The Nebraska men’s basketball team last played a game on Sunday, Jan. 10. Since then, the Huskers have been hit hard by COVID-19. With four games postponed since that Jan. 10 date (and one prior due to COVID-19 as well), it’s unclear when Nebraska will play next.
Athletic Director Bill Moos hopes the team can come off a pause of team activities by the end of this week, he said during his monthly appearance on Sports Nightly, but nothing is official at this time. Several people remain in isolation following an outbreak of the virus among 12 individuals in the program, including seven confirmed positive tests with players and a confirmed positive test from Coach Fred Hoiberg.
Moos said that Hoiberg has had “a rough couple days” since testing positive and is being watched closely due to heart issues. Despite that, Moos said the coach is doing OK otherwise.
As of now, Nebraska basketball’s next scheduled matchup is set for Saturday, Jan. 30 against Penn State.
Other news and notes:
>> We know the Huskers are aiming for May 1 for the annual Red-White Spring Game, but what about fans in the stands?
“I don’t think we’ll be looking at a significant number of fans until we get into the next academic year in the fall,” Moos said.
That’s a bit of a departure since Moos was last on Sports Nightly in December, when he said he hoped Nebraska would have 15 spring practices followed by fans in the stands for the game. It sounds like some of the change in perspective has come from conversation with other Big Ten athletic directors. Moos said they’re going week-by-week when it comes to fan attendance for any sport, noting there’s a chance but “there’s not a comfort level at this point.”
>> Nebraska volleyball begins its season on the road at Indiana on Friday, and Moos said that Coach John Cook “has an exceptional team.” He was especially pleased to report that 15 out of Nebraska’s 22 matches will be broadcast on either the Big Ten Network on NET.
“It’s a big, big deal in the state of Nebraska,” he said. “As it should be.”
>> Morale is high in the athletic department after furloughed employees have returned and the salary reductions removed. More here.
>> Moos spoke a bit about what he wants to see from Coach Scott Frost and football in 2021. Hail Varsity’s Derek Peterson recently spoke with Moos one-on-one, which included a more detailed discussion on those expectations. You can find that interview here.
Erin is the Deputy Editor and Digital Marketing Strategist for Hail Varsity. She has covered Nebraska athletics since 2012, which has included stops at Bleacher Report, Cox Media Group’s Land of 10, and even Hail Varsity (previously from 2012-2017). She has also been featured on the Big Ten Network, NET’s Big Red Wrap-Up, and a varsity of radio shows nationwide. When not covering the Huskers, Erin is probably at Chipotle.
