Nebraska Basketball: Expectations are high for 2018-2019 season

By Leigh Oleszczak | Oct 27, 2018

LINCOLN, NE - JANUARY 15: Nebraska guard James Palmer Jr. (24) celebrates making the winning three point shot against Illinois Monday, January 15th at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nebraska defeated Illinois 64 to 63. (Photo by John Peterson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

After a winning season, Nebraska basketball looks to replicate its success from a season ago. Can the Cornhuskers accomplish that in 2018-2019?

The 2017-2018 season was one of the most successful seasons in Nebraska basketball history, as the Cornhuskers went 22-11 on the year and 13-5 in the Big Ten. Even with their record being as good as it was, Nebraska was left out of the NCAA Tournament and played in the NIT instead, being eliminated in the first round.

While not making March Madness was a disappointment, Nebraska has a good chance at replicating what they did a season ago this upcoming year. The Huskers are returning a good portion of their 2017-2018 squad, including James Palmer Jr., Glynn Watson Jr., Isaac Copeland, and Isaiah Roby.

The hype was already pretty high for Husker hoops this year with those four guys returning to Lincoln, but this past week gave fans another reason to buy into the hype. The AP Top 25 and Coach’s Poll was released and Nebraska was ranked in the Top 25 Coaches Poll. This marks the first time the Cornhuskers have been ranked nationally since 2014, coming in at number 25.

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The last time Nebraska was ranked is actually a similar story to what they’re going through now. After a surprising bid in the 2014 NCAA Tournament, Nebraska fans had high hopes for what the 2014-2015 season would have in store. Instead, the Cornhuskers fizzled out quickly that year, finishing with a 13-18 record and 5-13 Big Ten record.

It was disappointing after a 2013-2014 season where Nebraska was one of the biggest surprises of the season. They knocked off some big time teams during that regular season, but couldn’t do any damage in the postseason.

Nebraska has never exactly been known as a basketball school, making the NCAA Tournament just seven times in their existence and going 0-7 in that span. While it was a disappointment that the Huskers didn’t make it last year, they faced a pretty weak Big Ten Conference, which likely worked against them when it came to “making their case” for being a tournament team.

Three other Big Ten programs made the Coaches Top 25 with Michigan State sitting at number ten, Michigan at number 18, and Purdue at 22. If those end up being the only three Big Ten schools better than Nebraska this year, the Huskers have a good shot at finishing in the top of the conference once again in 2018-2019.

For the first time since 2014, the expectations are high for Nebraska basketball. This isn’t a storied program like many others ranked in the top 25, but if there’s a year where something special could happen for Husker hoops, it’s this year.

Go Big Red!

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