What to expect from Nebraska vs. Wisconsin

With a huge 69-61 upset of the No. 5 seed Maryland Terrapins on Thursday afternoon, James Palmer, Jr. and the Nebraska Cornhuskers earned one more game to play in the Big Ten Tournament.

Their next opponent? That would be the No. 4 seed Wisconsin Badgers on Friday afternoon (approximately 2 p.m. CT, BTN) inside the United Center in Chicago.

Nebraska (18-15) came into the tournament losers of 13 of their last 16 regular season conference contests. On the first day of the tournament in a Wednesday matchup against the No. 12 seed Rutgers, Tim Miles’ team defeated the Scarlet Knights—and then the head basketball coach took a slip afterwards.

Perhaps it was a hint of good luck, as his Huskers shellshocked the Terps on Thursday afternoon.

In both of their games during the tournament, Nebraska utilized just seven players.

Wisconsin (22-9) will be well rested after its overtime win at Ohio State on Sunday. The victor will take on the winner of No. 1 seed Michigan State and No. 8 seed Ohio State, who will play immediately before the Huskers and the Badgers.

Earlier this season...

...Wisconsin upended Nebraska in Lincoln with a 62-51 win on Jan. 29. Sophomore guard Brad Davison scored 10 of his team-high 13 points in the second half, while redshirt senior forward Ethan Happ contributed 10 points, nine rebounds and four assists.

The Badgers contained the Huskers to just 28.3 percent shooting.

Nebraska team stats (stats as of Mar. 13, 2019)

• Points per game: 72.0
• Opponents’ points per game: 66.6
• Field goal percentage: 42.9
• Opponent field goal percentage: 41.7
• Three-point percentage: 34.0
• Opponent three-point percentage: 32.6
• Free throw percentage: 69.5
• Turnovers per game: 9.7
• Opponents turnovers per game: 13.3
• NCAA NET ranking: 52 (as of Mar. 14, 2019)

Key KenPom.com stats

• Team rank: 41
• Adjusted offensive efficiency: 112.6 (35th in nation)
• Adjusted defensive efficiency: 97.1 (54th in nation)
• Effective field goal percentage (offense): 49.2 (243rd in nation)
• Effective field goal percentage (defense): 47.4 (35th in nation)
• Turnover percentage (offense): 14.4 (ninth in nation)
• Offensive rebound percentage (defense): 32.3 (316th in nation)

Potential Nebraska playmakers (stats as of Mar. 13, 2019)

• Senior guard James Palmer Jr.: 19.6 points per game (leads team); 4.2 rebounds per game; 3.0 assists per game; shooting 36.9 percent from the field, 76.2 percent free throw shooter; scored 34 and 24 points against Rutgers and Maryland, respectively, in first two games of Big Ten Tournament
• Senior guard Glynn Watson Jr.: 13.0 points per game; 4.0 rebounds per game; 3.0 assists per game; shooting 41.1 percent from the field; 38.3 percent shooter from three-point range (leads team); 19 points, made three of five three-pointers in win vs. Maryland on Thursday
• Junior forward Isaiah Roby: 11.4 points per game; 7.1 rebounds per game (leads team); shooting 44.7 percent from the field; 15 points, six rebounds, three assists in win vs. Maryland on Thursday
• Senior forward Tanner Borchardt: 2.9 points per game; 4.2 rebounds per game; nine rebounds (five offensive) in win vs. Maryland on Thursday