Washington Huskies vs Nebraska Cornhuskers Picks and Predictions February 5th 2025

Nebraska’s Resurgence: Back on Track for the NCAA Tournament

A six-game losing streak had the Nebraska Cornhuskers searching for answers. But thanks to Brice Williams’ standout performances, they have rediscovered their identity just in time for a crucial matchup against Washington on Wednesday.

Williams was instrumental in Nebraska’s turnaround, averaging 27.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in back-to-back victories over then-No. 18 Illinois and then-No. 16 Oregon. With these wins, Nebraska (14-8, 4-7 Big Ten) shifted from a conference tournament bubble team to an NCAA Tournament hopeful.

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Fred Hoiberg: “We’ve Gotten Our Identity Back”

Head coach Fred Hoiberg emphasized that Nebraska’s success comes from returning to consistent defense and disciplined play.

“We’ve gotten our identity back. And that was the biggest thing for me—to go out and play consistent on the defensive end. We’ve done a much better job on the 3-point line.”

Although Nebraska nearly blew a 15-point lead against Oregon, they held on for a 77-71 victory. Hoiberg stressed that the work is far from over.

“This doesn’t mean anything unless we come out and play well on Wednesday.”

Washington Looking to Build on Momentum

The Washington Huskies (11-10, 2-8 Big Ten) also snapped a six-game losing streak, grinding out a 71-68 victory over Minnesota on Saturday.

Tyler Harris led the way with 23 points on 9-of-12 shooting, while Great Osobor contributed 16 points and 10 rebounds in the much-needed win.

Despite their struggles, five of Washington’s six losses during their skid came against ranked teams, indicating they have faced one of the toughest schedules in the nation.

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Danny Sprinkle on Washington’s Growth

First-year Huskies head coach Danny Sprinkle acknowledged his team’s perseverance and believes they have learned valuable lessons from tough losses.

“We deserved it. We’ve been playing good basketball, and we’ve played maybe the hardest schedule in the country. We’ve had our chances to win games, but for whatever reason, we didn’t make plays.”

“But I thought our guys did a good job learning from all of those lessons—taking care of the basketball in the final 10 minutes and making sure we take good shots. It comes down to guys making plays.”

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Momentum vs. Home Court Advantage

Nebraska enters with confidence and momentum, but Washington plays at home and is looking to build on their recent victory.

Hoiberg’s defense-first philosophy will be tested against Washington’s balanced attack, led by Osobor. Meanwhile, Sprinkle’s player-driven approach aims to keep the Huskies on an upward trajectory.

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Final Thoughts: High-Stakes Big Ten Battle

This Big Ten showdown presents a compelling clash:

• Nebraska seeks to strengthen its NCAA Tournament resume.
• Washington aims to continue its rebound from a tough stretch.

With both teams eager to prove themselves, expect a hard-fought contest in Seattle on Wednesday night.