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Nebraska fans ran Oklahoma City dry.
And that was before their Huskers, in epic fashion, beat Vanderbilt 74-72 on Saturday night to advance to the first Sweet 16 in program history.
After that, city officials could’ve filled the length of the Bricktown Canal with Busch Light and it still wouldn’t have been enough. Not nearly enough to satisfy the horde of Huskers who descended here hoping to see history.
Nebraska fans waited decades to see an NCAA Tournament win. And then they witnessed two of them over a magical three-day stretch in Oklahoma City — now forever a holy city for the Big Red faithful.
“Unbelievable game,” Nebraska sharpshooter Pryce Sandfort said.
More: Nebraska basketball ends March Madness drought with rout of Troy
And how lucky were we to host it?
Ten months ago, the Thunder beat the Pacers in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. At the time, it would’ve been preposterous to even suggest that any environment could match the raucous jubilee of Thunder fans that night.
To which Nebraska fans, if there had been any beer left, would’ve told Thunder fans to hold theirs. Paycom Center rumbled in a way that, up until Saturday, had only been reserved for Thunder playoff games.
It was mayhem. It was madness.
March Madness.
“Never seen an atmosphere like this in the first round,” said Chris Webber, who was on the call for TNT.
Had Vanderbilt’s last-second heave gone in, and man did it come so, so, so close, there would’ve been a mass meltdown.
Instead, there was a volcanic eruption.
Nebraska players ran victory laps around the floor. One of the Huskers stole Herbie’s hat and put it on himself. A half-hour after the final buzzer sounded, Nebraska fans booed a PA announcement that kindly asked them to exit the arena. None of them, their eyes still teary, wanted to leave.
Paycom Center, even after its torn down in a couple of years, will always be sacred ground for hosting a tournament game for the ages. Just like the Myriad, where Bryce Drew made his shot.
Oklahoma City wasn’t ready for this, by the way. It’s hard to plan for something that’s never happened, but that’s precisely why the Cornhusker incursion was as overwhelming as it was.
It’s 400 miles from Lincoln, Nebraska, to downtown Oklahoma City. Might as well have been four.
And poor Vanderbilt. Nashville felt as close as Neptune.
“That’s one of the best environments, toughest environments that I’ve ever coached in,” Vanderbilt coach Mark Byington said.
The Huskers, and Husker fans, are now bound for the Sweet 16.
“I think they’re all driving down to Houston in the morning,” Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg said. “We expect another big turnout again next weekend.”
Big? Ha.
Get ready, Houston. There are thousands of Cornhuskers headed your way.
We’ll miss them.
Joe Mussatto is a sports columnist for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joe? Email him at [email protected]. Support Joe's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Nebraska basketball fans brought best of March Madness to OKC
Continue reading...
And that was before their Huskers, in epic fashion, beat Vanderbilt 74-72 on Saturday night to advance to the first Sweet 16 in program history.
After that, city officials could’ve filled the length of the Bricktown Canal with Busch Light and it still wouldn’t have been enough. Not nearly enough to satisfy the horde of Huskers who descended here hoping to see history.
Nebraska fans waited decades to see an NCAA Tournament win. And then they witnessed two of them over a magical three-day stretch in Oklahoma City — now forever a holy city for the Big Red faithful.
“Unbelievable game,” Nebraska sharpshooter Pryce Sandfort said.
More: Nebraska basketball ends March Madness drought with rout of Troy
And how lucky were we to host it?
Ten months ago, the Thunder beat the Pacers in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. At the time, it would’ve been preposterous to even suggest that any environment could match the raucous jubilee of Thunder fans that night.
To which Nebraska fans, if there had been any beer left, would’ve told Thunder fans to hold theirs. Paycom Center rumbled in a way that, up until Saturday, had only been reserved for Thunder playoff games.
It was mayhem. It was madness.
March Madness.
“Never seen an atmosphere like this in the first round,” said Chris Webber, who was on the call for TNT.
Had Vanderbilt’s last-second heave gone in, and man did it come so, so, so close, there would’ve been a mass meltdown.
Instead, there was a volcanic eruption.
Nebraska players ran victory laps around the floor. One of the Huskers stole Herbie’s hat and put it on himself. A half-hour after the final buzzer sounded, Nebraska fans booed a PA announcement that kindly asked them to exit the arena. None of them, their eyes still teary, wanted to leave.
Paycom Center, even after its torn down in a couple of years, will always be sacred ground for hosting a tournament game for the ages. Just like the Myriad, where Bryce Drew made his shot.
Oklahoma City wasn’t ready for this, by the way. It’s hard to plan for something that’s never happened, but that’s precisely why the Cornhusker incursion was as overwhelming as it was.
It’s 400 miles from Lincoln, Nebraska, to downtown Oklahoma City. Might as well have been four.
And poor Vanderbilt. Nashville felt as close as Neptune.
“That’s one of the best environments, toughest environments that I’ve ever coached in,” Vanderbilt coach Mark Byington said.
The Huskers, and Husker fans, are now bound for the Sweet 16.
“I think they’re all driving down to Houston in the morning,” Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg said. “We expect another big turnout again next weekend.”
Big? Ha.
Get ready, Houston. There are thousands of Cornhuskers headed your way.
We’ll miss them.
Joe Mussatto is a sports columnist for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joe? Email him at [email protected]. Support Joe's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Nebraska basketball fans brought best of March Madness to OKC
Continue reading...
