Men's College Basketball 2021-2022 Season Preview: Nebraska Cornhuskers

The Big 10 will be going through some changes in men’s college basketball up top this season, as household names like Ayo Dosunmu and Luka Garza are off to the NBA. There is still plenty of star power though, as Juwan Howard has brought in an elite recruiting class at Michigan, our guy Trevion Williams is back for his swan song season at Purdue. and even the bottom half of the conference has useful fantasy options sprinkled throughout.

Big 10 slates are a grind, so getting a head start on info about this conference will serve you well in putting you above the rest of the field. Join me on this journey as we preview the Big 10 teams from a DFS perspective.

In this one, Nebraska.

(Check out our full college basketball season preview!)

Nebraska Cornhuskers 2021-2022 Season Preview

2020-2021 record: 7-20 (3-16 Big 10), 14th in Big 10
Postseason: None

Key Departures | Nebraska Cornhuskers

Teddy Allen (transferred to New Mexico State)
Dalano Banton (playing in the NBA)
Shamiel Stevenson (playing professionally)
Yvan Ouedraogo (transferred to GCU)
Thorir Thorbjarnarson (playing professionally)

Key Additions | Nebraska Cornhuskers

Alonzo Verge (transferred from ASU)
CJ Wilcher (transferred from Xavier)
Keon Edwards (transferred from DePaul)
Bryce McGowens (top 30 recruit)
Keisei Tominaga (Juco transfer)
Wilhelm Breidenbach (fringe top 100 recruit)

Returners | Nebraska Cornhuskers

Lat Mayen (8.6 PPG/4.5 RPG)
Trey McGowens (10.7 PPG/3.9 RPG/1.4 SPG)
Kobe Webster (8.1 PPG)
Derrick Walker (5.9 PPG/4.8 RPG)
Trevor Lakes (3.2 PPG/1.1 RPG)

Nebraska Cornhuskers Outlook for 2021-2022

Fred Hoiberg wrote the book on utilizing the transfer portal, so it was really no surprise when he made some big-time additions from the biggest portal in college basketball history. He also brought in highly touted recruit and the younger brother of Trey McGowens in Bryce. This is the best team Hoiberg has had since he took over at Nebraska, and with low expectations they could have a really good season.

Trey McGowens forced too much on offense last year and really had a hard time recapturing his scoring prowess from his Pittsburgh days. With an upgrade in talent around him he should be able to let the game come to him more and will still be utilized as one of the primary bucket getters. Bryce is an even better scorer and has seemingly limitless range on his jumper. The McGowens brothers should be a ruthless duo from the start.

I was a bit puzzled by the addition of ASU high-scoring guard Alonzo Verge because he was a shoot-first player in an overcrowded Sun Devil backcourt last year. However, the staff has said he has been a willing passer through training camp and perhaps he has turned a new leaf? Verge has always been a solid passer but it’s just the fact that he hasn’t always been a willing dime dropper. If he commits himself to running the offense and finding the open man, this team could be knocking on the door for a tourney bid.

CJ Wilcher is a former four-star recruit from Xavier whose shooting improved as the season went on. He was fairly raw as a player last year but could become a big-time factor on the wing. Keon Edwards will also be in the mix for minutes and has seemingly untapped potential in all aspects of the game.

Some other key returners are spot up shooter Kobe Webster, floor spacer Lat Mayen and low block banger Derrick Walker. All three will see significant minutes this year with Mayen having the most upside of that trio.

(Check out our rankings of the top 100 teams, top 100 players and top 25 impact freshmen for men’s college basketball in 2021-2022.)

Summary

I love this team for DFS and won’t be afraid to target them at will every time they’re on the slate. There is a unique combination of high-floor production and untapped potential sprinkled throughout the roster. The McGowens brothers will be deadly, Alonzo Verge can do it all and the role players have all been upgraded. Don’t sleep on the Cornhuskers this year as they’re much better than people are giving them credit for.