William Purnell-Imagn Images

Fred Hoiberg’s message after Nebraska’s first-ever NCAA Tournament win

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Matt Wadleigh | Last updated Mar 19, 2026 6:07 PM ET

For the first time in program history, the Nebraska Cornhuskers men’s basketball team has won an NCAA Tournament game.

No. 4 seed Nebraska blew out No. 13 seed Troy 76-47 on Thursday at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Ok.

Nebraska entered with a 0-8 record all-time in NCAA Tournament games, but the Cornhuskers led from start to finish to make school history. After the game, head coach Fred Hoiberg had a motivated message.

“We’re not satisfied, I can promise you that,” Hoiberg said. “This is emotional, there’s no doubt about it.”

"We're not satisfied, I can promise you that."@HuskerMBB head coach Fred Hoiberg and his son, Sam, explain what it means for the Cornhuskers to win their first NCAA Tournament game in program history.

: @TheAndyKatz pic.twitter.com/fBx3b4RzDD
— CBS Sports College Basketball (@CBSSportsCBB) March 19, 2026

Nebraska’s first NCAA Tournament appearance came in 1986, and the most recent was in 2024 when No. 8 seed Cornhuskers lost to the No. 9 seed Texas A&M Aggies.

Nebraska started the season 20-0 before suffering its first loss on January 27 against Michigan, but the Cornhuskers finished the season with just six losses.

Hoiberg won 14 games combined in his first two seasons at Nebraska. He was born in Lincoln, Neb., and previously served as the Chicago Bulls head coach for three-plus seasons, though he was fired in December 2018.

Now, Hoiberg has led Nebraska to its first-ever NCAA Tournament victory, and the Cornhuskers will face the winner of Vanderbilt-McNeese on Saturday.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: