Attempting to Play Like Creighton Goes Wrong for Nebraska Basketball in a 29-Point Loss

A basketball season is packed with games. Particularly at the collegiate level. Fred Hoiberg was 7-0 into this game, but the Huskers were “spanked,” as local legend and Nebraska basketball play-by-play Kent Pavelka put it after the game.

Nebraska, I believe, is still searching for its identity. And, sadly, lopsided rivalry games like this happen when you’re striving for an identity against a club like Creighton, who knows exactly who they are.

Creighton is not 30 points ahead of Nebraska. In a local contest, however, all that matters is that they were today. That is all that matters for the next 12 hours.

Then you get up in the morning and carry on.

Today, Nebraska appeared to be looking for an identity and settled on “Creighton.” Except for Creighton, this is a basketball approach that you could try against almost any opponent. A terrible shooting night combined with a team searching for its identity adds up in the scoring column.

This club needs to rediscover its identity sooner rather than later, since the conference season begins on Wednesday against Minnesota.

Fred Hoiberg said they want to be tough. I’m not doubting their toughness. However, I think learning a way to play together will go a long way.