OKLAHOMA CITY — With just over two minutes remaining until his squad formally achieved a historic feat, Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg dispatched a duo of replacements to relieve third-year frontcourt players Pryce Sandfort and Berke Buyuktuncel.
The predominantly Huskers-sympathetic spectators erupted with fervor, just as they had throughout the momentous day as No. 4 seed Nebraska secured its inaugural NCAA tournament triumph in a 76-47 rout of No. 13 seed Troy, boisterously commending two of the individuals who assisted the squad in ultimately achieving the landmark that had escaped their grasp in their previous eight appearances in the postseason tournament. These two then joined senior guard Jamarques Lawrence and senior forward Rienk Mast on the bench, where they began absorbing the ambiance and the forthcoming triumph.
“Once the five-minute point arrived, there’s a certain feeling, like, ‘Alright, this game is ours,'” remarked Mast, who recorded 11 points, six rebounds, and seven assists. “You begin to survey your surroundings, noticing the sheer number of joyful expressions across the multitude. It felt genuinely extraordinary.”
Scarcely half a minute subsequent to that, Hoiberg withdrew his son Sam Hoiberg and key substitute Braden Frager to receive their own applause. As the concluding buzzer sounded, the Huskers cleared their sideline, hugging one another, their coaches, and veteran team personnel as they established a fresh team record for a single campaign with 27 victories.
This instance represented the pinnacle of seven years of diligent effort by Fred Hoiberg, who commenced his period with three successive losing campaigns to begin his term as Nebraska’s head coach from 2019-22. However, following a 16-16 record in 2022-23, the team has now achieved three straight campaigns boasting a minimum of 20 victories, two qualifications for the NCAA tournament, culminating in a tournament triumph.
Sam Hoiberg, a fourth-year senior who had been a member of the Nebraska squad defeated by Texas A&M in the opening round of the 2024 NCAA tournament, commented, “This tournament win feels akin to a fairytale conclusion. We perceived this as the final objective required to elevate our program to supremacy.
“Participating in those teams that weren’t securing victories was challenging, particularly from the sidelines… Thus, experiencing the rewards from all our efforts this season has been truly incredible.”
Prior to this year’s NCAA tournament commencement, the Huskers stood as the sole major conference squad (ACC, SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, and Big East) lacking a victory in the competition. Their triumph by a 29-point differential represents the most significant winning margin for a team’s inaugural victory since Fordham bested Furman by 31 points back in 1971, as per ESPN’s findings.
Sandfort topped all point-getters with 23 points accrued from seven 3-point shots and two foul shots. The third-year player, who transferred from Iowa, amassed 17 points in the initial half by converting 5 out of 8 attempts from beyond the arc, aiding Nebraska in overcoming a Troy squad that had begun strongly. Sandfort’s seven successful 3-point attempts fell just one shy of his personal best established previously this year, while also establishing a team record for the highest number of 3-pointers in an NCAA tournament contest.
Prior to the match, his sibling, Payton Sandfort, unexpectedly appeared. Payton had debuted in the NBA for the Oklahoma City Thunder in Brooklyn the preceding evening.
Regarding his teammates’ assistance in finding open shots, Sandfort stated, “My colleagues sought me out during fast breaks following rebounds. Their deliveries were superb. And Payton’s presence here, witnessing this, was truly extraordinary. He had only attended approximately one game this season, so his attendance at this particular matchup made it exceptionally meaningful.”
However, despite the immense sense of relief and elation accompanying Nebraska’s inaugural tournament victory, Hoiberg promptly cautioned his squad that their journey was not yet complete, as the Round of 32 loomed ahead.
Hoiberg expressed, “This particular moment is the most profoundly moving of all for me,” further noting that he began to truly absorb the gravity of the situation with 1:13 remaining. “With both sidelines cleared, it’s quite affecting for me. My father, I believe, resides in a care facility currently. I trust he had the opportunity to view this game. I eagerly anticipate conversing with him, given the significance of this event to our lineage. Indeed, it carries considerable emotional weight; there’s no disputing that.
“Nonetheless, throughout the entire year, these young men have consistently progressed. Their tenacity has been remarkable. They’ve surmounted significant victories and navigated difficult defeats, and I am assured they will once more demonstrate this capacity and remain intensely focused.”