Nebraska Postgame Notes/Quotes vs. Ohio State

Nebraska Postgame Notes
- Nebraska's 79 points is the most that Ohio State has allowed all season (76 vs. Seton Hall).
- Derrick Walker posted his third double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Walker, who has now been in double figures eight times, also had a career-high four steals in the loss.
- Bryce McGowens reached double figures for the 10th time this season with 18 points.
- Nebraska's eight turnovers was its lowest total since having eight against Idaho State on Nov. 19.
- Nebraska falls to 0-2 in overtime this season (also at NC State).
- Nebraska falls to 0-2 against ranked teams this year (also vs. Auburn).
- Nebraska held Ohio State's E.J. Liddell to just 10 points on 2-of-14 shooting.
- Nebraska had a pair of 10-0 runs in the first half, and now has had at least one double-figure run in six games this season.
- Lat Mayen matched his season-high with seven rebounds.

Nebraska Coach Fred Hoiberg
Opening Statement
“I am really proud of the guys for how they went out and battled. The biggest thing when you play Ohio State is their physicality and that is what concerns you the most. and our team did an unbelievable job of matching that especially early. You look at the stats and we outscored that team by 10 in the paint and shot nine more free throws then them so a lot of positives that we can build on. Too many second-chance offensive rebounds for them and then obviously threes that they hit early. We still had obviously great chances to win that game. We aren’t about moral victories and it still is extremely disappointing locker room but that shows what we are capable of. If we play that type of physicality every night we step on the floor in this league, we are going to have a chance. The effort was there and we are a much different team than we were a few weeks ago, and again a lot of things we can build on in this one.”
 
On the balance of not settling for moral victories but also acknowledging the positives
“I told the guys if we play with that type of energy and that kind of intensity we are going to have a chance to win a lot of games in this league. Now we go on the road and play a team that is as hot as anybody. We have a tough stretch coming up here so we just have to hang with in and hang tough. We have to start putting a game plan together tomorrow and get past this one, but again learn from mistakes that were made and build off the positives.”

Freshman Guard C.J. Wilcher
On the resiliency the team showed in this game
“I think it’s exactly that. Just staying together like we did and still competing at a high level. They went on runs, and then we went on runs. I think there was some growth in that area because usually when teams go on runs, we kind of die down. We stayed together and that’s something we can build off of, but in the end we’ve got to find a win to get through that and get that win.”
 
On if the team would have responded like this a few weeks ago
“No. I feel like we are a totally different team in terms of our mentality. This past week is probably our best week of practice in terms of our intensity. Every day we came to practice like we were playing Ohio State, and the scout team gave us a good look.”
 
On the crowd’s energy and the crowd
“Yeah we felt it. The crowd was in it and it felt good. I haven’t experienced that type of environment in college so it was dope for me personally. Having the fans behind us like they did was a good environment to play in.”

Ohio State Coach Chris Holtmann
On coming off of a break and big plays
“We’ve never come off of a pause like this before. I can’t remember the last time, coming off of a pause and being down a couple possessions with 30 seconds left, I can’t remember coming back and pulling that one out. Our guys made a lot of plays. Jamari (Wheeler) made a big-time shot, Meechie (Johnson Jr.) did a great job driving it, E.J. (Liddell) had a rebound and did a great job making those free throws.”
 
On Malaki Branham’s 35 points
“I didn’t know those numbers; I haven’t seen the stats yet. That’s a phenomenal effort by Malaki. We knew there were going to be some opportunities for some other guys because of how they (Nebraska’s defense) were going to collapse on Zed (Key) and E.J. (Liddell). It created some opportunities for Malaki, and he took full advantage of it. I give E.J. and Jamari (Wheeler) credit for making those shots in overtime when the ball went to the post.”
 
On having 16 turnovers
“We have to get better at that. Is that a product of not being real sharp on the layoff, I don’t know. We’ve got issues with that. We have to get better with that.”
NU Athletic Communications