2019–20 Nebraska Cornhuskers men's basketball team

The 2019–20 Nebraska Cornhuskers men's basketball team represented the University of Nebraska in the 2019–20 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Cornhuskers were led by first-year coach head coach Fred Hoiberg and play their home games at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska as members of the Big Ten Conference. They finished the season 7–25, 2–18 in Big Ten play to finish in last place. They lost to Indiana in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament[1] which was subsequently canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.[2]

2019–20 Nebraska Cornhuskers men's basketball
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
2019–20 record7–25 (2–18 Big Ten)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaPinnacle Bank Arena
2019–20 Big Ten Conference men's basketball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L PCT  W L PCT
No. 17 Wisconsin14–6 .700  21–10  .677
No. 9 Michigan State14–6 .700  22–9  .710
No. 12 Maryland14–6 .700  24–7  .774
No. 21 Illinois13–7 .650  21–10  .677
No. 25 Iowa11–9 .550  20–11  .645
Penn State11–9 .550  21–10  .677
No. 19 Ohio State11–9 .550  21–10  .677
Rutgers11–9 .550  20–11  .645
Michigan10–10 .500  19–12  .613
Purdue9–11 .450  16–15  .516
Indiana9–11 .450  20–12  .625
Minnesota8–12 .400  15–16  .484
Northwestern3–17 .150  8–23  .258
Nebraska2–18 .100  7–25  .219
As of March 18, 2020; Rankings from AP Poll
Note: The 2020 Big Ten Tournament was canceled prior to the second round due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the final game of the season against Indiana, Fred Hoiberg appeared ill during the game, left the game in the second half, and was taken to the hospital.[3] He was tested for coronavirus due to the ongoing pandemic, but he was diagnosed with influenza. As a result of Hoiberg's sickness, the team was quarantined in the locker room following the Indiana game for a short period of time.[4][5]

Previous season

The Cornhuskers finished the 2017–18 season 19–17, 6–14 in Big Ten play to finish second-to-last. As the No. 13 seed in the Big Ten Tournament, they made a run but lost in the quarterfinals to Wisconsin. Despite winning 13 Big Ten games, the Cornhuskers received a bid to the National Invitation Tournament. They won in the first round of the NIT to Mississippi State but lost in the second round to TCU.

Following the season, head coach Tim Miles was fired, having lead the team after seven seasons.[6] Four days later, the school hired former Chicago Bulls' head coach Fred Hoiberg as the next head coach of the program.[7]

Offseason

Due to a change in coaching staff, Nebraska experienced a near-complete overhaul of its roster, retaining only two players from the previous season (only one of which had seen any playing time for Nebraska).[8] The rebuilt team took an exhibition trip to Italy; a documentary on the trip was filmed by the Big Ten Network.[9]

Departures
NameNo.Pos.HeightWeightYearHometownNotes
James Palmer Jr. 0 G 6'6" 207 SR Upper Marlboro, MD Graduated
Johnny Trueblood 4 G 6'3" 194 SR Omaha, NE Graduated; walk-on.
Glynn Watson Jr. 5 G 6'0" 180 SR Bellwood, IL Graduated
Isaac Copeland Jr. 14 F 6'9" 225 SR Raleigh, NC Graduated
Tanner Borchardt 20 F 6'8" 250 SR Gothenburg, NE Graduated
Isaiah Roby 15 F 6'8" 230 JR Dixon, IL Declared for 2019 NBA Draft.
Thomas Allen 12 G 6'1" 184 SO Raleigh, NC Transferred to NC State.
Nana Akenten 25 G 6'6" 218 SO Bolingbrook, IL Indefinitely suspended prior to end of previous season. Transferred to Southeast Missouri State.
Dedoch Chan 2 F 6'8" 210 SO (incoming) Rochester, MN Transferred to Indian Hills CC, left team before start of 2018–19 season.[10]
Justin Costello 33 F 6'1" 200 RS FR Elkhorn, NE Transferred to McCook CC; walk-on.
Brady Heiman 45 F 6'11" 215 FR Springfield, NE Transferred to South Dakota.
Amir Harris 1 G 6'4" 205 FR Frederick, MD Transferred to George Washington.
Karrington Davis 10 G 6'6" 215 FR St. Louis, MO Transferred to Southern Illinois.

Incoming transfers
NameNo.Pos.HeightWeightYearHometownPrevious school
Haanif Cheatham22G6 ft 5 in195 lbSenior (graduate transfer)Fort Lauderdale, FLFlorida Gulf Coast
Matej Kavaš25G6 ft 8 in200 lbSenior (graduate transfer)Ljubljana, SloveniaSeattle
Shamiel Stevenson04F6 ft 6 in245 lbJuniorToronto, ON, CanadaNevada
Derrick Walker13F6 ft 8 in236 lbJuniorKansas City, MOTennessee
Dalano Banton45G6 ft 8 in185 lbSophomoreToronto, ON, CanadaWestern Kentucky

Other arrivals

Noah Vedral and Brant Banks, two members of the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team joined the team as emergency back-ups prior to the 2020 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament due to depth issues.[11]

2019 recruiting class
US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Jervay Green
SG		 Denver, CO George Washington (CO)
Western Nebraska CC		 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Sep 23, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports:
Cameron Mack
SG		 Austin, TX Christian Life Prep (TX)
Salt Lake CC		 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Apr 27, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports:
Akol Arop
SF		 Omaha, NE Creighton Prep (NE) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Oct 3, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports:
Jace Piatkowski
SG (walk-on)		 Elkhorn, NE Elkhorn South (NE) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Apr 18, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Charlie Easley
G (walk-on)		 Lincoln, NE Pius X (NE) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) May 6, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Yvan Ouedraogo
F		 Bordeaux, France INSEP 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 230 lb (100 kg) May 12, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports:
Kevin Cross
PF		 Little Rock, AR Mills (AR) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 240 lb (110 kg) May 13, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A
Samari Curtis
SG		 Xenia, OH Xenia (OH) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 175 lb (79 kg) May 15, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 80
Bret Porter
F (walk-on)		 Omaha, NE Millard North (NE) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 2,015 lb (914 kg) Jun 6, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Overall recruiting rankings:   247Sports: 52
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2019 Team Ranking". Rivals.com.

    Roster
    2018–19 Nebraska Cornhuskers men's basketball team
    PlayersCoaches
    Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
    F 0 Akol Arop 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)190 lb (86 kg) FrCreighton Prep HS Omaha, NE
    F 1 Kevin Cross 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)240 lb (109 kg) FrMills HS Little Rock, AR
    G 2 Noah Vedral 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)200 lb (91 kg) RS SoBishop Neumann HS Wahoo, NE
    G 3 Cam Mack (S) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)175 lb (79 kg) RS SoSalt Lake CC Austin, TX
    G 4 Shamiel Stevenson (I)  6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)245 lb (111 kg) JrNevada Toronto, ON, Canada
    G 11 Dachon Burke (S) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)180 lb (82 kg) RS JrRobert Morris Orange, NJ
    F 13 Derrick Walker (I)  6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)235 lb (107 kg) JrTennessee Kansas City, MO
    F 15 Samari Curtis 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)175 lb (79 kg) FrXenia HS Xenia, OH
    G 21 Jace Piatkowski (W) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)170 lb (77 kg) FrElkhorn South HS Elkhorn, NE
    G 22 Haanif Cheatham 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)195 lb (88 kg) RS SrFlorida Gulf Coast Fort Lauderdale, FL
    G 23 Jervay Green 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)210 lb (95 kg) JrWestern Nebraska CC Denver, CO
    F 24 Yvan Ouedraogo 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)230 lb (104 kg) FrINSEP Bordeaux, France
    G 25 Matej Kavaš  6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)200 lb (91 kg) SrSeattle Ljubljana, Slovenia
    G 30 Charlie Easley 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)190 lb (86 kg) FrPius X HS Lincoln, NE
    F 32 Brant Banks 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)300 lb (136 kg) RS FrWestbury Christian HS Houston, TX
    G 34 Þórir Þorbjarnarson 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)206 lb (93 kg) JrMenntaskólinn í Reykjavík Akureyri, Iceland
    F 44 Bret Porter (W) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)215 lb (98 kg) FrMillard North HS Omaha, NE
    G 45 Dalano Banton (I)  6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)185 lb (84 kg) SoWestern Kentucky Toronto, ON, Canada
    Head coach
    Assistant coach(es)
    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (S) Suspended
    • (I) Ineligible
    • (W) Walk-on

    Roster

    Schedule and results
    Date
    time, TV    		 Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
    city, state
    Foreign exhibition tour[12]
    August 5, 2019*
    11:30 am, PlaySight    		 at A.S. Stella Azzurra W 87–56  0–0
    		  15 – Green   – –   – –   
    Rome, Italy
    August 7, 2019*
    1:00 pm    		 vs. BC Šilutė W 83–58  0–0
    		  20 – Burke/Cheatham   – –   – –   
    Ponte Buggianese, Italy
    August 8, 2019*
    11:00 am    		 vs. BC Šilutė W 73–70  0–0
    		  13 – Curtis   – –   – –   
    Ponte Buggianese, Italy
    August 12, 2019*
    12:00 pm    		 vs. Italian Select W 84–62  0–0
    		  15 – Easley   – –   – –   
    Costa Masnaga, Italy
    Exhibition
    October 30, 2019*
    7:00 pm, BTN Plus    		 Doane W 91–63  0–0
    		  15 – Burke  10 – Cross  8 – Mack  Pinnacle Bank Arena (15,695)
    Lincoln, NE
    Regular season
    November 5, 2019*
    8:00 pm, BTN    		 UC Riverside L 47–66  0–1
    		  11 – Mack  9 – Mack  3 – Tied  Pinnacle Bank Arena (15,745)
    Lincoln, NE
    November 9, 2019*
    1:00 pm, BTN Plus    		 Southern Utah L 78–79 OT 0–2
    		  19 – Cross  8 – Green  11 – Mack  Pinnacle Bank Arena (15,828)
    Lincoln, NE
    November 15, 2019*
    8:00 pm, BTN    		 South Dakota State W 90–73  1–2
    		  24 – Mack  12 – Ouedraogo  5 – Green  Pinnacle Bank Arena (15,946)
    Lincoln, NE
    November 22, 2019*
    7:00 pm, BTN Plus    		 Southern W 93–86 OT 2–2
    		  22 – Green  7 – Cheatham  8 – Mack  Pinnacle Bank Arena (15,931)
    Lincoln, NE
    November 25, 2019*
    6:30 pm, FloSports    		 vs. Washington State
    Cayman Islands Classic quarterfinals    		 W 82–71  3–2
    		  19 – Cheatham  8 – 3 tied  6 – Mack  John Gray Gymnasium (660)
    George Town, Cayman Islands
    November 26, 2019*
    7:30 pm, FloSports    		 vs. George Mason
    Cayman Islands Classic semifinals    		 L 66–85  3–3
    		  14 – Burke  5 – Tied  5 – Green  John Gray Gymnasium (1,066)
    George Town, Cayman Islands
    November 27, 2019*
    5:00 pm, FloSports    		 vs. South Florida
    Cayman Islands Classic third place game    		 W 74–67  4–3
    		  26 – Cheatham  5 – Ouedraogo  7 – Mack  John Gray Gymnasium (512)
    George Town, Cayman Islands
    December 4, 2019*
    6:15 pm, ESPNU    		 at Georgia Tech
    ACC–Big Ten Challenge    		 L 56–73  4–4
    		  14 – Cheatham  11 – Cheatham  6 – Mack  McCamish Pavilion (5,133)
    Atlanta, GA
    December 7, 2019*
    1:30 pm, FS1    		 at Creighton
    Rivalry    		 L 76–95  4–5
    		  14 – Cheatham  7 – Burke  3 – Mack  CHI Health Center Omaha (18,068)
    Omaha, NE
    December 13, 2019
    7:00 pm, BTN    		 at Indiana L 90–96 OT 4–6
    (0–1)    		  25 – Burke  10 – Ouedraogo  10 – Mack  Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall (17,222)
    Bloomington, IN
    December 15, 2019
    3:00 pm, BTN    		 Purdue W 70–56  5–6
    (1–1)    		  18 – Burke  10 – Mack  12 – Mack  Pinnacle Bank Arena (15,654)
    Lincoln, NE
    December 21, 2019*
    5:00 pm, BTN Plus    		 North Dakota L 74–75  5–7
    		  19 – Mack  9 – Ouedraogo  7 – Mack  Pinnacle Bank Arena (15,010)
    Lincoln, NE
    December 29, 2019*
    3:00 pm, BTN    		 Texas A&M–Corpus Christi W 73–52  6–7
    		  17 – Cheatham  14 – Ouedraogo  5 – Mack  Pinnacle Bank Arena (14,968)
    Lincoln, NE
    January 3, 2020
    7:00 pm, BTN    		 Rutgers L 62–79  6–8
    (1–2)    		  16 – Cheatham  5 – Burke Jr.  6 – Mack  Pinnacle Bank Arena (15,024)
    Lincoln, NE
    January 7, 2020
    8:00 pm, BTN    		 Iowa W 76–70  7–8
    (2–2)    		  17 – Thorbjarnarson  9 – Thorbjarnarson  10 – Mack  Pinnacle Bank Arena (14,722)
    Lincoln, NE
    January 11, 2020
    3:30 pm, BTN    		 at Northwestern L 57–62  7–9
    (2–3)    		  11 – Mack  10 – Mack  7 – Mack  Welsh–Ryan Arena (5,664)
    Evanston, IL
    January 14, 2020
    5:30 pm, FS1    		 at No. 21 Ohio State L 68–80  7–10
    (2–4)    		  15 – Thorbjarnarson  6 – Thorbjarnarson  6 – Mack  Value City Arena (12,954)
    Columbus, OH
    January 18, 2020
    6:00 pm, BTN    		 Indiana L 74–82  7–11
    (2–5)    		  20 – Mack  9 – Thorbjarnarson  9 – Mack  Pinnacle Bank Arena (15,925)
    Lincoln, NE
    January 21, 2020
    8:00 pm, BTN    		 at Wisconsin L 68–82  7–12
    (2–6)    		  20 – Burke Jr.  8 – Tied  6 – Mack  Kohl Center (16,856)
    Madison, WI
    January 25, 2020
    1:00 pm, BTN    		 at No. 24 Rutgers L 72–75  7–13
    (2–7)    		  19 – Mack  8 – Thorbjarnarson  5 – Burke Jr.  Louis Brown Athletic Center (8,000)
    Piscataway, NJ
    January 28, 2020
    6:00 pm, ESPNU    		 Michigan L 68–79  7–14
    (2–8)    		  19 – Mack  8 – Thorbjarnarson  9 – Mack  Pinnacle Bank Arena (15,868)
    Lincoln, NE
    February 1, 2020
    6:00 pm, BTN    		 No. 24 Penn State L 64–76  7–15
    (2–9)    		  15 – Cheatham  8 – Cheatham  3 – Mack  Pinnacle Bank Arena (15,901)
    Lincoln, NE
    February 8, 2020
    5:00 pm, BTN    		 at No. 17 Iowa L 72–96  7–16
    (2–10)    		  18 – Green  7 – Green  5 – Cross  Carver–Hawkeye Arena (15,056)
    Iowa City, IA
    February 11, 2020
    7:30 pm, BTN    		 at No. 9 Maryland L 70–72  7–17
    (2–11)    		  20 – Cheatham  7 – Thorbjarnarson  8 – Mack  Xfinity Center (14,396)
    College Park, MD
    February 15, 2020
    1:15 pm, BTN    		 Wisconsin L 64–81  7–18
    (2–12)    		  17 – Cheatham  10 – Ouedraogo  8 – Mack  Pinnacle Bank Arena (15,864)
    Lincoln, NE
    February 20, 2020
    7:30 pm, FS1    		 Michigan State L 65–86  7–19
    (2–13)    		  21 – Burke Jr.  7 – Ouedraogo  6 – Mack  Pinnacle Bank Arena (15,838)
    Lincoln, NE
    February 24, 2020
    7:00 pm, BTN    		 at Illinois L 59–71  7–20
    (2–14)    		  14 – Cheatham  10 – Ouedraogo  2 – Tied  State Farm Center (15,354)
    Champaign, IN
    February 27, 2020
    8:00 pm, ESPN2    		 No. 23 Ohio State L 54–75  7–21
    (2–15)    		  13 – Burke Jr.  6 – Ouedraogo  3 – Tied  Pinnacle Bank Arena (15,611)
    Lincoln, NE
    March 1, 2020
    3:15 pm, BTN    		 Northwestern L 76–81  7–22
    (2–16)    		  20 – Cheatham  19 – Ouedraogo  7 – Mack  Pinnacle Bank Arena (15,842)
    Lincoln, NE
    March 5, 2020
    5:30 pm, FS1    		 at No. 25 Michigan L 58–82  7–23
    (2–17)    		  19 – Cheatham  7 – Thorbjarnarson  4 – Green  Crisler Center (12,707)
    Ann Arbor, MI
    March 8, 2020
    12:00 pm, BTN    		 at Minnesota L 75–107  7–24
    (2–18)    		  17 – Cheatham  6 – Easley  4 – Cheatham  Williams Arena (9,984)
    Minneapolis, MN
    Big Ten Tournament
    March 11, 2020
    7:30 pm, BTN    		 (14) vs. (11) Indiana
    First Round    		 L 64–89  7–25
    		  17 – Cheatham  9 – Corss  4 – Green  Bankers Life Fieldhouse (17,923)
    Indianapolis, IN
    *Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
    All times are in Central Time.

    Schedule source:

    References
    1. "Nebraska vs. Indiana - Game Recap - March 11, 2020 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
    2. "2020 Big Ten Tournament canceled Thursday amid coronavirus pandemic concerns". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
    3. Young, Dennis. "Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg leaves Big 10 tournament game with illness, is hospitalized but doesn't have coronavirus". nydailynews.com. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
    4. "Nebraska's Hoiberg addresses coaching with flu". ESPN.com. 2020-03-12. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
    5. "Report: Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg hospitalized after game". 247Sports. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
    6. Basnett, Chris. "Tim Miles out after seven seasons as Nebraska basketball coach; Moos wants consistency in program". JournalStar.com. Retrieved 2019-07-17.
    7. "Nebraska hires Hoiberg to seven-year deal". Reuters. 2019-03-30. Retrieved 2019-04-29.
    8. http://collegehoopswatch.com/2019/10/06/nebraska-basketball-the-mayor-presides-over-a-total-roster-revamp/
    9. https://btn.com/2019/10/21/btn-to-premiere-the-b1g-trip-nebraska-basketball-in-italy-on-monday-oct-28/
    10. https://www.omaha.com/huskers/mens-basketball/transfer-dedoch-chan-leaves-nebraska-basketball-program-three-months-after/article_9163fa2c-2167-580f-a890-73b03ca82231.html
    11. https://www.omaha.com/sports/college/huskers/teams/mens-basketball/husker-football-players-brant-banks-and-noah-vedral-added-to/article_4f586726-bb3c-5824-9d95-c2f5dcf34b5f.html
    12. Huskers Head to Italy
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