Nebraska coach takes blame for 4 players on floor late in Iowa loss
AP News • • sports
Key Points:
- Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg took responsibility for a critical miscommunication that left the Cornhuskers with only four players on the floor during a key moment in their Sweet 16 loss to Iowa.
- With 58.8 seconds left and Nebraska down by three, Iowa's Alvaro Folgueiras received an uncontested 70-foot pass and scored a dunk, followed by a free throw, extending Iowa's lead to six points.
- The error occurred because Nebraska's Rienk Mast was not on the floor to guard Folgueiras, who exploited the situation to help Iowa secure a 77-71 victory and reach the Elite Eight for the first time since 1987.
- Iowa coach Ben McCollum admitted surprise at the play and said the scoring opportunity was not a planned strategy but rather a result of Nebraska's mistake.
- Folgueiras, a 20-year-old transfer from Robert Morris, finished with 16 points and has been a key player for Iowa, previously hitting a game-winning 3-pointer against Florida in the second round.
