Sam McKewon and Tom Shatel relive Nebraska’s first NCAA tournament wins in men’s basketball, what Fred Hoiberg’s breakthrough means for the program’s future and how Matt Rhule’s Huskers are trying to build a tougher identity this spring — hoping to gain national relevance again.
The life of a coach is a crazy schedule, but Fred Hoiberg also got to share moments with twins Sam, left, and Charlie, back, that parents and kids know are special.
Photos: Our favorite photos from the 2025-26 Nebraska men's basketball season
Nebraska's Quentin Rhymes (11) is guarded under the hoop by Rienk Mast (51) during a basketball practice in Lincoln on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Nebraska's Pryce Sandfort (21) poses for a portrait in Lincoln on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Nebraska's Berke Büyüktuncel (9) celebrates after a basket against BYU during the second half of a college men's basketball game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Nebraska's Kendall Blue (2) dunks the ball during the first half of a college men's basketball game against West Georgia at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Nebraska's Sam Hoiberg (1) goes up for a layup during the second half of a college men's basketball game against Maryland Eastern Shore at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Nebraska's Berke Büyüktuncel (9) blocks a layup by Maryland Eastern Shore's Trey Brown (3) during the second half of a college men's basketball game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Winthrop's Logan Duncomb (51) and Nebraska's Pryce Sandfort (21) grab at the ball during the first half of a college men's basketball game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Winthrop's Logan Duncomb (51) passes the ball above Nebraska's Rienk Mast (51) during the second half of a college men's basketball game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Nebraska's Pryce Sandfort (21), South Carolina Upstate's Karmani Gregory (1) and Nebraska's Sam Hoiberg (1) dive for the ball during the first half of a college men's basketball game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Nebraska's Berke Büyüktuncel (9) screens Creighton's Isaac Traudt (41) for Nebraska's Braden Frager (5) during the second half of a college men's basketball game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Nebraska's Berke Büyüktuncel (9) goes up for a 3-pointer during the second half of a college men's basketball game against Creighton at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Nebraska's Rienk Mast (51) celebrates after Sam Hoiberg (1) made a basket against Creighton during the second half of a college men's basketball game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Wisconsin's John Blackwell (25) dribbles against Nebraska's Cale Jacobsen (31) during the first half of a college men's basketball game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Nebraska's Berke Büyüktuncel (9) dunks the ball during the second half of a college men's basketball game against Wisconsin at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Michigan State's Coen Carr (55) grabs the rebound above Nebraska's Rienk Mast (51) and Michigan State's Kur Teng (2) during the second half of a college men's basketball game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Nebraska fans storm the court as players celebrate the Huskers win over Michigan State, 58-56, at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Nebraska's Sam Hoiberg (1) is introduced before a college men's basketball game against Illinois at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Nebraska's Jamarques Lawrence (10) and Illinois' Zvonimir Ivisic (44) go up for the rebound during the first half of a college men's basketball game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
A look inside Pinnacle Bank as Nebraska takes on Illinois during the first half of a college men's basketball game Arena in Lincoln, on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Students queue outside Pinnacle Bank Arena before a college men's basketball game between Nebraska and Purdue in Lincoln, on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Purdue's Oscar Cluff (45) dunks the ball during the first half of a college men's basketball game against Nebraska at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Danny Nee, former Nebraska men's basketball coach, shakes hands with former Nebraska player Josiah Allick as he holds his daughter, Light, during a game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Maryland head coach Buzz Williams sits in a chair during the first half of a college men's basketball game against Nebraska at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Nebraska's Pryce Sandfort (21) during the second half of a college men's basketball game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Nebraska's Sam Hoiberg (1) goes up for a shot past Maryland's Andre Mills (7) during the second half of a college men's basketball game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Nebraska's Jamarques Lawrence (10) celebrates after a basket against Iowa during the second half of a college men's basketball game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Sunday, March 8, 2026.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Nebraska fans wait for a Husker free-throw during the second half of a college men's basketball game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Sunday, March 8, 2026.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Iowa's Cooper Koch (8) goes up for a 3-pointer against Nebraska's Sam Hoiberg (1) during overtime in a college men's basketball game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Sunday, March 8, 2026.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Nebraska's Jamarques Lawrence (10) goes up for a layup during overtime in a college men's basketball game against Iowa at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Sunday, March 8, 2026.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Nebraska's Jamarques Lawrence (10) takes his shoes off on the court after defeating Iowa in overtime, 84-75, at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, on Sunday, March 8, 2026.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Nebraska fans walk around outside the Paycom Center prior to a NCAA men's basketball tournament first round game between Nebraska and Troy in Oklahoma City, on Thursday, March 19, 2026.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Nebraska's Braden Frager (5) dunks the ball during the second half of the first round of the NCAA men's basketball tournament game against Troy at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, on Thursday, March 19, 2026.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Nebraska players celebrate after defeating Troy, 76-47, in a first round of the NCAA men's basketball tournament game at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, on Thursday, March 19, 2026.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Nebraska's head coach Fred Hoiberg high-fives fans as the team leaves the Huskers from the Skirvin Oklahoma City in Oklahoma City, on Saturday, March 21, 2026.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
A look inside the Paycom Center as Nebraska takes on Vanderbilt during the first half of the second round of the NCAA men's basketball tournament game in Oklahoma City, on Saturday, March 21, 2026.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Nebraska's head coach Fred Hoiberg celebrates after defeating Vanderbilt to advance to the NCAA men's basketball tournament Sweet Sixteen at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, on Saturday, March 21, 2026.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Nebraska's Berke Büyüktuncel (9) celebrates after defeating Vanderbilt to advance to the NCAA men's basketball tournament Sweet Sixteen at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, on Saturday, March 21, 2026.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Nebraska's Pryce Sandfort (21) celebrates after a basket against Iowa during the first half of an NCAA men's basketball tournament Sweet 16 game at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Thursday, March 26, 2026.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Nebraska fans cheer on during the first half of an NCAA men's basketball tournament Sweet 16 game against Iowa at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Thursday, March 26, 2026.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Nebraska's Berke Büyüktuncel (9) reacts after the final shot of the first half of an NCAA men's basketball tournament Sweet 16 game at the Toyota Center in Houston, on Thursday, March 26, 2026.
The life of a coach is a crazy schedule, but Fred Hoiberg also got to share moments with twins Sam, left, and Charlie, back, that parents and kids know are special.
