Notebook: Containing Nebraska’s shooters, pushing Lendeborg to another level

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With two top-10 matchups on the docket, Michigan has its most important week of the season yet. The Wolverines, No. 7 Nebraska, and No. 10 Michigan State make up three of the four teams remaining with one loss or no losses in Big Ten play.

Ahead of the pivotal week, Michigan coach Dusty May spoke to the media and emphasized his focus on Tuesday’s meeting with the Cornhuskers and not looking too far ahead to Friday in the Breslin Center. May also discussed graduate forward Yaxel Lendeborg’s higher gear and the Wolverines’ room to grow on the offensive glass and from the free throw line.

Previewing the undefeated Huskers

The Cornhuskers are 20-0 for the first time ever and sit atop the usual suspects — Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue and Illinois — in the conference standings. May clearly has a ton of respect for the job Fred Hoiberg has done turning around Nebraska.

“You factor in Berke (Büyüktuncel) from UCLA, Rienk Mast,” May said. “Nebraska was on the verge last year of having a team that could advance in (the) NCAA Tournament, and with (Mast) they would have.”

Mast, who missed all of last season after knee surgery, and Büyüktuncel are the Cornhuskers’ starting bigs. Each at 6-foot-10, they won’t be completely overwhelmed by Wolverines center Aday Mara and forward Morez Johnson Jr. But they are extremely threatening to Michigan, because they allow Nebraska to stretch the floor one through five.

“I think they might be number one in the country in transition 3-point shots,” May said. “So they don’t really slow it down. Once they get into the half court, they cut well, they space the floor. The biggest challenge is with our size and ability to protect the rim, they play a five-out style. So if you run back to the paint in transition defense, you’re going to be looking around trying to find someone to guard, and we’re going to be off balance all night.”