Nebraska basketball may have taken a hit last week with a close loss to Purdue, but the Huskers are still firmly planted in the national conversation. Despite splitting their two games, Fred Hoiberg’s squad remains in the Top 10 of both the AP and Coaches Polls, sliding just slightly to No. 9 in each. That’s a testament to how much respect this team has earned-and how tough their schedule has been.
Let’s put it in perspective: Nebraska’s three losses this season have all come against Top 10 teams. That includes a hard-fought 75-72 battle on the road against the new No.
1, Michigan. The Purdue team that edged out the Huskers last Tuesday in Lincoln now sits at No. 7, while Illinois-another team Nebraska has split with this season-holds the No. 10 spot.
That’s not just a tough schedule; that’s a gauntlet.
Here’s the latest AP Top 10 snapshot:
- Michigan
- Houston
- Duke
- Arizona
- UConn
- Iowa State
- Purdue
- Kansas
- Nebraska
- Illinois
At 22-3 overall and 11-3 in the Big Ten, Nebraska is still very much in the hunt for a top NCAA Tournament seed-and perhaps more importantly, a top-four finish in the Big Ten standings, which would earn them a triple bye in the conference tournament. That’s the kind of edge that can make or break a deep March run.
Next up: a road test in Iowa City on Tuesday night against an 18-7 Hawkeyes team that’s been quietly building momentum. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. CT, and it’s another chance for the Huskers to bolster their resume and tighten their grip on Big Ten positioning.
With Michigan leading the pack, the race for the top four in the league is heating up fast. Nebraska’s margin for error might be slim, but their ceiling? It’s still sky-high.