Nebraska basketball bracketology: Huskers could miss Big Ten tourney

The NCAA tournament hopes of Nebraska basketball are hanging on by a thread after a fourth-straight loss on Tuesday night to Ohio State.

It was a battle, and Nebraska basketball certainly looked like an NCAA tournament team. But a missed free throw by Brice Williams, who set the program record for points with 43, plus some terrible calls from the officials, cost the Huskers dearly.

They have lost their last two games – both must-win games – by a combined four points. However, the Huskers are still alive for an NCAA tournament berth, barely.

According to Bracket Matrix, Nebraska basketball is still projected to make the tournament in 59 of 118 brackets. That number might drop with more updates, but if the Huskers can get to 20 wins, all bets are off.

However, that’s not going to happen unless Nebraska basketball can beat Iowa on Sunday. The Huskers are projected as the No. 15 seed in the Big Ten tournament right now, and if they lose to Iowa, they won’t be making the trip to Indianapolis.

Sunday is do-or-die for Nebraska. A loss could mean the end of the season.

Nebraska women’s basketball to face Illinois at Big Ten tournament

After a rout of Rutgers on Wednesday at the Big Ten women’s basketball tournament, Nebraska will take on seventh-seeded Illinois on Thursday at 5:30 CST (Big Ten Network).

In the most recent bracketology projection from ESPN, Nebraska women’s basketball was still among the last four teams to receive a first-round bye. The win over Rutgers should guarantee the Huskers are in the field, but a win over Illinois, an NCAA tournament team, could bump up their seed.

Alexis Markowski has been a force lately and scored 19 points and 10 rebounds in the win on Wednesday. Illinois has five players who average in double figures, but fans will see a great matchup inside between Markowski and Kendall Bostic, double-double machine for the Fighting Illini.

The winner advances to Friday’s quarterfinal against UCLA.

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