybody. Coach said we shot over 52% on three-pointers so that is impressive. You shoot that anytime you are going to win.”
 
On the effect of this game on their confidence
“It is a lot about confidence. Whether we win or lose, we try to focus on the next game. Just keep pushing and stay confident. But that game definitely gave everybody confidence going into the break”
 
Senior Guard Alonzo Verge Jr.
On the importance of confidence
“To me, it is all about confidence and trust. Trusting each other tonight moving the ball making that extra pass things like that. It plays a very big part in what we are trying to do, and I am not giving up on this team. I am not going to stop working hard every day, and I am not going to stop pushing these guys. We are going to keep this thing going, and we are going to figure it out. This is a very good win to have going into the break.
 
On their response tonight compared to previous nights
“I would say practice and preparation. We were going through a lot of adversity in practice this week, and we fought through it. We usually break down and this week we fought through it. We pushed through all the things coach put us through and I think that transferred over to the game. When we were down eight, we did not panic. We stayed level headed and just kept playing.
 
On the spark of Trevor Lakes
“I was so excited because it is always so exciting seeing somebody you practice with and work hard every day that do not always get the opportunity to play and when he does he shows exactly what he is capable of doing which is shooting the ball. In practice, he shoots the ball and it transferred over. He comes in every day and he does not point the finger or pout or talk down on anybody. That is what happens when you be patient and wait your turn. I am very proud of him.”

Kennesaw State Coach Amir Abdur-Rahim
On loss to Nebraska
“I thought Nebraska was due. I think Coach Hoiberg and his staff do a great job offensively, and I think they were all better shooters than the numbers said. I was hoping it wasn’t against us, but obviously they jumped up and I think they ended up making 15 threes, so I thought they were due and capable. Hats off to them, they did a great job of shooting the ball. I thought we, for whatever reason, after about the first four or five minutes of the game got lethargic, and not a slight to them defensively, the pace we played with the first couple of minutes went out the window. We have to figure out a way to help them see that when we play with pace whether off misses or makes, that pace is that important. Really impressed at the end with Nebraska, Doc and Fred do a great job.”

On amount of turnovers affecting pace
“I think any time you turn the ball over on the road it kills momentum. It’s not a slight to Nebraska’s defense as much as we got tired or comfortable thinking that they were going to let us throw it wherever we wanted. We got lazy. When you have 21 turnovers on the road, you might as well cancel the game because you’re not going to win it. We gave ourselves a chance to win our last game at Sanford by only turning it over nine times, but we had nine in the first half. Against well-coached and talented teams you, can’t do it, it’s going to hurt you every time.”

On positive rebound margin
“That’s part of our identity. We want to be good on the glass and want to be tough on the glass no matter who we’re playing, Big Ten team or ASUN team. I think that gave us opportunity, I think we scored 10 points on second chances, so that helps us. It’s another way that helps us score is second-chance opportunities. I was really proud of the guys in that sense, because that part of our identity showed up. Taking care of the ball not so much, but the rebounding was a plus.”

NU Athletic Communications