Fred Hoiberg explains how Nebraska is better handling adversity this season

Nebraska was 0-6 on the road in 2024 heading into its matchup against Indiana on Wednesday. However, the Cornhuskers halted its hideous streak with a convincing 85-70 win over the Hoosiers. After game, head coach Fred Hoiberg praised his team’s resiliency.

“Last year, we played really good basketball in February. I think that helped us get Brice Williams and helped us get Josiah Allick and helped us get Rienk Mast,” Hoiberg said. “We had that 5-1 record, the best record in the Big Ten in February. This is the time of year you want to play your best.

“We’re coming off three really good performances right now. Two good home games, and found a way to get a huge road win. The struggles obviously are well-documented for our team. We’ve got a great win against Kansas State earlier this season on the road and then to get this one tonight was huge. It’s big for our confidence to know we can do it.”

Nebraska has taken a significant step forward this season, currently boasting a 19-8 record while holding the fifth-place spot in the Big Ten standings. For reference, the Cornhuskers finished last season with a 16-16 mark and only out-played Ohio State and Minnesota in conference play.

While Nebraska has struggled on the road this season, the team has been infallible in Pinnacle Bank Arena. The team is 8-0 at home against Big Ten foes this season, including jaw-dropping upsets over Purdue and Wisconsin.

Nebraska showed off its resiliency one again on Wednesday. Early in the second half, the Huskers held a comfortable 22-point lead. Nevertheless, Indiana refused to go away, rattling off a 20-3 run and cutting Nebraska’s lead down to three points.

Jamarques Lawrence stepped up for the Cornhuskers, tallying 11 of his 19 career-high point total in the final 11 minutes of the game. In ESPN’s Joe Lunardi’s latest Bracketology, Nebraska earned an at-large bid at the No. 10 seed in the Midwest Region.

However, Nebraska can’t let its foot off the gas. Lunardi also listed the team as one of the last four byes, indicating the Huskers are narrowly in his NCAA Tournament picture. Fred Hoiberg is confident his team will continue to show why they deserve a spot in the Big Dance.

“We play a hell of a team on Sunday. Minnesota is playing as good as anybody in our league right now,” Hoiberg said. “We’re gonna have our hands full with that with that game and I know we’re gonna have a great crowd. It’s gonna be a sellout and our guys are gonna be excited.”

Nebraska will square off against Minnesota at 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday. The game will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.