The set-up: The 16th-ranked Indiana Hoosiers were 10-2 in non-conference play and begin defense of their Big Ten regular-season championship on Wednesday when 6-6 Nebraska visits Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. The Hoosiers have breezed through their non-conference home schedule unblemished with nine victories by an average of 30.8 PPG and the school's 26-game home winning streak represents the fifth-longest streak in program history and fourth best among active streaks in the country.Meanwhile, the Cornhuskers have lost both of their road games, 89-72 at No. 3 Kansas and 60-58 at Clemson.

Nebraska: The Cornhuskers knew they would lose swingman and leading scorer Shields (16.8) this year but when Andrew White (16.6) decide to play his final season at Syracuse, as a graduate transfer, Tim Miles' team took a big hit. Miles got Nebraska to the NCAA tourney in his second season at the school but these last two years, Nebraska has won just 13 and 16 games. Four-year starter. 6-4 combo guard Tai Webster (17.0-5,1-4.0) is the team's best player. Glynn Watson Jr. ranks second on the team in scoring (12.6) and the only other playe in double digits is the 6-7 Morrow (10.3 & 8.4). Nebraska will have to find a way to slow down the Hoosiers, who average 88.8 PPG (10th) on 51.9% shooting (5th), as the Cornhuskers don't score much (PPG).

Indiana: The Hoosiers are again one of the nation's most explosive offenses, starting three guards, led by Blackmon 18.5 & 5.4), who is joined by Johnson (13.8) and PG Newkirk (7.8 & 3.8 APG). Up front, it's the 6-8 Anunoby (12.0 & 6.3) and 6-10 center Bryant (12.0 & 7.8). The Hoosiers are shooting .401 from 3-point range (117 of 292), making an average of 9.75 3-pointers per game. Indiana is also a strong defensive club, holding opponents to 66.0 PPG.

The pick: The Hoosiers swept the Cornhuskers last season with a pair of double-digit victories but the play here is to take the points with Nebraska. The Cornhuskers are a 10* play.