Nebraska fans were able to sleep soundly Saturday night after an electric game against Vanderbilt that sent the Huskers to the Sweet 16 for the first time ever. However, no one probably slept as well as Fred Hoiberg after the adrenaline finally gave out.
Hoiberg had to bring his team back from being late in the second half against the Commodores, and two clutch shots from his son, Sam Hoiberg, and Lincoln native Braden Frager, saved the Huskers from a Round of 32 exit.
After leaving the court in OKC to the sound of "Go Big Red" chants, Hoiberg was filmed walking back to the locker room. Right before he walked out of frame, he uttered a two-word phrase that perfectly summed up the final seconds of the game.
"Oh buddy!" Hoiberg said.
Fred Hoiberg exits the floor after Nebraska’s thrilling win over Vanderbilt. The #Huskers are going to the Sweet 16! pic.twitter.com/h4lvybwEJ4
— NCN Sports Now (@NCNSports) March 22, 2026
Fred Hoiberg has gone from the coaching hot seat to Nebraska legend in just one season
It is clear that Hoiberg was relieved to walk away from that Vanderbilt matchup with a win. While it took some time, Hoiberg has taken this Nebraska basketball program from being one of the worst in the Big Ten to now a real contender.
For a few years, Hoiberg was on the coaching hot seat, but the Huskers never made the change, and now they have to be happy they didn't as he is leading them to the Sweet 16 for the first time in program history.
It took just one season for Nebraska fans to go from wanting to fire Hoiberg to now never wanting him to leave. Hoiberg's job isn't done yet thought this season. The Huskers will face the winner of the Florida Gators and Iowa Hawkeyes in the Sweet 16.
The Gators have been on a roll, but Nebraska is way more familiar with the Hawkeyes, a team they actually fell to in the regular season. The Huskers would love to get some revenge from their Big Ten foe and make it to their first-ever Elite Eight as well.