Nebraska Cornhuskers vs Southern Jaguars Picks and Predictions December 30th 2024

Nebraska Looks to Stay Hot vs. Southern on Heels of Diamond Head Classic Title

Nebraska basketball aims to continue its recent surge as the Cornhuskers host Southern University on Monday night in Lincoln. Fresh off winning the Diamond Head Classic, Nebraska (10-2) is riding a four-game winning streak and appears primed for another strong showing.

Nebraska’s Winning Streak: From Humbling Loss to Dominance

The Cornhuskers’ winning streak began after a lopsided 89-52 loss to Michigan State in their Big Ten opener on Dec. 7. Nebraska bounced back with an impressive 85-68 victory over Indiana and carried that momentum to Hawaii, where they swept through the Diamond Head Classic, defeating Murray State, Hawaii, and Oregon State to claim the tournament title.

In the championship game, Nebraska downed Oregon State 78-66 behind a commanding performance from Brice Williams, who scored 25 points on 9-of-13 shooting. Williams’ efforts earned him tournament MVP honors as he averaged 22 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.0 steals per game across the three contests.

“The importance of winning three games against three quality teams, that’s going to help us down the road,” Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg said.

Williams, who leads the team with 19.7 points per game, credited his defensive mindset for his offensive success.

“I was aggressive and wanted to let my defense lead my offense,” Williams said.

Juwan Gary (11.9 points per game) and Connor Essegian (11.8) also provide consistent scoring for the Cornhuskers.

Southern Jaguars: A Challenging Stretch

Southern (5-7) enters Monday’s game in the middle of a grueling stretch against tough competition. The Jaguars have dropped three straight games, including losses to then-No. 17 Ole Miss (74-61), Loyola Marymount (89-73), and Southern California (82-51).

Shooting woes have plagued Southern, especially in the loss to USC when the team shot just 32.7 percent from the field and 2-for-19 from beyond the arc.

Despite the struggles, Southern coach Kevin Johnson views this challenging schedule as preparation for SWAC play.

“We feel that this schedule will help us compete at the highest level going into SWAC play,” Johnson said.

Michael Jacobs (10.6 points per game) and Jordan Johnson (10.4) lead the Jaguars offensively, but they’ll need significant improvement to compete with Nebraska.

Keys to the Matchup

• Nebraska’s Offensive Firepower: The Cornhuskers have shown balance and efficiency, led by Williams’ hot hand. Nebraska’s ability to capitalize on their offensive depth and keep the tempo high will be critical.
• Southern’s Resilience: The Jaguars must find their shooting rhythm and limit turnovers to avoid another lopsided defeat.
• Defensive Intensity: Nebraska’s defense, which has thrived in creating opportunities off stops, will look to disrupt Southern’s offensive flow.

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Series History

Nebraska is undefeated against Southern, holding a 4-0 all-time record. The teams last met on Nov. 21, 2021, with the Cornhuskers cruising to an 82-59 victory in Lincoln.