Some not-so-fun history about the basketball team's struggles to win an NCAA Tournament game.
As you know, the NCAA Tournament used to invite only conference champions and highly ranked at-large teams to its 16-team (then 32, then 48) tournament prior to going to 64 teams in 1986.
During my time in Lincoln (1962-84), the Huskers often had teams ranked high enough to be invited to the Dance during the recent era, but not then. These rankings are based on the Simple Rating System, which accounts for both point margin and strength of schedule.
16 teams in the Dance
- In 1966, the Huskers were 37th in the SRS, but KU won the conference and earned the only bid.
- 1967, 55th, and KU was the only Big 8 team.
- 1968, 50th, and KSU was the Big 8 team.
- 1971, 51st, and KU was it.
32 teams
- 1976, 48th, and Mizzou was the Big 8 team.
- 1978, 28th, Mizzou and KU repped the Big 8.
48 teams
- 1981, 48th, KU, Mizzou and K-State
- 1982, 24th, Mizzou and K-State
- 1983, 39th, Oklahoma, Mizzou and OSU
Then in 1986, when we finally were good enough to make the now-64-team tourney, our all-time leading scorer was injured and couldn't play. Without Dave Hoppen, we lost to Western Kentucky, Moe Iba was fired the next day, and we all figured it would just be a matter of time before our perennial contenders would win a game in the Dance.
You know how that has worked out.
