As conference play increasingly tightens around the country, the number of teams that have been able to go unscathed has dwindled down to just a few. Just recently, the Huskers had a test of their own to continue what’s been a shockingly fantastic season.
This past Saturday, No. 7 Nebraska men’s basketball improved to 18-0 after a 77-58 win against Northwestern on the road. Its record is not only a testament to how head coach Fred Hoiberg has built up the program brick by brick during his seven-year tenure, but it is also receiving national recognition for being the school’s best start of all time.
Along with the Huskers, No. 1 Arizona and No. 25 Miami University (Ohio) are also undefeated. With there only being three teams left without a loss, many are curious as to who will stay perfect the longest and who will first fall short of upholding such an incredible feat.
No. 7 Nebraska Cornhuskers (18-0)
Starting with the Huskers, many have questioned how a team projected to finish 14th out of 18 teams in the Big Ten is still undefeated this late, but the true story is that they rely on a secret recipe that isn’t all that secret.
They are incredibly efficient at shooting 3-pointers, don’t rely on just one scorer to get the job done and run a defense that forces teams to work overtime to get the ball into the paint or throw up an uncontested shot from behind the arc.
Nebraska is led by returning senior forward Rienk Mast, but it has also seen Iowa transfer and junior forward Pryce Sandfort have a breakout year. Sandfort’s noticeably quick release has propelled him to lead the team in points per game with 16.7, as well as shooting 41% on 3-point attempts.
The Huskers’ next biggest test will be waiting for them on Tuesday, January 27, as No. 3 Michigan is set to host the red-hot Huskers. Nebraska will also have to play No. 11 Illinois and No. 4 Purdue on its home court soon after.
In the meantime, its next tip-off will come against Washington at home on Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. CT.
No. 1 Arizona Wildcats (18-0)
While Nebraska’s magical run has been a surprise for many, Arizona’s has been quite the opposite. In fact, the Wildcats have been projected to make a deep run in March this season ever since freshman forward Koa Peat announced his commitment to play for arguably the best team in the Big 12.
Peat hasn’t disappointed so far. He had 30 points in his debut and has led the team offensively ever since. The Wildcats’ best win so far this season came against UConn on the road, where they won 71-67 over what was the No. 1 team in the country at the time. Paired with that win on the road, they have also been able to defend their home court against teams such as Auburn, UCLA and Alabama.
Arizona is battle-tested, led by a freshman star, knows how to win away on both coasts and is looking forward to its next big test against No. 13 BYU on Monday, January 26. The most worrisome thing for a Wildcat fan right now is that there are currently five other Big 12 teams in the AP Top 25 Poll, and all five of them are left on Arizona’s schedule.
In the meantime, the Wildcats will still have to be focused for their next matchup, in which they will host Cincinnati next Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. CT.
No. 25 Miami RedHawks (19-0)
There are 365 Division 1 men’s college basketball teams in the country. Of those teams, No. 25 Miami (Ohio) has the 364th most difficult schedule. While this certainly may be a reason to look at their undefeated record differently than Nebraska’s or Arizona’s, one must still recognize how difficult it is to win 19 games in a row.
Head Coach Travis Steele handled non-conference play spectacularly and then continued that dominance within the MAC. The RedHawks have taken down the likes of Bowling Green on the road and Akron at home. Their next toughest test and game in general will be against Kent State on the road this Tuesday.
Miami is one of two mid-major teams currently ranked, with the other being No. 24 Saint Louis, but seeing as they are in separate conferences, their paths will most likely not cross this season.
Steele and his RedHawks are currently favored in every game for the remainder of the season, so Miami is surprisingly more likely to stay undefeated longer than Nebraska and Arizona.
However, nothing is a given in this sport, and millions will be watching the rest of the way to see if any of these squads can keep their perfect season going.