Nebraska men’s basketball will look to continue its best start to a season since 1992-93 (7-0) when the Huskers host Cal State Fullerton on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT.
Numbers
The 6-0 start is the 10th time in school history that Nebraska has opened a season at 6-0. Only four teams in school history have opened a year with seven or more wins (1992-93, 1984-85, 1977-78 and 1915-16). The 6-0 start is the Huskers’ best start since joining the Big Ten in 2011-12.
The Huskers tied for a school record with just two turnovers in Wednesday’s 89-79 win over Duquesne, a record originally set in 2013. In the last two wins (Oregon State and Duquesne) the Huskers have a 34-to-8 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Nebraska continued its hot start to the season shooting 52% from the floor in the second half and went 28-of-31 from the free-throw line, including 21-of-22 in the second half.
The Huskers are currently second in the Big Ten with 9.2 3-pointers per game entering this weekend’s action. Nebraska has averaged more than 8.0 3-pointers/game twice in program history (2001-02 and 2020-21).
The Huskers are 12-3 over the last 15 games dating back to Feb. 1, 2023. Nebraska has scored 70-plus points in 13 of the last 15 games.
Gary of the Bench
Juwan Gary came off the bench for 19 points and seven rebounds in his season debut against Stony Brook. Juwan Gary’s 20 points against Duquesne was the seventh time under Fred Hoiberg that Nebraska had a player score at least 20 points off the bench.
In Gary’s three games of action, he is averaging 17.0 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. Last season Gary averaged 9.5 points and 6.5 rebounds, both career highs.
Gary’s shooting stroke has improved, something he worked on in the offseason and credits to being healthy.
“It was kind of a tough thing playing with a brace for most of my college career. It was kind of tough because I was basically shooting with one hand,” Gary said after the Duquesne win. “During my rehab and my shoulder stuff, my teammates would help with my confidence. I give credit to my teammates for finding me open.”
Scouting Fullerton
The Titans (2-3) are averaging 64.4 points per game to their opponent’s 71.6.
Junior guard Max Jones, an All-Big West selection, is averaging 16.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. Jones has two 20-point games — 23 versus Cornell and 22 versus La Sierra.
DJ Brewton, an Alcorn State transfer, was a first-team All-SWAC selection in 2022-23 and is averaging 13.0 points per game. Brewton has been in double figures in four of the first five Fullerton games.
The Titans have been without Tory San Antonio, a three-year starter and reigning Big West Defensive Player of the Year. He has missed the first five games with an injury.
Nebraska is 2-0 all-time against Cal State Fullerton, including an 86-62 win in Lincoln on Dec. 22, 2018. The other meeting was a 111-74 Husker win on Dec. 4, 1967. Nebraska is 14-10 all-time against members of the Big West Conference and Sunday’s meeting is the first for the Huskers against a Big West team since the 2018 game with Cal State Fullerton.
