Nebraska, hungry for school’s first Sweet 16, ready for Vanderbilt
After winning the school's first-ever NCAA Tournament game on Thursday, Nebraska wants more.
The Cornhuskers (27-6), the No. 4 seed in the South Region, will try to make the program's first Sweet 16 when they take on fifth-seeded Vanderbilt (27-8) in second-round action Saturday night in Oklahoma City.
The No. 13 seed, Troy, was no match for Nebraska, losing 76-47 in the first round. Nebraska took a commanding 41-25 lead at half, and the Trojans were only 13 of 46 (28.3%) from the field for the game.
Nebraska fans showed up in force to witness history, which wasn't lost on coach Fred Hoiberg.
"I got goosebumps," he said. "Got a little emotional just seeing how the fans showed up for us."
The Cornhuskers got 23 points from Pryce Sandfort, who played 38 minutes and was 7-of-12 shooting on 3-pointers.
"That might have been the best environment I've ever played in," he said.
Vanderbilt also experienced success it hadn't had in a while, beating 12th-seeded McNeese State 78-68 after Nebraska finished off Troy.
It was the Commodores' first NCAA Tournament victory since 2012. They haven't been to a Sweet 16 since 2007.
Vanderbilt trailed by 11 in the first half, but guards Tyler Tanner (26 points, seven rebounds, five assists) and Duke Miles (13 points, three assists, two steals) came up big late, just as they did in last week's Southeastern Conference tournament.
The Commodores uncharacteristically lost the turnover battle, 13-6, against the Cowboys, the top team in the country at forcing turnovers, according to KenPom.
"We didn't look like ourselves today, and I'm glad we won with this version, because I don't think it was our best version," Vanderbilt coach Mark Byington said. "We know we're going to need that going forward. This was a hard turnaround."
Nebraska's defense ranks No. 7 in adjusted defensive efficiency, while Vanderbilt is eighth in adjusted offense. Teams with athletic guards who hit the offensive glass hard -- both traits that McNeese had -- give the Commodores their biggest problems.
The Cornhuskers are a poor offensive rebounding team, averaging 7.9 per game, putting them 282nd nationally.
The Commodores also struggle with fouls, particularly front-court players AK Okereke (averaging 9.7 points, 3.5 rebounds per game), Devin McGlockton (9.7, 6.7 ) and Jalen Washington (9.0, 5.7). But Vanderbilt was whistled for just 11 fouls on Thursday, and Nebraska (355th in average free throws per game with 15.7) typically doesn't force issues there.
Nebraska shoots 58% on 2-pointers, making Rienk Mast (13.5 ppg, 54.1% on 2s) and Braden Frager (11.6, 68.6%) players to watch.
Those two likewise will be challenged by Vanderbilt's quick, athletic backcourt of Tanner (19.3 points, 5.1 assists, 2.3 steals per game), and Miles (16.4, 4.4, 2.7), who have excelled at getting to the rim and finishing all season.
Many of those points have come off turnovers the teams have forced, but Nebraska point guard Sam Hoiberg (9.4 ppg) turns it over just an average of twice a game.
Sandfort (18.0 ppg, 40.8% on 3s, 85.7% on free throws) and Vanderbilt's Tyler Nickel (13.4, 39.9%, 86.0%) are players to watch if the game becomes a shooting match.