WTKA Roundtable 1/29/2026: Regarding Fred Hoiberg's Laurels

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Jan 29, 2026

Tactical breakdown of a chippy Nebraska game and how clever play designs created open twos. A deep dive into two-point distance and why getting to the rim wins games. Praise for Nebraska’s gritty execution and late-game fatigue from heavy minutes. Preview of a physical Michigan State matchup and the guard duel that could decide it.

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INSIGHT

Two-Point Distance Is The Key Stat

Michigan's two-point game (distance and defense) is the decisive metric for their success.
KenPom's two-point distance tracking shows Michigan gets to the rim closer than almost anyone and protects the rim superbly.

INSIGHT

Tactical Game Plan Tilted The Floor

Fred Hoiberg deployed deliberate screen-heavy sets to exploit Michigan's switching scheme.
Those tactical counters opened free threes and rim chances early and are why Nebraska looked dangerous despite a thin roster.

ADVICE

Fight Through Screens With Intensity

Play attached through continuous screens and match opponent intensity against teams running constant double-screen actions.
Fight through screens with physicality and communication to avoid giving up open catch-and-shoot looks.

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Things Discussed:

Nebraska: Nearly won that game shorthanded. Got great performances from replacements but ran their starters into the ground.
Craig's analysis: Hoiberg decided to play some football. Steamroller screens and the like. Nebraska just made contested threes in the first half that they missed in the second half. Sam Hoiberg is straight up good: understands basketball, understands how to organize a team, understands how to get the ball to his guys. Second half Michigan did press the press the edges a little tighter.
Kenpom tracks 2 point distance. We're thrilled. Seth: The most important stats in basketball are two-point defense and two-point offense, and the most important component of two point percentage is distance from the rim.
Michigan wins these games because they get to the rim better than anybody and push you away from the rim better than anybody. Hoiberg knew he had to shoot to win, but also drew up some excellent sets to get free twos when he needed them.
Shout-out to Nebraska's Max Bredeson kickout and form tackling.
Hoiberg messed so well with Michigan's switches: They want to switch one to four, and they want to leave Mara available to put his hand in the way at the rim. Nebraska's response was to run these double screens—the Rip Hamilton way—to get cracks open for their shooters, but that contributed to their shooters getting tired in the 2nd half.
Turnovers: some are baked in, unforced. This game additionally had ref show turnovers but they're going to take chances to get to the rim because that's what's so important to them.
MSU preview: They're such a Big Ten team. They can get around M's two-point defense because they shoot assisted other twos and those are good enough shots opposite the #1 defense. They get after you (not the ball: they jump on your back) on the boards. Kohler has really turned himself into a shooter, might be an NBA player. Fears was terrible early in the season but now he's an excellent guard. Gets after it (and you) on defense, isn't a great shooter but can find pockets to pass into and draws a ton of fouls then makes his FTs. Coen Carr = Brent Petway!
MSU is going to play dirty. Nobody in the country gets better calls at home, and they are going to use that strategically. Expect them to be mauling Mara to deny paint touches, expect Cooper to have his arm wrapped on Rez and pulling him down. All the gritty trick that define Izzo teams.
What's with Yax? Think he's drawing more defensive attention and that's creating more for Morez Johnson. That's a credit to Dusty May: when he built this roster he built in answers for everything you want to do to them.
Credit to Trey McKenney. He's become the 6th man, because he will come in and give you whatever you need right then. Defense? He's big and athletic. Need to hit some free throws (vs OSU, or the three at the Under-8 timeout?) he's got you. Missing your threes, he'll knock down a pair.