A big chunk of Nebraska’s 2021-22 schedule came into focus on Thursday as the Big Ten released its conference game pairings.
#B1G pairings for next season are locked in.
Let's work. pic.twitter.com/PP1ChwR04Q
— Nebraska Basketball (@HuskerHoops) May 13, 2021
Nebraska will play seven teams both at home and on the road: Indiana (12-15, 7-19 Big Ten in 2020-21), Iowa (22-9, 14-6), Michigan (23-5, 14-3), Northwestern (9-15, 6-13), Ohio State (21-20, 12-8), Rutgers (16-12, 10-10) and Wisconsin (18-13, 10-10).
The Huskers will host Illinois (24-7, 16-4), Maryland (17-14, 9-11) and Minnesota (14-15, 6-14) and will visit Michigan State (15-13,9-11), Penn State (11-14, 7-12) and Purdue (18-10, 13-6).
Iowa, Michigan, Ohio State, Rutgers, Wisconsin, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan State and Purdue all qualified for the 2021 NCAA Tournament, which means 14 of Nebraska’s 20 conference games will be against tournament teams from a season ago.
Michigan, who won the league’s regular season title, is losing three starters but will return star freshman Hunter Dickinson and add the Big Ten’s best recruiting class featuring two 5-star and three 4-star recruits.
Illinois, who won the conference tournament title, will lose star guard Ayo Dosunmu to the NBA Draft and star sophomore Kofi Cockburn has entered the draft as well, though he has left a return to school on the table. Adam Miller, the freshman guard who started every game, has transferred to Auburn, though senior Trent Frazier has opted to return for a fifth year of eligibility.
Iowa center Luka Garza, who took home Big Ten Player of the Year honors and also swept the national player of the year awards, is going pro rather than using his extra year of eligibility.
Indiana, Minnesota and Penn State all made coaching changes following the season as Mike Woodson, Ben Johnson and Micah Shrewsberry replaced Archie Miller, Richard Pitino and interim Jim Ferry, respectively.
Nebraska went 7-20 overall including 3-16 in Big Ten play last season with the wins coming against Penn State, Minnesota and Rutgers. The Huskers will return four starters plus Kobe Webster as a returning senior and will add the best recruiting class in school history headlined by 5-star guard Bryce McGowens.
