Nebraska made men’s March Madness history, and reaching Sweet 16 is next target

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MARCH 19: Fred Hoiberg of the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament against the Troy Trojans held at Paycom Center on March 19, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Photo by Shane Bevel/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) | NCAA Photos via Getty Images It has been a statistic that has hung over the program for years now, a streak of futility unmatched among the NCAA power conferences. One that finally came to an end at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.

The Nebraska Cornhuskers entered the 2026 men’s NCAA basketball tournament as the only team from a power conference without a tournament win. Eight trips to the dance, eight times leaving without tasting victory. But all that changed Thursday in Oklahoma City, as the 4th-seeded Cornhuskers knocked off 13-seed Troy by a final score of 76-47.

The statistic was not one that Nebraska, and head coach Fred Hoiberg, shied away from. “So, you know, they’ve handled the adversity well,” said Hoiberg on Monday when asked about the history the team was trying to make this year. “I guess to answer your question, very well as a team all season.

Nebraska is 0-8 all-time, but none of these players were part of the seven before two years ago in Memphis where we had three guys. They talked about it. They got a little bit caught up in the hoopla.