Cipriano's first two teams struggled, with a combined record of 17–33. But his third team, in 1965–66, was one of the most successful in school history, finishing 20–5 and second to Kansas in the Big Eight, and split the season series with the Jayhawks. That was not enough to garner a postseason bid, however; in those days, only the conference champion was guaranteed a berth in the 22-team NCAA Tournament. All-Big Eight guard Grant Simmons became the first Cornhusker to earn academic All-Big Eight honors.