Huskers Earn Record-Breaking Big Ten Honors

Nebraska men's basketball players and coach recognized for historic season

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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The Nebraska men's basketball team had a record-breaking season, finishing the Big Ten regular season with 15 conference wins, the most in school history. Several Husker players earned individual conference honors, including Pryce Sandfort on the All-Big Ten First Team, Braden Frager as Sixth Man of the Year and All-Freshman Team, Sam Hoiberg on the All-Defensive Team, and Rienk Mast earning honorable mention All-Big Ten. Head coach Fred Hoiberg was named Big Ten Coach of the Year after guiding the Huskers to their best-ever Big Ten finish.

Why it matters

Nebraska men's basketball has never had this level of success in the Big Ten, with the team setting school records for conference wins and earning the program's highest-ever seed in the Big Ten Tournament. The individual accolades for the Husker players and coach highlight the remarkable turnaround of the program under Hoiberg's leadership.

The details

Pryce Sandfort led the Huskers in scoring during Big Ten play, averaging 19.4 points per game and hitting a conference-high 79 3-pointers. Braden Frager came off the bench to average 11.3 points per game, the only Big Ten reserve to average double figures. Sam Hoiberg anchored the Husker defense, leading the conference in steals, while Rienk Mast paced the team in rebounding. Head coach Fred Hoiberg was recognized for guiding Nebraska to a 26-5 record and 15-5 mark in Big Ten play, the program's best-ever finish in the conference.

  • The Big Ten Conference announced its annual awards on March 11, 2026.
  • Nebraska finished the Big Ten regular season with a 15-5 record, breaking the school record for most conference wins.
  • The Huskers earned the No. 2 seed in the 2026 Big Ten Tournament, the highest seed the program has ever had in a conference postseason tournament.

The players

Pryce Sandfort

A junior from Waukee, Iowa, who was named first-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and second-team by the media after leading the Huskers in scoring during conference play.

Braden Frager

A 6-foot-7 freshman forward from Lincoln who was named the Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year and earned a spot on the All-Freshman Team.

Sam Hoiberg

The son of head coach Fred Hoiberg, Sam was named to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors.

Rienk Mast

A veteran forward who earned honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition for the second time in his career after pacing the Huskers in rebounding during conference play.

Fred Hoiberg

The Nebraska head coach was named Big Ten Coach of the Year after guiding the Huskers to their best-ever finish in the conference.

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What’s next

The No. 11/10 Huskers will open Big Ten Tournament action on Friday evening as the No. 2 seed.

The takeaway

Nebraska's historic season and individual accolades showcase the remarkable turnaround of the men's basketball program under head coach Fred Hoiberg, who has led the Huskers to new heights in the Big Ten Conference.