Nebraska

Forget the NCAA Tournament, Nebraska Men’s Basketball is on the Big Ten Tournament Bubble

Published

1 year ago

March 5, 2025

Press Room

Forget the NCAA Tournament, Nebraska Men’s Basketball is on the Big Ten Tournament Bubble

The dream of a return trip to the NCAA Tournament is gone for Nebraska men’s basketball.

Now, the Huskers are playing to not be in the absolute basement of the Big Ten Conference.

With the league expanded to 18 teams, the conference tournament is now just for the top 15 teams. That means three teams will see their seasons end on Sunday.

Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Brice Williams (3) shoots the ball during the second half against the Penn State Nittany Lions.

Feb 19, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Brice Williams (3) shoots the ball during the second half against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Bryce Jordan Center. Penn State defeated Nebraska 89-72. / Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images

Nebraska sits at 7-12 in the league with one game to go. That’s tied with Northwestern and Rutgers, but trailing 7-11 Minnesota. The Big Red are just ahead of 6-12 Iowa and USC.

Six teams bunched up and trying to not be the odd man out. When tiebreakers involve multiple teams, they look at the round-robin record. The Huskers are 1-4 against that group.

Nebraska has played in a conference tournament game every season since 1977, the first year of the Big Eight Tournament.

The simple math is that Sunday’s regular-season finale for the Big Red is a play-in game for the Big Ten Tournament. The winner of Nebraska vs. Iowa at Pinnacle Bank Arena will go to Indianapolis while the other will sit below the cutoff.

Mar 4, 2025; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers forward Juwan Gary (4) dribbles the ball as Ohio State Buckeyes guard John Mobley Jr. (0) defends during the first half at Value City Arena. / Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images

However, there is a single path that puts Nebraska in the Big Ten Tournament with a loss on Sunday. Here is how it can be done:

That’s it. One Minnesota win and two for USC and Nebraska is in the Big Ten Tournament, even on a five-game losing streak. If USC drops either of those games, the Huskers will know the task at hand for final game.

Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Sam Hoiberg (1) makes a three-point basket during the second half against the Maryland Terrapins.

Jan 19, 2025; College Park, Maryland, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Sam Hoiberg (1) makes a three-point basket during the second half against the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center. / Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images

But to remove any doubt, Nebraska must win on Sunday. NU has had several “must-win” games over the past few weeks to lock up an NCAA Tournament berth. This time, it is simply to make the league tournament. Fred Hoiberg needs to get this done to remove at least one talking point against him in what is likely to be a long offseason.

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Nebraska

Carey’s Two Home Runs Help Nebraska Baseball Stomp Michigan State, Sweep Weekend Series

Published

11 hours ago

March 8, 2026

Press Room

Carey’s Two Home Runs Help Nebraska Baseball Stomp Michigan State, Sweep Weekend Series

The first Big Ten Conference series of the year for NU ends in a sweep.

Nebraska baseball pounded Michigan State in Sunday’s series finale at Haymarket Park, 12-2, in seven innings. The Huskers improved to 10-5, while the Spartans fell to 3-11.

With Sunday’s victory, NU moves to 3-0 in the league.

The Game
The Stats
What’s Next
Nebraska Baseball’s 2026 Schedule

The Game

Down 2-0 in the series, Michigan State needed a spark early to try to salvage at least one win in Lincoln. In the top of the first inning, first baseman Randy Seymour took a 3-1 pitch from Gavin Blachowicz to right center and over the fence.

But, for the Spartans, that spark was quickly extinguished.

Nebraska loaded the bases with no outs on a walk, a single, and a single. Case Sanderson then doubled to score them all. He would cross home plate two batters later when Preston Freeman smacked a 1-0 pitch down the left field line for a two-run homer.

Case Sanderson gloves the ball for an out at first base. | Amarillo Mullen

Already up 5-1, Dylan Carey lifted a two-run home run in the second inning. The Huskers would tack on one run in the third, one in the fourth, two in the fifth, and one more in the sixth. At the end of the game, Nebraska scored in every inning in which it went to the plate.

Blachowicz sat down 11 batters from the second through fifth innings. A leadoff double in the sixth inning helped Michigan State add one more run to its tally.

In the top of the seventh inning, with a 10-run rule waiting to be enacted, the Spartans got a one-out single before being put down via a fly out and a fielder’s choice to end the game.

The Stats

Blachowicz pitched the entire 7.0 innings Sunday afternoon. He allowed two earned runs on three hits, walking one and striking out 11.

The Huskers, who rattled off 11 hits, were aided by five Spartan errors. That helped bring home extra runs, with four of the 12 runs scored being unearned.

The Nebraska baseball dugout looks on against Michigan State at Haymarket Park. | Kenny Larabee, KLIn

Carey led the way at the plate for the Big Red. The shortstop went 3-for-4 with four RBI, two home runs, and three runs scored.

Nebraska left seven runners on base, while Michigan State stranded just two.

What’s Next

Nebraska’s nine-game homestand continues with a midweek contest against North Dakota State.

The Bison are 1-14 on the year and coming off a sweep at Vanderbilt. The lone victory was 5-1 over Monmouth at the Stetson Tournament on Feb. 21.

First pitch from Haymarket Park on Wednesday is slated for 6 p.m. CDT. The game will be streamed on B1G+.

Have a question or comment for Kaleb? Send an email to kalebhenry.huskermax@gmail.com.

Nebraska Baseball’s 2026 Schedule

Feb. 13 Nebraska 12, UConn 2 [7 inn.] (MLB Desert Invitational)
Feb. 14 Nebraska 7, Northeastern 4 (MLB Desert Invitational)
Feb. 15 Nebraska 9, Grand Canyon 1 (MLB Desert Invitational)
Feb. 16 Stanford 11, Nebraska 6 (MLB Desert Invitational)
Feb. 20 Louisville 4, Nebraska 2 (Amegy Bank College Baseball Series)
Feb. 21 Kansas State 3, Nebraska 3 FloCollege (Amegy Bank College Baseball Series)
Feb. 22 Nebraska 10, Florida State 1 (Amegy Bank College Baseball Series)
Feb. 27 Nebraska 9, Auburn 8 [10 inn.]
Feb. 28 Auburn 15, Nebraska 4 [7 inn.]
Mar. 1 Auburn 12, Nebraska 3
Mar. 3 Nebraska 8, Omaha 5
Mar. 4 Nebraska 5, South Dakota State 4
Mar. 6 Nebraska 5, Michigan State 4 [10 inn.]
Mar. 7 Nebraska 3, Michigan State 1
Mar. 8 Nebraska 12, Michigan State 2 [7 inn.]
Mar. 11 vs. North Dakota State 6 p.m.
Mar. 13 vs. Maine 6 p.m.
Mar. 14 vs. Maine 2 p.m.
Mar. 15 vs. Maine 12 p.m.
Mar. 17 at Wichita State 6 p.m.
Mar. 18 at Wichita State 2 p.m.
Mar. 20 at Michigan 3 p.m.
Mar. 21 at Michigan 1 p.m.
Mar. 22 at Michigan 12 p.m.
Mar. 24 at Kansas State 6 p.m.
Mar. 27 vs. Indiana 6 p.m.
Mar. 28 vs. Indiana 2 p.m.
Mar. 29 vs. Indiana 12 p.m.
Mar. 31 at Creighton 6 p.m.
Apr. 3 vs. Penn State 6 p.m.
Apr. 4 vs. Penn State 2 p.m.
Apr. 5 vs. Penn State 12 p.m.
Apr. 7 vs. Kansas 6 p.m.
Apr. 10 at Oregon 7 p.m.
Apr. 11 at Oregon 4 p.m.
Apr. 12 at Oregon 2 p.m.
Apr 14 vs. Creighton 6 p.m.
Apr. 17 vs. USC 6 p.m.
Apr. 18 vs. USC 2 p.m.
Apr. 19 vs. USC 12 p.m.
Apr. 21 at Kansas 6 p.m.
Apr. 24 at Illinois 6 p.m.
Apr. 25 at Illinois 3 p.m.
Apr. 26 at Illinois 1 p.m.
Apr. 28 vs. Kansas State 6 p.m.
May 1 at Ohio State 5 p.m.
May 2 at Ohio State 2 p.m.
May 3 at Ohio State 12 p.m.
May 8 vs. Iowa 6 p.m.
May 9 vs. Iowa 2 p.m.
May 10 vs. Iowa 1 p.m.
May 12 at Creighton 6 p.m.
May 14 at Minnesota 6 p.m.
May 15 at Minnesota 6 p.m.
May 16 at Minnesota 1 p.m.
May 19-24 Big Ten Tournament

Home games are bolded. All times central.

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Nebraska

Nebraska Secures a ‘Grand’ Sweep in Front of Sold Out Crowd

Published

23 hours ago

March 8, 2026

Press Room

Nebraska Secures a ‘Grand’ Sweep in Front of Sold Out Crowd

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. — Press release courtesy of LOVB Nebraska:

The state of Nebraska once again proved why it’s the Volleyball Capital of the U.S. as a sold-out Heartland Events Center played host to a LOVB Nebraska sweep of LOVB Salt Lake (29-27, 25-16, 25-22) on Saturday night in Grand Island, Nebraska.

Outside hitter Jordan Larson shined once again for Nebraska (5-7), recording her third-straight match with 15+ points. The Hooper, Nebraska, native tallied 14 kills on a season-high .385 hitting efficiency, tacking on 13 digs for her second double-double in three matches.

“I think I’ve always kind of played like this,” said Larson. “You never know when the last could be, and so to me it’s just like how can I continue to leave it all out there. How do I continue to show up and let my body do it? I’m really trying to enjoy this as much as I can.”

The other half of Nebraska’s dominant outside hitting tandem, Anne Buijs, was close behind Larson, securing 13 points on 13 kills. Opposite hitter Kimberly Drewniok rounded out a trio of Nebraska athletes in the double figures for points and kills, also scoring 13 points on 13 kills.

The true highlight of the match were the fans that filled the Heartland Events Center. Central Nebraska showed up and made it known, creating a tough environment for Salt Lake while continuously energizing the home bench.

“We’re thrilled to be in Grand Island. That’s the best crowd we’ve had all season,” said Nebraska head coach Suzie Fritz.

“You could feel the energy. I think they helped us with a couple points. They really do make a difference and it’s really impactful for us to hear that and be a part of it,” said Larson.

“When Jordan got announced in the starting lineup, I told her I got goosebumps because the fans were just so amazing,” said Drewniok.

Salt Lake (8-6) continues having midseason struggles, extending its losing streak to five matches and now falling one game back of first place. Outside hitter Claire Hoffman led all athletes on the floor tonight with a match-high 16 points and 15 kills.

“Unfortunately, really frustrated after the match,” said Salt Lake head coach Tama Miyashiro. “We gotta look forward and no one’s feeling sorry for us. We’re going to try to get back to work and fix a couple things.”

LOVB Nebraska will look to continue its hot streak next Thursday, March 12, against LOVB Madison for a 7 p.m. Central first serve at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin. The contest will stream on ESPN+.

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