Nebraska @ Indiana preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 14, 2019 ) Nebraska 66, Indiana 51

The only stain on Indiana's record came in its only Big Ten game and the Hoosiers will be aiming to even their conference record when they play host to Nebraska on Friday. Nebraska will be playing its sixth straight game on the road and for the first time after a five-day break.

Indiana didn't play particularly well Tuesday night against Connecticut, but it was good enough to come away with a 57-54 victory at Madison Square Garden in the Jimmy V Classic. The Hoosiers did not have a player reach double figures for the first time in more than 20 years, but 10 players scored and six finished with six points or more. Though Indiana lost at home to Nebraska last season, this group of Cornhuskers is a much different team. Under new coach Fred Hoiberg and with a revamped roster, Nebraska has struggled through its non-conference schedule and dropped three of its last four games, including a 95-76 loss to in-state opponent Creighton on Dec. 7.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network

ABOUT NEBRASKA (4-5, 0-0 Big Ten): Senior Haanif Cheatham leads the Cornhuskers in scoring (12.6 points per game) and rebounding (5.2 per game) while shooting 57.3 percent from the field after he posted a team-best 14 points in the loss to Creighton. Despite returning 50 points from last year - the lowest total for a power conference team since the 2009-10 season, Nebraska has four players averaging in double figures. Where Nebraska has really struggled badly is at the free throw line, shooting 56 percent (347th of 350 Division I teams), and on the boards, outrebounded by an average of 12 per game (second-to-last nationally).

ABOUT INDIANA (9-1, 1-1): The matchup with Nebraska is one of three games remaining in December for the Hoosiers, who have a week off after Friday's game before taking on Notre Dame in the Crossroads Classic on Dec. 21 in Indianapolis, and they want to avoid falling to 0-2 in the Big Ten. Through the first month of the season, Indiana had one of the highest-scoring teams in the nation, but in three of the last four games the Hoosiers have been held to 64 or fewer points. They're hoping that the return of point guard Rob Phinisee, who played 13 minutes against UConn and made two key free throws with 19 seconds left, will provide stability in the backcourt and help jump-start the offense.

TIP-INS

1. Indiana F Joey Brunk scored two points in the Dec. 7 loss to Wisconsin and was held scoreless in the first half against UConn before delivering all nine of his points in the second half to lead the Hoosiers.

2. Indiana G Devonte Green, slowed by a hamstring injury early in the season, made his first start against UConn and scored six points on 2-of-10 shooting from the field, but remains the team's second leading scorer at 13.6 points per game behind freshman Trayce Jackson-Davis (14.1).

3. Nebraska faces a quick turnaround after Friday's game at Indiana, returning home to meet Purdue on Sunday.

PREDICTION: Indiana 88, Nebraska 65