Indiana Basketball: 3 Takeaways from Road Loss to Nebraska

Give Credit Where Credit is Due.

Fred Hoiberg and the Cornhuskers had a game plan defensively and stuck to it all game long. Hoiberg wanted Indiana to beat them from the perimeter, so he sagged the defense to defend the paint. Kel'el Ware did score 20 points, but Nebraska high-lowed him on defense, and he was worn out midway in the second half.

Nebraska's defensive rotations were nearly perfect. When Indiana got the ball down to Ware, they double-teamed Ware and rotated to whoever he passed it to. When Ware gave it to Mgbako, they rotated help defense, preventing him from driving to the basket. He either forced a contested shot or attempted to reverse the basketball.

Nebraska's defensive rotations confused Mgbako all night. There is an argument that he should have been more aggressive, however. Give Hoiberg and his staff credit; their plan was excellent, and the players executed it.