For decades, sustained success has been hard to come by for Nebraska.
This season, that narrative has changed.
Under head coach Fred Hoiberg, Nebraska has put together one of the best campaigns the program has seen since its peak in the 1990s. The Cornhuskers finished the regular season 26-5 and went 15-5 in Big 10 play, tying the program record for total wins in a season and setting a new mark for conference victories.
The success represents the culmination of a rebuild that took years to fully come to light.
When Hoiberg arrived in Lincoln in 2019, the program was searching for stability. The first few seasons weren’t always easy, but the foundation slowly began to take shape as Nebraska rebuilt its roster and culture.
Now, Nebraska has positioned itself among the top teams in the conference and nationally.
“Our goal is to continue building a program that our fans can embrace and have pride in because it represents the values of Nebraska,” Hoiberg said.
That’s what they’ve done this season. A key reason for the Cornhuskers’ breakthrough has been the production of Pryce Sandfort.
The Iowa transfer has become one of Nebraska’s most reliable offensive weapons, stretching defenses with his shooting while providing consistent scoring throughout the season. Sandfort’s ability to create offense from the perimeter has fit seamlessly into Hoiberg’s system.
His impact has often come in big moments.
In Nebraska’s regular-season finale against Iowa, Sandfort finished with 15 points as the Cornhuskers pulled away in overtime to secure an 84-75 victory and tie the school record for wins in a season.
For Hoiberg, the turnaround has been about more than wins.
Nebraska athletic director Troy Dannen praised the head coach’s approach while announcing the extension that will keep him in Lincoln through the 2031-32 season.
“Fred Hoiberg is a tremendous representative of the University of Nebraska, the Lincoln community, and our state,” Dannen said. “Fred has built this program step by step and his leadership has Nebraska positioned to continue to compete at a high level in the Big Ten Conference and nationally.”
That steady growth has pushed Nebraska into rare territory. On Thursday, the Cornhuskers made history by securing the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament win in a dominant 76-47 beat down of 13th seed Troy.
Now, Nebraska will have another opportunity to build on what is already one of the most successful season’s since the University first sponsored men’s basketball in 1896. A chance to advance to the Sweet Sixteen with a matchup against fifth-seeded Vanderbilt on Saturday night.
For a program that has spent much of the past three decades searching for sustained relevance, the Cornhuskers have finally found it again.
In March, this team can continue rewriting history.
