The Nebraska basketball team came into tonight full of hope and confidence. There were even NFL stars giving the Huskers enough credit that they saw NU making a long run in the NCAA Tournament.
Then reality set in. Texas A&M came out with a gameplan that the Huskers simply couldn't counter. They took advantage of a Nebraksa perimeter defense that was shakey all season. They charged the basket the way Illinois had done a week before.
And they played smothering defense when they needed to. All of that combined led to Texas A&M blowing out a Nebraska basketball team that was looking for its first ever NCAA Tournament win.
Unsurprisingly, Nebraska Cornhuskers fans had plenty of takes towards the end, and after a game that ended with a frustrating, 98-83 loss.
Nebraska basketball fans crestfallen after blowout NCAA Tournament loss
Right at the top of the list that Nebraska fans did not want to see was Keisei having the moment hit him as he came off the court. Emotions overcame him as the final moments ticked away.
No. No. I did not want to see Keisei crying as he goes to the bench.
— Oliver VanDervoort (@itmeolliev) March 23, 2024
goddamnit
Some fans were blown away by just how many points the Huskers allowed to a Texas A&M offense that simply wasn't all that good this season.
Fred Hoiberg 🤝 John Calipari
— Arbitrary Analytics (@arbitanalytics) March 23, 2024
Giving up 95+ to A&M
Quite a bit of talk before the game was how Nebraska basketball fans swarmed Memphis to watch their team. That didn't end up being a weapon.
Dead silent in Memphis pic.twitter.com/yalGbEjYgA
— Barstool ‘Skers (@BarstoolHusker) March 23, 2024
Some fans tried to push down their pain with jokes.
On the one hand, this sucks. On the other, Nebraska hasn’t played this poorly in an NCAA Tournament game in a decade.
— Kaleb Henry (@iKalebHenry) March 23, 2024
Others gave into the sadness that is a big part of Nebraska sports.
Why is Nebraska not allowed nice things? I mean, is one win in the NCAAs really that much to ask?
— Nick Benes (@njbenes) March 23, 2024
I’ll take ‘Being A #Nebrasketball Fan’ for $1,000, Alex. pic.twitter.com/vjLhnb5yVu
— Dana Czerwinski (@danacz) March 23, 2024
Some Nebraska basketball fans were sad, but they weren't sad for themselves. They were sad to hear a great broadcaster like Kent Pavelka call a game that went so wrong, so completely.
Man.. it pains me to hear Kent Pavelka go through this. Poor dude wants so much for this Nebraska team.. if passion could make the ball float through the rim, his would be more than enough to do it.
— Jeremy Shipe (@JeremyOnTheMic) March 23, 2024
Finally, several Nebraska basketball fans felt as though this game showed where the Huskers need to find a way to improve for the 2024-25 season, to continue making progress.
A&M is faster, longer, stronger and they shot the lights out. The cross screen action worked all game for them. Hoiberg getting these guys to 23 wins and this far shows how far we can go if we improve.
— RUN THE DAMN BALL (@RTDBNebraska) March 23, 2024