Southern @ Nebraska preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 20, 2016 ) Southern 76, Nebraska 81

Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg has repeatedly emphasized the need for his team to play with pace, due at least in part to the lack of size on the roster. The Cornhuskers were finally able to establish the tempo their first-year coach was seeking in their first two contests, and they'll try to do it again Friday when they conclude a four-game homestand against Southern.

After shooting a combined 43-of-128 from the floor and averaging 62.5 points in losses to UC Riverside and Southern Utah, Nebraska scored 51 points in the first half and finished 35-of-71 from the field en route a 90-73 wire-to-wire victory over South Dakota State last Friday. "We didn’t (establish the pace) against Riverside. We did it for a very small portion of that game (against Southern Utah). … For us, especially in the first half was a thing of beauty, that thing was flying up the floor and it was fun to watch," Hoiberg said. The Jaguars are already off to a much better start in 2019 under second-year coach Sean Woods after opening 1-16 last season, although their wins have come against an NAIA opponent and a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association. Southern's two games versus Division I foes have not gone as well, losing by 20 at Murray State and 16 at New Mexico State.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, No TV

ABOUT SOUTHERN (2-2): Freshman forward Damiree Burns (11.3 points) did not take a shot in his first two games before receiving his first substantial playing time in the loss to New Mexico State, but he erupted for 33 points, six rebounds and four steals in 21 minutes off the bench in the 121-55 rout of Ecclesia College. Siena transfer Ahsante Shivers (10.5) is the Jaguars only other double-digit scorer and ranks second on the team in minutes (23.3), as 12 Southern players have seen playing time in every contest. Jayden Saddler (5.3 points) is the team's only returning starter, while 6-9 senior Darius Williams (8.0 points, team-high 7.0 rebounds) - a Cal State Bakersfield transfer - has totaled 16 points since reaching that mark in the opener.

ABOUT NEBRASKA (1-2): Sophomore guard Cam Mack (16.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists) continues to be the most impressive player on Hoiberg's overhauled roster and is the only Big Ten player averaging at least 15 points, five rebounds and five assists. Dachon Burke Jr. (12.3 points) has looked more like the player that led Robert Morris in scoring prior to his transfer following the 2017-18 season since a rough Nebraska debut, tallying 13 points against Southern Utah and 17 versus the Jackrabbits. Haanif Cheatham (7.3) also enjoyed his finest effort as a Cornhusker last Friday after making stops at Marquette and Florida Gulf Coast throughout his college career, finishing with 17 points after totaling five over his first two games.

TIP-INS

1. The 17-point margin of victory over South Dakota State was the largest by a Nebraska coach in his first victory since the Cornhuskers defeated Penn State 75-50, on Dec. 9, 1980.

2. The Jaguars have had four different leading scorers through four games.

3. The Cornhuskers rank second in the Big Ten in turnover margin (plus 4.7).

PREDICTION: Nebraska 74, Southern 61