Nebraska Basketball’s Historic Start Fueled by Stars and Unsung Heroes Alike
The Nebraska Cornhuskers are off to the best start in program history, and it’s not just because they have one guy lighting up the scoreboard. This team is winning with depth, discipline, and a healthy dose of grit - and Saturday’s road win over No. 13 Illinois was a perfect snapshot of what’s working in Lincoln right now.
Yes, Pryce Sandfort stole the headlines with a career-high 32 points, including a jaw-dropping 26 in the first half. When a shooter catches fire like that, it’s hard to look away. But if you zoom out just a bit, you’ll see the real engine behind Nebraska’s statement win: Sam Hoiberg.
He didn’t put up flashy numbers. In fact, his stat line - 7 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, zero turnovers - might not leap off the page. But ask Illinois head coach Brad Underwood who controlled the game, and he won’t hesitate to name the coach’s son.
“Your ability to dominate a basketball game doesn’t always show up in points,” Underwood said postgame. “He did all the little things and all the extra effort things to allow his team to win.”
That’s high praise coming from a coach who was clearly frustrated with his own squad, particularly their defensive effort against Sandfort. Underwood didn’t mince words about his team’s lack of focus, especially early on.
“How does the best shooter in the Big Ten get a butt-naked three three minutes into the game in transition?” he asked, rhetorically. “That is just five dudes out there who aren’t dialed in, and that’s where I have to help.”
Sandfort’s hot hand was a problem Illinois never solved, but it was Hoiberg’s poise and decision-making that ultimately sealed the deal.
The final possession told the story. With the clock winding down and the game on the line, Hoiberg had the ball in his hands.
He drove hard to the basket, drawing defenders in like a magnet. But instead of forcing a contested shot, he waited just long enough, then kicked it out to Jamarques Lawrence, who buried the game-winning three.
That’s the kind of play that doesn’t just win games - it builds trust inside a locker room. It’s the kind of moment that turns role players into leaders.
Hoiberg has taken a noticeable leap this season. He’s still doing the hustle plays - diving for loose balls, rotating on defense, making smart passes - but now, he’s doing them with the confidence of a player who knows he belongs. He’s become a stabilizing force for a Nebraska team that’s suddenly looking like a real threat in the Big Ten.
And that’s what makes this team so dangerous. They’ve got the scorers, like Sandfort, who can torch you from deep.
But they’ve also got guys like Hoiberg, who don’t need to score 20 to control a game. They just need to make the right play - over and over again.
For Nebraska, this isn’t a fluke. It’s a formula. And right now, it’s working better than it ever has.