Thursday Morning Sports – Husker Women Ready for Michigan State, Williams Comments, HAC Tournament Scores, Stars Win in Holiday Tournament, Bowl Schedule

NEBRASKA WOMEN AWAIT SPARTANS TO CLOSE OUT CALENDAR YEAR:

The Nebraska women’s basketball team resumes Big Ten play on Thursday when the Huskers travel to East Lansing to battle Michigan State.

Tip-off between the Huskers (12-0, 1-0 Big Ten) and the Spartans (7-6, 1-1 Big Ten) is set for 2 p.m. (CT) at the Breslin Center

The Huskers are coming off one of the best non-conference slates in school history, as the Big Red went 11-0 against non-league foes while adding a 70-67 Big Ten-opening win at Minnesota (Dec. 6).

Nebraska is one of just five remaining unbeaten teams in NCAA Division I women’s basketball, joining South Carolina, North Carolina, Arizona and Colorado. NU is No. 7 in the NET rankings (Dec. 23).

Pregame coverage begins on KGFW at 1:45 PM. 

NEBRASKA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SPORTS NIGHTLY COMMENTS:

WILLIAMS – HUSKERS BLOCKING OUTSIDE NOISE, REMAIN FOCUSED

The Nebraska Women’s Basketball continues its winning ways and is now the main focus of love and adoration from Husker faithful. Nebraska women’s basketball head coach Amy Williams joined Sports Nightly Tuesday night, and spoke on how her team is handling the praise… 

The Husker women are currently undefeated at 12-0 but still outside of the Top 25 in the coaches poll; dropping from 27 last week to 29 this week. 

WILLIAMS – HUSKERS FLATTERED BY COMPARISON

The Nebraska Women’s Basketball team is off to another 12-0 season to start this year, as the last time the Huskers’ did that was back in 2009-10 when the Huskers finished the regular season a perfect 30-0. Head Coach Amy Williams said it is too early to focus on those comparisons… 

Williams and her Huskers are looking to continue their winning streak on Thursday taking on Michigan State. 

OTHER NOTABLE HAC SCORES/SCHEDULES:

BOYS:

Wednesday: (Games @ Lincoln Southeast)

#3 LINCOLN PIUS X 54 – 29 #7 Lincoln North Star

#4 LINCOLN NORTHEAST 65 – 61 #1 Lincoln Southwest (OT)

Thursday: (Game @ Lincoln Southwest) *HAC CHAMPIONSHIP

#4 Lincoln Northeast v. #3 Lincoln Pius X

GIRLS:

Wednesday: (Games @ Lincoln High)

#3 LINCOLN PIUS X 59 – 32 #7 Lincoln East

#4 FREMONT 69 – 42 #1 Lincoln Southwest

Thursday: (Game @ Lincoln Southwest) *HAC CHAMPIONSHIP

#4 Fremont v. #3 Lincoln Pius X

FORMER BEARCAT FOOTBALL STAR RETIRES FROM FOOTBALL:

Wyoming Cowboy left tackle and former Kearney High Bearcat football star Rudy Stofer has ended his playing career, as he announced on Twitter yesterday. 

The reserve lineman for the Pokes was a key rotator for the offensive line this past season, and was second on the depth chart at the left tackle position. He also started one game in 2020 while starting 12 times in 2019 and seven in 2018. 

Stofer was a First Team Super State honoree, and was also named to the All-State team for Class A in 2017. Stofer aided Kearney in their run to the 2017 Class A quarterfinals and an 8-3 finish that year. The former Bearcat was also the No. 10 overall rated prospect in Nebraska in 2017.

BOWL GAME SCHEDULE FOR TODAY/WEDNESDAY RECAP

Recap scores from yesterday:

Wednesday:

PINSTRIPE BOWL:

MARYLAND 54 – 10 Virginia Tech

CHEEZ-IT BOWL:

CLEMSON 20 – 13 Iowa State

ALAMO BOWL:

OKLAHOMA 47 – 32 Oregon

A preview of today’s action:

Thursday:

DUKE MAYO BOWL:

North Carolina v. South Carolina – 11:30 AM, ESPN

MUSIC CITY BOWL:

Tennessee v. Purdue – 3 PM, ESPN

PEACH BOWL:

No. 10 Michigan State v. No. 12 Pittsburgh – 7 PM, ESPN

LAS VEGAS BOWL:

Wisconsin v. Arizona State – 10:30 PM, ESPN

HUSKER FOOTBALL PAYNE: “HUSKERS NEVER WANTED ME TO LEAVE”:

Nebraska Football outside linebacker Pheldarius Payne entered the transfer portal earlier this off-season to explore his playing options outside of the Huskers. After only a few weeks, Payne re-joined the Huskers program. The senior said it was never awkward being brought back into the fold… 

Payne was hosted on Sean Callahan’s HuskerOnline chat. Payne started the 2021 season hot with 2 sacks against Illinois to start the season opener. 

FORMER HUSKER PAUL TO COACH AT METRO HIGH SCHOOL

Former Husker Niles Paul will be joining the Omaha North football coaching staff for the fall of 2022.

Omaha North announced the addition of Paul, a tight end in the NFL for seven seasons, Wednesday on Twitter.

The Omaha North grad played wide receiver at Nebraska from 2007 to 2010, finishing with 103 receptions for 1,532 yards and five touchdowns. His career total of 4,122 all-purpose yards ranks sixth in Husker history.

Local Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:

WEDNESDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • GIRLS BASKETBALL: KCHS Holiday Tournament
    • KCHS 49 – 44 Amherst
  • BOYS BASKETBALL: KCHS Holiday Tournament
    • KCHS 55 – 41 Amhers

• UNK:
  • N/a

• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • N/a

THURSDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • GIRLS BASKETBALL: KCHS Holiday Tournament
    • KCHS v. Hastings St. Cecilia
  • BOYS BASKETBALL: KCHS Holiday Tournament
    • KCHS v. York

• UNK:
  • N/a

• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • MENS BASKETBALL: v. Graceland @ Lynn Farrell Arena – 5 PM

FRIDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH
  • :N/a

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a

• UNK:
  • N/a

• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • N/a

SATURDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a

• UNK:
  • WOMENS BASKETBALL: @ Rogers State – 1:30 PM
  • MENS BASKETBALL: @ Rogers State, 3:30 PM

• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • WOMENS BASKETBALL: v. No. 23 Briar Cliff @ Lynn Farrell Arena – 2 PM
  • MENS BASKETBALL: v. Briar Cliff @ Lynn Farrell Arena – 3:45 PM