A historic season for Nebraska basketball ends in one of the most disappointing ways, and it feels like one mistake could define the season of firsts for the Huskers. At a crucial point in the game, with a minute left and Iowa inbounding the ball, Nebraska only had four players on the court, leaving Alvoro Fulgueris wide open.
Fulgueris was given the ball and fouled on a made shot that simply put the game out of reach for the Huskers. Nebraska fans couldn't believe how such a basic mistake was made and certainly let head coach Fred Hoiberg hear about it.
After the game, it was seen that Rienk Mast was the missing player on the court and was unable to get to the scorers' table in time to get in the game. When asked what happened, Hoiberg stepped in quickly to take the heat off his players and firmly shoulder the blame.
On Friday, it makes sense that many sports media would be talking about the Nebraska mistake, but First Take's Stephen A. Smith took a shot at Hoiberg that was simply uncalled for.
"In a game that tight, I get the point of the referees alerting you, but damnit that ain't their job," Smith said. "That is not their job, that is your job as a coach to know that five guys, who is going out in the game."
"It ain't the referee's job to make sure you got five players on the court."@stephenasmith shares his thoughts on Nebraska playing only four players during the critical final minute of its loss to No. 9 Iowa ✍️ pic.twitter.com/aKhLHIsYmY
— First Take (@FirstTake) March 27, 2026
Fred Hoiberg was never blaming the refs for the 4-man blunder
When explaining what happened, Hoiberg simply said that he had never been in that situation before, and he would have thought the referees would have alerted him about not having enough players. When both teams take the court, the refs count to make sure there aren't too many men on the court, but apparently they don't notify if there aren't enough.
Hoiberg wasn't blaming the refs like Smith insinuated he was; he simply said he thought they would have said something. Hoiberg did something not a lot of coaches would have done in that situation. He stepped in and took the fall for his players like a good head coach would do.
So, for Smith to respond in that manner just seems tasteless and uncalled for.