On Friday afternoon, the Nebraska basketball team released the non-conference schedule for the upcoming season. The Huskers start the season with exhibitions against BYU (a recent change to rules allows exhibitions against legitimate non-conference opponents) and Midland at the end of October.
From there, the Cornhuskers are not exactly stacking up their non-conference schedule with a ton of tough matchups. It appears the program is taking the tact that if it can enter its Big Ten schedule, it will have a better shot at the NCAA Tournament.
Nebraska's new non-conference slate banks on BYU test, Oklahoma showdown for tourney credentials
There are some big name highlights however, including a game against Oklahoma to be played in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and participation in the Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City. Head coach Fred Hoiberg is excited for what the non-conference schedule holds for Nebraska basketball this season:
“We have a number of tests in our non-conference schedule, beginning with the exhibition game with a BYU team that went to the Sweet 16 last season. That matchup will give us a good gauge heading into the season. We open with three straight home games before facing Oklahoma and two high-caliber games in the Hall of Fame Classic the following week. The December portion of the schedule features Creighton which will be one of the favorites in the Big East and two Big Ten games before we return to conference play in January.”
While the full non-conference slate hasn’t been announced yet, the Nebraska basketball team does have home matchups in the Big Ten against Purdue, Michigan State, Maryland, Wisconsin, Oregon, and Illinois.