2022 Record: 16-16 (9-11)

Head Coach: Fred Hoiberg (Career Record 155-139) (Nebraska Record 40-83)

Projected Rotation:

PG: Jarron Coleman (Ball State 14.3 Pts, 4.9 Reb, 3.8 Ast)

SG: Keisei Tominaga (13.1 Pts, 1.6 Reb, 0.7 Ast)

SF: Brice Williams (Charlotte 13.8 Pts, 5.3 Reb, 1.2 Ast)

PF: Juwan Gary (9.5 Pts, 6.5 Reb, 0.8 Ast)

C: Rienk Mast (Bradley 13.8 Pts, 8.0 Reb, 2.4 Ast)

6: SG CJ Wilcher (8.0 Pts, 2.4 Reb, 1.4 Ast)

7: PG Ahron Ulis (Iowa 6.1 Pts, 1.6 Reb, 2.1 Ast)

8: PF Josiah Allick (New Mexico 8.4 Pts, 7.3 Reb, 1.4 Ast)

9: SG Jamarques Lawrence (5.0 Pts, 2.2 Reb, 1.0 Ast)

10: PG Ramel Lloyd (RS)

11: PG Sam Hoiberg (4.1 Pts, 1.8 Reb, 0.3 Ast) (PWO)

12: C Blaise Keita (2.0 Pts, 3.5 Reb, 0.5 Ast)

13: SG Eli Rice

14: PF Matar Diop

Nebraska had their best season under Hoiberg last year and there is reason for optimism with some of the additions they made this offseason. Returning starters from last seasons team include Juwan Gary and Keisei Tominaga. Gary missed half of the season after suffering a season ending injury in early January. When the former Alabama transfer was playing, he proved to be one of the better defensive players on the team. Gary is improving his shooting, but he plays very physical and finishes around the rim well while also attacking the glass. Tominaga is the best three point shooter the Huskers have. The Japan native is known for his limitless range and off the dribble shooting. He improved dramatically from year 1 to year 2 at Nebraska and is due for another improvement going into his 5th season of college basketball.

Other returners for the Huskers this season are: Jamarques Lawrence, Blaise Keita, and CJ Wilcher. Lawrence impressed in his freshman season. He averaged 5PPG and showed his ability to score on all levels. Lawrence will continue to grow as a player and will improve going into his sophomore season. Wilcher will fit very good into the 6th man role this season with the Huskers. He needs to improve on the defensive end but he could be a solid scorer off the bench and could even be a fill in starter in certain games. He could be a potential double digit scorer. Blaise Keita fills the backup center role for the Huskers. He’s not much of an offensive threat but he’s an above average defender that can give great minutes off the bench. The Huskers also return Ramel Lloyd who redshirted last season and is a 4 star PG out of California. Also returning is Coach Hoiberg’s son Sam Hoiberg. He is a preferred walk on, but he got some minutes in the rotation last season.

Nebraska brought in transfer big men Josiah Allick out of New Mexico and Rienk Mast out of Bradley. Allick is returning to his hometown of Lincoln for his final 5th year of CBB. He is a sensational finisher around the rim and great rebounder as well. He will come off the bench for the Huskers this season and make an immediate impact with his energy. Allick should look to improve his three point shooting numbers as well. Outside shooting isn’t a huge part of his game, but being able to stretch the floor could certainly work to his advantage. Allick shot 36% from 3 during the 2021-22 season at UMKC then he shot 16% from 3 this past season with New Mexico. Rienk Mast was a slam dunk get for Nebraska this offseason. Mast had nearly every high major contact him for his services. He is a high motor big man who shot 52% from the floor and 35% from 3 this past season. He rebounds the ball very well and is also an above average passer for a big man.

Nebraska also landed three guard out of the transfer portal this offseason to complete their roster. Ahron Ulis is transferring to Nebraska from Iowa. The 6-3 guard gives the Huskers a player who is very familiar with the conference and has the talent to contribute immediately. He manages the game very well and gets his teammates involved. Brice Williams is a 6-7 wing transferring to Nebraska from Charlotte. Williams has great size and length at his position for the Big 10 level. Williams is going to be one of the better shooters on the Huskers this season along with Tominaga. Williams shot 40% from beyond the arc this past season with Charlotte. He’s also a great free throw shooter possessing an 84% mark from the stripe this past season. Jarron Coleman was a very late addition to the Huskers roster this offseason. The former Ball State and Missouri guard also has great size for his position. He’s a high level scorer and is also a great passer that sees the lanes very well. He has some high major experience and was also a star at the mid major level as well. He should come in and immediately compete for the starting PG spot. The Huskers also added 3 star SF Eli Rice and unranked PF Matar Diop to round out the roster.

Nebraska did well in the portal making the necessary additions needed to compliment for the losses they suffered. They still project to be towards the bottom of the Big 10 standings this upcoming season. Nebraska has also never won an NCAA Tournament game. They have made 7 tournament appearances in program history with the most recent being in 2014 and have come out with an 0-7 NCAA Tournament record. Hoiberg’s job security also isn’t safe either. He needs to show improvements year after year and that would mean finishing above .500 and making the NIT. I do believe that Nebraska will be a bit better than last season, but they are still far from a tournament level team.