After Crown Tournament win, Nebraska HC Fred Hoiberg makes something clear about $300,000 prize

The Nebraska Cornhuskers conquered the inaugural Crown Tournament, defeating the UCF Knights 77-66 in the championship game. With the win, the Huskers secured a $300,000 prize, prompting a clear message from head coach Fred Hoiberg regarding how the money will be distributed across the roster.

The Huskers failed to make both the Big Ten and NCAA Tournament during the 2024-25 season, registering a 21-14 record (7-13 in their Big Ten schedule). However, they ended the campaign on a very positive note after their championship in the postseason championship, founded by Anschutz Entertainment Group and Fox Sports.

After securing the first ever Crown Tournament and the hefty financial prize, the Huskers will look to share the dividends evenly across the roster. On that note, Coach Hoiberg made a key statement.

“Yeah, the players will split [the $300k] evenly,” Hoiberg stated, via On3. “And, you know, it’s, it’s almost, like, I think of it as a playoff bonus, you know, for the guys that were part of it this year, from your scout team guys all the way, you know, to your guys sitting out. Everybody had a part in this thing.

Cale Jacobsen #31 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers hoists the Crown Championship trophy following the championship game of the College Basketball Crown tournament between the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the UCF Knights T-Mobile Arena on April 06, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“And, you know, the guys that played the majority of their minutes on the scout team this year? That’s invaluable, what those guys do for your program. So, yes, it will be evenly split between the entire roster.”

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Final Four gets a check

While the Huskers are taking the biggest bag back to Lincoln, the other three college basketball programs that reached the semifinals won’t leave empty-handed. The runner-up Knights secured a $100,000 reward for their efforts.

Meanwhile, Villanova and Boise State — who fell to the Knights and Huskers in the semifinals, respectively — each walked away with a $50,000 check for their performance in the inaugural Crown Tournament.