The Cornhuskers of Nebraska have been more known for their football. That hasn’t stopped some significant names from passing through Lincoln on the hardwood. Nebraska basketball has had a lot of talent pass through that have gone on to have substantial pro basketball opportunities.
Hoops started for the Cornhuskers back in 1897. They are pretty light when it comes to NCAA tournament appearances though. Historically they have only made the big dance eight times. It hasn’t been fascinating once the Huskers have made the big dance, as they have never made it past the first round. They are coming off a decade-long drought without making the dance, but current head coach Fred Hoiberg led Nebraska to the NCAA tournament just last season.
A big-name player has come out of nowhere every time the Huskers have been to the dance. Most of the players that have made this all-time Huskers lineup were able to make a name for themselves, without much team success. Let’s take a closer look at the Nebraska basketball lineup.
Nebraska Basketball: Cornhuskers All-Time Starting Lineup
Guard: Tyronn Lue
Current Los Angeles Clippers Head Coach, Tyronn Lue, was a heck of a player in his own right. But before he was famously getting outclassed by ‘The Answer” Allen Iverson, Lue suited up for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The Raytown, Missouri produced arrived in Lincoln, and didn’t look back. He became a starter almost overnight as he helped lead the Huskers to the 1996 NIT Championship. he averaged 8.5 points and 4.1 assists during his freshman season in 1995-96. His production only increased during his final two seasons at Nebraska.
During the 1997-98 season, he had his best as a Cornhusker, averaging 21.2 points and being named first-team All-Big 12. In his three seasons in Nebraska, Lue started 96 of 99 games he played in and left with 1,577 points and 432 career assists. After leaving early for the NBA, Lue was rewarded as he was selected 23rd overall in the 1998 Draft. He found a home as a guard with the Los Angeles Lakers and won back-to-back titles in 2000 and 2001. His Number 10 hangs in the rafters at Nebraska, and after just over a decade-long NBA playing career, Lue went into coaching. Where he added a third NBA Championship to his resume in 2016 as the then Cavaliers Headman. Lue was a sneaky good point guard and remains one of the best players to come out of Nebraska.
Guard: Stu Lantz
This guard is the oldest player in the History of Nebraska to have his jersey number retired. That is none other than Stu Lantz, who arrived in Nebraska during the late 1960s. Lantz was a major part of why Nebraska first exploded on the scenes during that era. It was also a time, when the Huskers were in the prime of the Big 8 Conference, the predecessor to the Big 12. Lantz helped the Huskers reach the 20-win mark for the first time during the 1966-67 season.
During his three-year career for Nebraska, Lantz became the first player in school history to be named a two-time All-Big 8 player. He led the team in scoring and rebounding during both the 66-67 and 67-68 seasons. He finished his Cornhuskers career averaging 16.9 points and nearly 7.6 rebounds per game. Stu finished his great career at Nebraska with 1,269 points and over 500 career rebounds. His standout college career led to an NBA chance where he was drafted in 1968 by the Rockets.
Though he hung around the league for nine years, a bad back injury before the 1976-77 season all but ended his career, before he turned 31. Lantz went on to be a well-established TV commentator for the Los Angeles Lakers, which he still serves to this day. Lantz certainly deserves his spot in this all-time lineup as he helped put Nebraska basketball on the map.
Forward: Eric Piatkowski
The son of ABA player Walt Piatkowski, Eric Piatkowski took his talents to Nebraska basketball before the 1990 season. He arrived in Lincoln and made an impact quickly. He was able to make the All-Big 8 freshman team in 1991 after averaging nearly 11 points a game and finished that campaign with 372 points. Piatkowski flirted with getting All-Big 8 honors throughout his four-year career at Nebraska.
In total, he earned two All-Big 8 honors in his junior and senior seasons. It was also during his senior campaign in 1993-94, that Piatkowski was key in helping the Cornhuskers win the Big 8 Tournament Championship. En route to that title, Piatkowski put up a heck of a performance. He scored 42 points in the Tournament semifinal against the Oklahoma Sooners. After winning the Big 8 Tournament, Piatkowski earned tournament MVP, and it also led the Huskers to a selection to the NCAA tournament.
The team went on to lose in the opening round, but Piatkowski had a remarkable career. He left as the second all-time leading scorer in Husker history with 1,934 points trailing only Dave Hoppen for the school record. His standout career for Nebraska led to his selection in the 1994 NBA Draft. Piatkowski was picked 15th overall by the Pacers before quickly being traded to the Clippers That ended up being the team he spent the most time with as he spent nine seasons in LA. He left the Clippers in 2003, and at that time he was the franchise’s leader in games played and three-pointers made. He made 738 threes as a Clipper. Eric called it a career in 2008. His No. 52 hangs in the rafters at Nebraska, and he’s still one of the best 6-foot-7 shooters to step foot on campus.
Forward: Shavon Shields
Shavon Shields was a major add for Nebraska as they were still transitioning from the Big 12 to the Big 10 in 2012. He was a big playmaker from high school in Kansas and chose the Huskers as his college destination. He was quite impactful as a freshman during the 2012-13 season as he made 19 starts and played in 28 games. His eight points and five rebounds a game as a freshman was a great showing for his first year in the Big 10. It only got better from there, as Shield became a key piece in getting Nebraska back in NCAA tournament position.
The Huskers were able to go dancing in 2014, as Shields parred up with the Big Ten’s top scorer Terran Petteway to lead the Huskers and then head Coach Tim Miles to the 11th seed in the NCAA tournament. Shields continued to get better and better every season. In his senior season, he scored over 500 points and averaged 16.8 points per game. He was rewarded with an All-Big Ten second-team honor that season.
After leaving Nebraska, Shield has made his name in Europe. He currently plays for Olimpia Milano in Italy. He has blossomed into a major player in the Euroleague. Shields has certainly been one of the most important players Nebraska has had in years.
Center: Dave Hoppen
Dave Hoppen is the all-time leading scorer in Nebraska basketball history. He’s the only player that was able to reach the 2,000-point mark. He did so in 111 games played. That is quite an accomplishment, given most of the other all-time leading scorers at the other Big Ten schools have played in at least 120 games to score over 2,000 points. Hoppen was born to be a Husker, as he came from nearby Omaha. He was heavily recruited by stay-at-home over Notre Dame.
He arrived in Nebraska and didn’t look back, as he quickly became a big-time scorer at the center position. Hoppen alongside Wayman Tisdale from Oklahoma were the only two players to score in double digits in all of their games during the 1983-84 season, and he was only a sophomore. He helped lead the Huskers to the NIT in 1984.
His junior season was huge, as Hoppen was able to score over 700 points. Hoppen ended his Nebraska career as a three-time All-Big 8 first-team player. He also finished with a 19.5 points per game scorer. That is incredible for a finesse shooter big, instead of a post you up big.
Though he was drafted to the NBA in 1986. It took him nearly two years before he got a shot in the big leagues. He spent the part of eight seasons in the NBA. Hoppen best season in the league came during 1988-89. He was a part of the Charlotte Hornets playing in 77 games and averaged a career-high 6.5 points. Though his pro career didn’t stand out, Hoppen made a great name for himself and the Cornhuskers. His No. 42 is forever honored in Lincoln, and his scoring ability makes him a must-have at the center position.
See Previous All-Time Big Ten Teams Below:
Illinois Fighting Illini All-Time Starting Lineup
Indiana Hoosiers All-Time Starting Lineup
Iowa Hawkeyes All-Time Starting Lineup
Maryland Terrapins All-Time Starting Lineup
Michigan Wolverines All-Time Starting Lineup
