Nebraska Men's Basketball Senior Day Pregame Ceremony

Описание: Nebraska’s men’s basketball regular season ended the way much of it unfolded — with history.

The Huskers closed the regular season with an 84-75 overtime victory over Iowa at Pinnacle Bank Arena, finishing 26-5 overall and 15-5 in Big Ten play. The win total ties the school record for victories in a season, and the 15 conference wins are the most in program history.

Nebraska earned the No. 2 seed in the Big Ten Tournament, the highest seed in program history and its best finish since joining the conference.

“It’s what dreams are made of,” guard Sam Hoiberg said after the game.

For Hoiberg and Nebraska’s senior class, the accomplishment carries added meaning. When Hoiberg was a freshman in 2021-22, the Huskers finished 10-22 overall and 4-16 in Big Ten play, including a 10-game conference losing streak.

Four years later, Nebraska has improved by 16 wins, transformed into a Top 10 team, and positioned itself as a legitimate postseason contender.

“Our whole thing this season has been fighting adversity,” Hoiberg said. “We’ve learned from past mistakes. Last season, we rode the ups and downs of playing well and playing badly. This year, it’s all been trying to stay level and just prepare for the next team.”

The Huskers have rewritten parts of the record book this season. They set a school record with 327 made 3-pointers and are 15-0 when scoring at least 80 points. They also secured the program’s best Big Ten finish of the modern era.

The senior class — Hoiberg, Pryce Sandfort, Jamarques Lawrence, Jared Garcia, and Rienk Mast — helped shift expectations around the program.

“We’ve been through our battles,” Rienk Mast said. “It’s been a grind to get it where it is right now.”

Now, the focus turns to Chicago.

With a triple-bye, Nebraska opens Big Ten Tournament play Friday night in the quarterfinals at the United Center. If the higher seeds advance, the Huskers could face Purdue, a team that defeated them earlier this season.

Beyond the conference tournament, Nebraska also has an opportunity to achieve another milestone — its first NCAA Tournament victory.

“There’s a ton of extra stuff that comes with playing in March Madness and in these postseason tournaments,” Hoiberg said. “So we’re going to keep staying focused.”

With a record-tying regular season and coach Fred Hoiberg in consideration for national coach of the year honors, Nebraska enters postseason play with momentum — and with the chance to continue a season already etched into the program’s history.

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