Nebraska basketball legend has message for Hoiberg's Heroes

The day is finally here. For the first time in a decade, the Nebraska basketball team is playing in an NCAA Tournament game. While there has been a lot of talk about who the Huskers are playing on Friday night, the real focus is going to be on a team that has yet to win a game in this setting.

Part of the preparation for one of the biggest games in Nebraska basketball history came around on Wednesday afternoon. That was when former Cornhuskers head coach Danny Nee relayed a message to the current group.

He relayed that message through long-time Nebraska basketball broadcaster Kent Pavelka. That is the same Kent Pavelka by the way, who said very early on that he felt this version of Hoiberg’s Heroes were going to win a tournament game.

Pavelka took to social media to say that Nee wanted this version of the basketball team to know he was behind them.

“Coach Nee wanted me to pass along his best wishes to Husker Nation ahead of the game, Pavelka wrote on Twitter. “ And this, to the @HuskerMBB team:  ‘I am very excited for all of you. Find a way to win & be the first team to do this.  Beat A&M.’”

Nebraska basketball has a big name on their side

There really wasn’t a coach that did what Nee was able to do in Lincoln before he arrived, nor after he left. He coached the Nebraska basketball team from 1986 until 2000 but it was his run in the 1990s that was truly a sight to behold.

Need led the Huskers to four straight NCAA Tournament appearances but saw his squads lose in the firs round every single time.

In all, the Buffalo Bills of college basketball went to the Big Dance 5 times in 8 years, but never won a game. In the 1999-2000 season, things bottomed out, Nebraska basketball went 11-19 and Danny Nee was fired and replaced by Barry Collier. 

Since Nee’s departure, the Nebraska basketball team has made two NCAA Tournament appearances in 23 years.