UNK WOMEN MOVE UP RANKINGS AFTER TOPPLING HAYS:
The Nebraska-Kearney women’s basketball team is ranked 12th and 7th in the latest editions of the Division II Top 25 polls.
UNK (8-1, 3-0 MIAA) is 12th in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Assoc. (WBCA) Top 25 and 7th in the Division II Sports Information Directors of America (D2SIDA) Top 25 poll. Last week Kearney was 17th in the WBCA and 14th in the D2SIDA
The other Central Region teams in both rolls/receiving votes are Fort Hays State, Missouri Western State, Minnesota State and Southwestern Oklahoma State. The Lopers are coming off a 61-56 win at Hays this past Saturday
The Lopers host the Newman Jets (2-7, 0-4) on Friday night and the Central Oklahoma Bronchos (7-3, 3-1) on Sunday afternoon.
MORE THAN 100 HUSKERS NAMED TO ALL-ACADEMIC BIG TEN
Nebraska had 57 football student-athletes earn Academic All-Big Ten recognition as announced by the Conference office on Thursday. The group of football players joined Husker student-athletes from volleyball, women’s soccer and men’s and women’s cross country in being honored by the Conference
AHusker defensive lineman made history by being named to the Academic All-Big Ten list for the fifth consecutive year. The Ashland, Neb., native Ben Stille has earned both his bachelor’s degree (Dec. 2019) and master’s degree (May, 2021) while competing at Nebraska and is the first five-time academic all-conference selection in Husker football history.
The four-time honorees include tight end Austin Allen, offensive lineman Trent Hixson, defensive lineman Damian Jackson and offensive lineman Matt Sichterman. Those four players join a group of 21 four-time academic all-conference selections in school history.
A total of 12 Huskers made the Academic All-Big Ten list for the third time in their Nebraska career.
UNK’S DAVIS AWAITS HARLON HILL ANNOUNCEMENT FRIDAY
The winner of the 2021 Harlon Hill Trophy, the Division II Heisman, will be announced this Friday (Dec. 17) at 2 p.m. Central.
Nebraska-Kearney redshirt junior quarterback TJ Davis is one of eight national finalists.
The announcement will be aired live on Harlon Hill Facebook page and the GAC You Tube Channel. UNK has had two previous national finalists in QB’s Justin Coleman (1999; 6th & 2000; 2nd) and Jake Spitzlberger (2011; 6th).
The 2021 MIAA and Super Region 3 Offensive Player of the Year, Davis is one of just two QB’s in NCAA’s four divisions (FBS, FCS, D2 and D3) to throw for at least 2,000 and run for 1,000 yards this fall. Having a hand in 40 touchdowns (21 passing, 18 rushing and one receiving), the second-team AFCA All-American had eight games with at least two TD tosses, five 100-yard rushing days and four games with four TD’s.
HUSKER FOOTBALL: MICKEY JOSEPH SPORTS NIGHTLY COMMENTS:
JOSEPH – FANS DESERVE HARD WORK AND WINS
New Nebraska assistant coach and wide receivers specialist Mickey Joseph had his first appearance on Sports Nightly on Monday and spoke about why it is important to get back to winning at Nebraska…
The Huskers still have one position coach left to hire on staff, but continue to hit the recruiting trails and transfer portal.
JOSEPH – FROST HAS TEAM IN RIGHT DIRECTION
New Huskers assistant coach Mickey Joseph joined Sports Nightly Monday as a guest and spoke about why he chose Nebraska over other offers he had in the coaching carousel this off-season…
Joseph comes from LSU and will be an associate head coach, wide receivers coach, and recruiting coordinator.
JOSEPH – FROST GIVES FREE REIGN TO ASSISTANTS
New Nebraska Wide Receivers coach and assistant coach Mickey Joseph joined the Huskers coaching staff from LSU this off-season. Joseph was a guest on Sports Nightly Monday and spoke about working with Frost at his alma mater…
The Huskers now have two alma mater quarterbacks on staff in Joseph and Frost. Joseph has been on the recruiting trail the past week for the Big Red.
HUSKERS ADD ANOTHER TRANSFER
Nebraska landed Arizona State defensive back Tommmi Hill on Monday, announcing his decision to transfer on Twitter.
Hill was recruited by Nebraska out of high school, but due to COVID-19 restrictions Hill was unable to visit Lincoln. Hill keeps his redshirt year with three years of eligibility remaining. Nebraska must replace three starters in the defensive backfield from the past season.
Hill makes the third transfer of the off-season, as Coach Scott Frost has also included offensive lineman Kevin Williams Jr. and kicker Timmy Bleekrode.
NEBRASKA FOOTBALL LOSES TOP RUNNING BACK RECRUIT
The Huskers have lost their only running back commit since June.
Ashton Hayes, a Reno, Nevada running back, officially decommitted from the Huskers and switched his choice to California.
Hayes changed his commitment due to the coaching staff changes for the Big Red and due to Nebraska offering Richfield, Minnesota back Emmett Johnson.
DOMANN NAMED TO AP ALL-AMERICAN SECOND TEAM
Nebraska senior nickel back JoJo Domann was honored for his outstanding 2021 season on Monday, being named a second-team All-American by the Associated Press.
Domann was listed as a defensive back on the second team, as he played in 10 games in 2021 before being sidelined for the final two contests and made 72 tackles, including nine tackles for loss. Domann also had two interceptions and a pair of forced fumbles on the season.
Domann was also recently honored as a second-team All-American by Pro Football Focus as a Flex player, and on Sunday was named the Nebraska Defensive MVP and the winner of the Tom Novak Award.
Domann is the first Husker to earn All-America recognition from a major selector since Ameer Abdullah, Randy Gregory and De’Mornay Pierson-El each earned second-team All-America accolades following the 2014 season.
KEARNEY CATHOLIC’S MAHONY SIGNS WITH UNK BASKETBALL:
Kearney Catholic Star senior Brett Mahony announced on Twitter yesterday his intention to sign with the UNK Men’s Basketball team and continue his academic and athletic career in Kearney as a Loper.
Mahony has averaged 17 points per game across his career as a Star, and has played in at least 23 contests each of the past three seasons for Kearney Catholic. The Stars are currently 4-0 on the season as one of the top teams in Class C1.
HUSKER WRESTLING VERSUS SDSU CANCELLED
The No. 8 Nebraska wrestling team’s home match with South Dakota State scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 18 has been canceled due to COVID related illnesses within the Nebraska program.
Ticket holders will be refunded for tickets purchased for the canceled dual. Refunds will be issued at the conclusion of the season to include any further cancellations necessary during regular season play.
The Huskers will take a few weeks off before returning to action on Friday, Jan. 7 to face Purdue at home.
Local Results & Schedules:
THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:
TUESDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- SWIMMING: Hastings Dual @ Kearney High – 4 PM
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- SWIMMING: Hastings Dual @ Kearney High – 4 PM
- GIRLS BASKETBALL: v. Ravenna – 5:30 PM
- BOYS BASKETBALL: v. Ravenna – 7 PM
- UNK:
- MENS BASKETBALL: v. Sterling (Kan.) Community College – 7 PM @ HSC
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- N/a
WEDNESDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- N/a
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- N/a
- UNK:
- N/a
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- N/a
THURSDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- N/a
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- N/a
- UNK:
- N/a
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- MENS WRESTLING: @ Missouri Valley Duals
FRIDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- GIRLS BASKETBALL: @ Norfolk – 6 PM
- Pregame on KGFW @ 5:45 PM; 1340 AM, 96.1 FM, KGFW.com, KGFW App
- BOYS BASKETBALL: @ Norfolk – 7:45 PM
- Pregame on KGFW @ 7:30 PM; 1340 AM, 96.1 FM, KGFW.com, KGFW App
- SWIMMING: @ Lincoln Southeast Invite
- WRESTLING: Flatwater Fracas Tournament @ Heartland Event Center
- GIRLS BASKETBALL: @ Norfolk – 6 PM
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- GIRLS BASKETBALL: @ Hastings – 5:30 PM
- BOYS BASKETBALL: @ Hastings – 7 PM
- UNK:
- N/a
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- WOMENS BASKETBALL: @ University of Fort Lauderdale
- MENS BASKETBALL: @ University of Fort Lauderdale
SATURDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- WRESTLING: Flatwater Fracas Tournament @ Heartland Event Center
- GIRLS BASKETBALL: @ Columbus – 3:30 PM
- Pregame on KGFW @ 3:15 PM; 1340 AM, 96.1 FM, KGFW.com, KGFW App
- BOYS BASKETBALL: @ Columbus – 5 PM
- Pregame on KGFW @ 4:45 PM; 1340 AM, 96.1 FM, KGFW.com, KGFW App
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- WRESTLING: Kearney Catholic Invite
- SWIMMING: @ Lincoln Southeast Invite
- BOYS BASKETBALL: v. Omaha Skutt (@ Hastings College) – 4:30 PM
- UNK:
- WRESTLING: @ Augustana (Sioux Falls, SD)
- WOMENS BASKETBALL: v. Newman @ HSC – 5:30 PM
- MENS BASKETBALL: v. Newman @ HSC – 7:30 PM
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- MENS WRESTLING: @ Kansas City, Avila Duals
- MENS BASKETBALL: @ University of Fort Lauderdale
