Coatney's Call: Michigan State & Illinois Preview

#19 Nebraska at Michigan State
Thursday, Jan. 8, 7:30 p.m. (central)
Breslin Center (East Lansing, Mich.)
TV: BTN (Lisa Byington, Stephanie White)
Radio: Husker Sports Network (Matt Coatney-PBP; Jeff Griesch-Analyst)
107.3 FM, Lincoln; 93.3 FM, Omaha; 1450 AM, Beatrice; 102.1 FM, McCook; 94.1 FM, Scottsbluff; 1230 AM, Hastings 
Internet: Free live audio on Huskers.com

#19 Nebraska at Illinois
Sunday, Jan. 11, 2 p.m. (central)
State Farm Center (Champaign, Ill.)
Live Video: BTN Plus
Radio: Husker Sports Network (Matt Coatney-PBP; Jeff Griesch-Analyst)
107.3 FM, Lincoln; 93.3 FM, Omaha; 1450 AM, Beatrice; 93.9 FM, McCook; 94.1 FM, Scottsbluff; 1230 AM, Hastings 105.5 FM, Fremont; 1400 AM, Ainsworth 
Internet: Free live audio on Huskers.com

No. 19 Huskers Head on Two-Game Road Trip to Michigan State, Illinois
Sometimes in life, you have to have a short memory. Amnesia is a much-needed tonic for the Nebraska women’s basketball team after losing 75-47 to Maryland last Saturday afternoon. The game was tied at 27 at the half, before the Terrapins - the preseason pick to win the Big Ten Conference - ran away with it in the second half.

Next up for the Huskers is a two-game road trip. NU heads to East Lansing to face Michigan State in a 7:30 p.m. (central) matchup Thursday that will be nationally-televised on Big Ten Network. The Huskers then head to Champaign to face Illinois Sunday at 2 p.m. 

Michigan State shared the Big Ten regular-season title last year with Penn State, but the Spartans have struggled to an 8-6 record this year. MSU is 0-3 to start league play for the first time since the 2001-02 season. The Spartans fell 74-65 at Michigan Sunday afternoon, just MSU’s third loss in the last 27 meetings with the Wolverines.

Michigan State has been without three players who were counted on to be significant contributors this season. Senior center Madison Williams has been out with a knee injury. Redshirt sophomore guard Branndais Agee suffered a torn ACL injury this past fall and has not played this season. Senior center Jasmine Hines has missed six of the last seven games due to a concussion.

Like Nebraska, the Spartans also had to deal with several of their players missing time due to the flu. In a 61-57 loss to Northwestern in the Big Ten opener, MSU had three starters battling illness and their top reserve out. The Spartans struggled on the road at Indiana, losing their second league game 70-51 on Dec. 31.

MSU, which came into that game ranked 10th nationally in rebound margin, was outrebounded 49-34 by the Hoosiers, including 15-6 on the offensive glass.

Michigan State is led by 6-0 redshirt sophomore wing Aerial Powers. She is the only player in the Big Ten to lead the team in scoring, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks. She has 10 double-doubles on the season, tied for first in the Big Ten and tied for second in the NCAA. Powers is a candidate for the Wooden and Naismith National Player-of-the-Year awards. In the loss at Michigan Sunday, Powers posted her 11th double-double of the season and 21st of her career with 26 points and 10 rebounds. She hit a career-high four three pointers, going 4-for-7 from beyond the arc. Powers averages 19.3 points and 11.9 rebounds per game.

Tori Jankoska, a 5-8 sophomore guard, has knocked down a team-leading 28 three-pointers and adds 18.2 points per game. Senior Becca Mills, a 6-4 forward, eclipsed the 1,000 career-point plateau Sunday at Michigan. She averages 10.2 points and 6.9 rebounds.

MSU has used the same starting lineup for all 13 games this season and it has included 6-0 true freshman guard Jasmine Lumpkin (5.9 ppg) and 5-10 senior guard Anna Morrissey. A former walk-on, Morrissey had never played more than 39 minutes in a single season her first three years at MSU. She is tied for second on the team in minutes per game (32.9) and adds 5.6 points per game.

Eighth-year Spartan Head Coach Suzy Merchant has led Michigan State to two Big Ten regular-season titles and MSU has advanced to six straight NCAA Tournaments.

Nebraska has won two straight games against MSU, and the Huskers lead the all-time series 3-2. NU blew out Michigan State 76-56 on Feb. 8, 2014 in Lincoln and then dominated the Spartans in an 86-58 win in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals in Indianapolis one month later.

Allie Havers came off the bench with All-American Jordan Hooper in foul trouble and scored a career-high 17 points to help spark the Huskers to the win to advance to the tournament championship game. Nebraska is 0-2 all-time at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

Nebraska heads to Illinois for the Fighting Illini's annual “Pack the House” game Sunday at 2 p.m. (central). Illinois (10-4) has already surpassed its win total for 2013-14 and posted the school's best non-conference record (9-3) in eight years.

The Illini lost their Big Ten opener at home 66-52 to Purdue before getting a 91-76 road win at Penn State Sunday afternoon. The victory over the Lady Lions was Illinois’ first in State College since 1998.

Known for Coach Matt Bollant’s ‘Buzz’ defense, the Illini rank in the top 25 nationally in turnover margin (+6.0). The Illini face Iowa in Champaign Thursday night.

Senior Ivory Crawford is an athletic wing who is disruptive and is tied for the team lead with 35 steals. Offensively, the 5-10 guard leads the team in scoring (17.0 ppg). She had 22 points, 18 in the second half, in the win at Penn State.

Shelby, Neb., native Chatrice White is having a solid freshman season for the Illini. The 6-3 center leads the team in blocked shots and rebounds (7.2 rpg) and ranks second on the team in scoring (15.1 ppg).

Jacqui Grant, a 6-3 sophomore forward, had a career-high 29 points at Penn State. She hit a career-high five three-pointers (5-of-9) after entering the game 5-of-30 from beyond the arc this season. Grant averages 10.1 points per game.

Senior Brittany Carter graduated from Ball State in only three years and became immediately eligible when she enrolled at Illinois this summer. The 6-0 guard has started every game this season and averages 7.6 points per game.

Kyley Simmons, a 5-7 junior guard, rounds out the Illinois probable starting lineup. She has started all 13 games she’s played in this year. She started 58 games in two seasons at Missouri before sitting out 2013-14 as a transfer to Illinois. Simmons leads the team in three-pointers and assists and adds 9.4 points per game.

Bollant is in his third season as the Illini head coach after spending five seasons leading Green Bay.

Nebraska swept the season series with Illinois last season and leads the all-time series 6-3. The Huskers are 2-0 in Champaign since joining the Big Ten Conference.

I cordially invite you to join Jeff Griesch and me for Nebraska women’s basketball on the Husker Sports Network. Our radio broadcast Thursday night at Michigan State begins with the pre-game show at 7:15 p.m. (central) with the tip-off scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on the Husker Sports Network including KBBK (B107.3) in Lincoln, KFFF 93.3 in Omaha, KWBE 1450 in Beatrice, KZMC 102.1 in McCook, KNEB 94.1 in Scottsbluff, KHAS 1230 in Hastings and many others. Sunday’s game at Illinois begins with the pre-game show at 1:45 p.m. with the tip-off scheduled at 2 p.m. on KBBK (B107.3) in Lincoln, KFFF 93.3 in Omaha, KWBE 1450 in Beatrice, KSWN 93.9 in McCook, KFMT 105.5 in Fremont, KNEB 94.1 in Scottsbluff, KHAS 1230 in Hastings, KBRB 1400 in Ainsworth and many others. Sunday’s game can also be heard on your computer, tablet or smart phone on the TuneIn App. Just search for “Husker IMG Sports Network.”

All Husker women’s basketball broadcasts are also available for free worldwide on the internet at www.huskers.com. I hope you can join us.

There are a number of ways to get enhanced information about our broadcast and Husker Women’s Basketball via social media. You can learn more about the team on the Nebraska Women’s Basketball Facebook page or follow the team on their official Twitter page @huskerswbb. I also invite you to friend me on Facebook (Matt Coatney) or follow me on Twitter @coatman1.

Go Big Red!

Matt