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College Basketball Analyst Gives Nebraska Basketball Top-25 Billing

John Fanta of FOX Sports placed the Husker men at No. 24 in his rankings Monday.

Austin Jacobsen

Connor Essegian (0), Sam Hoiberg (1) and Berke Büyüktuncel (9) celebrate a Huskers three pointer.
Connor Essegian (0), Sam Hoiberg (1) and Berke Büyüktuncel (9) celebrate a Huskers three pointer. / Amarillo Mullen
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Although Nebraska basketball was snubbed from receiving a top-25 billing from the Associated Press on Monday, other national analysts recognized the Huskers' recent winning streak.

John Fanta, a college basketball analyst and broadcaster for FOX Sports, placed the Cornhuskers at No. 24 in his top-25 rankings on Monday. Fanta was impressed by Nebraska's 66-58 win over then-rated No. 15 UCLA on Saturday, posting on his personal social media that the victory was a "great win for Fred Hoiberg."

Nebraska improved to 12-2 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten with the victory over the Bruins, as the Cornhuskers maintained their home streak in Pinnacle Bank Arena. The Huskers have not lost at home to a Big Ten opponent since Feb. 28, 2023, a win streak now of 12 games.

Fanta took note during the contest, calling it a "rugged battle" at halftime on social media. The analyst continued his praise throughout the contest, stating that Nebraska was "a legit team." Fanta then posted later Saturday he would place the Cornhuskers in his top 25 ratings, and did so on Monday.

Nebraska received votes for a second straight week in the Associated Press top 25 on Monday, but failed to break through into the rankings. After receiving only one vote in last week's Associated Press Top 25 rankings, the Huskers garnered 62 points in this week's poll to be rated just outside the top 25 teams. Nebraska received the third most votes outside of the rankings, placing the Cornhuskers tied for 27th among all teams.

Following an impressive holiday stretch taking down Murray State, Hawai'i, and Oregon State at the Diamond Head Classic, the Huskers followed their break with a 77-43 home win over Southern on Dec. 30. NU then handled the Bruins at home.

Nebraska aims to continue to impress Fanta and other voters, visiting the Iowa Hawkeyes Tuesday evening. Tip off between the Huskers and Hawkeyes is set for 7 p.m. CST on Peacock.

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Austin Jacobsen
AUSTIN JACOBSEN

Austin Jacobsen is a radio broadcaster and former Sports Director in Central Nebraska. He has seen the Cornhusker state from all corners; growing up in the Panhandle, completing his college degree in Kearney, working in the rural Sandhills, and now residing in Omaha. Austin is a statewide, regional, and national radio award winner and can usually be found at a high school football field on Friday nights and tuning in to the Huskers wherever they travel. If he is not on the road, Austin enjoys movie dates with his girlfriend and their dog, Ava.

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