Nebraska Basketball: Overcoming Adversity to Dance Again
The Nebraska Cornhuskers had every reason to fold. A brutal stretch of injuries, a midseason losing skid, and a conference gauntlet that seemed designed to break them. Yet, when the dust settled, they were standing—dancing, even—back in the NCAA Tournament.
The Injury Plague
It started early. Star forward Jalen Rivers went down with a high ankle sprain in December. Two weeks later, their defensive anchor, Malik Thompson, suffered a fractured wrist. By mid-January, Nebraska was missing three key rotation players, forcing Coach Fred Hoiberg to rely on freshmen and untested transfers. The results were predictable—a four-game losing streak that had fans questioning whether this season would end like so many others: in disappointment.
The Turning Point
February 10th. Nebraska hosted No. 12 Illinois, a team they hadn’t beaten in four years. With nothing to lose, Hoiberg scrapped his usual game plan. He let his young guards push the tempo, played an aggressive switching defense, and gave senior point guard Xavier Cole the green light to shoot at will. The result? An 82-78 upset that reignited their season.
From there, Nebraska rattled off five straight wins, including statement victories over Purdue and Michigan State. Cole became a leader, averaging 18 points per game down the stretch. Thompson returned just in time for the Big Ten Tournament, where Nebraska made a semifinal run that solidified their NCAA Tournament bid.
Controversy and Critics
Of course, not everyone believed Nebraska deserved their spot. Some analysts pointed to their weak non-conference schedule. Others questioned whether they’d have made the tournament if not for injuries forcing unexpected lineup changes that worked in their favor. There were whispers that Nebraska had gotten lucky, that they weren’t built for March.
Proving the Doubters Wrong
The Cornhuskers heard it all—and embraced it. Now, as they prepare for their first-round matchup, they do so with something they haven’t had in years: momentum. Injuries nearly destroyed their season. A losing streak almost broke them. But Nebraska refused to be defined by what went wrong.
This year, they’re back in the tournament. And this time, they’re not just happy to be here.
