Imagine a basketball game so intense, it comes down to a single shot with less than a second left on the clock. That’s exactly what happened when No. 22 Nebraska’s Jamarques Lawrence drained a buzzer-beating three-pointer to secure an 83-80 victory over No. 13 Illinois. But here’s where it gets controversial: Was this a stroke of genius or a stroke of luck? Either way, this win catapulted the Huskers to a program-best 11-0 start, surpassing their previous record set in the 1977-78 season. And this is the part most people miss—Nebraska’s undefeated streak now extends to a staggering 15 games, dating back to last season’s College Basketball Crown tournament win in Las Vegas. This marks their first ranked matchup victory since 1991, breaking a six-game losing streak at Illinois’ State Farm Center. For the Illini, it was a tough loss despite a late surge led by Tomislav Ivisic’s clutch three-pointer to tie the game momentarily. Nebraska’s Pryce Sandfort stole the show with a career-high 32 points, including 26 in the first half alone. Yet, Illinois’ Kylan Boswell and Andrej Stojakovic kept the game close with 20 and 19 points, respectively. Here’s the bold question: Is Nebraska’s historic start a fluke, or are they a legitimate contender this season? Let’s debate in the comments—are the Huskers here to stay, or will they fade as the season progresses?
