LINCOLN — The wait is over, and the path is set. The Nebraska men’s basketball team has officially secured a No. 4 seed in the South Region of the NCAA Tournament, marking their highest seeding since 1991. The Huskers (26-5) will travel to Oklahoma City this Thursday to face the No. 13 Troy Trojans, with one singular goal in mind: securing the first NCAA Tournament victory in program history.
A Season of Defying Odds
Led by head coach Fred Hoiberg in his seventh season, Nebraska has been the Cinderella story of the Big Ten long before March began. Picked to finish last (14th) in the preseason projections, the Huskers instead exploded out of the gate with a 20-0 start, climbing as high as No. 5 in the AP Poll and tying the program record for wins in a season. Despite a late-season stumble and a quarterfinal exit in the Big Ten Tournament against Purdue, the Huskers’ body of work earned them a premium spot in the bracket.
The «Troy» Hurdle
While Nebraska is the favorite, Hoiberg is not taking the Sun Belt champions lightly. Troy (22-11) enters the tournament battle-tested, having knocked off San Diego State in overtime and pushed USC to triple overtime earlier this season. «We are playing a really good opponent,» Hoiberg told media on Sunday. «They are a very skilled team and we are looking forward to the opportunity.»
Breaking the Curse
Nebraska currently holds a painful 0-8 all-time record in the NCAA Tournament, making them the only Power Four program without a postseason win. To change the narrative, Hoiberg is leaning on veterans like Rienk Mast and Jamarques Lawrence, who were part of the 2024 tournament run. «It’s all about executing and not letting the moment be too big,» Hoiberg emphasized.
The winner of Thursday’s 11:40 a.m. CT tip-off will advance to the Round of 32 to face either No. 5 Vanderbilt or No. 12 McNeese.