Nebraska Cornhuskers: A Different Kind of Spotlight

When you think about sports, it’s important not to be remembered for the wrong reasons. Take the Nebraska Cornhuskers basketball team, for instance.

They have a well-known head coach, Fred Hoiberg, and a catchy nickname—Nebraskeball! But if you ask most college basketball fans about the program, they’ll likely mention that Nebraska is the only power conference team yet to win a game in the NCAA Tournament.

That’s a tough reputation to carry.

And it’s not like they’ve been losing by a hair—this isn’t a case of “so close yet so far.”

Nebraska has only made it to the NCAA Tournament eight times. Their best performance was a first-round upset where they lost to No. 14 seed Xavier by just five points in 1991. Of all the teams, the No. 3 seed Nebraska team is the only one to have done better than a No. 6 seed in March Madness. Despite starting their program in 1896, they’ve only snagged seven regular season conference championships, with the last one way back in 1950. The only conference tournament title they have? A surprise run through the Big Eight in 1994.

But right now, Nebraska fans want to share some good news.

The No. 10 Cornhuskers stand at 15-0, making them one of only six unbeaten teams in college basketball. They are proud to claim the longest active winning streak in the nation at 19 games. Plus, they’re excited that for the first time ever, they won a game as a top-10 team in the AP poll after going 4-0 in the Big Ten. It’s been a long time since they’ve been in this position—since March 1, 1966.

For the people in Lincoln, this is something to celebrate.

Yet for those outside the community, it raises questions.

Can they really sustain this level of performance?

Is this the year things change?

Should every college basketball fan consider cheering for Nebraska, at least temporarily?

While predictive metrics may not paint the rosiest picture—sitting 20th on KenPom and 21st on Bart Torvik—Nebraska’s overall performance looks solid right now. Their non-conference schedule wasn’t killer, but they did secure wins against teams like Oklahoma State, Kansas State, New Mexico State, and Creighton without much of a struggle.

But it was during conference play that the Huskers really began to shine.

Opening with a 30-point victory over the University of Wisconsin, they later pulled off an impressive 83-80 upset against the then-No. 1 Wisconsin. Last week, they faced a tough Michigan State and won 58-56, followed by a close win against Ohio State, finishing at 72-69. This weekend, they’re expected to be underdogs again as they head to Indiana.

What led to Hoiberg’s ability to transform a past powerhouse into this rising contender?

Well, they carried some momentum into this season after a tough first-round loss in the 2024 NCAA Tournament and a solid 21 wins last year. Hoiberg seems to have created a great blend of returning players and impactful newcomers.

Big man Lienk Mast, now in his second year with the team, is having his strongest season despite a knee injury. He’s averaging 16.3 points and made crucial plays in their emotional win over Michigan State. Coach Hoiberg’s son, Sam, a senior, has made significant strides, and former Iowa State player Price Sandfort brings offensive talent that lights up the court. Jamarquez Lawrence, returning to Nebraska after a stint at Rhode Island, adds much-needed consistency, while redshirt freshman Braden Frager, undervalued by rankings, has had a noticeable impact.

All these factors have combined to form a competent team. They may not excel in every aspect, but they’ve managed to go 15-0 thus far.

“They were professional,” said Fred Hoiberg following their win in Columbus. “The biggest compliment I can give them is that no one is getting too high or too low. Great teams find ways to win.” He emphasizes that they still have a lot of work ahead, particularly as they approach the halfway mark of the season.

Hoiberg may not want to acknowledge it, but everyone around the program knows—this second half of the season could be historic for the Huskers. The fans, consistently ranked in the top 15 in home viewership over the last 12 years, long for something to celebrate, even if it’s not as glamorous as other teams’ highlights.

The challenges facing Cornhusker basketball are reminiscent of those faced by Indiana football, all while Nebraska’s football struggles to regain its former glory. It feels like, regardless of tradition, it’s all about what a team can accomplish now.

What does Nebulasketball mean? For now, it will likely be defined by that combination of teamwork and defensive strength that could finally lead them to do what no other Cornhusker team has achieved before.

It might be a gamble, but perhaps this is the year to really believe.