2017–18 Nebraska Cornhuskers men's basketball team explained

Mode:Basketball
Year:2017–18
Team:Nebraska Cornhuskers
Conference:Big Ten Conference
Short Conf:Big Ten
Record:22–11
Conf Record:13–5
Hc Year:6th
Asst Coach1:Kenya Hunter
Asst Coach2:Michael Lewis
Bowl Result:First round

The 2017–18 Nebraska Cornhuskers men's basketball team represented the University of Nebraska in the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Cornhuskers were led by sixth-year coach head coach Tim Miles and played their home games at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska as members of the Big Ten Conference. They finished the season 22–11, 13–5 in Big Ten play to finish in a tie for fourth place. As the No. 4 seed in the Big Ten tournament, they lost in the quarterfinals to Michigan. Despite winning 13 Big Ten games, the Cornhuskers did not receive a bid to the NCAA tournament, but did receive a bid to the National Invitation Tournament. However, they lost in the first round of the NIT to Mississippi State.

Previous season

The Cornhuskers finished the 2016–17 season 12–19, 6–12 in Big Ten play to finish in a tie for 12th place in conference. As the No. 12 seed in the Big Ten tournament, they lost in the first round to Penn State.[1] [2] This marked the fourth losing season in five years for coach Tim Miles. However, following the season, Nebraska athletic director Shawn Eichorst indicated that Tim Miles would return as head coach for Nebraska.[3]

Offseason

Departures

Name No. Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes
0 G 6 ft 4 in 195 lb Senior Graduated
Nick Fuller 23 F 6 ft 7 in 213 lb Junior Graduate transferred to South Dakota
12 F/C 6 ft 9 in 239 lb Sophomore Transferred to Iowa State
Ed Morrow, Jr. 30 F 6 ft 7 in 213 lb Sophomore Transferred to Marquette
Jason Shultis 3 G 6 ft 1 in 198 lb Sophomore Walk-on; left team.
Mohammad Elradi 21 G/F 6 ft 3 in 185 lb Freshman Walk-on; transferred to Northeastern JC
Jeriah Horne 2 F 6 ft 7 in 222 lb Freshman Transferred to Tulsa

Arrivals

Name No. Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes
Duby Okeke 0 C 6 ft 8 in 230 lb Senior Graduate transferred from Winthrop. Under NCAA transfer rules, Okeke will be able to play immediately.
14 F 6 ft 9 in 220 lb Junior Transferred mid-season during previous season from Georgetown. Was granted a medical redshirt for the 2016-17 season and has received a medical hardship waiver for the 2017-18 season. Under NCAA transfer rules with the granted waiver, Copeland will be able to play immediately this season with two full years of remaining eligibility.[4] [5]
Johnny Trueblood 4 G 6 ft 4 in 195 lb Sophomore Walk-on. Left team after 2015–16 season and but stayed at Nebraska; Returned to team in July 2017 after one season away.[6]

2017 recruiting class

Schedule and results

The 2018 Big Ten tournament was held at Madison Square Garden in New York City.[7] Due to the Big East's use of that venue for their conference tournament, the Big Ten tournament took place one week earlier than usual, ending the week before Selection Sunday.[8] This meant qualifying teams had nearly two weeks off before the NCAA tournament. As a result, the Big Ten regular season began in mid-December. Coaches requested that no Big Ten game be scheduled between Christmas and New Year's Day; accordingly, each team played two conference games in early December before finishing non-conference play.[9]

On October 18, 2017, the school announced that it would play a charity exhibition game against Mississippi State on October 22 in Starkville, Mississippi to raise money for hurricane victims.[10] [11]

|-!colspan=9 style=|Exhibition|-!colspan=9 style=|Regular season|-!colspan=9 style=|Big Ten tournament|-!colspan=9 style=|NIT

Notes and References

  1. News: RECAP: Nebraska bounced from Big Ten tournament with 76-67 overtime loss to Penn State. 2017-03-08. Land of 10. 2017-07-28. en-US.
  2. News: Penn State outlasts Nebraska in OT in Big Ten tourney opener. Ryan. Shannon. chicagotribune.com. 2017-07-28. en-US.
  3. News: 'I'm back!' Tim Miles gets post-elimination vote of confidence from Nebraska AD Shawn Eichorst. 2017-03-08. CSN Chicago. 2017-03-09.
  4. Web site: HuskerOnline.com - Nebraska lands Georgetown transfer Copeland. nebraska.rivals.com. 2017-07-11.
  5. Web site: Huskers get good news on Copeland.
  6. Web site: NU assistant Michael Lewis staying with Huskers after interviewing for Butler head coaching vacancy | Men's Basketball | omaha.com. omaha.com. 2017-07-11.
  7. News: Big Ten tournament at MSG in 2018. USA TODAY. 2017-04-14. en.
  8. News: Izzo concerned about '18 Big Ten tournament in New York. Detroit Free Press. 2017-04-14. en.
  9. Web site: Big Ten reveals conference schedule with early-December games. Travis . Hines . August 16, 2017 . NBC Sports. December 8, 2017.
  10. News: Nebraska basketball will play Mississippi State in charity exhibition for hurricane relief. Staff reports. Omaha.com. 2017-10-18. en.
  11. News: Nebraska basketball to play exhibition game vs. Mississippi State to raise money for hurricane relief. 2017-10-18. Land of 10. 2017-10-18. en-US.