Nebraska will be better in 2026-2027 than they were in 2025-2026! I know that is a bold claim considering what that program accomplished in the 2025-2026 season. Nebraska won its very first NCAA game. One wasn’t enough, and Nebraska also beat Vanderbilt in the round of 32 in what was one of the best NCAA Tournament games ever. The Huskers also held the lead for 35 of the 40 minutes in the Sweet 16 game against Iowa before eventually losing.
The NCAA tournament is the most recent example the college basketball world has of the overall success of the Huskers last year, but don’t forget that Nebraska was one of the last undefeated teams in the country, starting at 20-0. That start led to the Huskers climbing all the way to number 5 in the rankings. It was the season every true Husker basketball fan had been waiting for their entire lives. After all of that, how could a program like Nebraska have a better season?
Fred at the helm
Coach Hoiberg knew his program had a critical offseason ahead of them. Instead of panicking, the coaching staff did what any sustainable program would do. That was to go out and acquire talent that is going to fit what the team is trying to do on the basketball court. Nebraska runs an offense that is fun to play in. It is truly a 5-out style that allows players the freedom to shoot and move within the offense.
That is the mission: find players who fit that offensive style and who will fit in with returning stars Pryce Sandfort and Braden Frager. Part of that mission also includes finding a replacement for departing big man Rienk Mast. No games have been played yet, but if the reports coming out of practice are true, then the coaching staff passed this mission with flying colors.
It’s no secret that Sandfort is one of the 25 best players in the country. He is the best three-point shooter in the Big Ten, can score in the paint, rebound, and pass. The wing is going to be one of the favorites to win the Big Ten Player of the Year. If that were to happen, it would be another first for the Husker program. Frager is the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, and with some development, will improve on that. Frager already comes into the season as one of the best 75 players in the nation. Having those two in the fold is already a heck of a start to building a program.
Some question marks
This will be the first year in his tenure at Nebraska that Coach Hoiberg has a true point guard on the roster. You could argue that Sam Hoiberg was a true point guard, but he was good at multiple positions and didn’t have the “lead guard” responsibility until the the middle of the season and sp,lwhen hethat role with Jamarques Lawrence. Trevan Leonhardt makes his way to Lincoln after an excellent 4 year career at Utah Valley. Leonhardt is one of the best on-ball defenders in the Big Ten and averaged 6 assists per night. The point guard also averaged double digits and shot 37% from deep. If the point guard is asked to score, he is going to be more than serviceable, but his value is going to be his ability to run the offense, not turn it over, as evidenced by his career 3-1 assist-to-turnover ratio, and play smothering point of attack defense. The point guard is good enough to take the other team's star out of the game.
Another question going into the offseason was who would be the player to take the pressure off Pryce and serve as a floor spacer? Connor Essegian is still on the team, but he is coming off season-ending foot surgery. No knock on Essegian, but outside of shooting from deep, he doesn’t bring a whole lot. Enter Sam Orme. Orme was a budding superstar at Belmont and made a name for himself for his ability to stretch the floor, and make threes. He can get to the rim, and, most importantly, will protect the two stars for the Huskers.
Consistent protection around the stars is something Nebraska has lacked for the majority of the Hoiberg tenure. It started to turn last year with the return of big man Rienk Mast. A capable big man who can shoot is a giant part of the success for the Huskers. This year, Boden Kapke enters the mix, and while his name didn’t move the needle given his play at his previous stops, the reports are promising. Kapke is a good three-point shooter for a big man, shooting over 34% for his career. The biggest change with the new big man is his ability to get the ball off the bounce and drive to the rim. He’s athletic, and that is something Nebraska has been severely lacking at the center position for the last three years.
The starting five will be better, 1 through 5, and the Huskers are going to play far more than seven guys this year. They are likely going to play 9 and, in some games, 10 guys. Depth is no longer an issue. Taj DeGourville from San Diego State is another lockdown point-of-attack defender, but the offense is raw. Cale Jacobson returns to be the replacement for Sam Hoiberg as the do-everything guy who makes winning plays. Leo Curtis is another returning big man who didn’t get a ton of run last year but has a very high floor. Jacob Lanier is a name you should all take note of. The freshman has a chance to be a star and will be an elite scorer and first-round NBA draft pick when his career is over.
Hoiberg has built Nebraska for sustained success and has a team that is going to be a better overall team than the 2025-2026 team. It is hard to replicate 20-0, and this team likely won’t do that, but they will be a top-10 team for the majority of the season and are looking at another top-3, top-10 finish in the Big Ten in 2026-2027. Can the Huskers do better than a 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament?
Add us as a preferred source on Google