The Cornhuskers of Nebraska won the title of the university basketball crown on Sunday evening and Fox Sports announced Tuesday that the tournament had marked great with viewers.
The crown final between the Nebraska and the UCF collected 822,000 viewers and was the most watched non-NCAA tournament final of the year, according to Fox Sports. The other increased by 62% compared to the NIT championship.
CLICK HERE for more sports cover on Foxnews.com
The Basketball College Basketball MVP, Juwan Gary, Cornhuskers from Nebraska, laughs after the 77-66 victory of his team against UCF Knights in the T-Mobile Basketball Tournament Arena on April 6, 2025, in Las Vegas. (Ian Maule / Getty Images)
Nebraska beat UCF, 77-66. Cornhuskers have also claimed $ 300,000 in name, image and resemblance to its program. It was the first Nebraska championship in the playoffs since the team won the NIT in 1996.
“We did not get the goal that we wanted to have played in the NCAA tournament,” said Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg after the match. “But we took advantage of it and came here concentrated and stayed together in a group and played a hell of a good basketball this week.
‘Something that will be in my heart’: Huskers cherish the title of inaugural crown
Juwan Gary of Nebraska takes place in the Crown Crown tournament of the college on April 6, 2025, in Las Vegas. (Louis Grasse / Getty Images)
“I hope this will give us momentum before next season, and I think that the experience of playing in an post-season event will help all those who will be back on our list next year.”
The Nebraska defeated Boisse State and UCF exceeded Villanova in the crown semi-finals.
Fox Sports said the semi-finals attracted an average of 706,000 viewers, which increased 145% compared to the nit semi-finals this year. It was the semi-finals in the playoffs of the most watched non-NCAA tournament of the year.
Nebraska received the first portable trophy of the genre.
