It’s been just over three decades since Nebraska earned consecutive NCAA Tournament bids.
With depth pieces such as Andrew Morgan and Connor Essegian supplementing the team’s core of Brice Williams and Juwan Gary, the Cornhuskers might have what it takes to trudge through the stacked Big Ten Conference and make the NCAA field again in March.
Nebraska will try to take another step toward that goal Monday night in Honolulu with a semifinal matchup in the Diamond Head Classic against the host school, Hawaii.
The winner will advance to the championship game on Christmas Day against either Oakland or Oregon State, who will play in the first semifinal on Monday.
Morgan and Essegian came off the bench in Sunday’s 66-49 win over Murray State to combine for 27 points. Morgan, a North Dakota State transfer, collected 12 points and 12 rebounds for his first double-double with Nebraska (8-2).
The 6-foot-10, 242-pound Morgan has proved to be a solid replacement for senior Rienk Mast, who’s sitting out the year after sustaining a knee injury last season.
“Andrew gives us a lot of the same skill level that Rienk has,” Cornhuskers coach Fred Hoiberg said. “I’ve been really, really impressed with Andrew and his physicality.”
Williams averages a team-high 17.9 points per game, even after his string of nine games in double figures to start the season was snapped Sunday as he managed just nine points. Essegian is averaging 13.2 points per game, while Gary chips in 10.8.
Meanwhile, the Rainbow Warriors (7-3) earned their shot at Nebraska by dumping Charlotte 78-61 in the final quarterfinal on Sunday. Hawaii took a 44-31 halftime lead, riding the 1-2 punch of Gytis Nemeiksa and Marcus Greene to the win.
Nemeiksa, a Xavier transfer, scored 24 points and is averaging a team-high 15 points per game, while Greene bagged 22 to up his season average to 12.7.
Rainbow Warriors coach Eran Ganot said this summer that the 6-8 Nemeiksa would have an immediate impact despite averaging just 5.2 points per game last season.
“You can see the talent and size and ability,” Ganot said. “He has a tremendous work ethic and a love for the game. He’s a potential all-conference player.”
–Field Level Media
