Husker men prepare for first-ever second round March Madness game
By Aaron Bonderson 
, Reporter/Producer Nebraska Public Media
March 20, 2026, 2:54 p.m. ·
Members of the Nebraska basketball team shared their thoughts Friday about No. 5 seed Vanderbilt. Saturday’s matchup in Oklahoma City marks the Huskers’ first-ever second-round NCAA Tournament game.
Head coach Fred Hoiberg said his players refocused after the historic win Thursday against Troy.
“Were they excited? Should they have been excited? Absolutely, and I told them enjoy it, enjoy this ride that we’re going through right now, and you know it’s been a special team,” Hoiberg said. “They’ve developed unbelievable chemistry and just to see the joy in their faces and to be able to share it with the crowd.”
As for NU’s next opponent, Vanderbilt averages more than 86 points per game, which ranks 13th in Division I. Hoiberg called their guards dynamic. Nebraska held Troy to 47 points, its best defensive outing of the season.
Senior leader Sam Hoiberg said the Big Red faithful may show out even more on Saturday than during the first-round matchup with Troy.
“I think it’s going to be maybe even louder because people are going to be off work and come down for the weekend,” Sam Hoiberg said. “We fully expect to have another amazing crowd, but you can’t rely on that to win a game. You have to still execute and focus on the gameplan.”
Tip off between No. 4 seed Nebraska and No. 5 seed Vanderbilt is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. CT Saturday with TNT broadcasting the action.