Hoiberg Weighs Orme’s Status Before Nebraska Faces Providence

Published: November 5, 2026

Nebraska and Providence both enter the matchup 1-0. The Cornhuskers are coming off a 106-64 win over Le Moyne, while Providence opened its season with a 27-point victory over Maine. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. CST, or 7 p.m. EST.

Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg said Providence’s new coach, Bryan Hodgson, uses principles familiar from his South Florida team last season. Hoiberg described the Friars as talented, deep and particularly aggressive, citing their pressure defense, transition play and work on the boards. He warned that careless ballhandling could be costly, noting Miles Byrd’s defensive instincts and that Byrd and Gavin Hightower combined for 12 steals in Providence’s opener.

Senior forward Sam Orme, a 6-foot-10 transfer from Belmont, has not played this fall while dealing with an injury. He practiced Thursday before being taken out after reaching a planned workload. Hoiberg said Orme would be a game-time decision, adding that the team needs his size and skill but would not play him unless he was ready. Orme averaged 12.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists last season.

Hoiberg said he has not settled on a rotation. He pointed to Connor Essegian, Leo Curtis, Collin Rice, Will Cooper and Kaden Betts as players who could contribute, alongside Orme when he returns. Nebraska’s previous exhibitions offered some preparation for difficult situations, Hoiberg said, but he cautioned that they could not recreate the atmosphere of a regular-season game.