The Huskers earned a No. 4 seed and faced No. 13 Troy in the first round. Over a million brackets picked Troy to pull off the upset. Nebraska gave their opponent no chance. This wasn’t just a win - it was a statement.
The Huskers rolled to a dominant 74-47 victory, leaving no doubt. The ghosts were exorcised. Nebraska had finally arrived. Now, they are here to stay.
Waiting next was No. 5 Vanderbilt in the second round, fresh off a run to the SEC title game where it pushed Arkansas in a tight, electric battle before falling by nine.
Nebraska may have been the higher seed, but there was no true underdog here. And once the game tipped off, it delivered everything fans could dream of.
Clutch basket
Both teams traded buckets in an exciting showdown. Vanderbilt’s biggest lead was five, while Nebraska got up by 10 at one point - but it didn’t last long as the Commodores battled back and the ball game went down to the wire.
With the score tied at 72-72, the Huskers had the last possession in regulation. With 2.2 seconds to go, Nebraska guard Braden Frager drove to the basket and kissed a layup off the glass to give his team a two-point edge. 74-72.
Timeout Vanderbilt. With their season on the line, Tyler Tanner received the inbound pass and stormed down the court. He launched a prayer from the half-court.
With the sound of the buzzer, the ball went in - and then out. As Tanner’s shot rimmed out, the Huskers exploded in ecstasy while the Vanderbilt bench dropped their heads in disbelief.
"I thought it went in," Frager said. "I didn't know how to react, and I was just - everybody started celebrating. I was like, yeah, he actually missed it, so.."
Millimetres from a disaster, Nebraska instead survived what could have been one of the best and most miraculous March Madness shots.
"That last shot, man, it just took my breath away," Huskers coach Fred Hoiberg said.
"That kid Tanner is an unbelievable player, and when that thing was up in the air, I was like, 'Man, that's going in'. It hit every part of the rim. Thankfully, it bounced out."
And just like that, Nebraska went from a winless tournament program to the Sweet 16.
"I know it had to be incredible on TV," said Vanderbilt coach Mark Byington. "It was an incredible game. I mean, it sucks that we were on the side that we were on. But, I mean, a high-level game, and I'm sure the crowd lifted them up and had them playing - they played so hard."
The champions are out
On Sunday, Nebraska awaited their next opponent... No. 9 Iowa Hawkeyes took on the No. 1 seed in the region. After the game was over, the nation got to know more than just Nebraska’s next challengers. It was also confirmed that March Madness will crown a new king.
The reigning champions - Florida Gators - bowed down to Iowa on Sunday night in a thriller that kept fans across the country on their feet. One of the No. 1 seeds have fallen, and it happened to be a team that was defending the title. There will be no back-to-back winners.
Lifetime rivalry
With Iowa advancing, the tournament sets up one of its most compelling matchups: a rivalry clash between conference foes. March always finds a way to script the unexpected, and a third meeting between these two Midwest programs is no exception. Yet, nobody could have written this better.
This year, the teams split the series, both defending their home floors. The ultimate winner will book a trip to the Elite 8 - for Nebraska, it would be a continuation of a historic season. Iowa, meanwhile, would become a true Cinderella after outlasting three higher-seeded teams.
Both schools are known for dedicated fan bases, togetherness, composure, and the ability to shoot the ball at a high clip. The margin between these two teams is small, and the margin for error is even smaller. Iowa won the first regular-season matchup 57-52. The second contest went to overtime, ending in the Huskers outlasting the Hawkeyes 84-75.
Midwest takeover
The atmosphere at the Toyota Center in Houston on Thursday night promises to be electric. And there are more reasons for Midwest fans to make the trip. Illinois is also going to play there - the third Midwest team in the region, which makes Houston University feel almost like a visitors.
The Big Ten has placed six teams in the Sweet 16 - nearly half the field. Michigan, Michigan State, and Purdue have also advanced, underscoring the region’s dominance. These teams know each other well, and that familiarity sets the stage for intense, evenly matched battles.
In a tournament built on chaos, the Midwest is taking over. Creating its own Midwest Madness.
