If you’ve walked into Pinnacle Bank Arena lately or even just scrolled through Husker Twitter, you’ve probably noticed something. The Nebraska men's basketball roster doesn't look much like the one that ended last season. Honestly, it’s a total overhaul. Fred Hoiberg is essentially leaning into the "transfer portal era" with both feet, and while some fans are nervous about the lack of continuity, the actual names on the sheet suggest this might be his most balanced team yet.
The big story? Rienk Mast is back. After missing the entire previous season following knee surgery, the 6-foot-10 big man from the Netherlands is the undisputed anchor of this squad. Coach Hoiberg has been pretty vocal about it, basically saying Mast is the "hub" of the offense. It’s not just about his scoring; it’s that he can pass out of the post better than most guards in the Big Ten.
But Mast can't do it alone. The roster has been filled with guys who can flat-out shoot. If you looked at the 2025-26 depth chart, you’d see a list of players who have all hit over 35% from deep at some point in their careers.
The New Faces on the Nebraska Men's Basketball Roster
The transfer portal was busy for the Huskers this past spring. One of the most intriguing additions is Pryce Sandfort. Yes, he’s the younger brother of former Iowa star Payton Sandfort. Taking a player from a rival is always a bold move, but Pryce brings a 6-foot-7 frame and a high-volume shooting touch that fits Hoiberg’s "five-out" system perfectly. His dad, Brian, actually played at Hastings College, so the Nebraska roots run deeper than you might think.
Then there’s the international flavor. Ugnius Jarusevicius joined the team after a massive breakout year at Central Michigan. He’s a 6-foot-11 Lithuanian who averaged over 16 points a game last year. Between him and Mast, the frontcourt has a lot of size, but it’s "skilled size"—the kind that doesn't just clog the lane but actually creates space.
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The backcourt got a familiar face back too. Jamarques Lawrence is back in Lincoln after a one-year stint at Rhode Island. It’s a bit of a "prodigal son" story, and honestly, the team needed his perimeter defense and veteran presence.
Breaking Down the 2025-26 Rotation
It’s hard to predict a starting five this early, but the exhibition games against BYU and Midland gave us some big clues. Hoiberg is experimenting with "positionless" basketball. He’s been using guys like Sam Hoiberg and Cale Jacobsen to initiate the offense, even though neither is a "traditional" point guard.
- Connor Essegian: The Wisconsin transfer is entering his senior year. He’s a guy who can get hot in a hurry, and he’ll likely be the primary floor spacer when teams try to double-team Mast in the post.
- Berke Büyüktuncel: The UCLA transfer is a 6-foot-10 junior from Turkey. He’s incredibly versatile. One minute he’s guarding a wing, the next he’s bringing the ball up the floor.
- Braden Frager: A local kid from Lincoln Southwest. He’s a redshirt freshman with a ton of athleticism. In the early exhibitions, he showed he can score from all three levels, which is exactly what this team needs to stay unpredictable.
- Kendall Blue: Coming over from St. Thomas, Blue is a 6-foot-6 guard who gives the team some much-needed length on the perimeter.
What People Get Wrong About This Roster
A lot of the national media looks at the Nebraska men's basketball roster and sees a lack of a "true" point guard. They worry about who is going to run the show when the shot clock is winding down.
Here’s the thing: Hoiberg doesn't really want a traditional point guard.
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He wants five guys on the floor who can all pass, dribble, and shoot. When you have Rienk Mast at the top of the key, he basically is the point guard. The offense runs through him. The ball doesn't stick in one person's hands. It’s a system built on movement and spacing.
Is there a risk? Of course. Without a ball-dominant facilitator, the turnover numbers can get a little scary. We saw that in some of the early games. But the trade-off is an offense that is incredibly hard to scout because the threat can come from anywhere.
The Freshman Wildcard
Don’t sleep on Quentin Rhymes. The 6-foot-6 freshman out of Hillcrest Prep was a big win on the recruiting trail. He’s got that "fuel to the fire" mentality. While he might not start right away, his ability to create his own shot is something this roster was missing in previous years.
Then there’s Leo Curtis, the 7-foot-1 freshman from Iceland. He’s still raw, but you can’t teach that kind of height. He provides a different look when Mast needs a breather, giving the Huskers a true rim protector.
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Why This Mix Might Actually Work
The chemistry of this group seems... different. In previous years, it felt like a collection of talented individuals. This year, the pieces actually fit.
You have the veterans who know the Big Ten (Mast, Sam Hoiberg, Sandfort). You have the high-upside transfers (Jarusevicius, Büyüktuncel). And you have the specialists like Essegian.
The defense is still a question mark. Hoiberg’s teams usually hover around the middle of the pack defensively in the conference. They aren't going to out-muscle Purdue or Illinois, but they might out-shoot them.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're following the team this season, keep an eye on these specific dynamics:
- Watch the Assist-to-Turnover Ratio: Since there isn't a dedicated point guard, this stat will tell you if the "offense by committee" approach is actually working.
- Monitor Rienk Mast’s Minutes: His health is the lynchpin of the entire season. If he’s playing 30+ minutes, Nebraska is a tournament team.
- The Home/Away Split: Nebraska’s schedule includes home games against Purdue and Wisconsin but tough road trips to UCLA and USC. Seeing how the new transfers handle the atmosphere at Pinnacle Bank Arena versus Big Ten road environments will be key.
The Nebraska men's basketball roster is built for modern basketball. It’s fast, it’s tall, and it’s dangerous from the three-point line. Whether that translates to a deep run in March depends on how quickly these new pieces can gel into a cohesive unit under Fred Hoiberg’s system.
To keep up with the team's progress, you should check the official Huskers.com roster page for the most current jersey numbers and weight gains, and follow local beat writers for updates on starting lineup shifts before conference play hits full swing.