14. Nebraska Cornhuskers
After making the NCAA Tournament in 2024, a brutal end-of-season stretch in late February doomed Nebraska’s at-large hopes, which ultimately cost the Cornhuskers a chance at the Big Ten Tournament.
While they lose key members from last year’s squad in Juwan Gary and Brice Williams, all hope isn’t lost because the biggest addition for Nebraska in 2025-26 didn't come from the transfer portal. Rather, it came internally.
It’s the return of Rienk Mast, who missed all of last season with an injury. In 2023-24, Mast averaged 12.3 PPG and 7.5 RPG, and was a catalyst for Nebraska reaching the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014.
The Cornhuskers made some much-needed splashes in the transfer portal, adding Iowa transfer Pryce Sandfort, who shot 40% from three last season at Iowa, St. Thomas Kendall Blue, who averaged 12.3 PPG (shooting 64.8% from two), and Jamarques Lawrence, who returned to the Huskers after a brief stint at Rhode Island.
This is a roster that can surprise some people next season in the Big Ten. There are legitimate floor-spacing weapons on the perimeter, and its depth in the frontcourt is much improved. If the defense can carry its weight similarly to how it performed during last year’s non-conference portion of the season, then perhaps this ranking is too low.
But we need to see it to believe it.