Sam Hoiberg finally getting credit for Nebraska basketball success

Nebraska basketball is 11-0, and a big reason for that is the play of Sam Hoiberg.

Hoiberg, the son of head coach Fred Hoiberg, a former walk-on, has never gotten the credit he deserves. Some have suggested he only got on the team because of his dad.

However, that notion was dispelled long ago. Hoiberg isn’t a product of nepotism. Like his father, he’s turned into a really good college basketball player right before our eyes.

Fans and pundits might have missed it. The coaches haven’t, especially the opposing coaches as Greg Gard and Brad Underwood each singled out Sam after Nebraska basketball beat their teams this week.

Sam Hoiberg “dominated” against Illinois

“The game, in my opinion, was all controlled by Fred’s son,” Underwood said after. “Any time you’re +23 in a three-point game – your ability to dominate a basketball game doesn’t always show up in points and all that. He got the rebound late, he made the pass late, he guards, and comes up with steals.

“Sam Hoiberg was absolutely the A+. You guys all look at the points. I look at the plus/minus, and the game was dominated by a guy who did all the little things, all the extra-effort things that allowed his team to win. They deserved to win today.”

Pryce Sandfort had 31 points. Jamarques Lawrence had 14, including the game-winning three. Hoiberg had eight. Yet, he was Nebraska’s most effective player in plus/minus, scoring seven points, grabbing six rebounds, dishing out five assists, playing stellar defense, and not having a single turnover. Hoiberg and Lawrence combined for one.

That’s how you beat a top-25 team on the road.

People always talk about how you need elite guards to win in the NCAA tournament — something Nebraska basketball has never done before. Having someone like Hoiberg certainly qualifies. He dished the ball to Lawrence for the game-winner and made key play after key play.

For the season, Sam has boosted his scoring average to 8.1 per game. He’s also shooting 55.7 percent from the field, 42.1 percent from three, averaging 4.5 rebounds, four assists, and 1.7 steals per game.

It’s been remarkable, and it’s high time Sam Hoiberg gets the credit he deserves.

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