Nebraska men’s and women’s basketball will meet their fans for the first time in 2025-26 at Opening Night on Friday, Sept. 19. The event will take place on Canopy Street from R to Q Streets, the street next to the Railyard and near Pinnacle Bank Arena starting at 6:30 p.m. The event will be free and open to the public.
Fred Hoiberg, Amy Williams and selected players speak to the crowd and both the men’s and women’s basketball teams will be introduced. Also, contests with players and fans will take place.
Both Husker teams have reached postseason play in each of the last two seasons and high hopes for the upcoming season.
The Husker men return seven letterwinners from a team that went 21-14 and won the College Basketball Crown. The roster is highlighted by returning 2024-25 starters Berke Büyüktuncel and Sam Hoiberg, along with senior guard Connor Essegian, who averaged 10.7 ppg off the bench last season. NU also regains the services of two other significant contributors to its 2024 NCAA Tournament team in All-Big Ten forward Rienk Mast, who averaged 12.3 points and led NU in both rebounding (7.5 rpg) and assists (3.0 apg), and senior guard Jamarques Lawrence, who played in all 34 games, including 23 starts at NU in 2023-24. NU also reloads with five other transfers and a pair of freshmen who were both among the nation’s top 125 recruits.
The Husker women are coming off a 21-12 season that included their second straight trip to the NCAA Tournament for Coach Amy Williams. The Big Red will be led on the court by returning All-Big Ten honoree Britt Prince, who earned a spot on the conference’s all-freshman team after averaging 13.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and team bests of 3.8 assists and 1.7 steals. Natalie Potts, the 2024 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, will also be back along with fellow 2024 Big Ten All-Freshman selection Logan Nissley. The Huskers also have five newcomers, including a quartet of Division I transfers.