For almost 37 minutes, Nebraska was poised to capture its biggest win in program history, but when crunch time came around, it collapsed. On the flipside, Michigan didn't go to Yaxel Lendeborg or Tuesday's leading scorer; they counted on Trey McKenney to deliver in the clutch. When the horn ran out, Michigan basketball secured its first top-five win in four years. Here are three of the takeaways from the unlikely win.
These two titans will meet again somewhere in March or April
Tuesday was the only in-season meeting between the two, but something tells me that they are bound to play again. Both would earn triple-byes in the Big Ten tournament if they remain in the top four of the conference. Michigan would be a one seed in the NCAA tournament and Nebraska can make an argument for the top line as well. It should be a lock that whomever wins the Big Ten, gets awarded with one of the four elusive seeds. At the midway point of the season, it can be debated, that these are the two best teams in the Big Ten.
Both sides only made one three-pointer each in the final 22 minutes
Sharpshooter Pryce Sandfort swished a 3-pointer with two minutes to go until time expired in the first. After that Sandfort didn't hit one until the 11:25 mark of the second stanza. It put the Cornhuskers up nine, and they were outscored by 12 until the buzzer sounded in the Crisler Center. Will Tschetter banged in Michigan's lone triple at the 10-minute spot of the deciding half. Michigan was 0-for-7 from deep prior to that attempt from Tschetter.
Nebraska is a better team than Michigan. They did this without frager and mast. The refs gave Michigan the benefit of a 23-4 FT advantage with only 9 fouls on Michigan. Big ten has to do better. Huskers got hosed.
— Illini Fan Card Collector (@CardIllini) January 28, 2026
Pryce Sandfort shot Nebraska's four free throws on the night
While glancing at Nebraska's schedule, the Cornhuskers do not go to the free-throw line a lot over the course of their 21 games. The previous low was eight times, which occurred twice. Once at Illinois and in the second game of the season against FIU. Sandfort was the only Cornhusker to get to the charity stipe, and he went 3-for-4 for his efforts. Michigan's 83% from the line was their best since the Wisconsin upset. Disappointed critics were begging for an offensive foul on Trey McKenney's drive, but were denied.