Rebounding is critical for Nebraska at Michigan State

For the moment, Nebraska and Michigan State are not ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 poll.

But both the Cornhuskers and Spartans earned votes in the latest poll and are playing stellar basketball of late, which makes Saturday's Big Ten contest in East Lansing, Mich., an intriguing one.

Nebraska (6-1, 0-0 Big Ten) will be the more rested team, having last played on Sunday in a 103-72 win at home over North Florida. The most impressive win on the Huskers' early resume came against rival Creighton.

Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg said rebounding will be a key for his team, given Michigan State has been leaning on that traditional program staple. The Spartans are outrebounding opponents by an average of 9.4 per game so far.

"It's been a backbone of that program for 30 years," Hoiberg said. "Trying to dominate you physically on the glass. It's not only physicality, but you have to be mentally tough going into this building as well. Understanding that they are going to go on runs."

Brice Williams is one of three Cornhuskers who scores in double figures, averaging 18.4 points. Berke Buyuktuncel leads Nebraska with 6.7 rebounds per game.

If the teams stay true to the form they've shown this year, it should be a high-scoring game. Nebraska enters averaging 83.3 points per game, while Michigan State is averaging 81.6 points.

Michigan State (7-2, 1-0) earned a 90-72 win at Minnesota on Wednesday in its conference opener. Four players scored in double figures and 12 players scored overall.

The Spartans hope to stay hot in what will be a quick turnaround. This will be the only regular-season meeting between the teams in the revamped Big Ten.

"They run a lot of stuff and it's a two-day prep," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. "They've been off since Sunday and we have a two-day prep, and that's tough. That's one of the things about the new conference and the new ways."

Jaden Akins averages 12.4 points per game to lead Michigan State.

--Field Level Media