Another chance to save season for Nebraska basketball, plus more Cornhuskers news

Wednesday was a momentous day for the Nebraska Cornhuskers as legendary volleyball coach John Cook announced his retirement.

Nebraska handled it perfectly and hired the ideal successor — Dani Busboom Kelly — who led Louisville to the national title twice in the past three seasons. She’s also a Nebraska native, a former national champion, and was an assistant coach under Cook.

It’s hard to express what Cook meant to Nebraska volleyball and the Nebraska Cornhuskers as a whole. He will be missed, but so far, the transition is going well. Harper Murray and Sky Pierce have each posted on social media that they will be back next season along with some assistant coaches.

Nebraska volleyball players will have 30 days to enter the transfer portal if they wish.

Another big day for Nebraska Cornhuskers basketball

Now, in terms of the Nebraska Cornhuskers basketball teams, Thursday is another big day. The men’s Nebraska basketball team is on a six-game losing streak. 18th-ranked Illinois comes to the Vault as a four-point favorite (7:30 CST Fox Sports One).

Illinois is a talented team that shoots more 3-pointers than any other Big Ten team, at least during conference play. They are making just 29 percent of those attempts (17th) but Nebraska basketball is allowing teams to shoot 38 percent from deep.

Defense will be the key. Nebraska has struggled offensively too and it’s hard to predict what lineup Fred Hoiberg will use after different combinations in the past two games.

Even with six straight losses, ESPN still has the Nebraska Cornhuskers among the last eight teams out in its bracketology projections for the NCAA tournament, so a win tonight against Illinois could get the Huskers right back in the mix.

It seems unlikely, but one win can change a season.

The women’s basketball team will also look to rebound from a loss against Ohio State with a road game against Purdue. Purdue is just 7-12 on the season compared to the 15-5 Nebraska Cornhuskers. The women’s game will tip off at 6 p.m. CST on BTN+.

Nebraska football won’t hold a spring game

In another bit of news, Nebraska football won’t hold a spring game in 2025 according to Troy Dannen. Dannen said that Nebraska would celebrate its athletes and fall sports but wouldn’t hold a traditional spring game.

There will be a final practice. It sounds like fans will be allowed to attend but Dannen said he didn’t expect a televised event this season as we have seen in the past.

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