Nebraska Postgame Notes and Quotes vs. Queens

Nebraska Postgame Notes vs. Queens
*-Nebraska put five players in double figures, the third time this year Nebraska put five players in double figures
*-Derrick Walker tied a career high with six assists, matching his previous best set against Penn State in the 2021 Big Ten Tournament
*-NU held Queens to 33.8 percent shooting, the Royals’ lowest percentage of the season. It is the sixth opponent held to 40 percent or less this year. NU has held three straight opponents to 40 percent or fewer.
*-Nebraska shot 52.5 percent from the field on the evening, the fifth time this season the Huskers have shot 50 percent or better.
*-Walker finished with 13 points, his seventh double-figure effort in eight games
*-Nebraska out-rebounded Queens 41-35, as Queens was entered the game with a +10.9 rebounding margin.
*-Keisei Tominaga had 15 points off the bench, his eighth double-figure game of the season, including seventh off the bench
*-Nebraska finishes non-conference play with a 7-4 mark, including the Huskers’ first unbeaten home non-conference record since 2018-19. 

Nebraska Coach Fred Hoiberg
On responding after three straight losses 
"It was a great start. It was exactly what we needed, and we talked the importance of that jumping out to an early double digit lead. I think it was 11-0 nothing. I didn't love how they got on the board. It was an answer-back after a free throw. That is how they got on the board. Made a little run, but our guys continued to execute. We really worked this last week on getting the ball moving, and I thought we got the ball in the right guys' hands. Derrick (Walker) and Sam (Griesel) did a terrific job not only scoring it on the block, but also playmaking on the block. Juwan (Gary) really cut well. That has been a big point of emphasis to get him diving to the basket. Emmanuel (Bandoumel) had a couple as well, and when you can get those, it is just so big for confidence. CJ (Wilcher) knocked down a couple for us early. Keisei (Tominaga), I think both of those guys hit two in the first half. Very important. We didn't shoot well in the second half. I didn't love how we came out of the gate in the second but held on enough. Kind of kept that 10-point lead. I don't know if it every got under double digits, maybe one time, but we just kept them at arms length. Would have liked to see us come out of the gate in the second half and build on that lead. We turned it over on the first possession. That can't happen. Overall pleased. I was very worried about this game. Number one because of how good they are. They are talented. They shoot it. I thought we defended the three well. (Chris Ashby) got it going. Hit a couple of contested ones, but overall, I thought we were on point getting out to the shooters and did a great job with our rotations." 

On preparing for Queens after the loss against Kansas State
"We had our longest film session of the year after Kansas State and just talked about how unacceptable it was to come out the way we did and struggled from an effort standpoint. That has not been this team. This team all year long has bought in to going out and winning the hustle board and getting on the floor and out-rebounding teams. We had a good long look at that on both ends, defensively and offensively, we were just as bit as bad if not worse. Just talked about playing with force and again, we got the ball to the right guy, I thought, for the most part. Too many turnovers. 13 turnovers. But, we made enough plays there to hold them at arms length. It was a good win for us especially you see this all the time I think a couple of high majors lost games today, and it just couldn't happen. We needed to get a win to get our guys feeling good about it. Get them home for a couple of days. Get some well-deserved rest and time with their families and come back on Christmas night for a good workout."

On the offensive balance 
"That ideally what needs to happen with our group. I thought we played unselfishly for the most part. We had a couple of turnovers in transition where I thought we tried to attack in small gaps and attack in a crowd. When we made simple plays we got good looks. We didn't obviously shoot the ball great, but I thought we had good efficiency inside the arc."

Derrick Walker
On how the team made sure it wasn’t falling into the trap of a game right before a break with fewer fans
“You know, whether it's 20,000 people or one person in the stands, we owe it to ourselves to go out there every night and play as hard as we can. But like you said, I think we've lost three in a row. And we have a group that, we just hate that. We hold ourselves to a higher standard. We knew that we just needed to get this one before break, especially heading into conference play. I commend my guys for just coming out and focusing on us and our principles and getting the job done.” 
 
On his assessment of the team after the first 13 games and going into the Big Ten
“I feel good about this group, because I know this group is going to go out every night and play hard. I know this group is going to go out and play together, and also I know this group can compete with any team in the Big Ten and any team in the country. So I have a lot of confidence in this group. I have a lot of confidence in us going into Big Ten play.”
 
On the break to refresh and relax
“It's amazing. Not even just basketball, but a lot of college sports don't get a lot of breaks, especially to go see their family. So just for everyone to just go see their families and just take a little time off before the season really starts to get to grinding. I think it's very much needed for our bodies and our mentality, so I'm excited just to get away for a couple of days.”
 
Sam Griesel
On the importance of outscoring Queens in the first few minutes of the game
“We knew that they were going to come out, and all five of their guys, whoever they have on the floor, are really talented and can shoot it and pass it. They share it so well, making extra passes and stuff. We just wanted to make sure, like I talked about a little bit earlier, that we had a lot of energy, we were talking, flying around. Especially at the start – the first 5-10 minutes – I thought we were really, really good at that. And coming out of the gate in the second half, we were pretty much the total opposite of that. So, would have liked to play a little bit better in the second half, but ultimately, winning in college basketball is tough. And we'll take the W and run with it into Christmas break.”
 
On if he’s hosting teammates for Christmas
“I will be. My parents pretty much are on me every single day about it. I think we will have a Christmas Eve dinner, and I think Coach will have some of the guys over on Christmas day too. So we want to make sure that the guys that don't get the chance to go home – we have a lot of international guys – that they still feel, you know, loved and a part of this family.”
 
On how the team regrouped after K-State
“Obviously, we went there and did not play very well. We kind of got it handed to us. We just wanted to make sure we didn't let that topple over into this game, and kind of close the door on the Kansas State game and just grow from it and learn from it. And I think obviously we were better tonight.”

Queens Coach Grant Leonard
Opening Statement
“I think our guys came out a little nervous and spotted them 11 points to start. We really struggled with Nebraska’s size and that is kind of normal for a Big Ten team until they got used to it. Once we leveled off, we did okay.”
 
On what Queens did well
“I think we were persistent. We stayed with the game plan even when we were down, and we were able to whittle it down. We just could not hit enough shots at the end to get it within striking distance.”
 
On what they can improve on
“I honestly think we need to really work on when the length at the rim is bothering us. We need to be able to figure out how to score at the rim, but also get the defense spinning like we did but to be able to make shots and be more shot-ready.”

NU Athletic Communications