Nebraska faces critical week with NCAA Tournament seeding on the line

Huskers take on UCLA, Iowa in final week of regular season

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Nebraska men's basketball faces a critical week that will determine its Big Ten Conference and NCAA Tournament seeding. The Huskers play at UCLA on Tuesday night and finish the regular season next Sunday at home vs. Iowa. Nebraska is currently tied for second place in the Big Ten with Michigan State, with both teams having four conference losses. The top four teams earn the coveted triple bye for the Big Ten Tournament, and the Huskers are looking to secure a high seed for the NCAA Tournament.

Why it matters

This final week of the regular season is crucial for Nebraska's postseason aspirations. Maintaining an NCAA seed no worse than 3 would benefit the Huskers, who wouldn't have to play the No. 1 seed until the Elite Eight game. The Huskers are looking to secure a high seed and avoid having to play an extra game in the Big Ten Tournament.

The details

Nebraska plays at UCLA on Tuesday night and finishes the regular season at home against Iowa on Sunday. The Huskers are currently tied for second place in the Big Ten with Michigan State, both teams having four conference losses. Illinois and Purdue are one game behind with five losses, while Wisconsin has six losses. The top four teams earn the triple bye for the Big Ten Tournament, and regular-season champion Michigan has one spot locked up. Nebraska is looking to secure a high NCAA Tournament seed, with Joe Lunardi currently projecting them as a 3-seed.

  • Nebraska plays at UCLA on Tuesday night.
  • Nebraska hosts Iowa on Sunday, March 8.

The players

Nebraska

The Nebraska men's basketball team is currently tied for second place in the Big Ten Conference with a 14-4 record.

UCLA

The UCLA Bruins are 19-10 overall and 11-7 in the Big Ten Conference. They are coming off a win over USC and a loss to Minnesota.

Iowa

The Iowa Hawkeyes are 20-9 overall and 10-8 in the Big Ten Conference. They are coming off a loss to Penn State.

Berke Buyuktuncel

A Nebraska forward who played at UCLA in the 2023-24 season.

Pryce Sandfort

A Nebraska guard who scored 32 points in the Huskers' win over USC.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This final week of the regular season is crucial for Nebraska's postseason aspirations. The Huskers are looking to secure a high NCAA Tournament seed and avoid having to play an extra game in the Big Ten Tournament. Their matchups against UCLA and Iowa will be key in determining their final seeding.