Nebraska is not among the 68 schools in the NCAA tournament field, but are a No. 5 seed in the National Invitational Tournament, and will face No. 4 seed Mississippi State (22-11, 9-9 SEC).
It is Nebraska’s first bid to the NIT since 2011, and their 18th overall. The Huskers haven’t won an NIT game since 2008.
The Huskers beat the Bulldogs in Starkville, MS 76-72 in an exhibition game back on Oct. 22, 2017.
The Huskers finished their season at 22-10 overall and 13-5 in the Big Ten. Nebraska is the first Big Ten team in history to win 13 conference games and not get in the NCAA tournament. All 61 previously had been selected.
Nebraska also became the first Big Ten school to have more than 20 overall wins and fewer than seven conference losses and not make the tournament field.
The Huskers are just the third team out of 307 power six teams to win 13 conference games and not make the NCAA tournament.
Nebraska went just 1-6 against quadrant-one teams, including 0-5 against Q1 teams on the road. Of the Huskers’ 22 victories, only six were against teams with winning records (Michigan, Penn State, Maryland, Boston College, Texas-San Antonio, Indiana).
The only other Big Ten school in the NIT field is Penn State (21-13, 9-9 Big Ten).
You can contact Tommy at 402-840-5226, or you can follow him on Twitter @Tommy_KLIN.
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