Every year the Nebraska basketball team takes on an unknown opponent in a "secret scrimmage". These practice games help the coaches and teams get a better idea of where they are before the season starts. It's one thing to play well against your teammates, it's another to play against an unknown opponent.
These scrimmages are an opportunity for teams to try out different player scenarios and plays. For example, playing man to man during one period, and going to zone the next.
This year they played the Wyoming Cowboys twice on Saturday. Once in the morning and once in the afternoon. The first scrimmage was done in the Hendrix Practice complex and was the closest to a live game.
The second was done in the Pinnacle Bank Arena and was broken down into three periods. The first was 20 minutes, the second was 10 minutes, and the final was 6 minutes that was focused on the younger players from each team.
Overall the Huskers did fairly well and many of the players who should contribute a lot this year were leaders in the statistical categories; senior Shavon Shields, junior Andrew White, and freshmen Ed Morrow Jr.
Below is the press release form the athletic department:
Husker Battle Wyoming in Scrimmage
Lincoln – Nebraska continued preparations for the upcoming season Saturday by hosting Wyoming in a pair of practice scrimmages. The Huskers won the opener at Hendricks Training Complex in the morning before edging the Cowboys in the afternoon session at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
The afternoon featured a live scrimmage, which consisted of three periods. The teams split the three periods, as Wyoming posted a 40-37 win in the first 20-minute session. The two teams were deadlocked at 19 in the second 10-minute session, while the Huskers won the final period, 9-2, in a six-minute session that featured the younger players from both rosters.
For Nebraska freshman Glynn Watson Jr., led the Huskers in the afternoon session with 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting, including 4-of-6 from long range, all coming in the first two periods. Nebraska shot well for most of the afternoon scrimmage, hitting 50 percent from the field, including 40 percent from 3-point range.
Wyoming’s Josh Adams, a first-team All-Mountain West pick in 2015, led all scorers in the afternoon session with 22 points, as both teams had one double-figure scorer in the afternoon. Both teams had at least nine players crack the scoring column, as the teams both worked in different lineups throughout the session.
Each of the first two afternoon sessions featured drama that went to the final seconds. In the opening period, Nebraska cut a nine-point deficit to 33-31 after a pair of Nick Fuller free throws. The Huskers kept chipping away, as Watson’s third 3-pointer of the day made it a one-point game, at 38-37 in the final minute. Wyoming held on as Adams hit a pair of free throws and withstood NU’s final 3-point attempt. Wyoming went 5-of-6 from the line in the final 1:30 to hold on.
In the second session, Bakari Evelyn’s 3-pointer from the corner with less than 30 seconds remaining tied the score at 19. The Husker defense forced a turnover with less than five seconds remaining, but was unable to secure the win, as the ball was knocked away from Watson on his potential game winner as time expired.
The Huskers opened the day with a controlled scrimmage, winning the session, 89-67. The Huskers won both periods against man-to-man defense and pulled away when both teams worked exclusively on zone defense.
Shavon Shields led four Huskers in double figures with 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including 3-of-4 from long distance, and chipped in six rebounds and three assists. Andrew White also added 16 points, including four 3-pointers and six assists, while freshman Ed Morrow Jr. and Watson added 14 and 13 points, respectively.
In all, the Huskers shot 40 percent from 3-point range and had 23 assists in the morning session, including seven from Benny Parker. Defensively, the Huskers held Wyoming to 39 percent shooting and out-rebounded the Cowboys, 52-35.
Fans can see the Huskers in action for the first time on Monday, Nov. 9, when they host Northern State. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. and will be carried on the Husker Sports Radio Network and Huskers.com. Tickets are available by calling 800-8-BIGRED or visiting Huskers.com/Tickets.