These position-by-position battles will decide a victor in the long-awaited meeting of No. 7 Nebraska men's basketball at No. 3 Michigan on Tuesday night. Staff Writer Wilson Moore breaks them down.
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Photos: Nebraska men's basketball hosts Washington
Nebraska's Rienk Mast (51), Washington's Hannes Steinbach (6) and Nebraska's Sam Hoiberg (1) go up for the rebound during the first half of a college men's basketball game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026.
Nebraska's head coach Fred Hoiberg watches on during the first half of a college men's basketball game against Washington at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026.
Nebraska's Jamarques Lawrence (10) is guarded by Washington's Hannes Steinbach (6) during the first half of a college men's basketball game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026.
Fans watch on during the first half of a college men's basketball game between Nebraska and Washington at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026.
Nebraska's Sam Hoiberg (1) goes up for a layup during the first half of a college men's basketball game against Washington at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026.
Washington's Hannes Steinbach (6) and Nebraska's Berke Büyüktuncel (9) reach out for the rebound during the first half of a college men's basketball game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026.
Washington's head coach Danny Sprinkle watches on during the first half of a college men's basketball game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026.
Nebraska's Sam Hoiberg (1) motions for a screen as he is guarded by Washington's Courtland Muldrew (30) during the first half of a college men's basketball game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026.
Nebraska's Sam Hoiberg (1) is guarded by Washington's Franck Kepnang (11) during the first half of a college men's basketball game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026.
Nebraska's Rienk Mast (51) drives to the net against Washington's Zoom Diallo (5) during the first half of a college men's basketball game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026.
Nebraska's Sam Hoiberg (1) and Washington's Hannes Steinbach (6) wrestle for the ball during the first half of a college men's basketball game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026.
Washington's Bryson Tucker (8) goes up for a shot above Nebraska's Jared Garcia (15) during the first half of a college men's basketball game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026.
Washington's Bryson Tucker (8) goes up for a shot against Nebraska's Jared Garcia (15) during the first half of a college men's basketball game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026.
Washington's Zoom Diallo (5) motions to the Nebraska bench after a 3-pointer against Nebraska during the first half of a college men's basketball game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026.
Nebraska's Berke Büyüktuncel (9) reacts after a foul during the first half of a college men's basketball game against Washington at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026.
Nebraska's Jamarques Lawrence (10) celebrates as he walks off the court after defeating Washington, 76-66, at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026.
Nebraska's Jamarques Lawrence (10) guards Washington's Zoom Diallo (5) during the second half of a college men's basketball game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026.
Nebraska's Jamarques Lawrence (10) goes up for a 3-pointer during the second half of a college men's basketball game against Washington at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026.
Nebraska's Jared Garcia (15) goes up for a shot against Washington's Jacob Ognacevic (41) and Quimari Peterson (0) during the second half of a college men's basketball game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026.
Nebraska's Jared Garcia (15) goes up for a shot against Washington's Quimari Peterson (0) during the second half of a college men's basketball game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026.
Nebraska's Sam Hoiberg (1) dribbles against Washington's Hannes Steinbach (6) during the second half of a college men's basketball game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026.
Nebraska's Sam Hoiberg (1) goes up for a 3-pointer against Washington's Hannes Steinbach (6) during the second half of a college men's basketball game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026.
Nebraska's Cale Jacobsen (31) dribbles the ball during the second half of a college men's basketball game against Washington at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026.
Washington's Quimari Peterson (0) and Zoom Diallo (5) box out Nebraska's Cale Jacobsen (31) during the second half of a college men's basketball game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026.
Nebraska's head coach Fred Hoiberg reacts during the second half of a college men's basketball game against Washington at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026.
Washington's Courtland Muldrew (30) goes up for a layup against Nebraska's Kendall Blue (2) during the second half of a college men's basketball game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026.
Nebraska's head coach Fred Hoiberg watches on during the second half of a college men's basketball game against Washington at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026.
Nebraska's Cale Jacobsen (31) goes up for a 3-pointer against Washington's Zoom Diallo (5) during the second half of a college men's basketball game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026.
Nebraska's Rienk Mast (51) and Washington's Hannes Steinbach (6) go up for the rebound during the second half of a college men's basketball game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026.
Nebraska's Sam Hoiberg (1) and Washington's Hannes Steinbach (6) wrestle for control of the ball during the second half of a college men's basketball game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026.
Washington's Bryson Tucker (8) goes up for a 3-pointer during the second half of a college men's basketball game against Nebraska at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026.
Nebraska's Rienk Mast (51) looks to pass against Washington's Quimari Peterson (0) during the second half of a college men's basketball game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026.
