Entering the 2023-24 season, the Huskers have reached postseason play 26 times in school history, most recently in 2018-19. That season, the Huskers won 19 games en route to an appearance in the NIT where they beat Butler in the first round before losing on the road at TCU. In 2013-14, NU won 19 games, including a pair of wins over top-10 teams, to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament. It marked Nebraska's first NCAA showing since 1998. The Huskers have reached the Big Dance seven times in program history, including five times in a stretch from 1991 to 1998.
The Huskers have reached the semifinals of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) on three occasions, including defeating St. Joseph's in the title game for the 1996 NIT. The Huskers also downed Colorado State, Washington State, Fresno State and Tulane to reach the championship game that year with Erick Strickland earning the MVP honors. That team included four players who either played in or were drafted into the NBA in Lue, Erick Strickland, Mikki Moore and Venson Hamilton.
Overall, Nebraska has made 26 postseason appearances, including seven bids to the NCAA Tournament.
|
Year |
Tournament/Round |
Opponent |
Result |
Site |
NU High Scorer |
NU High Rebounds |
|
1948-49 |
*NCAA Playoff |
Oklahoma State |
L, 35-52 |
Kansas City, Mo. |
N/A |
N/A |
|
1966-67 |
NIT/First |
Bye |
||||
|
Quarterfinals |
Marshall |
L, 88-119 |
New York City |
Tom Baack, 33 |
Tom Baack, 10 |
|
|
1977-78 |
NIT/First |
Utah State |
W, 67-66 |
Lincoln, Neb. |
Andre Smith, 18 |
Carl McPipe, 7 |
|
Quarterfinals |
Texas |
L, 48-67 |
Austin, Texas |
Carl McPipe, 16 |
Carl McPipe, 7 |
|
|
1979-80 |
NIT/First |
Michigan |
L, 69-76 |
Ann Arbor, Mich. |
Andre Smith, 30 |
Andre Smith, 12 |
|
1982-83 |
NIT/First |
Tulane |
W, 72-65 |
Lincoln, Neb. |
Stan Cloudy, 20 |
Stan Cloudy, 14 |
|
Second |
Iona |
W, 85-73 |
Lincoln, Neb. |
Stand Cloudy, 24 |
Stan Cloudy, 8 |
|
|
Quarterfinals |
TCU |
W, 67-57 |
Lincoln, Neb. |
Stand Cloudy, 18 |
Stan Cloudy, 9 |
|
|
Semifinals |
DePaul |
L, 58-68 |
New York City |
Dave Hoppen, 15 |
Dave Hoppen, 9 |
|
|
1983-84 |
NIT/First |
Creighton |
W, 56-54 |
Omaha, Neb. |
Dave Hoppen, 25 |
Dave Hoppen, 10 |
|
Second |
Xavier |
L, 57-58 |
Cincinnati, Ohio |
Dave Hoppen, 22 |
Dave Hoppen, 7 |
|
|
1984-85 |
NIT/First |
Canisius |
W, 79-66 |
Lincoln, Neb. |
Dave Hoppen, 21 |
Bill Jackman, 10 |
|
Second |
UCLA |
L, 63-82 |
Los Angeles, Calif. |
Dave Hoppen, 23 |
Dave Hoppen, 9 |
|
|
1985-86 |
NCAA/First |
Western Kentucky |
L, 59-67 |
Charlotte, N.C. |
Bernard Day, 18 |
Chris Logan, 12 |
|
1986-87 |
NIT/First |
Marquette |
W, 78-76 |
Lincoln, Neb. |
Bernard Day, 18 |
Vick, Day, 6 |
|
Second |
Arkansas |
W, 78-71 |
Lincoln, Neb. |
Anthony Bailous, 20 |
Bill Jackman, 9 |
|
|
Quarterfinals |
Washington |
W, 81-76 |
Lincoln, Neb. |
Carr, Vick, 17 |
Derrick Vick, 8 |
|
|
Semifinals |
Southern Mississippi |
L, 75-82 |
New York City |
Derrick Vick, 19 |
Bill Jackman, 9 |
|
|
Third Place |
Arkansas-Little Rock |
W, 76-67 (OT) |
New York City |
Brian Carr, 18 |
Derrick Vick, 12 |
|
|
1988-89 |
NIT/First |
Arkansas State |
W, 81-79 |
Lincoln, Neb. |
Eric Johnson, 18 |
Pete Manning, 5 |
|
Second |
Ohio State |
L, 74-85 |
Columbus, Ohio |
Eric Johnson, 23 |
Reid, Owens, 7 |
|
|
1990-91 |
NCAA/First |
Xavier |
L, 84-89 |
Minneapolis, Minn. |
Rich King, 25 |
Rich King, 12 |
|
1991-92 |
NCAA/First |
Connecticut |
L, 65-86 |
Cincinnati, Ohio |
Derrick Chandler, 17 |
Derrick Chandler, 11 |
|
1992-93 |
NCAA/First |
New Mexico State |
L, 79-93 |
Syracuse, N.Y. |
Eric Piatkowski, 29 |
Derrick Chandler, 10 |
|
1993-94 |
NCAA/First |
Pennsylvania |
L, 80-90 |
Uniondale, N.Y. |
Eric Piatkowski, 23 |
Piatkowski, Chubbick, 8 |
|
1994-95 |
NIT/First |
Georgia |
W, 69-61 |
Lincoln, Neb. |
Erick Strickland, 21 |
Erick Strickland, 10 |
|
Second |
Penn State |
L, 59-65 |
Lincoln, Neb. |
Mikki Moore, 15 |
Erick Strickland, 7 |
|
|
1995-96 |
NIT/First |
Colorado State |
W, 91-83 |
Fort Collins, Colo. |
Erick Strickland, 19 |
Mikki Moore, 10 |
|
Second |
Washington State |
W, 82-73 |
Lincoln, Neb. |
Erick Strickland, 18 |
Venson Hamilton, 12 |
|
|
Third |
Fresno State |
W, 83-71 |
Fresno, Calif. |
Erick Strickland, 17 |
Moore, Garner, 10 |
|
|
Semifinals |
Tulane |
W, 90-78 |
New York City |
Garner, Strickland, 20 |
Venson Hamilton, 9 |
|
|
Championship |
St. Joseph's |
W, 60-56 |
New York City |
Erick Strickland, 13 |
Mikki Moore, 13 |
|
|
1996-97 |
NIT/First |
Washington |
W, 67-63 |
Lincoln, Neb. |
Tyronn Lue, 14 |
Venson Hamilton, 10 |
|
Second |
Nevada |
W, 78-68 |
Reno, Nev. |
Mikki Moore, 21 |
Mikki Moore, 15 |
|
|
Third |
Connecticut |
L, 67-76 |
Storrs, Conn. |
Mikki Moore, 24 |
Venson Hamilton, 6 |
|
|
1997-98 |
NCAA/First |
Arkansas |
L, 65-74 |
Boise, Idaho |
Tyronn Lue, 18 |
Venson Hamilton, 10 |
|
1998-99 |
NIT/First |
UNLV |
W, 68-55 |
Lincoln, Neb. |
Cookie Belcher, 17 |
Andy Markowski, 11 |
|
Second |
TCU |
L, 89-101 |
Fort Worth, Texas |
Cary Cochran, 23 |
Venson Hamilton, 10 |
|
|
2003-04 |
NIT/Opening |
Creighton |
W, 71-70 |
Omaha, Neb. |
Andrew Drevo, 20 |
Andrew Drevo, 9 |
|
First |
Niagara |
W, 78-70 |
Lincoln, Neb. |
Turek, Johnson, 17 |
John Turek, 8 |
|
|
Second |
Hawaii |
L, 83-84 |
Honolulu, Hawaii |
Nate Johnson, 26 |
Brian Conklin, 6 |
|
|
2005-06 |
NIT/First |
Hofstra |
L, 62-73 |
Hempstead, N.Y. |
Jason Dourisseau, 15 |
Aleks Maric, 12 |
|
2007-08 |
NIT/First |
Charlotte |
W, 67-48 |
Lincoln, Neb. |
Ade Dagunduro, 15 |
Aleks Maric, 10 |
|
NIT/Second |
Mississippi |
L, 75-87 (ot) |
Oxford, Miss. |
Aleks Maric, 18 |
Aleks Maric, 10 |
|
|
2008-09 |
NIT/First |
New Mexico |
L, 71-83 |
Albuquerque, N.M. |
Sek Henry, 13 |
Ade Dagunduro, 5 |
|
2010-11 |
NIT/First |
Wichita State |
L, 49-76 |
Wichita, Kan. |
Jeter, Diaz, 12 |
Jorge Brian Diaz, 8 |
|
2013-14 |
NCAA/Second |
Baylor |
L, 60-74 |
San Antonio, Texas |
Terran Petteway, 18 |
Pitchford, Shields, 5 |
|
2017-18 |
NIT/First |
Mississippi State |
L, 59-65 |
Starkville, Miss. |
James Palmer Jr., 13 |
Isaiah Roby, 8 |
|
2018-19 |
NIT/First |
Butler |
W, 80-76 |
Lincoln, Neb. |
Isaiah Roby, 28 |
Isaiah Roby, 8 |
|
|
NIT/Second |
TCU |
L, 72-88 |
Fort Worth, Texas |
James Palmer Jr., 19 |
Tanner Borchardt, 13 |