With double-bye in sight, Nebraska bids to topple Michigan

Field Level Media|published: Sat 9th March, 13:21 2024

Mar 3, 2024; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Keisei Tominaga (30) reacts after making a 3-point shot against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the second half at Pinnacle Bank Arena. credits: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Nebraska can clinch a top-four seed in the Big Ten tournament when it takes on last-place Michigan in the regular-season finale on Sunday afternoon in Ann Arbor, Mich.

The Cornhuskers (21-9, 11-8 in the Big Ten) are tied for third place in the conference with Wisconsin and Northwestern, and a win Sunday would cement Nebraska as a double-bye in next week's conference tournament in Minneapolis.

Keisei Tominaga scored 18 points to pace Nebraska to a 67-56 victory against visiting Rutgers last Sunday. Juwan Gary and Josiah Allick each had double-doubles for the Cornhuskers.

Tominaga leads a quartet of double-figure scorers for Nebraska with 14.0 points per game.

Nebraska has won five of its last six games, and a victory Sunday would give the Cornhuskers their best conference finish since tying for second in the Big Eight in 1992-93.

"With the week off, we've had a chance to put a game plan in and hopefully finish this thing the right way on Sunday," Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg said. "We got one more chance on the road, and hopefully we go out and play well and give ourselves a chance."

They'll have that chance against Michigan (8-22, 3-16), which tied the school record for season losses (2007-08) following an 84-61 setback at Ohio State last Sunday.

The Wolverines have lost seven straight games for the first time since the 2004-05 team dropped 10 in a row, but Michigan coach Juwan Howard continues to preach positivity.

"It starts with leadership and that's me," Howard said. "If I come in with a negative attitude, I come in pointing fingers or doubting our group, all that's going to do is make things worse. I'll continue teaching, as well as feeding life into our group with confidence and positive energy."

Michigan is locked into the No. 14 seed in the conference tournament and will face the No. 11 seed on Wednesday in the first round.

Point guard Dug McDaniel (16.6 points per game) and Terrance Williams II (12.3 ppg) lead the Wolverines' active players.

—Field Level Media

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