Nebraska men’s basketball will look to continue its hot start to the season Sunday when the Huskers travel to Manhattan, Kansas, to face Kansas State.
At 8-2, the Huskers have the best 10-game mark since also going 8-2 in the 2018-19 season.
Numbers
Sunday will be just the second road game against a Big 12 opponent since Nebraska joined the Big Ten in 2011-12, and it’s first since a trip to Kansas on Dec. 10, 2016.
Seventy-five is the magic number for the Husker offense. The Huskers are 14-5 over the last 19 games dating back to Feb. 1, 2023. In that stretch, Nebraska has averaged 75.9 points on 47% shooting.
Getting to the free-throw line will be key for the Huskers on Sunday. Nebraska enters the game ranked fourth in the Big Ten in free-throw shooting at 75.1%. Nebraska has not shot over 74% from the foul line since the 2011-12 season where Nebraska shot a school-record 76.6%.
Nebraska went 13-of-15 from the line against Michigan State, including 8-of-8 in the final 1:44 to seal the 77-70 win. Over the last five games, Nebraska is shooting 86.3% (82-of-95) from the charity stripe. The Huskers’ 19-of-20 effort against Cal State Fullerton on Nov. 26 was its best percentage (minimum of 20 attempts) since going 20-of-21 (95.2%) against Minnesota on Nov. 26, 1995.
“It is one thing we take a lot of pride in on the defensive end is defending without fouling. We’ve been one of the top teams in the country in that category,” Coach Fred Hoiberg said. “For us it is important, especially when you are going through droughts to find a way to get to the line and knock your free throws down.”
Scouting Kansas State
The Wildcats (8-2) are averaging 80.9 points per game to their opponents’ 72.5.
Kansas State’s most impressive win of the season was likely their most recent, a 15-point win at LSU on Dec. 9. The Wildcats enter Sunday’s game having won eight of their last nine, including overtime wins over Providence and Villanova. Kansas State has already played four overtime games in its first 10 contests and is a perfect 4-0 in those games.
“They are a very physical basketball team. They are 11th in the nation in offensive rebounding percentage. They are very good at converting on the break when they turn you over. Those, to me, are the keys,” Hoiberg said. “You have to take care of the basketball, you have to get back in transition and you have to finish off the possession with a rebound.”
The 2023-24 Wildcats feature three players averaging at least 16 points per game in Cam Carter and transfers Arthur Kaluma (Creighton) and Tylor Perry (North Texas). Carter leads the team at 16.9 points per game while also grabbing 5.6 rebounds per game. Kaluma, who spent two seasons in Omaha, is at 16.6 points per game and tops the Wildcats with 8.6 rebounds per game, while Perry, who was the 2022-23 Conference USA Player of the Year, is at 16 points and a team-high 5.5 assists per contest.
“K-State has more length and athleticism than anybody we’ve played this year … Have to take care of the ball, duplicate what we did the other night in the second half,” Hoiberg said. “We had two [turnovers] against Michigan State as opposed to 12 the game before in the second half against Minnesota, and that is going to be a huge key.”
Kansas State leads the all-time series 129-93, and has won seven straight dating back to the 2008-09 season. The Huskers will be looking for their first win since a 73-51 win on Jan. 17, 2009. Nebraska’s last win in Manhattan came in a 57-42 win on Jan. 11, 2006.
Tipoff is set for 2:01 p.m. CT and can be streamed on ESPN+ for subscribers.
