Indiana Hoosiers at Nebraska Cornhuskers
Pinnacle Bank Arena – Lincoln, Nebraska
Thursday, January 30, 2014, 8:15 pm Eastern, TV: Big Ten Network
Opening Line: Nebraska -1 1/2
Current Line: Nebraska -2
Opening Total: 140
Current Total; 137 1/2
Opening Money Line: Nebraska -116 / Indiana -104
Current Money Line: Nebraska -125 / Indiana +105
The 13-7 Indiana Hoosiers travel to the 10-9 Nebraska Cornhuskers Thursday night. The Hoosiers are 3-4 in the Big Ten and tied for seventh with Purdue. The Cornhuskers are 2-5 in the Big Ten and in 10th place.
Indiana leads the series 9-2 against Nebraska. The Hoosiers won last year’s meeting 76-47 in Bloomington. The two schools will meet again in Bloomington March 5.
Indiana is coached Tom Crean. The Hoosiers have losses to Connecticut in a tournament in New York City, at Syracuse, Notre Dame in Indianapolis, at Illinois, Michigan State twice, and Northwestern. Indiana has key wins over Washington at Madison Square Garden, Evansville, Oakland, at Penn State, Wisconsin, and Sunday at home against Illinois 56-46. The Illinois win snapped a two game losing streak for the Hoosiers. Indiana is 10-8-1 ATS and the total is 9-10 this season.
Indiana is outscoring teams 76-67 this season. The Hoosiers are shooting 44.7% from the field and 33% from 3 point range. Indiana is #50 nationally in free throw shooting making 73.5% from the line. Hoosier opponents are shooting 39.9% from the field and 28.6% from 3 point range. Indiana is #42 in field goal defense nationally and #16 in three point defense. The Hoosiers are #5 nationally in rebounding averaging 42.6 per game and #29 in rebounds allowed at 27.9 per game. Indiana averages 11.6 assists, 15.4 turnovers, 6.3 steals and 4.8 blocks per game. Opponents average 10.3 assists, 13 turnovers, 7.7 steals and 5.1 blocks per game.
Guard Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell averages 17.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 4 assists per game. Forward Noah Vonleh averages 12 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1 steal and 1.3 blocks per game. Forward Will Sheehey averages 10.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game. Forward Jeremy Hollowell averages 7.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. Forward Troy Williams averages 7.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1 steal per game. Guard Evan Gordon averages 6.8 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1 steal per game. Stanford Robinson, Hanner Mosquera-Perea, Luke Fischer, Devin Davis and Austin Etherington will also get time in the rotation.
Nebraska is coached by Tim Miles. The Cornhuskers have losses to Massachusetts and UAB in a tournament in Charleston, Creighton, Cincinnati, Iowa, Ohio State, Michigan, Purdue, and Penn State. Nebraska has lost six of their last eight games. All losses except Michigan were on the road. The Cornhuskers have key wins over Georgia in Charleston, Northern Illinois, Miami-(FL), Arkansas State, Ohio State and Minnesota 82-78 Sunday. Nebraska is 11-7 ATS and the total is 9-9 this season.
Nebraska is outscoring teams 69-68 this season. The Cornhuskers are shooting 43.2% from the field and 35.1% from 3 point range. Nebraska makes 70.6% of their free throws. Opponents are shooting 44.1% from the field and 32.7% from 3 point range. The Cornhuskers average 34.1 rebounds per game and opponents average 31.3 per game. Nebraska averages 10.4 assists, 11.3 turnovers, 7.3 steals and 3 blocks per game. Opponents average 11.1 assists, 12.7 turnovers, 5.4 steals and 3.3 blocks per game.
Forward Terran Petteway averages 18.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1 steal per game. Guard Shavon Shields averages 11 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game. Guard Deverell Biggs averages 9.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1 steal per game. Guard Ray Gallegos averages 8.1 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists. Forward Walter Pitchford averages 8.2 points, and 4.4 rebounds per game. Forward Leslee Smith averages 7.5 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. Guard Tai Webster averages 5.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. David Rivers and Benny Parker will also get significant time in the rotation.
Indiana is 4-0 ATS against teams with winning records, 6-1-1 in road games and against teams with winning home records, 4-1 overall and in Big Ten games, 6-2 in Thursday games, 1-3-1 after a straight up win, and 1-4 after allowing 50 points or less,
Nebraska is 5-0 ATS overall, and in Big Ten games, 4-0 after a cover, and against teams with winning records, 5-1 against teams with losing road records, 12-3-1 at home, and 16-36 after a straight up win.
Indiana isn’t an elite team by any stretch, but I don’t understand why they are a road underdog against a mediocre Nebraska team. Yes, the Cornhuskers upset Minnesota at home Sunday, but they have still lost 6 of their last 8 games. Indiana should win this game on the road.
