Nebraska Wins First NCAA Tournament Game After 55 Years

After 55 years of trying and eight tournament losses, Nebraska basketball finally has its first NCAA tournament victory.

The Huskers crushed Troy 76-47 in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, sparking tears of joy from players, coaches, and an arena packed with red-clad fans. When the final horn blew, the entire team rushed the court, embracing everyone from assistant coaches to longtime program staffers who had waited decades for this moment.

"The five-minute mark hit, and you kind of know like, 'Hey, this one's in the pocket,'" said senior forward Rienk Mast. "You start looking around and just the amount of smiles you see from everyone in the crowd. It was truly special."

The victory caps a remarkable turnaround for coach Fred Hoiberg, who endured three consecutive losing seasons when he arrived in 2019. Many questioned whether Nebraska could ever compete at college basketball's highest level.

But Hoiberg kept building. After a .500 season in 2022-23, the Huskers have now won at least 20 games in three straight years. This season's 27 wins set a new program record.

Junior Pryce Sandfort led the scoring explosion with 23 points, draining seven three-pointers and setting a Nebraska tournament record. His performance was extra special because his brother Payton, who just made his NBA debut with the Oklahoma City Thunder, surprised him by attending the game.

"Getting him to come to this game was special," Pryce said. "These guys were looking for me in transition and gave me great passes."

Why This Inspires

Nebraska's breakthrough reminds us that perseverance pays off, even when success seems impossibly far away. Before Wednesday, the Huskers were the only team from a major conference without a tournament win. They carried that burden for generations.

Fourth-year senior Sam Hoiberg, the coach's son, lived through the worst of the losing years. "It was tough being on those teams that were not winning games, especially when I was on the bench," he said. "So just being able to reap the benefit of all the things we've done this season has been unbelievable."

For Fred Hoiberg, the win was deeply personal. As his players celebrated, his thoughts turned to his father in a care home. "I hope he got a chance to watch this one," he said, voice thick with emotion. "I can't wait to talk to him just because of what it means for our family."

The 29-point margin marks the largest victory in a team's tournament debut since 1971, but the Huskers aren't stopping here.