Worst of Times: Foul Shooting Leaves Nebraska With All-Time Losing Streak

Clank! At least the bricklayers didn't miss 14 free throws in a row like Alabama State did the first week of January 2011. Nonetheless, it seemed almost fitting that Nebraska set a school all-time record for futility by losing its 14th of 17 consecutive games (following reversal in Big Ten Conference Tournament opener) in a contest where the Huskers made an anemic 8-of-30 from the free-throw line in an overtime setback against Northwestern. Matching tailspin number, the struggling Wildcats ended their own 12-game losing streak when opponent misfired on 14 "foul" shots that would have tied the score or provided a lead. If the Huskers maintain their morbid marksmanship from the charity stripe, they run the risk of matching or surpassing the all-time longest losing streak by a current power-conference member - 27 by Syracuse in the early 1960s.

Jim O'Brien was the only individual to coach two current power-league members (Boston College and Ohio State) when they incurred their longest existing losing streak until BC dropped 20 in a row extending to the opener a couple of seasons ago. Former Big East Conference rival Rutgers incurred 15 consecutive reversals to end the 2014-15 season before St. John's bowed in 16 straight decisions in 2015-16. Mizzou wasn't the only Tigers' program in SEC sidelined by tranquilizing-inducing losing streak. LSU dropped 15 consecutive contests when former Tigers coach Johnny Jones frequently looked as strategically befuddled as a chief recruiter losing a satchel full of cash on a recruiting trip. Miserable season this year for North Carolina (14-19) included seven straight ACC setbacks en route to registering 12 reversals in a 14-game span. But at least the Tar Heels didn't set a school standard for most defeats in a row. The following list shows elite basketball schools Creighton, Duke, Iowa, Kentucky, Carolina, Purdue, UNLV, Utah and West Virginia never reaching double figures in consecutive setbacks: