The University of Nebraska men’s basketball team’s historic run came to an end on March 26. The team, which went 28-7, racked up the most wins in school history and finished tied for second in the Big Ten conference at 15-5, along with Illinois and Michigan State.
The team first made history by starting the season with a 20-game win streak, breaking the previous school record of 10 set in the 1977-78 season. Nebraska also achieved the highest ranking of any school in the state later in the season, being ranked fifth in the country on Jan. 25. They would ultimately lose to third-ranked Michigan, 75-72, on Jan. 27, ending the streak, but finished the regular season strong.
Cornhusker success continued to the postseason, making the NCAA tournament in the West region as a No. 4 seed. In the round of 64, the team finally won the first tournament game in school history on March 19 76-47 over 14-seed Troy.
“It’s almost like a storybook ending getting this tournament win, because I’ve been saying all week it kind of felt like the last thing that we needed to do to get this program on top,” senior guard Sam Hoiberg told Husker247 following the win.
The Huskers shocked the nation once again on March 21, beating 5-seed Vanderbilt 74-72 in a thrilling buzzer-beater. Surviving the round of 32, the team moved on to the Sweet 16 for the first time in Nebraska history. On March 26, in the Sweet 16 game versus rival 9-seed Iowa, Nebraska fell 77-71 to end an historic season.
“This one hurt,” junior forward Pryce Sandfort said following the loss.
“The end of the season may not have been what everyone wanted, but that does not dismiss the history made this season,” said Isabel Hoiberg, a 2024 graduate of Central and Head Coach Fred Hoiberg’s niece.
The basketball team’s success has only increased under Fred Hoiberg, who finished his seventh season with the Huskers and was named the Associated Press National Coach of the Year. He also won Big Ten Coach of the Year and signed a three-year extension with Nebraskain March.
“Seeing his success made this season even more sweet,” Isabel Hoiberg said.
The Huskers had many standout players, but seniors particularly powered their success. Senior forward Rienk Mast, who is from the Netherlands, led the team in rebounds per game at 5.8. He also scored 13.3 points per game. Guard Jamarques Lawrence averaged 9.8 points per game and was key to the offense.
Sam Hoiberg, Isabel Hoiberg’s cousin and Fred Hoiberg’s son, led the team in assists and steals per game, at 4.5 and 2, respectively.
“This season has meant so much, especially to Sam,” Isabel Hoiberg said.
Perhaps the team’s star player, though, was Sandfort, who transferred from Iowa this year and led the Huskers in points per game with 18.1.
“It is clear the Huskers got a clear-eyed assassin — a deadly hired gun with a quick draw, a willingness to fire from anywhere and the ability to shut out everything and everyone while on the basketball court,” Nebraska sports commentator Mike Schaefer said in an article about Sandfort.
Sandfort was lights out from the three-point range nearly all season, contributing heavily to the team’s success. The Huskers announced he will return for his senior season on April 13.
The question remains for Nebraska basketball to answer next season: was this year a fluke or the start of a new era?
“I cannot wait to see what the next seasons will hold,” Isabel Hoiberg said.
