The Nebraska men’s basketball team is making serious noise this season-and now the polls are starting to reflect it. The Huskers have climbed to No. 13 in both the AP Top 25 and USA Today Coaches Poll, marking their highest national ranking since March of 1991, when they reached No.
- That’s more than three decades ago.
Safe to say, this team is doing something special.
At 12-0, Nebraska is one of just five undefeated teams remaining in the men’s Top 25, joining Arizona, Michigan, Iowa State, and Vanderbilt in that exclusive club. But it doesn’t stop there-the Huskers are also part of an even rarer feat: both their men’s and women’s teams are unbeaten.
Only Nebraska, Iowa State, and Vanderbilt can say that right now. The Husker women have moved up to No. 20 after their own 12-0 start, continuing a dominant run on both sides of the program.
For the men, this isn’t just a hot start-it’s historic. Nebraska has now won 16 straight games dating back to last season, the longest winning streak in program history. Head coach Fred Hoiberg’s squad is showing a mix of confidence, depth, and resilience that’s turning heads across the country.
Their latest win came in a 78-55 rout of North Dakota, a game that showcased the Huskers’ ability to adjust and take control. After trailing by two at halftime, Nebraska clamped down defensively and found its rhythm offensively, outscoring North Dakota 44-19 in the second half. That win pushed them to 12-0, officially the best start the program has ever seen.
Now, the team gets a well-earned break for the holidays before gearing up for what Hoiberg called “a helluva stretch.” Nebraska returns to action on December 30 against New Hampshire, followed by a major Big Ten showdown on January 2 at Pinnacle Bank Arena against No. 9 Michigan State-a game that could have serious implications in the conference race and beyond.
Hoiberg didn’t hold back in praising his team after Sunday’s win.
“I told them, ‘Enjoy your families. You deserve it.
You guys deserve to go and have a great break. Catch your breath a little bit,’” Hoiberg said.
“But we’ve got a helluva stretch coming when they get back.”
One of the key contributors in Sunday’s win-and throughout this unbeaten run-has been freshman Braden Frager, who was just named Big Ten Freshman of the Week for the second time this season. Frager led the Huskers with 17 points and added four rebounds, shooting an efficient 5-of-8 from the field and 7-of-8 from the free-throw line.
“I just kind of had it going,” Frager said after the game. “I didn’t hit a three today, so I had to find other ways to impact the game. Getting downhill and getting to the line was one of them.”
That kind of maturity and adaptability is rare for a freshman, and it’s part of what makes this team so dangerous. Even when the shots aren’t falling from deep-Nebraska struggled from beyond the arc against North Dakota-they find other ways to win.
“I feel like we trust each other a lot, especially on a night where we didn’t get going behind the arc,” Frager said. “We just found a way, and that’s what I feel like good teams do-they find a way to win.”
That’s exactly what Nebraska has been doing all season. Whether it’s gritty second-half comebacks, balanced scoring, or standout individual performances like Frager’s, the Huskers are proving they can win in a variety of ways. And now, with the spotlight growing brighter and the schedule about to get tougher, they’ll have the chance to show just how far this team can go.
For now, they’ll enjoy the break-and the view from No. 13. But come January, the real tests begin.