As witnessed across sports or other spectrums, it’s clear America is living in the upside down.
Speaking to the former, the most shocking development: Perennial football doormats are now powerhouses.
See Indiana.
Led by its Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza, the least winningest Power Four team in college football history is one game away from pulling off the unthinkable -- a national title. What a pipe dream. What a trip. What an underdog season.
On the hardwood, a school with similar characteristics has emerged.
Nebraska, a team that’s never won a NCAA Tournament game and has only punched a Big Dance ticket eight times in school history, remains undefeated in mid-January. Atop the Big Ten at 5-0 and with key road wins against Illinois, Ohio State and -- appropriately -- Indiana under its belt, the leviathan from Lincoln has surfaced and carved a completely unforeseen path.
If a hoops comparison to Curt Cignetti’s Hoosiers exists, it's undoubtedly Fred Hoiberg’s ‘Huskers.
Look past the name emblazoned across jersey chests, Nebrasketball -- once a punchline inside Pinnacle Bank -- demands to be taken seriously.
Here's why Jamarques Lawrence and cohorts' Cinderella Story has a real chance to continue:
Stiff defense. Controlling the baseline with established pack-line elements is the crux of Nebraska's guarding scheme. It closes quickly, limits creative drives and rotates effectively. Through 16 games, the 'Huskers rank No. 31 in effective field-goal percentage defense, allowing only 46.6% from two and 30.7% from three. Also blessed with active hands, they've forced a turnover on nearly 19% of opponent possessions. Overall, giving up only 0.965 points per possession, their ability to contest shots is a major selling point.
Well-oiled offense. A gunner's mentality is necessary when running a five-out offense and Hoiberg has a number of quick triggers. Screens, swing passes, and spacing are hallmarks of the Nebraska system. The 'Huskers regularly create uncontested outside looks along with exploitable lanes on dribble drives. That constant movement makes them downright deadly scoring the rock.
Speaking specifically to equalizers, over 50% of their shots come from distance where 39% of their points are scored. No surprise, they're also top-15 nationally in assists to field goals made and top-35 in overall points per possession (1.206). Add in their comfort level playing at variable paces and they have few, if any, flaws on offense. Simply, they can fill up the cup inside or out.
Steely resolve. On brand for an older team (No. 26 in D-1 experience on KenPom), Nebraska is unblemished, winning games in Lincoln, on the road and in neutral environments. Their most recent triumph over Indiana in Bloomington was one of their most impressive. Down considerably early in the second half, they erased a 14-point deficit. At that juncture, they only had a 6.0% percent chance of stealing a W per KenPom. A "never say die" attitude separates the 'Huskers from most clubs. Again, having a battle-tested mentality is invaluable -- especially come March.
With key matchups against at Michigan and at Iowa and home tilts versus Illinois and Purdue remaining, it's unlikely Nebraska's undefeated streak will endure. Still, the likely high NCAA Tournament seed -- it's projected to finish 13-4 in Quad 1 games according to BartTorvik -- isn't one to immediately dismiss. Placing a little action on Eric Piatkowski U to make a deep March run isn't the THC drinks talking. Currently Hoiberg's boys are +800 to win the Big Ten (BetMGM), +900 to make the Final Four (DraftKings) and +5000 to win the whole shebang (BetMGM).
In a world where unpredictability reigns supreme, Nebraska might just be another Red and White team bound to blow doubter minds.