Wednesday Morning Sports – Nebraska Men Fall in Season Opener, Basketball Comments, Storm Goaltender Wins Award

NEBRASKETBALL FALLS IN SEASON OPENER

Bryce McGowens scored 25 points in his Husker debut, the most ever by a Husker freshman in his debut, but it wasn’t enough for the Huskers to overcome Western Illinois in the season opener – falling 75-74 in the final minute. 

It is the second time in three seasons that Fred Hoiberg has opened a season with a loss at Nebraska.

The Huskers went 23-of-31 from the free-throw line on the night, but four of those eight misses came in the final minute of play.

HUSKER MEN’S BASKETBALL POST GAME COMMENTS:

HOIBERG – HAVE TO GET BETTER FROM LOSS

It was another disappointing loss to open the season for the Nebraska Men’s Basketball team, falling 75-74 to Western Illinois. 

Head Coach Fred Hoiberg added in his post game comments that his team has to get more physical defensively… 

The Huskers have a short turnaround taking on Sam Houston on Friday. 

HOIBERG – NEED TO SHARE THE BALL FOR BETTER POSSESSIONS

The Husker Men’s Basketball disappointed a full arena at PBA on Tuesday night in their season opener, falling 75-74 against Western Illinois. 

Head Coach Fred Hoiberg added that his team needs to share the ball more to have success… 

The Huskers only had one assist at halftime and missed eight free throws in the final 8 minutes to fall by a single point to the 14 point underdog Leatherheads. 

HOIBERG – STILL POSITIVE ON TEAM’S OUTLOOK

Amidst a disappointing season opening loss, Head Coach of the Husker Men’s Basketball team Fred Hoiberg reiterated there are better days in the future…

The Huskers take on Sam Houston at Pinnacle Bank on Friday.

HUSKER WOMEN ERUPT OVER MAINE IN OPENER

Isabelle Bourne led five Huskers in double figures with a game-high 17 points to power an explosive and balanced Nebraska attack in a 108-50 women’s basketball season-opening win over Maine on Tuesday afternoon.

Nebraska’s 108-point eruption tied for the ninth-highest point total in school history and marked the first time the Huskers have reached the century mark under Head Coach Amy Williams.

Nebraska returns to action at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Thursday, when the Huskers play host to Prairie View A&M. Tip time is set for 7 p.m.

HUSKER WOMEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME COMMENT:

WILLIAMS – FUN WAY TO START

Head Coach of the Husker Women’s Basketball team Amy Williams loved every minute of her team’s 108 points scored in their season opening win… 

Nebraska had the ninth-highest point total in school history and was the first time the Huskers had over 100 points under Williams.

STORM NAMED GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK

The league’s best goaltender so far this season earned his first Goaltender of the Week award after allowing just one goal in a pair of wins last weekend.

Tri-City Storm Goaltender Arsenii Sergeev has been named the USHL’s Goaltender of the Week for Week 7 

He shined in a shutout performance on Saturday night and stopped 54 of Sioux City’s 55 total shots during the weekend.

FROST TO ADDRESS MEDIA WEDNESDAY

Head Coach Scott Frost will be available to the media following practice on Wednesday morning.

Frost restructured his contract with Nebraska on Monday, followed by a flurry of firings to his offensive staff including Matt Lubick, Greg Austin, and Ryan Held. 

The Huskers are currently on their final bye week of the season.

SIGNING DAY FOR LOCAL ATHLETES

Area schools will be hosting a signing day for student athletes today. This will include student-athletes that participated in fall athletics, including football, softball, volleyball, and cross country, amongst other activities.

Kearney High is hosting their signing day event today at 4 PM in the CHaT Auditorium at Kearney High School. 

NEBRASKA PREPARES TO HOST HOME STATE DUALS

The Nebraska wrestling team will host the Nebraska Duals on Thursday, Nov. 11 at the Devaney Center. The Nebraska Duals will begin at 7:00 p.m. with the Huskers taking on UNK. Following the matchup with the Lopers, the Huskers will wrestle Chadron State. 

The Nebraska Duals provide fans with a chance to get a glimpse of the 2021-22 Huskers, who are coming off a third-place finish at the 2021 Big Ten Championships and a 12th-place finish at the NCAA Championships. The Huskers return 29 letterwinners.

UNK is coming off a season in which the Lopers posted a 10-1 overall mark. UNK also posted a perfect 6-0 dual record en route to a second-place finish at the 2021 Division II NCAA Championships under sixth-year Head Coach Dalton Jensen.

UNK CROSS COUNTRY QUALIFIES MEN, WOMEN UNABLE TO OBTAIN BID

The Nebraska-Kearney men’s cross country team has received an at-large bid to the 2021 NCAA Division II Championships Nov. 20 in Tampa.

Thirty-four teams were selected to participate in both the men’s and women’s cross country championship.

The Lopers last trip to the NCAA’s came six years ago. This year’s meet is hosted by Saint Leo University and the Tampa Bay Sports Commission at The Abbey Course.

The UNK women were hoping to reach the NCAA’s for the first time in program history but came up just a bit short. The 2021 MIAA Champions finished 6th out of 35 teams at regionals; the Central didn’t receive any at-large spots.

LOPER FOOTBALL MOVES TO SEVENTH IN PLAYOFF REGION RANKINGS

In the third edition of the NCAA region rankings the Nebraska-Kearney football team is up one spot to seventh in “Super Region 3.” 

These rankings determine the 28-team Division II playoff field (seven teams from four regions). The playoffs start Nov. 20

UNK, which was eighth last Monday, has wins over No. 9 Washburn (8-2), Pittsburg State (7-3), Emporia State (6-4) and Missouri Western (5-5).

UNK hosts Northeastern State (2-8) Saturday at 12 p.m.

TOURE ADDED TO BILETNIKOFF LIST

Nebraska senior receiver Samori Toure was added to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List on Monday after a standout performance on Saturday against Ohio State. The Biletnikoff Award annually recognizes the college football season’s outstanding FBS receiver

Toure had four receptions for 150 yards and a 72-yard touchdown on Saturday against the Buckeyes. He leads Nebraska this season with 33 receptions for 718 yards and four touchdowns. His four 100-yard receiving games are the second-most in a single season in Nebraska history. Toure has a nation-leading four receptions of at least 60 yards and averages 21.8 yards per reception.

Local Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:

TUESDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a

• UNK:
  • N/a
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
• • MEN’S BASKETBALL: @ Omaha
    • UNO 67-57
  • WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: @ Ottawa University
    • HC 74-69
  • WOMEN’S SOCCER: GPAC TOURNAMENT SEMIFINALS (@ Briar Cliff)
    • Briar Cliff 4-1

WEDNESDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Collegiate Signing Day – 4 PM

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a

• UNK:
  • N/a
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
• • N/a

THURSDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • WRESTLING: @ Nebraska Duals v. Huskers – 8 PM
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
• • MEN’S SOCCER: GPAC TOURNAMENT FINAL (Orange City, IA)
    • HC @ #20 Northwestern – 7 PM
  • WRESTLING: @ Concordia – 7 PM

FRIDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • FOOTBALL: C1 Semifinals
    • #2 Kearney Catholic (11-0) v. #11 Columbus Lakeview (9-2) – 6 PM
• UNK:
  • WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: v. Minnesota-Crookston – 5:30 PM
    • Played in Maryville, MO
  • VOLLEYBALL: @ Missouri Southern – 5:30 PM
  • MEN’S BASKETBALL: @ Minnesota-Duluth – 6 PM
    • American Family Insurance Classic

• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
• • MEN’S BASKETBALL @ Tabor College – 8 PM

SATURDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • WRESTLING: @ Dakota Wesleyan Open – 9 AM
  • FOOTBALL: v. Northeastern State @ Ron and Carol Cope Stadium – 12 PM
  • VOLLEYBALL: @ Pittsburg State – 2 PM
  • MEN’S BASKETBALL: v. Minnesota-Crookston – 2 PM
    • American Family Insurance Classic (Played in Duluth, MN)
  • WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: v. SW Minnesota St. – 5:30 PM
    • Played at Maryville, MO

• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
• • WRESTLING: @ Grand View/Dakota Wesleyan Open
  • MEN’S BASKETBALL: v. Bethany College – 1 PM
  • FOOTBALL: v. Concordia @ Lloyd Wilson Field – 1 PM