Fred Hoiberg comments on late-game Nebraska blunder vs. Iowa basketball
Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg dissects the critical late-game blunder that proved to be the dagger in Iowa basketball's 77-71 Sweet 16 win.
After ninth-seeded Iowa (24-12, 10-10 Big Ten) advanced to its first Elite Eight since 1987 with a 77-71 win over No. 4 seed Nebraska (28-7, 15-5 Big Ten) inside the Toyota Center in Houston, Cornhuskers head coach Fred Hoiberg remarked on the team's stunning and ultimately decisive late-game blunder in Thursday's Sweet 16 matchup. The play in question occurred with 58.
6 seconds remaining in the second half and Iowa holding a 71-68 lead coming out of a timeout following a 3-pointer from Nebraska's Braden Frager. As the Hawkeyes looked to inbound the ball against the Cornhuskers' full-court defensive pressure, Kael Combs launched the ball to a wide-open Alvaro Folgueiras, who converted on a layup as he was hacked by a scrambling Berke Buyuktuncel. While the result of the play was utterly disastrous for the Cornhuskers, Folgueiras found himself uncovered because Nebraska put only four defenders on the floor after its own timeout.
When questioned in Nebraska's postgame media availability about the situation, Hoiberg took full responsibility for the late-game gaffe and characterized it as his own miscommunication. “Put that one on me," Hoiberg said. "It was a miscommunication, and I’m the head coach.
Put that one on me. ” Fred Hoiberg on Nebraska having 4 players on the floor for a crucial late play against Iowa: “Put that one on me. It was a miscommunication and I’m the head coach.