The Battle for the Crown: UCF or Nebraska in College Basketball Final?
The Nebraska Cornhuskers men’s basketball team is ranked 12th in the Big Ten Conference, while UCF is ranked 12th in the Big 12 Conference. Both teams are finding opportunities to score and climb the rankings. Each team is on a three-game winning streak, working their way up the bracket. Nebraska came out strong with a big lead over UCF, playing their hearts out and knocking down three-point shots. On the defensive end, Nebraska was rebounding well, excelling in transition, and effectively running their plays UCF couldn’t keep up. Brice Williams was hitting mid-range shots, if he gets the ball, he’ll find a way past defenders to get his shot off.
UCF continued with fast breaks to shift momentum and put points on the board during the transition, which worked at times. However, when doing that, you need to know your shooters on defense to make the right plays. UCF showcased a beautiful offense against Nebraska, making crisp passes and executing well. Brice Williams made it his mission to help Nebraska secure the win. He read the defense, reacted with poise, and maintained his pace on the court. His teammates fed off his energy to make smart plays. Moustapha Thiam stood out as a strong young leader for UCF, making key blocks and grabbing rebounds. His team needs to keep feeding him to maintain momentum against Nebraska.
Jordan Ivy-Curry also stepped up for UCF, picking up the slack and scoring significantly in place of Darius Johnson, their leading scorer, who is recovering from a hamstring injury. Johnson tried to play through it, but a hamstring issue is tough to overcome. Williams, Nebraska’s mid-range shooter, was unstoppable for UCF. He could dribble through any transition. Dallan Coleman, one of UCF’s captains, exploded on a fast break all the way to the glass like Speedy Gonzales, and Nebraska couldn’t stop him once he took off. Brice then swung the ball to Juwan Gary, who made a huge play and forced UCF to call a timeout. The College Basketball Crown Championship game was a battle. UCF fought hard, but Nebraska was relentless and wouldn’t let them take the lead despite several comeback attempts. Nebraska’s defense was so tight that UCF struggled to attack or generate steals. In the end, Nebraska claimed the College Basketball Crown with a final score of 77–66.
