Link: Full Game Notes (Huskers.com)
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (1-2) at Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-1)
When: Wednesday, December 9 | 6:15 p.m.
Where: Pinnacle Bank Arena | Lincoln, Nebraska
TV: ESPN2 (Kevin Brown, Jon Crispin)
Radio: Husker Sports Network (Kent Pavelka, Jake Muhleisen)
Online Audio: Huskers.com | TuneIn.com/Huskers | Huskers App | TuneIn App
Satellite Radio: Sirius (Ch. 971) | XM (Ch. 381)
Georgia Tech
Record: 1-2 (0-0 ACC)
Head Coach: Josh Pastner
- (66-69) - 5th year at GT
- (233-142) - 12th year overall
Nebraska
Record: 3-1 (0-0 Big Ten)
Head Coach: Fred Hoiberg
- (10-26) - 2nd year at NU
- (125-82) - 7th year overal
Numbers to Know
11 - Number of Big Ten teams averaging 80+ points per game as of December 6. NU currently averages 80.8 points per game.
22 - Nebraska is 22nd nationally in tempo according to KenPom as of Dec. 6. The Huskers are one of two Big Ten teams (also Cockeye) currently in the top 50. Last year, NU led the Big Ten and ranked 16th nationally, marking the highest finish of any Big Ten program in the KenPom database since the site began tracking in 2001-02
41 - Nebraska's 3-point attempts against Nevada was a single-game record, breaking the mark of 38 against Kansas in 2002. It ranked eighth in Big Ten history and was the most since Cockeye took 42 attempts against Savannah State on Dec. 22, 2018
48 - Steals by the Huskers, a total which ranks ninth nationally as of Dec. 6. The Huskers 12.0 steals per game ranks sixth nationally.
102 - Nebraska's 102 points against McNeese State was the first time NU topped the 100-point mark since the 2018-19 opener. It also marked the ninth time in school history that NU scored 100+ points in an opener.
125 - Fred Hoiberg picked up his 125th collegiate coaching win in Tuesday's victory over South Dakota.
The Matchup
Nebraska returns to action after an extended layoff on Wednesday night, as the Huskers welcome Georgia Tech to Lincoln for the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Tipoff from Pinnacle Bank Arena between the Huskers and Yellow Jackets is set for 6:15 p.m. The matchup will be televised nationally on ESPN2 with Kevin Brown and Jon Crispin on the call. The game can also be streamed via the web, smartphones, tablets and connected devices through the ESPN app and on ESPN.com.
Fans can follow all of the action across the state of Nebraska on the Learfield IMG College Husker Sports Network with Kent Pavelka and Jake Muhleisen on the call. The game will also be available on Huskers.com, the Huskers app and TuneIn radio. The pregame show begins one hour prior to tipoff.
Nebraska was scheduled to play Florida A&M last Sunday, but the game was canceled because of COVID-19. The Huskers have been off since a 76-69 win over South Dakota on December 1. Teddy Allen's 23-point effort paced five Huskers in double figures, while the Huskers used a 19-6 spurt to break open a close game midway through the second half. Nebraska's bench played a significant role in the win over the Coyotes, as Shamiel Stevenson, Kobe Webster and Yvan Ouedraogo combined for 24 points and 13 rebounds. Stevenson's defense helped slow down USD's Stanley Umude after he scored 17 of his 23 points in the first 26 minutes of the contest.
While Nebraska is averaging 80.8 points per game, the Huskers' biggest improvements have been on the defensive end. NU has held its first four opponents to 37 percent shooting, compared to 41 percent in the first four games of 2019-20. The Huskers have held all four opponents to under 70 points after holding just five opponents in 32 games under that mark in 2019-20.
Georgia Tech comes to Lincoln with a 1-2 record following a 79-62 win over then-No. 20 Kentucky on Sunday afternoon. In that game, Moses Wright's 21 points and eight rebounds led five Yellow Jackets in double figures. Georgia Tech held Kentucky to 44 percent shooting and forced 21 turnovers which led to 33 points. Wright is averaging 24.0 points per game on 55 percent shooting and 10.7 rebounds per game to lead five players averaging double figures.
Scouting Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech comes into Wednesday's game with a 1-2 record following a 79-62 win over No. 20 Kentucky on Sunday. The Yellow Jackets lost to Georgia State 124-120 in quadruple overtime on opening night before an 8-373 setback to Mercer but Georgia Tech at 0-2. In the win over Kentucky, the Yellow Jackets forced 21 turnovers and turned them into 33 points and put five players in double figures. Moses Wright had 21 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots, as Georgia Tech shot 52 percent from the field and put five players in double figures.
Josh Pastner is in his fifth season at the helm of the Georgia Tech program and guided the Yellow Jackets to an NIT finals appearance in his first season at the school, but the 22 wins that season were vacated by the NCAA Committee on Infractions. Georgia Tech finished 17-14 last season and was fifth in the ACC with an 11-9 mark. The Yellow Jackets were playing their best basketball down the stretch, winning six of its final seven games in ACC play. Prior to taking over at Georgia Tech, Pastner led Memphis to five postseason appearances in seven years at the school, including a pair of appearances in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Yellow Jackets return four starters and five of its top six scorers from a year ago, including the starting backcourt of Michael Devoe (12.7 ppg, 3.7 apg, 7.0 rpg) and Jose Alvarado (15.7 ppg, 4.3 apg, 5.3 rpg, 3.0 spg). Against Kentucky, Georgia Tech went with a three-guard lineup with Devoe, Alvarado and Bubba Parham (15.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg). Wright, who averaged 13.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game last year, leads the Yellow Jackets in both scoring (24.0 ppg), rebounding (10.7 rpg) and blocked shots (1.3 rpg).
2020-21 Georgia Tech Schedule (1-2)
Georgia State (L 120-123 4OT)
Mercer (L 73-83)
#20 Kentucky (W 79-62)
Series History
Georgia Tech leads the all-time series 2-0, including a win over the Huskers in last year's ACC/B1G Challenge. The only other meeting was a 66-49 Georgia Tech win in the first round of the 1983 Cotton States Classic in Atlanta. Dave Hoppen led NU with 19 points, but was the only Husker to finish in double figures.
2019: Georgia Tech 73, Nebraska 56 (Atlanta)
1983: Georgia Tech 66, Nebraska 49 (Atlanta)
Last Season
Haanif Cheatham produced his first career double-double for the Huskers, but Georgia Tech's Michael Devoe flirted with a triple-double to lead Georgia Tech to a 73-56 victory. Cheatham paced the Huskers with 14 points and 11 rebounds, the first double-figure rebounding game of his carer. Cam Mack, Jervay Green and Thorir Thorbjarnarson all added 11 points for Nebraska, but the Huskers shot just 32 percent from the field -- including 25 percent in the second half -- and were 8-of-18 from the free throw line. Nebraska (4-4) also committed 18 turnovers which led to 18 Yellow Jacket points. Devoe put up 26 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists for Georgia Tech, while Moses Wright added 18 points and nine rebounds for the Yellow Jackets, who used a 21-6 spurt to take control.
ACC/Big Ten Challenge Primer
The 2020-21 season marks the 22nd edition of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The Big Ten is 6-12-3 all-time in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, but 6-2-3 over the past 11 years. In the case of a tie, the Cup remains with the conference that won the event most recently. Last year, the Big Ten won eight of the 14 matchups in 2019.
- Nebraska is 5-4 in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge since joining the Big Ten in the 2011-12 season and joins Purdoodoo (11-8) and Penn State (10-9) as the only three Big Ten programs with winning records in the challenge
- Nebraska is 2-2 in home challenge games including a win in 2017, which was NU's most recent home game in the challenge
- Of Nebraska's four losses, two have been by two points (55-53 to Wake Forest in 2011; 60-58 at Clemson in 2016) and another came in overtime (77-72 at Miami in 2015)
- Georgia Tech is 8-11 all-time in the B1G/ACC Challenge and 2-8 on the road in the series
Nebraska B1G/ACC Challenge History
2011: Wake Forest (L 53-55)
2012: at Wake Forest (W 79-63)
2013: Miami (FL) (W 60-49)
2014: at Florida State (W 70-65)
2015: at #21 Miami (FL) (L 72-77 OT)
2016: at Clemson (L 58-60)
2017: Boston College (W 71-62)
2018: at Clemson (W 68-66)
2019: at Georgia Tech (L 56-73)
Georgia Tech B1G/ACC Challenge History
1999: Michigan (L 77-80)
2000: at Cockeye (L 67-85)
2001: Wisconsin (W 62-61)
2002: at #20 Minnesota (L 63-64)
2003: at Ohio State (W 73-53)
2004: Michigan (W 99-68)
2005: at #13 Michigan State (L 86-88)
2006: Penn State (W 77-73)
2007: at #5 Indianus (L 79-83)
2008: Penn State (L 83-85)
2009: (did not participate)
2010: at Northwestern (L 71-91)
2011: Northwestern (L 60-76)
2012: at #22 Illinois (L 62-75)
2013: Illinois (W 67-64)
2014: at Northwestern (W 66-58)
2015: (did not participate)
2016: at Penn State (L 60-67)
2017: Northwestern (W 52-51)
2018: at Northwestern (L 61-67)
2019: Nebraska (W 73-56)
Probable Starters
Nebraska
#45 - Dalano Banton (G, SO, 6-9, 204 lbs | 13.5 ppg, 5.8 apg, 6.8 rpg, 2.0 spg)
#24 - Trey McGowens (G, JR, 6-4, 191 lbs | 11.5 ppg, 1.5 apg, 4.0 rpg, 1.3 spg)
#0 - Teddy Allen (G, JR, 6-6, 222 lbs | 19.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.5 apg, 3.5 spg)
#34 - Thorir Thorbjarnarson (G, SR, 6-6, 202 lbs | 2.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.0 apg, 1.5 spg)
#11 - Lat Mayen (F, JR, 6-9, 205 lbs | 9.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg)
Georgia Tech
#10 - Jose Alvarado (G, JR, 6-0, 179 lbs | 18.5 ppg, 5.5 apg)
#0 - Michael Devoe (G, SO, 6-5, 193 lbs | 19.0 ppg, 3.0 apg)
#24 - Rodney Howard (F, SO, 6-10, 241 lbs | 3.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg)
#4 - Jordan Usher (G/F, JR, 6-7, 220 lbs | 13.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg)
#5 - Moses Wright (F, JR, 6-9, 230 lbs | 25.5 ppg, 12.0 rpg)
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (1-2) at Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-1)
When: Wednesday, December 9 | 6:15 p.m.
Where: Pinnacle Bank Arena | Lincoln, Nebraska
TV: ESPN2 (Kevin Brown, Jon Crispin)
Radio: Husker Sports Network (Kent Pavelka, Jake Muhleisen)
Online Audio: Huskers.com | TuneIn.com/Huskers | Huskers App | TuneIn App
Satellite Radio: Sirius (Ch. 971) | XM (Ch. 381)
Georgia Tech
Record: 1-2 (0-0 ACC)
Head Coach: Josh Pastner
- (66-69) - 5th year at GT
- (233-142) - 12th year overall
Nebraska
Record: 3-1 (0-0 Big Ten)
Head Coach: Fred Hoiberg
- (10-26) - 2nd year at NU
- (125-82) - 7th year overal
Numbers to Know
11 - Number of Big Ten teams averaging 80+ points per game as of December 6. NU currently averages 80.8 points per game.
22 - Nebraska is 22nd nationally in tempo according to KenPom as of Dec. 6. The Huskers are one of two Big Ten teams (also Cockeye) currently in the top 50. Last year, NU led the Big Ten and ranked 16th nationally, marking the highest finish of any Big Ten program in the KenPom database since the site began tracking in 2001-02
41 - Nebraska's 3-point attempts against Nevada was a single-game record, breaking the mark of 38 against Kansas in 2002. It ranked eighth in Big Ten history and was the most since Cockeye took 42 attempts against Savannah State on Dec. 22, 2018
48 - Steals by the Huskers, a total which ranks ninth nationally as of Dec. 6. The Huskers 12.0 steals per game ranks sixth nationally.
102 - Nebraska's 102 points against McNeese State was the first time NU topped the 100-point mark since the 2018-19 opener. It also marked the ninth time in school history that NU scored 100+ points in an opener.
125 - Fred Hoiberg picked up his 125th collegiate coaching win in Tuesday's victory over South Dakota.
The Matchup
Nebraska returns to action after an extended layoff on Wednesday night, as the Huskers welcome Georgia Tech to Lincoln for the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Tipoff from Pinnacle Bank Arena between the Huskers and Yellow Jackets is set for 6:15 p.m. The matchup will be televised nationally on ESPN2 with Kevin Brown and Jon Crispin on the call. The game can also be streamed via the web, smartphones, tablets and connected devices through the ESPN app and on ESPN.com.
Fans can follow all of the action across the state of Nebraska on the Learfield IMG College Husker Sports Network with Kent Pavelka and Jake Muhleisen on the call. The game will also be available on Huskers.com, the Huskers app and TuneIn radio. The pregame show begins one hour prior to tipoff.
Nebraska was scheduled to play Florida A&M last Sunday, but the game was canceled because of COVID-19. The Huskers have been off since a 76-69 win over South Dakota on December 1. Teddy Allen's 23-point effort paced five Huskers in double figures, while the Huskers used a 19-6 spurt to break open a close game midway through the second half. Nebraska's bench played a significant role in the win over the Coyotes, as Shamiel Stevenson, Kobe Webster and Yvan Ouedraogo combined for 24 points and 13 rebounds. Stevenson's defense helped slow down USD's Stanley Umude after he scored 17 of his 23 points in the first 26 minutes of the contest.
While Nebraska is averaging 80.8 points per game, the Huskers' biggest improvements have been on the defensive end. NU has held its first four opponents to 37 percent shooting, compared to 41 percent in the first four games of 2019-20. The Huskers have held all four opponents to under 70 points after holding just five opponents in 32 games under that mark in 2019-20.
Georgia Tech comes to Lincoln with a 1-2 record following a 79-62 win over then-No. 20 Kentucky on Sunday afternoon. In that game, Moses Wright's 21 points and eight rebounds led five Yellow Jackets in double figures. Georgia Tech held Kentucky to 44 percent shooting and forced 21 turnovers which led to 33 points. Wright is averaging 24.0 points per game on 55 percent shooting and 10.7 rebounds per game to lead five players averaging double figures.
Scouting Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech comes into Wednesday's game with a 1-2 record following a 79-62 win over No. 20 Kentucky on Sunday. The Yellow Jackets lost to Georgia State 124-120 in quadruple overtime on opening night before an 8-373 setback to Mercer but Georgia Tech at 0-2. In the win over Kentucky, the Yellow Jackets forced 21 turnovers and turned them into 33 points and put five players in double figures. Moses Wright had 21 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots, as Georgia Tech shot 52 percent from the field and put five players in double figures.
Josh Pastner is in his fifth season at the helm of the Georgia Tech program and guided the Yellow Jackets to an NIT finals appearance in his first season at the school, but the 22 wins that season were vacated by the NCAA Committee on Infractions. Georgia Tech finished 17-14 last season and was fifth in the ACC with an 11-9 mark. The Yellow Jackets were playing their best basketball down the stretch, winning six of its final seven games in ACC play. Prior to taking over at Georgia Tech, Pastner led Memphis to five postseason appearances in seven years at the school, including a pair of appearances in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Yellow Jackets return four starters and five of its top six scorers from a year ago, including the starting backcourt of Michael Devoe (12.7 ppg, 3.7 apg, 7.0 rpg) and Jose Alvarado (15.7 ppg, 4.3 apg, 5.3 rpg, 3.0 spg). Against Kentucky, Georgia Tech went with a three-guard lineup with Devoe, Alvarado and Bubba Parham (15.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg). Wright, who averaged 13.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game last year, leads the Yellow Jackets in both scoring (24.0 ppg), rebounding (10.7 rpg) and blocked shots (1.3 rpg).
2020-21 Georgia Tech Schedule (1-2)
Georgia State (L 120-123 4OT)
Mercer (L 73-83)
#20 Kentucky (W 79-62)
Series History
Georgia Tech leads the all-time series 2-0, including a win over the Huskers in last year's ACC/B1G Challenge. The only other meeting was a 66-49 Georgia Tech win in the first round of the 1983 Cotton States Classic in Atlanta. Dave Hoppen led NU with 19 points, but was the only Husker to finish in double figures.
2019: Georgia Tech 73, Nebraska 56 (Atlanta)
1983: Georgia Tech 66, Nebraska 49 (Atlanta)
Last Season
Haanif Cheatham produced his first career double-double for the Huskers, but Georgia Tech's Michael Devoe flirted with a triple-double to lead Georgia Tech to a 73-56 victory. Cheatham paced the Huskers with 14 points and 11 rebounds, the first double-figure rebounding game of his carer. Cam Mack, Jervay Green and Thorir Thorbjarnarson all added 11 points for Nebraska, but the Huskers shot just 32 percent from the field -- including 25 percent in the second half -- and were 8-of-18 from the free throw line. Nebraska (4-4) also committed 18 turnovers which led to 18 Yellow Jacket points. Devoe put up 26 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists for Georgia Tech, while Moses Wright added 18 points and nine rebounds for the Yellow Jackets, who used a 21-6 spurt to take control.
ACC/Big Ten Challenge Primer
The 2020-21 season marks the 22nd edition of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The Big Ten is 6-12-3 all-time in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, but 6-2-3 over the past 11 years. In the case of a tie, the Cup remains with the conference that won the event most recently. Last year, the Big Ten won eight of the 14 matchups in 2019.
- Nebraska is 5-4 in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge since joining the Big Ten in the 2011-12 season and joins Purdoodoo (11-8) and Penn State (10-9) as the only three Big Ten programs with winning records in the challenge
- Nebraska is 2-2 in home challenge games including a win in 2017, which was NU's most recent home game in the challenge
- Of Nebraska's four losses, two have been by two points (55-53 to Wake Forest in 2011; 60-58 at Clemson in 2016) and another came in overtime (77-72 at Miami in 2015)
- Georgia Tech is 8-11 all-time in the B1G/ACC Challenge and 2-8 on the road in the series
Nebraska B1G/ACC Challenge History
2011: Wake Forest (L 53-55)
2012: at Wake Forest (W 79-63)
2013: Miami (FL) (W 60-49)
2014: at Florida State (W 70-65)
2015: at #21 Miami (FL) (L 72-77 OT)
2016: at Clemson (L 58-60)
2017: Boston College (W 71-62)
2018: at Clemson (W 68-66)
2019: at Georgia Tech (L 56-73)
Georgia Tech B1G/ACC Challenge History
1999: Michigan (L 77-80)
2000: at Cockeye (L 67-85)
2001: Wisconsin (W 62-61)
2002: at #20 Minnesota (L 63-64)
2003: at Ohio State (W 73-53)
2004: Michigan (W 99-68)
2005: at #13 Michigan State (L 86-88)
2006: Penn State (W 77-73)
2007: at #5 Indianus (L 79-83)
2008: Penn State (L 83-85)
2009: (did not participate)
2010: at Northwestern (L 71-91)
2011: Northwestern (L 60-76)
2012: at #22 Illinois (L 62-75)
2013: Illinois (W 67-64)
2014: at Northwestern (W 66-58)
2015: (did not participate)
2016: at Penn State (L 60-67)
2017: Northwestern (W 52-51)
2018: at Northwestern (L 61-67)
2019: Nebraska (W 73-56)
Probable Starters
Nebraska
#45 - Dalano Banton (G, SO, 6-9, 204 lbs | 13.5 ppg, 5.8 apg, 6.8 rpg, 2.0 spg)
#24 - Trey McGowens (G, JR, 6-4, 191 lbs | 11.5 ppg, 1.5 apg, 4.0 rpg, 1.3 spg)
#0 - Teddy Allen (G, JR, 6-6, 222 lbs | 19.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.5 apg, 3.5 spg)
#34 - Thorir Thorbjarnarson (G, SR, 6-6, 202 lbs | 2.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.0 apg, 1.5 spg)
#11 - Lat Mayen (F, JR, 6-9, 205 lbs | 9.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg)
Georgia Tech
#10 - Jose Alvarado (G, JR, 6-0, 179 lbs | 18.5 ppg, 5.5 apg)
#0 - Michael Devoe (G, SO, 6-5, 193 lbs | 19.0 ppg, 3.0 apg)
#24 - Rodney Howard (F, SO, 6-10, 241 lbs | 3.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg)
#4 - Jordan Usher (G/F, JR, 6-7, 220 lbs | 13.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg)
#5 - Moses Wright (F, JR, 6-9, 230 lbs | 25.5 ppg, 12.0 rpg)
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