Nebraska

Likes, dislikes from Iowa basketball’s win over Nebraska

Published

1 month ago

February 18, 2026

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Likes, dislikes from Iowa basketball’s win over Nebraska

IOWA CITY — Iowa men’s basketball defeated No. 9 Nebraska 57-52 on Feb. 17 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Bennett Stirtz led Iowa with 25 points and Cooper Koch added 10 as the Hawkeyes tallied their first victory against a ranked team in the Ben McCollum era. The Hawkeyes handed Nebraska just their fourth loss this season.

The Hawkeyes improved to 19-7 and 9-6 in Big Ten play. The Huskers are 22-4 and 11-4.

Here are likes and dislikes from the game.

Likes

Bennett Stirtz’s effort: It wasn’t Stirtz’s most efficient game. He scored 25 points on 8-of-22 from the field. But so much of the playmaking and scoring burden was on his shoulders. He also spent a substantial amount of time guarding Pryce Sandfort, Nebraska’s leading scorer. Just an incredible showing of determination by Stirtz.
Stirtz in crunch time: Stirtz was the best player on the floor down the stretch and willed the Hawkeyes to victory.
Rebounding: Iowa’s work on the glass played an important part in the game. The Hawkeyes dominated on the boards, outrebounding Nebraska 37-24.
Offensive rebounding: This category was 12-2 in favor Iowa. This came up big in crunch time. The Hawkeyes didn’t capitalize them as much as they could’ve but still outscored Nebraska 8-4 in second-chance points.
Defense: The Hawkeyes were smothering on the defensive end. Nebraska was held to just 41% from the field and 21% from deep. The Cornhuskers also turned it over 12 times. Nebraska was held to a season-low 52 points. Their previous low was 58 against Michigan State.
Limiting Pryce Sandfort: The former Hawkeye wasn’t totally shut down, scoring 13 points, but Iowa made life difficult on him and held him below his season average. Sandfort only got up seven shots from the field and was 2-of-6 from deep. Credit to Stirtz for helping contain Sandfort.
Free throws: The Hawkeyes took advantage of their opportunities at the charity stripe, shooting 17-of-18 from the free-throw line.
Tavion Banks: He was great on the boards, hauling in a team-high 10 rebounds. He also scored six points. Iowa coach Ben McCollum said Banks was “probably the unsung hero.”
Signature win: Iowa picks up its first signature win of the Ben McCollum era. This is a resume-building victory for the Hawkeyes with the NCAA Tournament on the horizon.

Video: Ben McCollum reacts to Iowa basketball’s win over Nebraska

Ben McCollum meets with media after Iowa basketball’s 57-52 win over Nebraska.

Dislikes

Turnovers: Iowa had been taking care of the ball incredibly well, but that wasn’t the case against Nebraska. The Hawkeyes turned the ball over 12 times. Nine of those came in the first half. That was the first time since Jan. 28 against USC that Iowa’s turnovers were in double-figures.
Offense: Another rough showing by Iowa’s offense, which struggled for the third game in a row. The Hawkeyes shot just 33% from the field and 26% from deep. Pretty brutal game shooting for the Hawkeyes.
Not enough help outside of Stirtz: There were contributions sprinkled in here and there. Cooper Koch had 10 points and Alvaro Folgueiras had seven. But so much of the scoring and playmaking burden was on Stirtz.

Video: Bennett Stirtz, Cooper Koch react to Iowa’s win over Nebraska

Bennett Stirtz and Cooper Koch meet with media after Iowa basketball’s 57-52 win over Nebraska.

Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com

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Nebraska

What Troy coach Scott Cross said after first-round loss to Nebraska

Published

4 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Press Room

What Troy coach Scott Cross said after first-round loss to Nebraska

Troy coach Scott Cross met with the media following his team’s 76-47 loss in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The victory was the first NCAA Tournament win in Nebraska basketball history.

The Huskers were led by Pryce Sandfort, who scored 23 points in the victory. The former Iowa Hawkeye shot 7-of-13 from the floor and 7-of-12 from the 3-point line. Rienk Mast contributed 13 points and 6 rebounds in the win.

As a team, the Huskers shot 25-of-65 from the field, 14-of-39 from the 3-point line and 6-of-6 from the free throw line. Troy shot 13-of-46 from the floor, 8-of-28 from beyond the arc and 13-of-14 from the charity stripe.

Cross told the press that while the defeat was difficult to take, he knows his team won’t let this season be defined by this one loss.

“Thank you for being here. I would like to thank the good Lord for the opportunity to just have your guts absolutely ripped out. It stinks, but I told our guys in the locker room, they’re not defined by this basketball game.”

Troy entered the NCAA Tournament on a four-game winning streak after earning the regular-season and tournament titles in the Sun Belt Conference. Cross acknowledged that this Nebraska team is one of the best teams he’s seen in his over 25 years of coaching.

“They played an amazing team. Nebraska is one of the best teams. I’ve been doing this since 1998. They’re really, really freaking good. The way they shoot the basketball and the way they defend, watching it on video, you’re, like, man, there’s no openings as you watch it on video.”

Nebraska and Vanderbilt will play on Saturday at 7:45 p.m. CT, and the game will be broadcast on TNT.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Cornhuskers Wire: What Troy coach Scott Cross said after first-round loss to Nebraska

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Nebraska

How to buy Vanderbilt vs. Nebraska 2026 March Madness tickets

Published

16 hours ago

March 19, 2026

Press Room

How to buy Vanderbilt vs. Nebraska 2026 March Madness tickets

No. 5 Vanderbilt Commodores defeated the No. 12 McNeese State Cowboys in the first round of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament.

Vanderbilt eliminated McNeese by a score of 78-68 on Thursday afternoon in Oklahoma City. McNeese took the lead early in the first half, but Vanderbilt came back in the second half in a close, back-and-forth game.

Now, Vanderbilt will face off against the No. 4 Nebraska Cornhuskers in the second round at Paycom Arena in Oklahoma City on Saturday, March 21.

Here is everything you need to know in order to buy Vanderbilt vs. Nebraska March Madness basketball second round tickets.

Shop Vanderbilt vs. Nebraska March Madness tickets

When is March Madness 2026?

The First Four tipped off the 2026 March Madness tournament on Tuesday, March 17. The two rounds run between Thursday, March 19 and Sunday, March 22. The tournament concludes with the Final Four on Saturday, April 4 and the National Championship game on Monday, April 6.

Vanderbilt March Madness next opponent

Vanderbilt earned a No. 5 seed in the South regional. They defeated McNeese in its opening game and have advanced to the Round of 32, where they will play the No. 4 Nebraska Cornhuskers. Tickets to Vanderbilt’s Round of 32 game start at $193.

Vanderbilt March Madness basketball tickets

Limited Vanderbilt NCAA Tournament tickets are still available for the Round of 32. Get your Vanderbilt March Madness tickets now.

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Vanderbilt March Madness schedule

After defeating McNeese on Thursday, No. 5 Vanderbilt Commodores will take on No. 4 Nebraska Cornhuskers on Saturday, March 21. The tipoff time for that game is still to be determined. Shop Vanderbilt Round of 32 tickets now.

More March Madness: Everything fans need to know about the 2026 NCAA Tournament

Vanderbilt March Madness game locations

Vanderbilt will play their Round of 32 game at Paycom Arena in Oklahoma City on Saturday, March 21.

Limited tickets for the Round of 32 March Madness in Oklahoma City are available. Shop your Vanderbilt NCAA Tournament tickets now.

Vanderbilt Sweet 16 tickets

If the Commodores were to advance to the Sweet 16, they’d travel to they’d travel to Houston, Texas. Sweet 16 tickets in Houston are already available starting at $207.

Shop Vanderbilt basketball tickets

March Madness 2026 full schedule for the men’s tournament

April 6: National Championship
March 19-20: First round
March 21-22: Second round
March 26-27: Sweet 16
March 28-29: Elite 8
April 4-5: Final Four

Shop ALL March Madness tickets

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Nebraska

Has Nebraska won an NCAA Tournament game? Cornhuskers’ March Madness history

Published

1 day ago

March 19, 2026

Press Room

Has Nebraska won an NCAA Tournament game? Cornhuskers’ March Madness history

Nebraska men’s basketball is amid an historic season in 2025-26, earning a program-best No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament. It’s unprecedented territory for the Cornhuskers, who have never experienced success in March Madness.

Literally.

Seventh-year coach Fred Hoiberg didn’t make the NCAA tournament with Nebraska until his fifth season with the program in 2023-24. The Cornhuskers missed the big dance again last season, although they won the inaugural College Basketball Crown championship before winning 20 consecutive games to start the 2025-26 season.

No. 13 seed Troy, who’s making its second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, won’t be an easy out. Nebraska will also certainly be looking to lift some historical blunders off its shoulders with a win.

Here’s what to know of Nebraska’s NCAA Tournament history:

Has Nebraska ever won an NCAA Tournament game?

Nebraska is the only Power conference program to have never won a Men’s NCAA Tournament game, and has its best chance in program history to win its first when it faces Troy in the first round on Thursday, March 19.

It’s the Cornhuskers’ ninth-ever NCAA Tournament appearance, having last made the field in 2024. Nebraska lost to Texas A&M 98-83, despite being a No. 8 seed against the No. 9 Aggies in the first round.

Hoiberg said March 18 that he hasn’t addressed the program’s NCAA Tournament history leading up to the game, and that he doesn’t plan to. He did note, however, that there’s pressure involved with the game.

“I know the first question is going to be Nebraska has never won a tournament game,” Hoiberg said. “We realize that. Have I talked to our players about it? No, I haven’t. They know. They see it. Is there a pressure that goes along with that? Of course there is.”

Hoiberg’s son, Sam Hoiberg, is one of Nebraska’s top players. He also addressed what it would mean for the school to win a March Madness game.

“That’s what I’ve been dreaming of since I became a player in this program,” Sam Hoiberg said. “That’s the only thing left to do is get that tournament win. It’s the unsaid thing in every single room, is we don’t have a tournament win. So being able to do it as a senior would be pretty cool.”