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Hoops Gameday: Nebraska vs. Penn State

Nebraska hosts Penn State tonight in a must-win game at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Nebraska hosts Penn State tonight in a must-win game at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Who, What, Where, When

Nebraska Cornhuskers (13-12, 5-7) vs. Penn State Nittany Lions (12-12, 3-8)

Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016 - 5 p.m.

Pinnacle Bank Arena

TV: ESPNU

Radio: Husker Sports Network

Internet: WatchESPN

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Nebraska projected starters
NAME HT/WT YEAR NOTES

Benny Parker

5-9/175

Sr.

Had 8 points, a career-high 6 rebounds and 3 assists vs. UW

Glynn Watson

6-0/160

Fr.

Led team with 16 points, including two 3-pointers, vs. Wisconsin

Andrew White

6-7/216

Jr.

Had 10 points and 7 rebounds vs. UW, his first game without a 3-pointer this season

Jack McVeigh

6-8/210

Fr.

Made his first career start at Wisconsin and had 8 points in 23 minutes

Michael Jacobson

6-8/225

Fr.

Grabbed a career-high 9 boards and added 6 points at Wisconsin

Table Name
NAME HT/WT YEAR NOTES

Shep Garner

6-1/185

So.

Averaging 13.6 ppg and 3.1 apg

Brandon Taylor

6-6/225

Sr.

Leads team with 16.6 ppg and 6.2 rpg

Payton Banks

6-6/220

So.

Scoring 10.2 ppg with 4.8 rpg

Julian Moore

6-10/235

So.

Averaging 4.8 ppg and 3.8 rpg

Jordan Dickerson

7-1/245

Sr.

Averaging 3.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg, and 1.6 bpg

Three keys to victory

1. Find offense without Shields

Star senior forward Shavon Shields will miss his second-straight game tonight as he recovers from a concussion and neck strain he suffered a week ago. That means Nebraska has to figure out a way to get consistent offense without him there to lead the way. Last time out at Wisconsin, the Huskers struggled most of the game with Shields not even making the trip to Madison, shooting just 40 percent from the field and 30 percent from 3-point range en route to matching their lowest point total of the season at 61. Penn State will likely do exactly what the Badgers did and face guard Andrew White all game long, so someone else - whether it be Glynn Watson or Tai Webster - has to step up and fill the void.

2. Contain Brandon Taylor

There's no question that senior forward Brandon Taylor is the guy who makes Penn State go this season, so he has to be priority No. 1 for Nebraska on defense. In last week's upset over Indiana, Taylor shot 50 percent from the floor and knocked down four 3-pointers to finish with a game-high 24 points, marking his sixth 20-point performance on the year. If Nebraska can contain Taylor and force others to take the shots, the Nittany Lions might be in for a long night, as they're shooting just 40 percent from the field as a team and only 29 percent from beyond the arc.

3. Win a must-win game

If you look at the remainder of Nebraska's regular-season schedule, tonight very well could be the last time the Huskers are favored in their final six outings. If NU is to have any realistic shot at an NIT bid, this is a game it absolutely has to win. Nebraska has struggled to defend its home court all season, which is a major reason why its record is what it is right now. But a strong showing in a victory tonight could do wonders for a young team still clinging to hope for a postseason berth, especially to show that it can have success even without Shields in the lineup.

Quotable

"I know it's tough on him and his family. But I think the more that he's around, it'll help him. I know that the doctors and the staff are going to do everything they can to get him (back) in a timely fashion. We're just looking forward to having him back."

-Junior guard Andrew White on Shavon Shields

Prediction

Nebraska 78, Penn State 71

Robin's season record: 20-5

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