No. 9 Nebraska Looks to Rebound Against Penn State

Cornhuskers aim to bounce back from recent losses by dominating the boards against struggling Nittany Lions

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

No. 9 Nebraska will host last-place Penn State in a Big Ten Conference matchup as the Cornhuskers try to get back on track after dropping four of their last six games. Nebraska's inability to rebound effectively has been a key factor in their recent struggles, and they'll look to control the glass against a Penn State team that ranks near the bottom of the conference in 3-point shooting and defense.

Why it matters

Nebraska is currently tied for third place in the Big Ten standings, and a win over Penn State would help them maintain position in the conference race and strengthen their case for a high NCAA Tournament seed. However, the Cornhuskers need to address their recent rebounding woes to get back to their winning ways.

The details

Nebraska junior Pryce Sandfort has set the school's single-season record for 3-pointers with 90, but the team struggled from deep in their last game, going just 5-of-24 from beyond the arc. Penn State, on the other hand, ranks next-to-last in the Big Ten in 3-point shooting and last in 3-point defense, surrendering a league-high 10.5 made 3-pointers per game to conference foes.

  • Nebraska (22-4, 11-4) suffered a 57-52 loss at Iowa on Tuesday, their fourth defeat in the last six games.
  • Penn State (11-16, 2-14) lost 85-72 at home to Rutgers on Wednesday, their eighth double-digit loss in Big Ten play this season.

The players

Fred Hoiberg

The head coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers men's basketball team.

Pryce Sandfort

A junior on the Nebraska Cornhuskers men's basketball team who has set the school's single-season record for 3-pointers made with 90.

Mike Rhoades

The head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions men's basketball team.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We can't hang our heads, we can't sulk after this one. We've got to find a way to regroup.”

— Fred Hoiberg, Head Coach, Nebraska Cornhuskers (Nebraska statenews.net)

“If I knew it, we would keep fixing it and keep addressing it. Some of it is matchups. Some of it is turnovers. I really think the games where we got off to a good start and were in position to play better ... is when we took care of the ball.”

— Mike Rhoades, Head Coach, Penn State Nittany Lions (Nebraska statenews.net)

What’s next

Nebraska will look to rebound against Penn State on Saturday afternoon in Lincoln, while Penn State aims to pull off an upset and improve their position for the Big Ten Tournament.

The takeaway

Nebraska's recent struggles have highlighted the importance of rebounding for the Cornhuskers, who will need to dominate the glass against a Penn State team that has struggled to defend the 3-point shot this season. A strong performance on the boards could help Nebraska get back on track and maintain their position in the Big Ten standings.