3 thoughts on Nebraska basketball’s dominant win over Wisconsin

Nebraska basketball faced maybe its biggest test of the 2025-26 season so far, and the Huskers passed with flying colors in a 90-60 win over Wisconsin.

Even though the Badgers were ranked 15 spots ahead of Nebraska in the KenPom rankings, before the game anyway, the Huskers proved they were the better team in a 90-60 victory.

Wisconsin came in with the 27th-best offense according to KenPom. Nebraska totally stymied the Badgers, holding them to 34 percent from the field. It was an impressive effort. Nebraska is 10-0. Fred Hoiberg’s team has won 14 games in a row and here are three thoughts from a 1-0 start in Big Ten play.

Nebraska dominated down low

The Huskers won the 3-point battle. They made 11 triples, which is why things got so lopsided, because Wisconsin only made seven. However, this game was won in the paint, as most games are.

Nebraska basketball shot 70 percent on 2-point attempts. Wisconsin shot 46. Both teams had eight offensive rebounds. Wisconsin got to the free-throw line just 11 times. That was four fewer times than Nebraska, which also forced more turnovers and had six more assists.

Nebraska gave up a lot of 3-point attempts, as it always does, but they contested well, and it was another strong showing by the 23rd-ranked Huskers.

Rienk Mast continues to play like an All-Big Ten player

One question before the season was whether or not Mast would pick up where he left off. He was a third-team All-Big Ten selection in 2023-24. That’s one of the reasons Nebraska made the NCAA tournament.

He needed to be the best player on the team this season. On Wednesday, he was the best player on the floor, scoring 17 points on 8-of-15 shooting, to go along with 10 rebounds and two assists. He only made 1-of-6 from deep, so he could have done even more damage, but still, Mast was the best player on the floor, like he has been for basically every game this season.

Not the same old Nebraska

The image of Berke with a bloody nose sums up all you need to know about this program. This Nebraska team is just tougher than it used to be. Wisconsin used to be able to push the Huskers around. Not this version.

Sam Hoiberg, Braden Frager, Mast, Berke, and Pryce Sandfort — this is a team where the sum is greater than the parts. These pieces fit together really well, and it really feels like this team is bound to do something no other Nebraska basketball team ever has.

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