After a blistering 20-0 start that had Nebraska basketball riding high and dreaming big, the Huskers have hit a rough patch - dropping three of their last four games and watching their Big Ten title hopes take a serious hit. They’re now in a four-way tie for second place, two games behind Michigan, and the margin for error is shrinking fast.
To have a shot at the regular-season crown, Nebraska would likely need to run the table and hope Michigan stumbles twice in its final stretch. That’s a tall order, but the focus now shifts to something just as important: seeding.
How Nebraska finishes the regular season - and performs in the Big Ten tournament - will shape its postseason path. A strong close could still land the Huskers in that coveted 2- or 3-seed range.
Anything outside the top four would feel like a step back after such a promising start.
The good news? The schedule lightens up - at least on paper.
Nebraska’s final seven games include Northwestern, at Iowa, Penn State, Maryland, at USC, at UCLA, and a rematch with Iowa. That’s a much more manageable stretch compared to the recent gauntlet, which featured three top-12 teams in four games - all losses.
There are still challenges, especially on the road. But a 5-2 finish is absolutely within reach. That would put Nebraska at 15-5 in Big Ten play - a record that was good enough to win the conference in 2022-23, and has consistently been top-two material in recent years.
To get there, though, Fred Hoiberg’s squad has to tighten things up in three key areas. Let’s break them down.
1. Clean the Glass - Especially on Defense
If there’s one stat that jumps off the page from the Purdue loss, it’s this: the Boilermakers grabbed 40.1% of their own misses. That’s an absurd number - and a backbreaker for any team trying to pull off an upset on the road.
In Nebraska’s three recent losses, opponents have averaged an offensive rebounding rate of 35.03%. That’s not just bad - it’s unsustainable.
Especially when Nebraska is also struggling to generate second chances of its own. In those same three games, the Huskers didn’t rebound more than 17% of their own misses.
That’s a recipe for losing the possession battle by a wide margin.
The Huskers are currently at a -3.3 rebounding margin in Big Ten play. That’s not going to cut it.
While Indiana and Michigan State also hit the offensive glass hard, Nebraska managed to survive those games by winning the turnover battle and staying competitive on the boards. But against elite teams, you can’t afford to give up that many extra possessions.
Nebraska doesn’t have to become a dominant rebounding team overnight - that’s not their identity. But they do need to get back to boxing out, finishing possessions, and limiting second-chance points. Clean up the defensive glass, and everything else becomes easier.
2. Take Care of the Ball - Like They Usually Do
One of Nebraska’s biggest strengths this season has been ball security. They’ve averaged just 9.1 turnovers per game - eighth-best in the country - and only 7.9 per game in Big Ten play, which ranks third in the conference.
But that discipline has slipped lately. Against Michigan, Illinois, and Purdue, Nebraska coughed it up 11 times per game - and many of those were unforced errors.
We’re talking about sloppy passes, miscommunication, and dropped balls that sailed out of bounds. It’s the kind of stuff that kills momentum and gives away points in close games.
In Tuesday’s loss alone, Nebraska committed 14 turnovers. Cut that number down to nine - their season average - and they probably win that game.
It’s that simple. A handful of extra possessions can swing the outcome, especially in tight, physical matchups like the ones they’ve faced recently.
This team doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel offensively. They just need to get back to what’s worked: crisp passing, smart decision-making, and valuing each possession. If they do that, they can hang with anybody.
3. Win the Battle Inside the Arc
There’s a narrative out there that Nebraska lives and dies by the three. But the numbers tell a different story.
In their three recent losses, the Huskers actually hit 38 threes - over 12 per game - and shot them at a respectable clip. That’s not the issue.
The real problem? A dip in 2-point efficiency - and a big one.
Over the last three games, Nebraska has shot just 50% on 2-pointers. That’s a sharp drop from the 60% mark they were hitting earlier in the season. Against Purdue, they managed 51% inside the arc, but the damage had already been done in previous games, including a rough 41% showing against Indiana.
Meanwhile, their opponents - Michigan, Illinois, and Purdue - have combined to shoot nearly 61% on 2-pointers in those matchups. That’s a massive gap. You’re not going to win many games when you’re giving up high-percentage looks inside and failing to convert your own.
It’s not just about shooting percentage, either. The Huskers need to create better looks at the rim, finish through contact, and avoid settling for tough mid-range shots. They also need to tighten up defensively in the paint - whether that means better rotations, more help-side defense, or simply more physicality.
The Bottom Line
Nebraska’s season is far from over. In fact, everything they want is still on the table - a top-three Big Ten finish, a strong seed in the NCAA tournament, and a chance to make a serious run in March.
But to get there, they’ve got to stop the bleeding and get back to doing the little things right. Rebounding, ball security, and efficient scoring inside the arc - those are the pillars. Fix those, and this team can regain the form that had them looking like a dark horse contender just a few weeks ago.
The path is clear. Now it’s about execution.