Huskers Look to Make Next Step in 2024-25

The Husker basketball program enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2023-24, winning 23 games, finishing third in the Big Ten Conference and reaching the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014. 

Despite all of the success, it was the final chapter - a 98-83 loss to Texas A&M in the NCAA Tournament - that has provided motivation for the 2024-25 Huskers throughout the offseason.  Last year’s NCAA Tournament was a new experience for nearly the entire roster, and the Huskers hope the lessons learned can pay dividends this year.

“It is such a different vibe. You can talk to them about it until you’re blue in the face, but once you experience that, that’s very valuable for your guys,” Nebraska Coach Fred Hoiberg said. “Juwan was the only guy on our roster who played in the NCAA Tournament before last year. Now, having a group where the majority in our rotation have been in the tournament, they want to get back there and take this program to where it has never been.”

“That’s the challenge. That’s the next step, that’s the next progression, is to get this program where it’s never been before where we can consistently get to the NCAA Tournament and winning those games in March,” Hoiberg said. “I think this group has that opportunity, if we stay together, if we sacrifice and play unselfish basketball.”
The Huskers welcome back three starters - Brice Williams, Juwan Gary and Rienk Mast - and seven letterwinners from last year’s team, although Mast will miss the 2024-25 season following knee surgery. 

Williams may be one of the most underrated players in the Big Ten, as he averaged 13.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, while shooting 40 percent from 3-point range. Gary, a two-year starter, comes back after averaging 11.6 points and 6.1 rebounds per game while guarding the top frontcourt players in the Big Ten. 
 The Huskers add one of the best transfer groups in the country and a pair of freshmen who could potentially make an impact, providing Hoiberg with his deepest roster in his six seasons at Nebraska. 

That group features a trio of seniors in Braxton Meah (Washington), Andrew Morgan (North Dakota State) and Rollie Worster (Utah) who have combined for over 200 career starts. In addition, the Huskers add offensive punch with Big Ten transfers Connor Essegian (Wisconsin), Berke Büyüktuncel (UCLA) and Gavin Griffiths (Rutgers).
One strength of the Huskers is their leadership and makeup, as the roster is one of the oldest in the country and features nine players who are in at least their fourth season of college basketball. That group, which includes returnees Sam Hoiberg, Ahron Ulis, Cale Jacobsen and Jeffrey Grace III along with Williams, Gary and Mast, have helped the newcomers make the transition to the Husker program a smooth one. Ulis, who started at Iowa in 2022-23, was in the program last year, but is eligible for his senior season.

“We have a lot of players that have been there, and now it’s their responsibility to talk to the new players, how we get your program, about your standards, about everything that you need to do to be consistent basketball,” Hoiberg said. “Juwan and Brice have really embraced that role. Those two have set the tone with their pace and their talk. We talk about how important it is to get off to a fast start in practice and how that will simulate game situations, and those two have done a really nice job with that for us.”

With a deep roster, one of the biggest challenges for the Huskers will be finding roles. Hoiberg could rely on several lineups, based upon the matchup and who is riding a hot hand. NU topped the Big Ten in bench production last year, while no player averaged more than 30 minutes a game. 

Hoiberg loves the competitive makeup of this group and believes it will follow the same trajectory of the past two seasons, when the Huskers were playing their best basketball late in the season.

“I think if we just continue to get better and trust the process and grow every day and grow every game, and get better regardless of the outcome, the results take care of themselves,” Hoiberg said. “For us, it’s just about continuing to grow every time you step on the floor, and then your goals take care of themselves.”

Nebraska’s frontcourt features a pair of returning starters in Juwan Gary and Rienk Mast, although Mast will be out for the season following knee surgery. Gary is one of the best defensive players in the Big Ten, and his versatility gives Hoiberg lineup flexibility.

Nebraska added size and experience with the additions of transfers Berke Büyüktuncel (UCLA), Andrew Morgan (North Dakota State) and Braxton Meah (Washington), all of whom are 6-foot-10 or taller.  Morgan and Meah are multiple-year starters at their respective schools, while Büyüktuncel made 26 appearances at UCLA last season and brings a high level of international experience. 

NU adds a pair of newcomers in freshman Braden Frager and walk-on Justin Bolis while walk-on Henry Burt rounds out the lineup. Frager reclassified to join the Huskers this season after starring at Lincoln Southwest, while Bolis is a Lincoln native who played at nearby Southeast Community College. 

Gary enters his third season as a starter, and his two-way value makes him one of the most indispensable players in the Big Ten. The 6-foot-6 senior averaged a career-high 11.6 points per game on nearly 50 percent shooting from the floor and 6.1 rebounds per game while setting career highs in both 3-point and free throw percentage. He reached double figures 16 times, including a trio of 20-point games. While he has upped his scoring in each of his three college seasons, Gary is also a tenacious rebounder and defender. He totaled five double-doubles last year and ranked among the Big Ten leaders in offensive rebounds in 2023-24. His size, length and athleticism allow him to guard multiple positions, and Gary thrives at making hustle plays. 

“He’s one of my favorite guys I’ve ever coached,” Hoiberg said. “He does whatever it takes to win. Juwan is not a guy that goes out there and hunts shots. He just goes out and tries to make winning basketball plays. He is one of the most versatile defenders in the country and is a great offensive rebounder which helps us get extra possessions.”

Mast is one of the best frontcourt players in the Big Ten but will miss the 2024-25 season following offseason knee surgery. Last year, Mast earned All-Big Ten honors, as he averaged 12.3 points per game and paced the Huskers in rebounds (7.5 rpg) and assists (3.0 apg). The 6-foot-10 forward ranked in the top 15 in both assists and rebounds per game while his six double-doubles were the most by a Husker since 2007-08. Mast reached double figures 20 times and showed his ability to stretch a defense by hitting 34 percent from 3-point range. His campaign was highlighted by hitting six 3-pointers as part of a career-high 34-point effort in a win over Ohio State. While he will not be on the court, Mast’s leadership and communication skills will be vital in helping the younger players adapt to the Big Ten. 

“Rienk was such a big part in our success last year, leading us in rebounds and assists while averaging over 12 points per game. We could play through him and that opened up our offense.” Hoiberg said. “Although he won’t be on the court this season, Rienk can still make a big impact in our program. He is such a good communicator and has worked with our bigs in helping them learn our system because he knows it so well.”

Büyüktuncel brings a high level of both international and Division I experience, as the UCLA transfer will play a significant role in the Husker frontcourt this season. The 6-foot-10 forward played in 26 games, including eight starts, as a true freshman at UCLA in 2023-24 despite not being eligible until late November. Büyüktuncel started in his college debut against No. 4 Marquette in the Maui Invitational and finished the year averaging 4.9 points and 2.7 rebounds, including a pair of double-figure games. He comes off a strong performance at the European U20 Championships, averaging 12.0 points on 51 percent shooting, 7.7 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 1.3 steals per game.  He shot 54 percent from 3-point range in the tournament, including a 5-of-5 effort against Israel. He missed the summer competing for his national team but has impressed the coaches during fall workouts with his skill level and high basketball IQ. Büyüktuncel can guard multiple positions and create mismatches with his skill set. 

“Berke is as talented as anybody that we have on our roster,” Hoiberg said. “He’s got good length and is a tremendous passer and can knock down shots. We can initiate offense through him, similar to Rienk (Mast) and Derrick (Walker). He can play a number of spots in our lineup and could even use a smaller lineup with him at the five spot.”

Meah gives the Huskers an elite rim protector and an inside threat as he joins the Huskers after spending the last two seasons at Washington. At 7-foot-1 and 250 pounds, Meah played in all 32 games for the Huskies last season and averaged 5.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, as he paced the Huskies in field goal percentage (.770) and blocked shots (27) despite playing through injuries. The Husker coaches believe that Meah will recapture his 2022-23 form when he averaged 8.8 points on 71 percent shooting and 7.2 rebounds per game. That season, he was named to the Pac-12 all-defensive team, as he ranked in the top 10 in the conference in both blocked shots (fifth) and rebounding (seventh). Meah’s size and finishing ability around the basket puts pressure on opposing defenses which should give NU’s shooters some room on the perimeter. 

“Braxton gives us a rim protector that we haven’t had here,” Hoiberg said. “He puts pressure on the rim, as he can get behind a defense and finish with authority. He sets solid screens which are tough to get around and has done a really good job of making the right read in getting into the paint or spraying out to a shooter.”

Morgan joins the Husker roster after spending the last three seasons at North Dakota State and provides size, skill and experience to the Husker frontcourt. The Waseca, Minn., native averaged 12.9 points on 56 percent shooting and 5.0 rebounds per game last season, earning second-team All-Summit League accolades.  A 6-foot-10 forward, Morgan totaled 22 double-figure games, including a season-high 31 points against Kansas City, and recorded a pair of double-doubles in 2023-24. A two-year starter for the Bison, Morgan can finish inside or step out to beyond the 3-point line to create mismatches, as he shot 36 percent from 3-point range last year. Morgan is a physical forward who should be well suited to the physicality of the Big Ten. 

“Andrew is a physical player with a skillset that works well in our system” Hoiberg said. “He has excellent footwork around the basket, and we can run offense through the elbow or create isolations to take advantage of mismatches for him.”

Frager is an intriguing prospect, as the 6-foot-7 forward reclassified into the class of 2024 before arriving on campus this summer. He averaged 18.3 points and 7.0 rebounds per game as a junior despite playing with a wrist injury that required offseason surgery and limited his work for most of the summer. Frager totaled 20-or-more points in six of his final eight contests, including a school-record 39-point performance at Kearney. An outstanding athlete who is a capable scorer at all three levels, Frager has the potential to contribute early in his Husker career. 
“Braden has worked diligently with (strength coach) Kurt Joseph and has put on a lot of size since arriving earlier in the summer,” Hoiberg said. “He’s always been explosive and now his body is beginning to fill out.  Sometimes, we forget he is just 17 years old and should be in high school, but he has a Big Ten body and is shooting it really well. He has a bright future in this program.”

Bolis walked on to the team after spending last season at nearby Southeast Community College. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 15.5 points and 8.7 rebounds per game while recording 11 double-doubles during his freshman campaign. A Lincoln High product, Bolis has made significant improvements since arriving on campus in the summer and will provide front court depth.  

Burt returns for his third season with the Huskers after walking on to the program. He saw action in seven games as a redshirt freshman and tallied two points and three rebounds in 10 minutes. Burt is a valuable member of the scout team and gives NU size and depth in the frontcourt. 

The Huskers will have a new-look in the backcourt, as Keisei Tominaga and C.J. Wilcher finished three-year runs as Huskers. Nebraska’s backcourt is highlighted by the return of All-Big Ten candidate Brice Williams, who can play anywhere in the backcourt. NU also returns Sam Hoiberg, who played in every game last season along with walk-ons Jeffrey Grace III and Cale Jacobsen.  Iowa transfer Ahron Ulis is eligible after sitting out last year, as he started for the Hawkeyes in 2022-23. The Huskers added Big Ten experience with transfers Connor Essegian (Wisconsin) and Gavin Griffiths (Rutgers). In addition, Rollie Worster (Utah) was a three-year starter at Utah, while the Huskers add freshman Nick Janowski, who was a top-150 recruit in the class of 2024.

Williams gives the Huskers the luxury of having one of the Big Ten’s top returning scorers entering the 2024-25 season. The 6-foot-7 senior guard averaged 13.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, as he ranked in the top three of the team in all three categories in his first season as a Husker. Williams is a three-level scorer who shot nearly 40 percent from 3-point range last year and shot 84 percent while getting to the foul line a team-high 141 times. While he is a natural on the wing, his versatility was evident, as Williams played point guard and showed the ability to guard multiple positions and be a natural facilitator.  That move helped Nebraska excel defensively with a large lineup, as he has good positional size. He was at his best during the Huskers’ postseason run, recording three of his five 20-point games and averaged 23.3 ppg on 50 percent shooting. The Husker coaches believe that could be a springboard to an outstanding 2024-25 campaign.

“I’ve been impressed with Brice’s overall pace and demeanor,” Hoiberg said. “We shifted Brice from playing the three or four at Charlotte to putting the ball in his hands last year, and he gained a lot of confidence, and I think that is going to benefit him not only for this year, but as a professional.  He’s a two-way player with outstanding positional size and skill level and shot nearly 40 percent from 3-point range.  I’m looking to Brice to be a leader on this team, a consistent leader whatever’s happening on the floor. And he’s got a chance to have a heck of a year.”

Hoiberg has been a valuable role player over the past two seasons and gives the Huskers another experienced backcourt performer. Last season, he averaged 3.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game while posting a team-best 2.5-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. While he was second on the team in steals, Hoiberg excels at the intangibles and has shown an uncanny knack to provide an immediate spark with his hustle, most notably against Purdue when he had seven points in a 13-0 run to help knock off the No. 1 team in the nation. Hoiberg is also a capable shooter, and his poise, competitiveness and toughness will find him a spot in the rotation. 

“Sam has been in a lot of big games for our team over the past two seasons,” Hoiberg said. “He knows our system as well as anyone in our program and excels in his role. Last year, he became more of a distributor for us and led the team in assist-to-turnover ratio. Most importantly, he brings a lot of toughness and grit and provides a spark when we need it.”

After a year of waiting, the Husker coaches are excited to see Ulis back on the court.  Ulis brings extensive Big Ten experience to the Husker backcourt, as he helped the Hawkeyes to three straight NCAA appearances before transferring to Nebraska prior to last season. In his last year of action, Ulis made 27 starts at point guard and averaged 6.1 points and 2.1 assists per game in 2022-23. A solid defender, Ulis has a career 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio and has worked hard to improve his shooting, a development which will help his all-around game. 
“I’ve been impressed with Ahron. He’s been very vocal and trying to be a leader when things get tough out there,” Hoiberg said. “He plays with incredible pace. That is the thing I’ve been most impressed with. He hits the outlet on the floor as fast as anyone we’ve had, and that is how we want to play. He has great experience in this league starting for a team that made the NCAA Tournament, and Ahron has a great feel for the game.”

Worster fills a crucial role for Nebraska, as he brings four years of starting experience, including three at the power conference level. Worster was a three-year starter at Utah who averaged 9.9 points, 5.5 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game in 16 games before missing the rest of the season with an injury. He ranked third in the Pac-12 in assists (5.5 apg) and led the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.93-to-1) and guided Utah to a 12-4 mark before his injury. Worster ranked among the Pac-12 leaders in both categories in 2022-23, when he averaged 5.0 assists per game and was second in the Pac-12 in assist-to-turnover ratio. At 6-foot-5, he is also a physical guard who can rebound and can use his size and strength to help create mismatches.

“The thing I was most impressed with about Rollie and after talking to people that coached against him is how much of a winner he is,” Hoiberg said. “It’s not necessarily that he’s going to score 20 or have 15 assists, but he does whatever it takes to win and that is what I’ve seen since he’s been here. He’s tough. He’s gritty. He rebounds at a high level for his position and takes care of the ball.”

Essegian is a familiar name to Husker fans, as he comes to Lincoln after spending the last two seasons at Big Ten rival Wisconsin. The 6-foot-4 guard appeared in 30 games last season and had a pair of double-figure efforts, including a season-high 15-point effort at Rutgers. As a freshman, he was on the Big Ten All-Freshman team when he averaged 11.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. He led UW in scoring in Big Ten play and set a freshman record with 69 3-pointers while shooting 36 percent from beyond the arc.  He spent part of the summer with the Armenian National Team, averaging 13.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game as Armenia won the LA International Cup Title. Essegian’s skillset and experience should help him thrive in Nebraska’s offense.

“Connor will be a very important piece for us,” Hoiberg said. “He’s got an unbelievably quick release and is good on dribble handoffs and using screens. He’s had success in this league, and he has a very level-headed approach to things.  He’s a great locker room guy and is someone who can give us leadership and knows what playing in the Big Ten is all about.”

Griffiths is another guard with Big Ten experience, as he spent his freshman season at Rutgers. A former top-50 recruit in the 2023 class, Griffiths appeared in all 32 contests for the Scarlet Knights in 2023-24, averaging 5.8 points and 2.2 rebounds per game. He was second on the team in 3-pointers (31) and blocked shots (13), as he ranked third among all Big Ten freshmen in 3-pointers. He became a significant part of the rotation later in the year, averaging 11.3 points and 3.5 rebounds per game over Rutgers’ final four games while shooting 38 percent from 3-point range. At 6-foot-7, he has good positional size and athleticism and could see time at several spots on the floor.

“I knew Gavin could shoot, but his athleticism has been off the charts,” Hoiberg said. “He doesn’t back down from anybody, is in the gym all the time and has a lot of raw talent and ability. He’s still young and when you learn from a great coach like Steve Pikiell, you get some of those learning curve situations out of the way.  His shot selection is something that we talked to him a lot about taking the right shots. Early on last year, he took some really, really tough ones, but then at the end of the year, he figured it out and shot almost 40 percent over the last month in the season. I think he is primed for a really nice year.”

Jacobsen provided backcourt depth, as he played in 20 contests as a redshirt freshman in 2023-24. The 6-foot-4 guard was used as a situational sub during conference play, where the staff utilized his athleticism and size. He has earned the coaching staff’s trust and provides a physical guard who understands his role. 

Grace is in his third season at Nebraska, as he played in 16 games, including seven Big Ten contests, in 2023-24. A walk-on who originally began his career at Arizona State, Grace understands his role and pushes his teammates in practice on the scout team. He also excels outside the classroom, as a two-time Academic All-Big Ten pick. Grace was one of 20 Huskers to take a service trip to Ecuador in August of 2024. 

Janowski was a prolific scorer at Pewaukee High School, as the four-star recruit averaged 30.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4.4 assists per season. A four-star recruit, he was listed among the top 125 seniors by 247Sports and Rivals.com and was ranked among the top 25 shooting guards by nearly every major recruiting service. A four-year starter, he totaled 2,297 career points and helped Pewaukee to three state titles, a runner-up finish and a 106-14 combined record. Janowski is a prolific shooter who shot 44 percent from long range in high school with nearly 300 3-pointers, and his shooting gives him an opportunity to garner early playing time.

“I’ve been happy with the progress Nick has made,” Hoiberg said. “He had some struggles that you see from all freshmen when they get to campus, but he’s been really good since we started fall workouts. Nick has been playing point guard for us behind Rollie and Ahron but can also play off the ball, and I’m confident he can score as he was one of the leading scorers in Wisconsin high school history. He’s got a really bright future for us.”