Nebraska’s basketball team has made waves in the Big Ten Conference, with both players and their coach receiving notable accolades. The recognition comes after a record-setting season for the Huskers, marking significant achievements both on and off the court.
Fred Hoiberg, the head coach of the Nebraska basketball team, was honored as the Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year by his coaching peers. In his seventh season, Hoiberg guided the team to a remarkable 26-5 record, tying the school’s highest number of wins in a single season. The Huskers also achieved a milestone with a 15-5 record in the Big Ten, setting a new school record for conference victories. This success was further recognized on Monday when Nebraska extended Hoiberg’s contract by three years, increasing his annual salary from $4.35 million to $5 million.
This honor marks the second time Hoiberg has been named Big Ten Coach of the Year, having previously won the award two seasons ago. Meanwhile, media members selected Michigan’s Dusty May for the same coaching accolade.
Among the players, Pryce Sandfort was a standout, earning a spot on the conference’s first team as chosen by the coaches. Sandfort, a junior transfer from Iowa, made a strong impression by averaging nearly 18 points per game and setting a school record for three-pointers in a season. The media awarded him second-team honors.
Nebraska’s success was further highlighted by other players receiving conference honors. Braden Frager, a redshirt freshman from Lincoln, was recognized as the Sixth Man of the Year and was included in the All-Freshman team. Frager managed to average close to 12 points per game overall and 11 points per game in conference play, distinguishing himself as the only non-starter in the conference to maintain double-digit scoring.
Sam Hoiberg, known for his defensive prowess and as the coach’s son, was acknowledged as an honorable mention in the Big Ten and secured a spot on the all-defensive team. During the conference games, Hoiberg averaged over 10 points, five rebounds, and nearly five assists per game, and he led the league in steals.
Rienk Mast also received an honorable mention, with his performance yielding an average of 12 points and nearly six rebounds per game in Big Ten matchups.
