TOPEKA (KSNT) – Although the Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball team are out of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, some northeast Kansas fans are still cheering on a Midwest contender.
The Nebraska Cornhuskers men’s basketball team made history this season with its first-ever NCAA Tournament win, drawing support from fans across the region. Nebraska alumni Renee and Jason Lamprecht, who now live in Topeka, say Husker pride runs deep even in Kansas.
“It does feel good that Nebraska has made it for the first time, and we don’t have to meet KU along the way,” Jason Lamprecht said. “They’ve already stepped their way back to Lawrence.”
The couple says they quickly found a strong Cornhusker community after moving to the area 15 years ago, and were pleasantly surprised to find one in northeast Kansas.
“Every time we visit Nebraska and we see the sign at the border saying ‘Nebraska, the good life,’ the community here understands that slogan and that sense of togetherness,” Renee Lamprecht said.
Jason said he knew the team was special early on, pointing to big upsets and a 24-game win streak.
“When we finally lost our first game, we thought, ‘Man, yeah, we’re for real,’” he said. “The Huskers are for real on the basketball court. That’s pretty amazing.”
Kansas falls in second round of NCAA Tournament on a last-second shot
That excitement only grew during Nebraska’s latest matchup against the Vanderbilt Commodores men’s basketball team, which came down to a dramatic final moment.
“It came down to a last-second shot that went into the hoop and still bounced out,” Jason said. “It was like Husker fans helped get that ball out of the hoop.”
For Renee, the team’s success reflects something deeper. She wore a shirt from 2019, when severe flooding hit Nebraska, which she says symbolizes the state’s resilience and unity.
“In Nebraska, you can always count on everyone to support each other,” she said. “I think that’s what we’ve seen with this basketball team.”
Jason added that even some Jayhawks and K-State fans are now rooting for Nebraska as the tournament continues. The Lamprechts say they’re hopeful the Huskers can keep the momentum going all the way to the championship.
“If you can win one NCAA Tournament game,” Jason said. “You can win all of them.”
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