The college basketball offseason is here, and we decided to have some fun over the next few months, ranking ALL 364 teams in D1. Number 163 is Nebraska basketball.
Before you say we’re crazy – or that all of this is up for debate, let’s go over the very intricate process of how we came to this conclusion. We took a very statistical approach – with the help of Chat GPT – taking into consideration everything from March Madness wins and finishes, to AP Poll appearances, to conference players of the year. And then, a good friend of ours, Scott Blanchard, took our approach to the MAX.
Click here to visit the FIRST article, which explains how the formula works!
Here’s the breakdown of Nebraska basketball!
NCAA Tournament Success
- Championships: 0
- Finals appearances: 0
- Final Fours: 0
- Elite Eights: 0
- Sweet 16s: 1
- NCAA wins: 2
- Bids: 9
Consistency Over Time
- Wins per season: 12.5
- Bids per season: 0.07
- AP Polls: 49
Player Quality & Talent
- All-Americans: 1
- NBA players drafted & played: 10
- Conference Players of the Year: 2
Conference & Other Success
- Conference regular season titles: 7
- Conference tournament titles: 1
- NIT titles: 1
- Other tournament titles: 1
Overall scoop on Nebraska basketball
Long known as one of the worst Power Conference programs in college hoops history, Nebraska basketball (Nebrasketball) has totally turned that around. The Cornhuskers made the Sweet 16 this past season, for their first two wins in March Madness. In their previous eight tournaments, they were winless.
Last season’s Nebraska squad truly was one of the best in the nation. Rienk Mast, Pryce Sandfort, and more made for a fun, offensive powerhouse that captured the hearts of America before losing to Iowa. And they were coached by Fred Hoiberg, who has helped transform the program, going from a consistent losing team to three straight 20-win seasons and counting. In 2025, they won the inaugural College Basketball Crown.
Before Hoiberg, Tim Miles also did a solid job, bringing Nebraska dancing in 2014 and also helping them turn players into the NBA. Out of the handful of Nebraska players that have been drafted and played in the NBA, Isaiah Roby, Bryce McGowens, and Dalano Blanton all played under either Miles or Hoiberg.
Nebraska also had some outstanding seasons in the 1990s with Danny Nee coaching the squad. Nee led them to four straight tourneys from 1991 to 1994, and again in 1998. None of them won any games in March, which was a bit of a disappointment. For the first four tournaments, Nebraska was ranked during the year, even getting a 3-seed in 1991. They were taken down by 14-seed Xavier. In 1996, they won the NIT, which might not be what the fanbase was hoping for during that stretch, but it isn’t a terrible consolation.
Nebraska was also competitive under Nee’s predecessor, Moe Iba, who took them to the tournament in 1986. However, that was Nebraska’s first time ever playing in March Madness. For decades before that, they simply couldn’t put a program good enough to make the postseason out there on the court.
It isn’t to say Nebraska was terrible. Joe Cipriano had a 253-197 record from 1963-80. And way back when, Sam Carrier was a Consensus All-American in 1913.
In terms of Power Five success, Nebraska still doesn’t match up to most. But the program is in a terrific place to continue to change that narrative. And despite zero tourney wins up until this past March, they had plenty of other tourney bids, players, and more to brag about. It’s why we love Nebrasketball!