No. 7 Huskers Host Wildcats on Alumni Weekend
The No. 7/8 (AP/Coaches) Nebraska men's basketball team returns to action Saturday afternoon, as the Huskers host Northwestern on Alumni Weekend. Tipoff from a sold-out Pinnacle Bank Arena is set for Noon (central) and the game will be carried on BTN, broadcast on the Huskers Radio Network, as well as on Huskers.com and on the official Huskers app. The game will also be available on the Fox Sports and Fox One apps.
The Huskers (21-3, 10-3 B1G) come off a tough 80-77 overtime loss to No. 13 Purdue on Tuesday evening. The Huskers rallied from a 22-point second-half deficit, including a 14-point deficit with 2:45 left in regulation, to force overtime and led 77-75 with 1:31 left in the extra session before Purdue scored the final five points to earn the victory. Rienk Mast led three Huskers in double figures with 18 points, six rebounds and seven assists, while Jamarques Lawrence and Pryce Sandfort added 16 and 15 points, respectively. Purdue took advantage of a 54-37 advantage on the glass and enjoyed a 17-6 margin in second-chance points to earn the win. Nebraska enters the weekend in a tie for third in the Big Ten race with the Boilermakers and Michigan State and 1/2 game behind second-place Illinois.
Saturday's game with Northwestern is the program's annual Alumni weekend, as more than 75 former players, coaches and staff and will return to campus for events. The event features a reunion of the 1996 NIT Champion Huskers as Coach Danny Nee and many members of that team will be honored Friday night at a private banquet and introduced on Saturday. In all, players from eight decades (1950-2020s) are scheduled to be back for the festivities.
Northwestern (10-15, 2-12 B1G) gave No. 2 Michigan all it wanted before the Wolverines rallied back from a 16-point second-half deficit to prevail 87-75 in Evanston. Jayden Reid led Northwestern with 20 points while Nick Martinelli added 18 points and had eight rebounds for the Wildcats. Martinelli leads the Big Ten in scoring (22.7 ppg) and is seventh in field goal percentage (.523).
Numbers to Know
.368 - Nebraska held Purdue to a season-low 36.8 percent shooting from the field, the first time Purdue had been held under 40 percent from the field since March 14, 2025 vs. Michigan (.338).
9.1 - Nebraska ranks eighth nationally with 9.1 turnovers per game. NU is one of six Big Ten teams in the top-20 of fewest turnovers per game.
28 - In Nebraska's five games against ranked opponents this season, Sam Hoiberg has a 28-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio and is averaging 1.4 steals per game.
16 - Nebraska's 16-point second-half comeback against Indiana on Jan. 10 tied the Huskers' largest comeback of the season (also vs. Oklahoma). NU has a trio of double-digit comebacks this season and seven over the past two seasons.
54.8 - Nebraska's top four scorers (Rienk Mast, Pryce Sandfort, Braden Frager and Jamarques Lawrence) are combining for 54.8 points per game. None of them were in the Husker lineup last season.
80 - Nebraska is 50-10 (.833) under Fred Hoiberg when scoring 80 or more points, including a 41-7 mark over the last three-plus seasons. Of those seven losses since the start of 2022-23, four came in overtime.
1,036 -Rienk Mast now has 1,036 career rebounds and is one of only three active players with at least 1,000 career rebounds, joining Notre Dame's Carson Towt and Gonzaga's Graham Ike.
10 -Pryce Sandfort is just the eighth Husker player to have at least 10 20-point efforts in a season since Nebraska joined the Big Ten in 2011-12.
4 - According to Stathead, Sam Hoiberg is one of four players - and the only power conference player - nationally at 6-0 or under averaging at least five rebounds per game this season.
Northwestern Game is Alumni Weekend
Saturday's game against Northwestern is Husker Basketball Alumni Weekend, as over 75 former players, coaches and staff are expected back for the annual event. This will be the largest turnout of Husker alums since the event began in 2014.
The weekend is highlighted by the 1996 NIT Championship team, which is celebrating its 30-year anniversary this weekend. Coach Danny Nee and nearly a dozen former players from the 1995-96 team will be on hand, as Nebraska defeated Saint Joseph's, 60-56 in the title game at Madison Square Garden. Erick Strickland earned MVP honors, as he averaged 17.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game in five NIT games.
Husker Alunmi weekend began in 2014, and features several events for former players and staff, highlighted by a private dinner on Friday night and a reception following Saturday's game. The former players will be recognized during halftime ceremonies, and this year's group spans eight different decades of Husker basketball dating back to the 1950s.
Expected Husker Alumni Weekend Participants
Josiah Allick (2023-2024); Thomas Baack (1965-1968); Terrance Badgett (1991-1996); Jaron Boone (1992-1996); Tanner Borchardt (2015-2019); Steffon Bradford (1999-2001); Henry T. Buchanan (1986-1988); Derrick Chandler (1991-1993); Brennon Clemmons (2001-2003); Stan Cloudy (1982-1984); Bernard Day (1985-1987); Kedrick Ford (2000-2002); Bernard Garner (1995-1997); Ivan Gilreath (1980-1981); Venson Hamilton (1995-1999); Ryan Hinckley (1996-1997); Dave Hoppen (1982-1986); Chad Ideus (1994-1996); Michael Johnette (1996-1998); Todd Koca (1987-1989); Kye Kurkowski (2010-2015); Andy Markowski (1994-1999); Matt Mar (1991-1992); John Matzke (1981-1986); Albert Maxey Sr. (1957-1960); Bryce McGowens (2021-2022); Trey McGowens (2020-2022); Trevor Menke (2010-2015); Keith Moody (1989-1991); Mikki Moore (1993-1997); Andrew Morgan (2024-2025); Jake Mulheisen (2001-2005); Chris Newton (1992-1994); Dapreis Owens (1988-1992); Jason Peterson (1991-1992): Ryan Phifer (1996-1998); Eric Piatkowski (1991-1994); Walter Pitchford (2012-2015); David Ponce (1982-1984); Dennie Puelz (1960-1964); Kip Realph (1993-1994); Claude Renfro (1980-1983); Charles Richardson Jr. (2003-2007); Isaiah Roby (2016-2019); Bronsen Schliep (2001-2006); Andy Schwindt (1996-1997); Joel Sealer (1984-1987); Rick Seidel (1973-1974); Milton Shobe Jr. (1985-1986); Jerry Shoecraft (1978-1982); Bob Siege (1973-1977); Grant Simmons (1962-1966); Erick Strickland (1992-1996); Jay-R Strowbridge (2006-2008); Chester Surles (1994-1996); Ryan Thomas (1999-2001); Derrick Vick (1986-1988); Dale VonSeggern (1967-1970); Tom Wald (1994-1996); Tony Wilbrand (2001-2006); Wes Wilkinson (2002-2006); Eric Williams (1979-1984); Mark Woita (1972-1973); Craig Wortmann (1998-2001).
Huskers Stay in Top 10 for Sixth Straight Week
Nebraska continued it run in the AP Top 10 on Monday, checking in at No. 7. The Huskers are also No. 8 in the Coaches poll.
• Nebraska has now been in the top 10 for six straight weeks, the longest stretch in school history. The previous best was four weeks from Feb. 7-28, 1966. The Huskers have now been ranked for nine straight weeks dating back to Dec. 8.
• On Jan. 26, Nebraska earned its highest ranking in school history, moving to No. 5 in both the AP and Coaches polls. It topped NU's previous best of seventh on Jan. 19.
• The Huskers are now 50-25 (.666) all-time when ranked in the AP poll following Tuesday's loss to Purdue.
• Prior to this season, the 1965-66 season was the only other season where Nebraska was ranked in the top 10. NU spent four straight weeks in the poll
(Feb. 7-28) in 1965-66, reaching as high as eighth on Feb. 21, 1966. That season, the Huskers went 20-5, including 12-2 in the Big Eight to finish second to Kansas, but did not advance to postseason play. That Kansas team that won the Big Eight lost to eventual NCAA Champion Texas Western, 81-80, in double overtime in the Midwest Regional Final.
• Prior to its 2025-26 poll debut on Dec. 8, the Huskers had not been ranked in the AP poll since Dec. 31, 2018.
Worth Noting
• Nebraska's 21-3 start is the program's best record after 24 games since the 1919-20 season, when NU finished with a 22-2 record.
• Nebraska's 21 wins this season marks the 10th time in program history that the Huskers have won 21 or more games. It also ties NU's win total from last season. A win on Saturday against Northwestern would move the 2025-26 team into a tie for sixth on NU's single-season list.
• The Huskers now have three straight 20-win seasons for the first time in school history. In addition, Nebraska has already won 20 games, marking the eighth time in program history that Nebraska has won 20-or-more games in the regular season.
• Nebraska is 12-2 at home this season and is 51-13 (.796) at Pinnacle Bank Arena over the past four seasons.
• Nebraska's 20-0 start marked just the third time in the last 30 years a Big Ten team has started 20-0 and the first since Ohio State opened the 2010-11 season with 24 straight wins.
• Nebraska’s 10-3 Big Ten start is the program's best conference start of the Big Ten era (2011-12 to present) and is the program's best since going 11-2 in the first 12 games of the 1965-66 season. With a win on Tuesday, NU would win 11 conference games for just the seventh time in school history.
• Nebraska is 6-1 on the road in Big Ten play in 2025-26. The six wins on the road in conference play set a program record. NU had won five conference road games four previous times, the last in 1965-66.
• Nebraska is 2-3 vs. ranked teams in 2025-26 following Tuesday's overtime loss to Purdue. Since March 1, 2022, the Huskers are 11-14 in the last 25 games against ranked teams, including 5-4 against top-10 teams. Prior to that, NU had lost 24 straight against ranked teams dating back to the 2019 Big Ten Tournament.
• Nebraska is 12th in the NET rankings released on Feb. 11. The Huskers are one of five Big Ten teams in the top 12 of the NET (No. 1 Michigan, No. 5 Illinois, No. 9 Purdue, No. 11 Michigan State and No. 12 Nebraska.
• As of Feb. 11, Nebraska's five Quad 1 wins ties for 14th nationally. NU is also 11-3 in the first two quads, as the 11 wins are tied for 11th nationally.
• Nebraska saw its school-record 24-game win streak snapped on Jan. 27. It nearly doubled the previous mark of 14 set two other times (1912-13 and 1990-91) and was the longest win streak by a Big Ten team since Ohio State won 24 straight to open the 2010-11 season.
• Since the start of the 2023-24 season, NU is 65-28 (.698) while the 65 wins is fifth among Big Ten teams in that span (Purdue-78; Illinois-70; Michigan State-70; Wisconsin-66; Nebraska-65) as of Feb. 11.
Noting the Husker Offense
• Nebraska is averaging 79.8 ppg, which is the Huskers' highest scoring average after 24 games since the 1995-96 season (83.5 ppg). The 1995-96 team marked the last time Nebraska averaged 80.0 ppg in a season and one of just six teams in school history to average 80.0+ ppg. Nebraska's highest season average under Hoiberg is 77.7 ppg in 2024-25.
• Nebraska is currently 36th nationally in offensive efficiency in KenPom, the second-highest ranking in Fred Hoiberg's seven seasons at NU (32nd in 2023-24).
• The Huskers are third in the Big Ten and 12th nationally with 11.0 3-pointers made per game as of Feb. 11. It is on pace to break NU's single-season record (9.54 in 2001-02). Nebraska is one of four teams on pace to break the Big Ten's single-season mark for 3-pointers per game (10.4 by Penn State in 2022-23). NU led the Big Ten with 9.4 3-pointers per game in 2023-24, the fifth time a Hoiberg-coached team led the conference in 3-pointers per game.
• Nebraska has made 10-or-more 3-pointers 16 times this season, including 17 against both Oregon and FIU and 15 vs. both Oklahoma and Illinois. The 17 3-pointers was one shy of the school mark of 18 set against Kansas in 2002.
• The seven 3-pointers by Braden Frager and Pryce Sandfort vs. Oregon on Jan. 13 marked the first time in school history that NU has had multiple players hit seven 3-pointers in a game. According to Stathead, it was the third Big Ten game since 2010-11 where multiple teammates hit seven or more 3-pointers in a game.
• NU's team 2.04-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio ranks fourth nationally as of Feb. 11. It is on track to shatter the school mark of 1.81 set in 1984-85. The Big Ten has the top three teams nationally in that category (Purdue-1st; Northwestern-2nd; Nebraska-3rd). Only two teams (Gonzaga in 2024-25; Iowa in 2020-21) in the last 10 season have finished the year with a 2.00-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
• Nebraska enters the Northwestern game ranked fourth in the Big Ten and 10th nationally with 18.5 assists per game. It is an increase of 4.6 assists per game from last season. Nebraska's highest assist per game total under Hoiberg is 15.3 per game in 2023-24.
• The Huskers are second in the Big Ten and eighth nationally in fewest turnovers per game at 9.1 per contest. In Big Ten games, it is just 8.5 per contest. The 9.1 turnovers per game is on pace to be a school record and just the second time NU has averaged less than 10 turnovers per game since the stat was recorded in 1978-79.
Noting the Husker Defense
• Nebraska has been stout defensively, ranking third in the Big Ten and 26th nationally in field goal percentage defense (.398). The Huskers are also 24th nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 66.7 ppg.
• The 66.7 ppg allowed is 5.5 points per game fewer than last season and on pace to be NU's lowest scoring defense since the 2014-15 season (63.1).
• The Huskers have held 14 opponents to under 1.0 points per possession. Over the last three-plus seasons, NU is 54-3 (.947) when holding foes to
under 1.00 PPP and 56-5 when holding opponents to under 70 points.
• Nebraska is third in the Big Ten with 7.0 steals per game.
• Nebraska has improved its KenPom defensive efficiency in each of the past three seasons and is on track to continue that trend in 2025-26, as the Huskers are 10th nationally as of Feb. 11. Nebraska's best KenPom rank on defense was 15th nationally in 2008-09. That is the last time Nebraska ranked in the top 20 nationally in defensive efficiency.
This and That
• The Huskers have excelled in close games this season, going 4-2 in games decided by one possession, including a 3-2 mark in Big Ten play. Last year, NU was 0-6 in games decided by one possession.
• The Huskers posted their third double-digit comeback of the season against Indiana on Jan. 10, overcoming a 16-point second-half deficit (also 16 vs. Oklahoma and 12 vs. USC Upstate). It marked the 12th time under Hoiberg NU has overcome a double-digit deficit, including seven times in the last two seasons. Nebraska nearly erased a 22-point deficit in the overtime loss to No. 13 Purdue on Feb. 10.
• As of Feb. 11, there have been 22 triple-doubles in Division I basketball this season while NU is the only school with multiple players recording a triple double. Over the last seven seasons, only five schools - NU (2025-26), Iowa State (2023-24), Western Kentucky (2021-22), Portland (2021-22) and Utah (2019-20) - have had multiple players record triple-doubles in the same year.
• NU has 26 double-digit scoring runs this season, which is tied for 11th nationally according to EvanMiya.com as of Feb. 11.
• Nebraska completed its non-conference slate with a perfect 11-0 record, marking the first time since the 1928-29 season where NU posted an unblemished non-conference mark (6-0). The Huskers are 31-2 in regular-season non-conference play since the start of the 2023-24 season (10-1 in 2023-24; 10-1 in 2024-25).
• Nine Huskers have posted double-figure efforts this season, while four players have had at least one 20-point performance (Pryce Sandfort-9; Braden Frager-5; Rienk Mast-4; Jamarques Lawrence-2).
Purdue Recap
No. 7 Nebraska erased a 22-point second-half deficit to get the game to overtime before No. 13 Purdue rallied for an 80-77 overtime win. The Huskers (21-3. 10-3) trailed 46-24 with 18:55 remaining before mounting a frantic comeback. NU used an 18-2 run to get within 57-53 with 5:20 left after a Sam Hoiberg basket, only to see Purdue seemingly take control with a 10-0 run highlighted by a pair of 3-pointers from C.J. Cox.
Nebraska trailed 67-53 with 2:45 left in regulation before making one last run, outscoring the Boilermakers, 15-1 down the stretch as Rienk Mast and Jamarques Lawrence, who combined for 12 of the Huskers' final 15 points in regulation. Mast’s putback with 12.8 seconds left in regulation pulled NU even at 68, but the senior, who finished with 18 points, six rebounds and seven assists, was unable to complete the 3-point play and NU forced a stop to send the game to overtime.
In the extra period, the Huskers trailed 75-70 after another Cox 3-pointer with 3:09 left, but has one more surge, as a pair of free throws form Pryce Sandfort and a Lawrence 3-pointer tied the game, and NU took its only lead of the night on a Sandfort basket with 1:31 remaining in the extra period.
Leading 77-76 Oscar Cluff’s putback with 4.1 seconds left gave Purdue the lead for good. Cluff, who finished with 12 points and 14 rebounds, missed the free throw and a tie-up gave the Huskers one last chance. Nebraska was not able to take advantage as Lawrence, who finished with 16 points, five rebounds and four assists, slipped on a wet spot by the Purdue bench before Gicarri Harris hit a pair of free throws for the final margin. Notes from the Purdue Game
• Nebraska's OT game was its first since a double OT loss at Ohio State on March 4, 2025.
• This is the second time in the last three meetings in Lincoln that gone to overtime (also in 2022-23).
• Nebraska erased a 22-point deficit in the second half to force overtime. That marked the second time in Big Ten play this season that the Huskers erased a second-half deficit of 15 or more points. NU rallied from a 16-point deficit to win at Indiana on Jan. 10.
• Nebraska had 21 assists in the game, its 11th game with 20 or more assists this season.
• The Huskers made 12 threes to mark the 10th time this season Nebraska hit 12 or more 3-pointers in a game this season. Nebraska now has 265 3-
pointers to rank fourth on NU’s single-season chart.
• Rienk Mast had 18 points, seven assists and six rebounds before fouling out in overtime. Mast tied or led Nebraska in each of those categories.
• Purdue shot a school-record 46 3-pointers, which tied the Nebraska opponent record for 3-point attempts in a game and marked the most 3-point attempts a Division I opponent has ever taken against Nebraska.
• Purdue’s Trey Kaufman-Renn had 19 rebounds, which tied the Pinnacle Bank Arena record for rebounds in a game. Maryland’s Bruno Fernando also had 19 rebounds against Nebraska on Feb. 6, 2019.