Nebraska’s best-case path in ESPN’s latest bracketology comes with a familiar setting and a very appealing setup.
Joe Lunardi’s newest NCAA Tournament projection has the Huskers slotted as a No. 6 seed in Omaha, which would put them close to home for the first two rounds if the bracket holds. With Omaha again serving as a first-weekend host site, Nebraska would have a real chance to turn that into another deep March run, at least to the Sweet 16.
It’s still very early, of course, and these projections are built on last season’s results plus what Lunardi expects from each team’s rebuilt roster. But Nebraska is clearly drawing attention after the best season in program history, and the buzz around the Huskers keeps growing.
One ESPN analyst recently said the Huskers’ floor was the NCAA Tournament and the ceiling is 30 wins and a Big Ten title. Lunardi went even further, saying NU would not only make the Big Dance next March but land a pretty solid No. 6 seed.
In Lunardi’s bracket, Nebraska would open against either Marquette or TCU, the projected 11-seeds. If the Huskers got through that game, the second round would likely bring a huge matchup with No. 3 Kansas.
That possibility would make Omaha especially interesting. Nebraska would obviously have plenty of support if it reaches the tournament and plays there, but Kansas would also bring a fan base that knows how to travel. The Jayhawks are only three hours away, so the arena could turn into a ticket scramble if both schools are in the same pod.
On the other side of the Omaha bracket, Lunardi has No. 5 Texas Tech, No.
12 Wichita State, No. 4 Alabama and No.
13 High Point.
Nebraska’s projected rise is tied in part to the return of Pryce Sandfort and the continued growth of Braden Frager, two factors that appear to be driving expectations for another strong year. The Huskers still have to earn a place in the field, and Kansas would have to do the same, but for now the bracket outlook gives Nebraska fans another reason to be fired up before the season even tips off.
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