Huskers Meet Media in Louisville

Louisville - Nebraska Coach Amy Williams along with All-Big Ten guards Sam Haiby and Jaz Shelley met the media in the NCAA First Round press conference at the KFC Yum! Center on Thursday morning.

Williams, who led Nebraska to a No. 8 seed in the 2022 NCAA Tournament with a 24-8 record, said the strength of the Big Ten Conference has prepared the Huskers well for the postseason.

"I think the Big Ten this year, top to bottom, was incredibly competitive," Williams said. "The 18-game Big Ten schedule just is a grind, and for us to make a little run in the conference tournament and knock off Michigan, get to the semifinal game, I think built some confidence for our team. It has sharpened us up and prepared us for hopefully what we're going to face here in the NCAA Tournament."

Williams said she has great respect for the balance and experience of the No. 9 seed Gonzaga Bulldogs (26-6), who the Huskers will face on Friday afternoon in Louisville.

"I also have a ton of respect for when I look at their roster, it's senior, senior, senior, senior, junior, junior, a very heavy experienced roster," Williams said. "We have a couple freshmen in our starting lineup and so something that we know that when you watch film and you see a team that's not being rattled, that's continuing to play with poise, that's generally due to some experience, and I think that's something that stands out when we have been preparing for them."

Tip-off between Nebraska and Gonzaga is set for 2:30 p.m. (CT) at the KFC Yum! Center, with live television coverage provided by ESPN News.