Kristian Ferrell
The Nebraska Cornhuskers men's basketball team has had its fair share of success and struggles over the years. The team competes in the highly competitive NCAA Division I, representing the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the Big Ten Conference. While they have had some notable achievements, such as appearing in eight NCAA Division I tournaments and reaching the postseason eleven times under coach Danny Nee in the early 1990s, they have also faced challenges. Nebraska's performance has been characterized by both highs and lows, with a mix of winning and losing seasons. So, while they may not have consistently been at the very top of the rankings, they have had their moments of glory and have proven their ability to compete at the highest level.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Team Name | Nebraska Cornhuskers men's basketball team |
| Represents | University of Nebraska–Lincoln |
| Conference | Big Ten Conference |
| Coach | Fred Hoiberg |
| Preseason Conference Ranking | 16 |
| Preseason National Ranking | Just outside the top 50 |
| 2023-24 Season Record | 23-11 |
| 2022-23 Season Record | 16-16 |
| NCAA Division I Tournament Appearances | 8 |
| National Invitation Tournament Appearances | 19 |
| NCAA Tournament Wins | 0 |
| NCAA Championships | 0 |
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What You'll Learn
Nebraska Cornhuskers men's basketball team
The Nebraska Cornhuskers men's basketball team has a long history dating back to its founding in 1897. The team competes in the NCAA Division I and represents the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the Big Ten Conference. Over the years, they have experienced both highs and lows, with their most successful period coming in the early 1990s under the leadership of coach Danny Nee.
During the 1990s, the Cornhuskers enjoyed a string of successful seasons, appearing in four consecutive NCAA Division I tournaments and upsetting several highly-ranked teams. This era of success was built upon the strong foundation laid by coaches Raymond G. Clapp and Ewald O. Stiehm, who led the team to become a Midwest power before the creation of the NCAA tournament. However, the post-World War II years presented a challenge, with the team struggling through a period of twenty-eight years where they had only two winning seasons.
The Cornhuskers play their home games at the Pinnacle Bank Arena, having moved there in 2013 from the NU Sports Complex (now known as the Bob Devaney Sports Center). The Bob Devaney Sports Center was opened in 1976 and served as the team's home for nearly four decades. During their time at the arena, the Cornhuskers compiled an impressive overall record of 477–148, never experiencing a losing season.
The team's modest modern-day success can be largely attributed to the fourteen-year tenure of coach Danny Nee. Under his guidance, the Cornhuskers achieved five of their eight NCAA Division I tournament appearances and clinched the 1996 NIT championship, their only national postseason title to date. Notable players who have contributed to the team's success include Jerry Fort, who was the first Nebraska player to be chosen as a first-team all-conference three times, and Dave Hoppen, a three-time All-Big Eight center whose jersey number (No. 42) was retired by the school.
In terms of rankings, the Nebraska men's basketball team has been ranked in the AP Poll on several occasions. They have achieved a ranking of 2 times in the preseason poll, 2 times in the final poll, and have spent a total of 34 weeks ranked in the poll throughout their history. Additionally, they have won the conference championship 7 times during the regular season and 1 time during the tournament.
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Danny Nee's coaching success
Danny Nee's success as a basketball coach is evident through his long career, spanning several teams and numerous accolades. Nee's coaching career began in 1972 at Red Bank Regional High School in New Jersey, followed by a stint at Brick Township High School. He then moved on to the collegiate level, serving as an assistant coach at Notre Dame before securing his first head coaching role at Ohio University in 1980.
At Ohio, Nee demonstrated his ability to rebuild a struggling program, leading the Bobcats to two MAC Tournament titles (1983 and 1985), two NCAA tournament appearances, and one National Invitation Tournament (NIT) appearance during his seven-year tenure. This success earned him two MAC Coach of the Year (COY) awards. In 1986, Nee took on the challenge of coaching the Nebraska Cornhuskers, a role he held for 14 seasons until he was fired in 2000. With the Huskers, Nee achieved a 254-190 record, tying for the most wins in the program's history. During his time at Nebraska, the team made six NCAA Tournament appearances and five NIT appearances, including winning the 1996 NIT title.
Nee's impact extended beyond the court, as he was later inducted into the Nebraska Athletic Hall of Fame, a testament to his successful tenure at the university. Following his time at Nebraska, Nee continued to coach at various colleges, including Robert Morris University, Duquesne University, and the United States Merchant Marine Academy. Despite some challenges, he consistently demonstrated his ability to lead and develop teams. Nee's career came full circle when he returned to high school coaching in 2015, joining Gateway High School in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, as an assistant coach, and also serving as the head coach of the AAU club Basketball Stars of America.
Overall, Danny Nee's coaching success is underscored by his ability to turn programs around, as evidenced by his achievements at Ohio and Nebraska. His induction into the Nebraska Athletic Hall of Fame and the Kermit Blosser Ohio Athletics Hall of Fame further highlight the respect he earned during his career. Nee's journey from high school coach to the collegiate level and back again showcases his versatility and lasting impact on the sport.
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NCAA Division I tournaments
The Nebraska Cornhuskers men's basketball team has competed in the NCAA Division I tournament eight times since its founding in 1897. The team represents the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the Big Ten Conference.
Nebraska's most successful years in the tournament were in the early 1990s under coach Danny Nee, who led the team to four consecutive NCAA Division I tournaments. Nee is Nebraska's winningest head coach, and he helped the Cornhuskers to five of their eight NCAA Division I tournament appearances. During this period, the Cornhuskers played at the Devaney Center, where they never had a losing season, compiling an overall record of 477–148.
Nebraska's first appearance in the NCAA Division I tournament was in 1988, where they lost in the first round to USC, 100-82. They made it to the second round in 1993, 1998, and 2008, but lost in the first round in 1996, 1999, 2000, 2007, and 2009. In 2010, they made it to the Sweet 16, defeating Northern Iowa and UCLA before losing to Kentucky. Their most recent appearance was in 2012, where they lost in the first round to Kansas.
The NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, also known as March Madness, has been played since 1939. It is a single-elimination tournament featuring 68 teams competing in seven rounds for the national championship. The tournament has expanded over time, starting with 16 teams in 1951 and gradually growing to the modern format of 64 teams in 1985. Teams are ranked by the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Committee, which takes into account a multitude of stats and rankings but has no set formula for determining bids. The Associated Press (AP) also ranks the top 25 teams in Division I via a poll of 65 sports journalists, but this ranking holds no official weight in the selection process.
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Andy Katz's Big Ten Power Rankings
Andy Katz, a college basketball analyst and NCAA.com correspondent, has been covering college basketball on the Big Ten Network during the regular season. He has also worked at ESPN for 18 years as a college basketball reporter, host, and anchor. Katz has covered every Final Four since 1992 and has been covering the sport since 1986 as a freshman at Wisconsin. He is also a former president of the United States Basketball Writers Association.
In March 2025, Katz's Power 37 rankings included Purdue and Illinois, with Northwestern still having an outside chance at a single bye in the Big Ten tournament. In his player rankings, Katz believes it is a four-man race for Big Ten Player of the Year between Purdue's Braden Smith, Illinois' Kasparas Jakucionis, and Michigan's Danny Wolf and Vladislav Goldin.
For his 2018-19 season predictions, Katz ranked Michigan State at the top, citing Tom Izzo's strong squad with a potential favourite floor leader in Cassius Winston. Katz also mentions the depth of the team and their potential for a deep tournament run.
Katz's power rankings for the same season place Illinois at 13th, citing Trent Frazier's potential to become a first-team All-Big Ten player. Rutgers is ranked 14th, with the acknowledgment that they may have improved and increased their win total, but it will still be challenging to move up in the standings.
While Nebraska Men's Basketball has been ranked in the AP Poll a total of 34 weeks, including 2 times in the Preseason and 2 times in the Final, it is unclear if these rankings are directly attributed to Andy Katz or part of a different poll.
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Husker players in the NBA
Several Huskers players have gone on to play in the NBA, with varying levels of success. One of the most notable Husker players to have a successful NBA career is Tyronn Lue. During his 11 seasons in the NBA, Lue won two NBA titles with the Los Angeles Lakers and later became a highly successful coach, guiding the Cleveland Cavaliers to an NBA title in his first season as head coach in 2016.
Another notable Husker player in the NBA is Eric Piatkowski, who played 13 seasons in the league, primarily with the LA Clippers. Piatkowski was one of the best shooters in the NBA during his career, and he led the Huskers to their first conference tournament title. He is the Clippers' all-time leader in 3-pointers and 3-point percentage.
Stu Lantz, a third-round draft pick in 1968, played eight seasons in the NBA and is the program's highest scorer, averaging 12.4 points per game. Isaiah Roby is another Husker who played in the NBA, completing four seasons and spending the majority of his final year with the San Antonio Spurs.
More recently, Banton spent two seasons at Nebraska, sitting out the 2019-20 campaign before returning to play all 27 games in the 2020-21 season. He averaged 9.6 points per game and led the Huskers in rebounding and assists, becoming the first Husker since 1974 to lead in both categories in the same season.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Nebraska Cornhuskers men's basketball team has been ranked. The team has appeared in eight NCAA Division I tournaments and nineteen National Invitation Tournaments.
The Nebraska Cornhuskers men's basketball team has been ranked 13th best in the conference by preseason standards. The team has also been ranked 7th nationally in field goal percentage against.
Some notable players from Nebraska basketball include Dalano Banton, Bryce McGowens, Rich King, and Eric Piatkowski.
Some notable coaches from Nebraska basketball include Danny Nee, Fred Hoiberg, and Raymond G. Clapp.
