How Nebraska men’s basketball’s historic start to the season could end its NCAA tournament drought

A team that has never won an NCAA tournament game is perhaps the biggest story of the men's basketball this season.

Nebraska's overall program success has been clouded by a problem that awakens every March: the Cornhuskers are the only power conference team to have never won a game in March Madness. The definition of a long-standing monkey on their back.

But the 2025-26 season has provided a newfound hope — maybe the best Nebraska team in the program’s 130-year history.

The Cornhuskers are currently 15-0, carry multiple ranked wins and cracked the AP top 10 for the first time since 1966 after their win over then-No. 9 Michigan State on Jan. 2, the program’s fifth-ever ranked win while ranked themselves. 

Picked to finish 14th in the Big Ten preseason media poll, they’ve become one of the biggest talks of the town in college hoops. 

To put into perspective how rare of a feat this is, they haven't won a regular season conference title since 1950 — when the Big 12 was the Big Seven — and their only conference tournament title came in 1994.

Let’s take a look at what’s been the driving force behind the Cornhuskers’ hot start, and if this is the golden year. 

LATEST RANKINGS: BYU cracks top 10, Michigan State falls in men's basketball Power 37 

‘WE BELONG IN THESE GAMES’

A sea of red rushed onto Pinnacle Bank Arena’s hardwood seconds after the final buzzer in Nebraska’s win over the Spartan as fans piled in from all directions.

And even though the court storm reflected the magnitude of the win and the emotional rollercoaster fans endured, Nebraska players requested that fans not do it again.

"If you're the No. 13 (team) against the No. 9 and you’re at home, in my opinion, you’re supposed to win that game," senior forward Rienk Mast said. "I don’t blame the fans at all, they got excited for that win. From here on out, we’ve proven that we belong in these games, and we’re supposed to win these types of games.”

Senior guard Jamarques Lawrence doubled down on his teammate’s statement.

"We’re supposed to win that game," Lawrence said. "No more court storms, please."

IT'S STORMING IN LINCOLN ⛈️

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB)

This is uncharted territory for Nebraska and its faithful, so the court storming was bound to happen as more wins, at least impressive ones, stacked up. But Mast's and Lawrence’s comments were bigger than a plea, it was a reality check — this isn’t your average Cornhuskers team. They’ve risen to the occasion each time it was necessary.

And Nebraska isn’t a one-man band operation or dynamic duo that takes turns dismantling offenses. They are the epitome of the saying, "every piece of the puzzle matters."

They have three players averaging double figures, headlined by Mast and junior forward Pryce Sandfort, feature a recent Big Ten Freshman of the Week in Lincoln native and redshirt freshman forward Braden Frager, already have two triple-doubles under their belt — two in program history before this season — and a supporting cast that shows up consistently.

Take a look at the points, rebounds and assists per game from the team’s top six scorers this year compared to their numbers during the previous year. 

**Mast’s last season numbers are from 2023-24 after he missed the entire 2024-25 season due to a left knee injury

This year's team beats last season's in all three categories as a team. Between the consistency and depth, coach Fred Hoiberg's group has put a lot on opposing teams' plates. 

Plus, they are one of the best defensive teams in the country, ranking in the top 15 in defensive efficiency and limiting their opponents to 60 or fewer points in seven of their first 15 games. They have the 16th best defensive rating in the nation according to KenPom and the 11th strongest NET ranking behind four Quad 1 wins.

It's safe to say that they belong. 

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CAN THEY BREAK THE CURSE?

The Cornhuskers have historically struggled in the Big Dance, losing in all eight NCAA tournament appearances — with only two appearances coming since the turn of the century (2014 and 2024).

They’ve come close on numerous occasions, but they were never able to get over the hump.

This season seems like they’ll have enough ammo left in the tank by mid-March. However, they have a tough conference schedule remaining. Here’s a list of every Nebraska matchup against a top 50 NET ranking opponent still to come.

The Cornhuskers have already downed the Fighting Illini on the road and Michigan State in Lincoln, two teams with top-12 NET rankings, which is the bright side. Yet, in a bloodbath-like conference as the Big Ten, teams are bound to slip up, whether it’s to a prominent foe or an opponent that catches them on a bad shooting night.

Until that adversity hits, especially as an undefeated team, it will be difficult to judge Nebraska’s second half voyage that features 16 more pit spots. 

But the Cornhuskers program already knows what adversity feels like. They've been defined by it, shaped, cultivated, molded even by their winless March Madness record. There’s arguably no team or fan base that’s sat with that feeling longer than the team in Lincoln.

Nebraska's scorching hot start to the season wasn’t expected by many, but with the momentum it carries, it feels like there’s no better time for the curse to be broken.