The Nebraska Cornhuskers are winless within the NCAA Match no extra.
On Thursday, South Area No. 4 seed Nebraska (27-6, 15-5 in Huge Ten) defeated the No. 13 seed Troy Trojans (22-12, 12-6 in Solar Belt) within the Spherical of 64, 76-47, advancing previous the primary spherical of March Insanity for the primary time in program historical past. The Cornhuskers entered Thursday 0-8 within the Huge Dance.
Nebraska’s storybook 2025-26 season continues with Spherical of 64 win over Troy
This has been a season of firsts for Nebraska. It received its first 20 video games, the longest unbeaten begin to a season in program historical past, ending the season with its most convention wins ever and greatest file of the AP ballot period (since 1948-49).
Thursday’s sport was as lopsided as the ultimate rating indicated.
Junior 6-foot-7 ahead Pryce Sandfort, Nebraska’s main scorer through the common season, led all gamers with 23 factors, capturing 7-of-13 from the sector, all seven makes coming from past the arc. Nebraska was excellent defensively, holding Troy to twenty-eight % capturing. The Trojans completed with 4 extra turnovers (17) than made area objectives (13). The Cornhuskers led by as many as 30, their largest lead in NCAA Match historical past.
Nebraska entered March Insanity in a little bit of a lull, dropping six of its final 12, together with going one-and-done within the Huge Ten event, shedding within the quarterfinals to the eventual convention champion Purdue Boilermakers.
However Thursday’s win discovered the Cornhuskers of their early-season type, after they notched Quad 1 victories over tourney groups together with the No. 3 seeds Illinois Fighting Illini (24-8, 15-5 in Huge Ten) and Michigan State Spartans (25-7, 15-5 in Huge Ten) and No. 8 seed Ohio State Buckeyes (21-12, 12-8 in Huge Ten).
It might spark confidence within the group because it preps for a chance to advance to the Candy 16. Nebraska will play the winner of Vanderbilt-McNeese. The No. 5 seed Vanderbilt Commodores (26-8, 11-7 in SEC) completed runner-up within the SEC event, defeating the South Area No. 1 seed Florida Gators (26-7, 16-2 in SEC) by 17 within 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 received 10 in a row, the nation’s fourth-longest energetic win streak, per KenPom.
The Cornhuskers have already shattered their glass ceiling, reaching a beforehand unseen altitude. The rest will solely add to what’s already been a magical 12 months. However we should not count on complacency to set in.
“Quite a lot of feelings,” coach Fred Hoiberg informed Andy Katz following the truTV broadcast. “We’re not glad, I can promise you that,” Hoiberg added.
Nebraska has loads to have a good time after an historic first NCAA Match win. However its dominance over Troy confirmed that it is also able to a lot extra.
