No. 7 Nebraska Looks to Upset No. 13 Purdue at Home

Huskers need Rienk Mast to dominate and contain Purdue's Braden Smith to pull off the win

Feb. 10, 2026 at 1:39pm

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The seventh-ranked Nebraska men's basketball team will host the 13th-ranked Purdue Boilermakers on Tuesday night in a key Big Ten matchup. Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg says the Huskers will need to "be on point" to come out victorious, especially by matching Purdue's physicality and containing star guard Braden Smith. Nebraska is coming off a much-needed win over Rutgers, and the team is confident in the play of forward Rienk Mast, who is looking to build on his recent strong performance.

Why it matters

This game is an important test for the Huskers, who have climbed into the top 10 in the AP poll for the first time in program history. A win over the 13th-ranked Boilermakers would be a major resume-building victory for Nebraska as it looks to secure a high NCAA Tournament seed. The matchup also features two of the Big Ten's best players in Mast and Smith.

The details

Hoiberg says the key for Nebraska will be matching Purdue's physicality, especially in the post where Mast will look to dominate. The Huskers' offense flows through Mast, who is coming off a 20-shot, 11-point performance against Rutgers. Hoiberg is confident in Mast's ability, saying "Whenever Rink shoots the ball, I think it's going in." On the defensive end, Nebraska will focus on containing Purdue's Braden Smith, who Hoiberg calls "one of the best three-level scorers in the country." The Huskers will need active hands and strong team defense to limit Smith's impact.

  • The game will tip off at 6:00 PM CT on Tuesday, February 10, 2026.
  • Nebraska is coming off a much-needed win over Rutgers on Saturday, February 8, 2026.

The players

Rienk Mast

Nebraska's star forward who is coming off a strong 20-shot, 11-point performance against Rutgers. Hoiberg says Mast is "getting his legs back" and the team is confident in his ability to dominate in the post.

Braden Smith

Purdue's senior guard who is the likely Big Ten Player of the Year. He has scored 1,724 career points and is the only player in Big Ten history to record 1,000 points and 500 assists in conference games.

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What they’re saying

“Whenever Rink shoots the ball, I think it's going in. And he's getting his legs back. As a shooter, the game's a lot easier when you have your timing, when you have your legs, when you have your conditioning level where it needs to be. And Rienk is getting back to that point.”

— Fred Hoiberg, Nebraska Head Coach

“You just have to do the best job you can. He's one of the best three-level scorers in the country.”

— Fred Hoiberg, Nebraska Head Coach

What’s next

After the Purdue game, Nebraska will have a four-day break before hosting Northwestern on Saturday, February 14, 2026. The Huskers will be looking to sweep the season series against the Wildcats.

The takeaway

This game against Purdue represents a major opportunity for Nebraska to prove it belongs among the Big Ten's elite. A win would be a huge resume-building victory and further cement the Huskers' status as a top-10 team. However, it will take a complete team effort, led by the dominant play of Rienk Mast and strong defensive containment of Braden Smith, for Nebraska to pull off the upset at home.