Nebraska basketball fans are hoping and praying that the Huskers can put together back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances since the glory days of Danny Nee. It certainly seems like they have the talent, both returning and coming in from the Transfer Portal. However, head coach Fred Hoiberg sent out a warning signal for both the fans and likely for his own team as practices move forward and the season moves ever closer.
“I would say overall, it’s a little quieter group than it was a year ago,” Hoiberg said during his latest press conference last week. “Not to say that it’s a bad group of guys or anything, but it definitely has been a little bit quieter in our gym. So we’re constantly talking about that in our culture meetings, and hopefully we continue to make progress.”
The message was laid out there in bold, flashing letters. Nebraska needs some leaders to step up and start calling out teammates. There also needs to be more communication when the Huskers are running plays and switching out on defense.
Communication is how a team that has so many new faces gels, improves, and becomes a team that can win 20 straight games to start the season and waltz into the Sweet 16 for the first time in program history.
Fred Hoiberg wants Nebraska basketball leaders to emerge before the 2026-27 season
Hoiberg isn’t hitting the panic button by any stretch. There’s still plenty of time for a leader or leaders to emerge. His comments at his press conference were more about making it clear to his players that he’s noticing. Not only is he noticing, but he’s not afraid to put them on blast if he feels that will finally get the team talking more.
Of the guys who Hoiberg hopes will really emerge, he said that returning first-team All-Big Ten wing Pryce Sandfort is “definitely taking a step in the right direction with it.” Connor Essegian, who sat out almost all of last season with an injury, is trying to make the most of this year and has been more vocal than in years past as well.
The head coach also said he hopes to hear more from the two players expected to play the point the most — Utah Valley transfer Trevan Leonhardt and San Diego State transfer Taj DeGourville — to step up once they feel comfortable in Nebraska’s system.
Hoiberg has often said that he wants his point guards to be the leaders on the court. Not just the best ball handlers but the guys who are directing the offense every game. He also wants them to be the court general on defense.
“It’s important for those guys to use their voice,” Hoiberg added.
While it’s still very early, and the new and old Nebraska basketball players have time to grow into their roles, Hoiberg thinks there needs to be more talking even now. That’s something to watch out for as the regular season gets ever closer. The expectation is that at some point, there will be more chatter and more talk. If that doesn’t eventually arrive, it could be a problem for a squad with so many new pieces for the 2026-27 season.
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