The Nebraska basketball team’s season is more on the line than it has been all year. The loss to the Minnesota Golden Gophers has them on the cusp of not only missing the Big Dance, but also missing the Big Ten tournament.
And just when things seem darkest, there is a dawn coming. The Huskers still have a surprisingly good shot at making the NCAA Tournament. As long as the people predicting them to be in, are correct. Now more than ever, it’s important that they win the last two games in hte regular season and then hope they can make some noise in the conference tourney.
First the bad news. ESPN gives the Nebraska basketball team just a 33% chance of making the Big Dance. Other bracketologists think that the Cornhuskers have a better shot, though they’re clear that NU hurt its chances in a big way.
JBR Bracketology - Seed List Monday 3/3.
— JBR Bracketology (@JBRBracketology) March 3, 2025
-33 JBR 🔒in purple!
-Keeping Alabama ahead of Tennessee, as Tide remain ahead in all three resume metrics. It's close though.
-Michigan State doesn't move "up" in terms of spots along the seed list, but the Spartans are closer to 3… pic.twitter.com/9d6EktpMFk
Nebraska basketball holding onto chance at the NCAA Tournament
"All Nebraska needed was 9-11 in Big Ten and they'd be a lock... Brutal with a capital B," JBR Bracketology posted this weekend, before laying out a possible road ahead. "Path one: 2-0 finish in regular season Path two: 1-1 finish + win two in Big Ten Tournament. Path three: Win the Big Ten Tournament. Incredibly disappointing last two weeks for Nebrasketball."
NEW Seed List - 3/3!
— T3 Bracketology™️🏀 (@T3Bracketology) March 3, 2025
Last 4 IN: Nebraska, Arkansas, Boise St, Ohio St
First 4 OUT: OU, Xavier, UNC, Texas
Next 4 OUT: Wake, Cincy, UCI, TCU
Overall spots 23-34 is an area to watch. Every team there has a strong case to be higher, or lower. More movement will come. pic.twitter.com/ySojDS2nrK
Obviously winning the Big Ten tournament is the path the Husker fans expect the least. 2-0 in the regular season seems harder than it did a couple of weeks ago. But it’s also the easiest path to the postseason.
T3 Bracketology has things a little different. They’ve still got NU in the tourney as one of the Last Four In.
One reason for that is still some expectations that Fred Hoiberg’s squad could salvage the next couple of games. Ohio State especially, is still a Quad 1 opponent. Should the Nebraska basketball team get the victory on Tuesday night, they’d have six Quad 1 wins. That would be a resume booster that, paired with a final home game against Iowa, would seemingly be enough to get NU in the dance. For now, it’s still wait and see.