Oklahoma State Cowboys (12-5, 1-2) at Nebraska Cornhuskers (12-5, 2-2)
Bob Devaney Sports Center, Lincoln, NE, 3 PM
TV: Big 12 Network (Affiliates), ESPN Full Court/ESPN360; Radio: Husker Sports Network
After a disappointing but impressive performance Wednesday night against #5 Oklahoma, Nebraska begins its longest homestand of the Big XII season today, hosting Oklahoma State. It's a matchup of the league's best defensive team in NU and the best offensive team in the Cowboys. Both teams are small, without a major contributing big man. While it means that there won't be a Blake Griffin-type to abuse us down low, it also means that NU's speed won't be as big an advantage.
The Cowboys will try their hardest to drive the tempo up, while Nebraska will try to force them to slow it down. Oklahoma State plays very, very fast -- they've pushed the pace close to 90 possessions in a couple games this year, whereas Nebraska has slowed it below 60 multiple times. The Cowboys also shoot the rock well -- 4 of the top 8 three point shooters in the Big XII play for Oklahoma State.
Like many conference series, the home team has dominated this series as of late. The older players on OSU probably remember the last trip to Lincoln, where NU leapt out to a 30-point lead on Senior Night in a game that was rescheduled to the end of the season after a blizzard earlier in the year. Don't expect the same sort of game this year, but I do expect Nebraska to force the game into its comfort zone at home, and grind out a win at home, 68-63.