This nationwide championship darkish horse is a impossible faculty

[ad_1] The 2025-26 faculty basketball season is greater than midway by way of, and groups are progressively rounding into kind as they construct their event resumes.

There have been loads of surprises this yr, particularly close to the highest of the rankings. Nevertheless, one red-hot Massive Ten group has taken the nation by storm, and this squad is coming from one of many unlikeliest applications.

Nebraska is having a historic season below its embellished head coach The losingest program in faculty soccer historical past shocked the world this previous Monday. Indiana soccer, which has lengthy been referred to as a basketball faculty, reshaped what many thought attainable with its first-ever nationwide championship.

Now, on the basketball facet, a long-established soccer faculty is seeking to comply with swimsuit. Nebraska is in the course of an unprecedented season below head coach Fred Hoiberg. The Cornhuskers are presently 19-0 and ranked No. 7 within the nation with a number of high quality wins on their resume.

That features signature victories over No. 10 Michigan State and at No. 11 Illinois. It has been a balanced method for this group to this point, which led by junior ahead Pryce Sandfort. The Iowa switch is having his breakout season, averaging 17.0 factors on 41.5% capturing from three-point vary.

Sandfort should proceed this effectivity from a distance, as one among Nebraska's weaknesses has been its three-point effectivity, which presently ranks 82nd within the nation . Nonetheless, this group sits on the high of the Massive Ten Convention and appears extra like a title contender each given day.

It has been a gradual rebuild for Hoiberg, who beforehand coached at Iowa State after which the Chicago Bulls. The Lincoln native is in his seventh season with this system and was believed to be on the recent seat just a few years in the past.

That narrative has modified, and now Hoiberg is seeking to lead the Cornhuskers to their first-ever NCAA event win. However this group, which ranks within the high 40 in each offensive and defensive effectivity, can dream greater than simply that milestone.