Keisei Tominaga’s future with Huskers unclear ahead of senior night celebration

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Tuesday marks Sam Griesel, Emmanuel Bandoumel and Derrick Walker’s final game at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

The same could possibly be said for Keisei Tominaga, the Husker fan favorite from Japan who hasn’t made a final decision on his future.

But Tominaga, who has one year of eligibility left, will walk on senior night, head coach Fred Hoiberg said at a Monday press conference.

“Obviously, Keisei is a senior, and the biggest reason for him to walk is for his family and his parents, who are in town,” he said.

Keisei’s parents, Hiroyuki and Hitomi Tominaga, who flew in from Japan to watch @KeiseiTominaga today, are full of pure joy watching their son do his thing! pic.twitter.com/LedjDEqAbn

— Lauren Michelson (@LaurenMichelson) February 25, 2023

There have been discussions with Tominaga about his future, but Hoiberg said that decision would come after the season is over.

“You just try to do everything you can to help them make the best decision possible for their future,” Hoiberg said.

For example, Hoiberg said Walker, who chose to come back for a fifth season, put himself “in a better position” just by playing another year.

“He’s opened up a lot of doors, and I think he’s gonna profit very well from coming back,” he said.

Hoiberg said the same goes for fifth-year transfer and Lincoln native Sam Griesel.

“I think it worked out in a really good way, and I’m happy for them,” Hoiberg said.

Tuesday night will be an emotional one as the Husker fandom says goodbye to the seniors, and Hoiberg says that’s how it should be.

“Let it be,” Hoiberg said. “It should be, and you should enjoy the moment.”

After the celebration, Nebraska will look to secure its fifth win in a row against Michigan State.

And the Huskers could be playing in front of a sold-out crowd for the second straight game.

“You see the buzz, the sellouts, the energy in our building right now,” Hoiberg said. “And that’s because of our seniors, and it’s because of the leadership and because of the makeup and what those guys are about.”

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