'My Heart Sunk,' Nebraska HC Fred Hoiberg Reacts to Vanderbilt Missing Game-Winner to Reach Sweet 16

Before raising his hands in victory after Nebraska's 74-72 win over Vanderbilt in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, head coach Fred Hoiberg had the scare of a lifetime.

During an appearance on ESPN's College GameDay, Hoiberg explained what was going through his mind when Commodores guard Tyler Tanner launched a half-court shot that hit the middle of the backboard before barely rimming out as the buzzer sounded.

"Honestly, Rece, when it left his hand, my heart sunk," Hoiberg said around the 0:39 mark. "You can see it was right on the line as soon as he shot it. It was crazy, that thing hit the square, and you see those shots go in. I don't know how it stayed out, somebody said it was the over-inflated balls they use in the tournament. But it was crazy."

Tanner's shot was so close that he and some of his other teammates fell to the court in disbelief that it didn't go in. It was a heartbreaking moment that defines the thrill and agony of March Madness.

Hoiberg went on to praise his players and the Cornhuskers fans for their support during the nail-biter. Fourth-seeded Nebraska will be playing in the Sweet 16 for the first time in school history when it meets No. 9 Iowa on Thursday.

"It just was an eerie silence when that ball was in the air, and then when it rimmed out, the place just exploded, and the celebration started with our team," Hoiberg said. "So, just really proud of the guys, they've been unbelievably resilient this whole season."