This team was not supposed to do what they did. Nobody had the Nebraska Cornhuskers circled on their calendar heading into the 2025-26 season — and that is exactly what made it so special. This is a feel-good story for the ages, and it starts with Coach Fred Hoiberg.
Hoiberg built a reputation as one of the best coaches in the Big 12 during his time at Iowa State, then endured a difficult stint with the Chicago Bulls in the NBA. When that chapter closed, he made it his mission to rebuild Nebraska basketball — quite the tall task for a program that had never won an NCAA Tournament game in school history. Hoiberg had steadily moved the needle, leading the Cornhuskers to winning records in both 2023-24 and 2024-25. But nothing could have prepared anyone for what happened next.
Nebraska got off to a 20-0 start. Let that sink in. For a program still searching for its first-ever NCAA Tournament victory, this was uncharted territory. The Cornhuskers cooled off as the season wore on, but still landed as a four seed in the NCAA Tournament. They did not just win their first tournament game — they followed it up with a thrilling victory over Vanderbilt in the Round of 32 to reach the Sweet 16. Iowa ultimately ended the run, but nothing about that diminishes what Nebraska accomplished. A 28-7 record, a Sweet 16 appearance, and a peak ranking of fifth in the AP Poll. For this program, this was everything.
But the record only tells part of the story. The storylines surrounding this team are what make it truly memorable.
Fred Hoiberg got to coach his son Sam Hoiberg — and share every moment of this magical run with him. Sam was the starting point guard and averaged 4.5 assists per game, the definition of a coach’s kid doing his job and doing it well. This is what college basketball is all about.
Then there is Pryce Sandfort. As a sophomore at Iowa, Sandfort averaged 8 points per game coming off the bench before making the decision to transfer to Nebraska. It turned out to be one of the best decisions of his college career. Sandfort blossomed into a First Team All-Big Ten selection in 2025-26 and was one of the driving forces behind Nebraska’s historic season.
And lastly, Rienk Mast. The senior missed the entire 2024-25 season nursing a torn meniscus, only to return and become an essential piece of this Cornhusker team. Mast embodied everything Coach Hoiberg has tried to build in Lincoln — toughness, commitment, and an unwavering belief in the program.
The outlook for 2026-27 is equally promising. Sandfort is returning for his senior season, and Braden Frager joins him after an impressive freshman campaign. There is a new standard in Lincoln, Nebraska — and Fred Hoiberg is the one who set it.
