Fred Hoiberg: Nebraska ‘running out of chances’ to build resumé for the NCAA Tournament

After three straight losses, two by no more than a possession, Nebraska is back on the bubble and at risk of missing the NCAA Tournament. That’s why the Cornhuskers must now make the most of this final week in the regular season.

Fred Hoiberg discussed where the ‘Huskers stand following their 67-65 loss at home to Minnesota on Saturday. That’s with his team having to come back from 19 down before a three-pointer with four seconds left won it for the Golden Gophers in Lincoln.

“That urgency has got to be there from, from the jump. I mean, there’s too much at stake right now,” Hoiberg said. “You know, I thought our practice yesterday was unbelievable – but who cares, you know? You’ve got to carry that over to the game.

“Yeah, I’m sick. You know, I’m sick. I’m absolutely sick on just how that whole thing played out.”

With that, Nebraska fell to 17-12 overall and 7-11 in the Big Ten having lost four of five. That has them among the final seeds in the conference with there still being a chance, depending on the results of this week, that they don’t make the Big Ten Tournament. They’ve also slid down to be the second-from-last team in the field for ESPN’s Joe Lunardi in his latest edition of Bracketology while On3’s James Fletcher has them out of the field among the Next Four Out in his latest projection.

The Cornhuskers now have two games left this week at Ohio State and against Iowa to, one, ensure they’re in next week’s bracket in Indianapolis and, two, boost themselves back off the brink of the bubble before Selection Sunday.

“You know, for us, we’ve got two more opportunities to put the uniform on, guaranteed. After that, there’s nothing for certain at this point. So, you know, we’ve got to bounce back tomorrow,” said Hoiberg. “We can’t let this one affect what’s going to happen Tuesday night in a quick turnaround. But we need to have two great days here heading into the rematch against Ohio State on their home floor and throw everything we’ve got at them.

“You know, we’re running out of chances, we’re running out of bullets so, you know, big couple days ahead.”