Indiana men’s basketball hasn’t defeated Nebraska since December 2022. The Cornhuskers won 16 games that season while the Hoosiers won 23 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
In the time since, the Cornhuskers have posted back-to-back 20-win seasons while the Hoosiers fired their coach and reset the program. Despite controlling much of the game and leading by as many as 16 points, it was more of the same Saturday as the Cornhuskers stormed back in the second half to extend their NCAA-best winning streak to 20 games and defeat the Hoosiers 83-77.
Nebraska, in its seventh year under head coach Fred Hoiberg, attempts over 30 3-pointers per game. The Cornhuskers drained 14 3-pointers — the most any team has hit against Indiana so far this season.
On top of the long-range production, Nebraska was able to get to the rim frequently throughout the second half. The onslaught proved too much for the Hoosiers to overcome.
“There was some high ball screens and things that we messed up some switches, which we did a good job of, you know, for a good part of the game,” head coach Darian DeVries said postgame. “Then second half we didn't communicate that well enough, and they were able to get to the rim and got a few free-throws there early to start and got some of those paint touches.”
Throughout the first half, Indiana’s offense flowed with ease. In the first 20 minutes, fifth-year senior guard Lamar Wilkerson led the way with 15 points and two makes from beyond the arc. While Wilkerson was the driving factor, every Hoosier was involved in the offense.
DeVries used eight players in his first-half rotation, and each one scored a field goal. Whether it was a game-tying top of the key 3-pointer from freshman forward Trent Sisley or a pair of layups from senior forward Reed Bailey, the Hoosiers found ways to involve everyone.
However, the Cream and Crimson's parity waned in the second half. Redshirt senior forward Tucker DeVries came alive with 14 points and Wilkerson poured in 17 more, but the rest of the team disappeared. Bailey was the only other Hoosier to make a field goal in the final frame, as he scored twice in the paint.
Of Indiana’s 38 second-half points, Tucker DeVries and Wilkerson combined for 31. Their effort was lacking support, and it wasn’t enough to stave off the Cornhuskers. Nebraska stormed back with 53 second-half points.
“Yeah, it's disappointing, for sure,” Darian DeVries said. “We played well for a good 25, 27, 28 minutes, whatever, and then just had a bad stretch in there, and the game flipped.”
One major difference between the first and second halves for the Hoosiers was foul trouble. Only seven fouls were called in the first half, with four on the Cream and Crimson. The total jumped to 20 in the second half as Indiana was called for 11 fouls.
“Tucker picked up his third and fourth foul on back-to-back possessions. Then they went on a 10-0 run right after that,” Darian DeVries said. “That was a big turning point in the game I thought where he picked those two up.”
Another factor was the turnover margin. As Nebraska began its comeback, the Hoosiers gave the ball away multiple times, allowing the Cornhuskers to get back in the game.
Indiana turned the ball over 14 times, with seven in each half. The Hoosiers lost possession too often in crucial moments. A Wilkerson turnover while trapped in the corner kicked off a stretch that included another turnover from Tucker DeVries and ended with Nebraska redshirt freshman forward Braden Frager drilling a 3-pointer to go up nine points with 3:41 left to play.
Indiana’s defense completely unraveled as the game wore on, and timely offensive miscues enabled the Cornhuskers to steal an 83-77 win in a game they once trailed by 16 in.
“You can't give up 50 plus points at home,” Darian DeVries said. “It just can't happen.”
Follow reporters Dalton James (@DaltonMJames and jamesdm@iu.edu) and Nathan Shriberg (@NShriberg and naashri@iu.edu) and columnist Kasey Watkins (@KaseyWatki8773 and kaslwatk@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana men’s basketball season.
