The Nebraska Cornhuskers are winless in the NCAA Tournament no more.
On Thursday, South Region No. 4 seed Nebraska (27-6, 15-5 in Big Ten) defeated the No. 13 seed Troy Trojans (22-12, 12-6 in Sun Belt) in the Round of 64, 76-47, advancing past the first round of March Madness for the first time in program history. The Cornhuskers entered Thursday 0-8 in the Big Dance.
Nebraska’s storybook 2025-26 season continues with Round of 64 win over Troy
This has been a season of firsts for Nebraska. It won its first 20 games, the longest unbeaten start to a season in program history, finishing the season with its most conference wins ever and best record of the AP poll era (since 1948-49).
Thursday’s game was as lopsided as the final score indicated.
Junior 6-foot-7 forward Pryce Sandfort, Nebraska’s leading scorer during the regular season, led all players with 23 points, shooting 7-of-13 from the field, all seven makes coming from beyond the arc. Nebraska was outstanding defensively, holding Troy to 28 percent shooting. The Trojans finished with four more turnovers (17) than made field goals (13). The Cornhuskers led by as many as 30, their largest lead in NCAA Tournament history.
Nebraska entered March Madness in a bit of a lull, dropping six of its last 12, including going one-and-done in the Big Ten tournament, losing in the quarterfinals to the eventual conference champion Purdue Boilermakers.
But Thursday’s win found the Cornhuskers in their early-season form, when they notched Quad 1 victories over tourney teams including the No. 3 seeds Illinois Fighting Illini (24-8, 15-5 in Big Ten) and Michigan State Spartans (25-7, 15-5 in Big Ten) and No. 8 seed Ohio State Buckeyes (21-12, 12-8 in Big Ten).
It could spark confidence in the group as it preps for an opportunity to advance to the Sweet 16. Nebraska will play the winner of Vanderbilt-McNeese. The No. 5 seed Vanderbilt Commodores (26-8, 11-7 in SEC) finished runner-up in the SEC tournament, defeating the South Region No. 1 seed Florida Gators (26-7, 16-2 in SEC) by 17 in the semifinals. The No. 12 seed McNeese Cowboys (28-5, 19-3 in Southland) are dancing for the third consecutive season as Southland tourney champs and have won 10 in a row, the country’s fourth-longest active win streak, per KenPom.
The Cornhuskers have already shattered their glass ceiling, reaching a previously unseen altitude. Anything else will only add to what’s already been a magical year. But we shouldn’t expect complacency to set in.
“A lot of emotions,” coach Fred Hoiberg told Andy Katz following the truTV broadcast. “We’re not satisfied, I can promise you that,” Hoiberg added.
Nebraska has plenty to celebrate after an historic first NCAA Tournament win. But its dominance over Troy showed that it’s also capable of so much more.
