Northwestern @ Nebraska preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 11, 2020 ) Nebraska 57, Northwestern 62

The fates of Nebraska and Northwestern have been known for some time, as both programs are stuck in double-digit losing streaks that have buried them in the Big Ten basement. The Wildcats seek an end to their 12-game skid against the only team they have defeated inside the conference Sunday when they visit the Cornhuskers, who have dropped 13 in a row.

Nebraska generated some early optimism by splitting its first four Big Ten games under first-year coach Fred Hoiberg, but it has been all downhill since Northwestern downed the Cornhuskers 62-57 in Evanston on Jan. 11. A six-point home win over Iowa four days earlier represented the high point of the season for Nebraska, which has lost five consecutive home contests by double figures and fell for the seventh straight time in Lincoln following Thursday's 75-54 setback to No. 23 Ohio State. Things haven't been much better for the Wildcats, whose only true road victory in 10 tries this season came against Boston College on Dec. 3. Nine of the losses during Northwestern's slide have come by at least eight points - the latest of which occurred Thursday after Illinois defeated the Wildcats 74-66.

TIME: 4:15 p.m. ET. TV: Big Ten Network

ABOUT NORTHWESTERN (6-21, 1-16 Big Ten): Former lacrosse player Pat Spencer (10.6 points, 3.8 assists) led the team in scoring for the seventh time this season with 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting Thursday and is one of only five first-year Northwestern players since 1992 to record 100 assists (103) in a season. Freshman Miller Kopp (13.0 points), who ranks fourth in the Big Ten with 56 3-pointers and third in 3-point accuracy (39.7 percent), hit the 500-point mark for the season versus Illinois and has reached double figures in 15 of his last 17 outings. Boo Buie (10.5 points) is mired in a 2-for-23 slump from 3-point range over the last five games but remains the only freshman in the conference to drain at least five triples in multiple games this season.

ABOUT NEBRASKA (7-21, 2-15): Dachon Burke Jr. (11.9 points) is tied for second in the Big Ten in steals (1.3) and reached double figures for the sixth straight time after finishing with 13 points against Ohio State; he is scoring 15.7 points per game over his last three outings. Sophomore Cam Mack (12.0 points, 4.6 rebounds) ranks third in the conference in assists (6.4) and is tied for second in steals (1.3) but averaged only 6.5 points and five assists in six February games (13.6 points, 6.8 assists previously). Freshman Yvan Ouedraogo (5.7 points, 6.1 boards) managed only four points and six rebounds versus the Buckeyes but is still averaging eight points on 59.3 percent shooting and 7.2 boards in Nebraska's last five contests.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Northwestern's losing streak is its longest since a 12-game skid in 1999-2000, while Nebraska's slide is the worst in school history.

2. Kopp is shooting 88.5 percent from the foul line - a mark that would lead the conference if he had enough attempts to qualify and is on pace to be the fourth best in program history.

3. Mack needs eight more assists to pass Charles Richardson (179) for third place on Nebraska's single-season list.

PREDICTION: Nebraska 65, Northwestern 64