20.12.2022

Queens @ Nebraska Game Preview and Pick: Back the Cover Machine in Queens

Queens University has been quite the story this season in college basketball. In their first year at the Divison 1 level, the Royals have already come up with nine wins and will look to continue that success tonight against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. We’ll preview the game and go over my best bet for the action as well.

Game Preview

It did not take long for the Queens University Royals to get adjusted to the division one level on the offensive end. The Royals have been able to put up an offensive efficiency rating of 105.7, which is 99th in the country, according to KenPom. Kenny Dye has been leading the way on the offensive end averaging 17.5 points and 4.2 assists per game so far this season.

The Royals have also been a solid offensive-rebounding team as well, averaging 11.1 offensive rebounds per game and putting up an offensive-rebounding percentage of 34.8%.

The only problem the Royals have is their defense which has not quite been up to par with their offensive numbers. Queens is allowing an average of 71.9 points per game and has only been able to force an average of 10.5 turnovers per game, ranked 335th in the country.

Queens’ opponent tonight, the Nebraska Cornhuskers, has not quite been the most effective offensive team in the country. Nebraska is 124th in the country in offensive efficiency, according to KenPom, and they are averaging just 67.7 points per game. The Cornhuskers have only managed to put up an effective field goal percentage of 49.4% and are shooting just 30% from three-point range. Derrick Walker is the Cornhuskers leading scorer, but he was held to just seven points in their most recent loss.

The (6-6) Cornhuskers have been a much better defensive team this season, entering tonight ranked 65th in defensive efficiency on KenPom and holding opponents to an average of 66 points per game. Nebraska held a good offensive team in Creighton to just 53 points in what could be considered their best win of the season so far.

Pick for the Game

The Queens Royals are 7-1 ATS on the season and 5-1 ATS when underdogs, so I’ll be backing them tonight as +13 point underdogs. Nebraska is 5-7 ATS this year, and I think they’re getting too many points in this one.

Queens has the offensive ability to stay in the game, especially with the lack of scoring the Huskers have been producing. The Royals have only scored below 70 points once this season, and they were able to knock down 13 three-pointers in their most recent win. Nebraska has allowed opponents to make an average of 8.3 three-pointers a game, so if the Royals can continue their solid shooting, they can make this a game.

If the Royals can shoot it well tonight, I don’t think the Cornhuskers have the offensive ability to put them away by double digits. Nebraska has only managed to score 65 or more points in three games this season and has been unable to find any consistency in shooting the ball. In their most recent game, the Huskers shot 19% from three in their 15-point loss to Kansas State.

Queens can remain a covering machine tonight, even on the road against a Big Ten opponent.