Braden Frager’s Breakout Week Has Nebraska Hoops Turning Heads
If you didn’t see this coming, don’t worry - you’re not alone. Frankly, it doesn’t seem like Indiana or Oregon saw it coming either. And by the time Braden Frager was soaring to the rim and throwing down dunks over defenders, it was already too late.
Nebraska basketball is 17-0. Let that sink in.
A team picked to finish 14th in the Big Ten is now sitting alone at the top of the standings. And right in the middle of that unexpected rise?
A redshirt freshman from Lincoln who’s playing with the poise of a senior and the swagger of someone who knows he belongs.
Frager’s emergence hasn’t just been a pleasant surprise - it’s been electric. He’s got bounce, he’s got confidence, and he’s got a jumper that’s been quietly honed behind the scenes during his redshirt year. The stories were there over the summer - the gym rat mentality, the edge to his game - but even the most optimistic Husker fan couldn’t have predicted what we’ve seen this past week.
Let’s break it down: Frager was the go-to guy in the final minute of a tight game at Ohio State. He dropped 11 clutch points to help seal a win at Indiana’s Assembly Hall - one of the toughest environments in college basketball. And then he absolutely lit up Oregon, knocking down 7-of-11 from deep in a 90-55 blowout that turned heads across the country.
That’s not just a good week. That’s a statement week.
Of course, there’s still plenty of room for growth - that’s a given with any freshman. But what’s striking is how quickly Frager has elevated his game, especially since Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo - a Hall of Famer who’s seen more than a few great players - said, “The Frager kid is going to be a helluva player.”
Since then? He’s backed it up.
In two of Nebraska’s recent wins, he was as clutch as anyone on the floor. In the third, he turned in a highlight reel performance that showcased just how dangerous he can be when he gets rolling.
What’s just as important as the numbers, though, is the trust. Frager’s coaches believe in him.
His teammates - including seasoned veterans - believe in him. That kind of confidence is contagious, and it’s fueling a player who already plays with fearless energy.
Just ask Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg, who didn’t mince words during Tuesday’s game.
“I told Frager in the first half, ‘Shoot the damn ball,’” Hoiberg said.
That’s not just encouragement - that’s a green light. And Frager’s been taking full advantage of it.
Right now, Nebraska’s unbeaten run is one of the biggest stories in college basketball. And Braden Frager? He’s not just along for the ride - he’s helping drive the bus.