Wednesday Afternoon Sports – Husker Women Close Big Ten Road Play at Wisconsin, Husker Men Fall to Northwestern, Nebraska Football Announces Spring Practice Schedule, Husker Pro Day Set, Return of Husker Beach Volleyball, Local Sports Schedule

HUSKER WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CLOSED BIG TEN ROAD PLAY AT WISCONSIN:

The Nebraska women’s basketball team will shoot for a series sweep of Wisconsin while closing Big Ten regular-season road action in Madison on Wednesday night.

Tip-off between the Huskers (20-7, 9-7 Big Ten) and the Badgers (7-19, 4-12 Big Ten) is set for 6:30 p.m. (CT) p.m. at the Kohl Center. 

Wisconsin dropped a 77-44 decision at Nebraska (Jan. 27) when the Huskers returned from a 10-day pause caused by health and safety protocols. Sydney Hilliard led Wisconsin with 16 points on 8-of-11 shooting in the first meeting, but she left the program just days later following a 57-55 loss at Minnesota (Jan. 30).

HUSKER MEN FALL TO NORTHWESTERN:

Bryce McGowens set Nebraska’s freshman scoring record Tuesday night at Northwestern, but the Wildcats defeated the Huskers 77-65 at Welsh-Ryan Arena.

McGowens scored 15 points – including 10 in the second half – to give him 452 points in 27 games this season. His point total is the highest by a Husker freshman in school history, surpassing the 445 points Dave Hoppen scored in 32 games as a freshman during the 1982-83 season. McGowens also grabbed 10 rebounds to post his second double-double of the season.

More than half (32) of Northwestern’s 60 shots were 3-pointers, and the Wildcats knocked down 13 threes.

Nebraska returns home on Friday, when the Huskers will host the Iowa Hawkeyes in their final home game of the season. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. at Pinnacle Bank Arena

NEBRASKA MEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME COMMENTS:

HOIBERG – SHORT STRETCHES BURN HUSKERS AGAIN

Head Coach for the Nebraska Men’s Basketball team Fred Hoiberg spoke during the postgame after the Huskers 77-65 loss to Northwestern on Tuesday night saying it was another short burst of minutes that doomed the Huskers chances… 

The Huskers remain with only one win in conference play and host Iowa to close out the regular season on Friday night. 

HOIBERG – HUSKERS DID NOT CONVERT SHOTS, NORTHWESTERN DID

Nebraska Men’s Basketball Head Coach Fred Hoiberg spoke in his postgame comments after the loss to Northwestern about the many missed shots and opportunities by his team… 

Nebraska could not get their shot consistently to fall, while Northwestern knocked down thirteen three-pointers. 

HOIBERG – HISTORICAL MOMENT FOR BRYCE STEMS FROM IMPROVEMENT:

Husker Freshman Bryce McGowens broke a 39 year old scoring record for freshman in a season at Nebraska on Tuesday night’s loss to Northwestern, tallying 15 points and now scoring 452 total points on the season. 

Head Coach Fred Hoiberg applauded the accomplishment, saying the proof is in the young star’s improvement through the season… 

Hoiberg also credited McGowen’s strength in his rebounding on Tuesday night, finishing with a double-double earning 10 rebounds as well. 

HOIBERG – IOWA PREVIEW FOR FINAL HOME GAME:

Nebraska Men’s Basketball fell to Northwestern in their final regular season road contest on Tuesday night. Head Coach Fred Hoiberg previewed the final home contest coming up on Friday at Pinnacle Bank Arena against rival Iowa… 

Nebraska is cemented at the bottom of the Big Ten tournament bracket with only one conference win on the season so far. 

HUSKER SPRING PRACTICES SET TO BEGIN NEXT WEEK:

Nebraska Football will begin their official start to the 2022 season by holding their first spring practice on Monday, Feb. 28. The Huskers will also have media availability for selected players, Head Coach Scott Frost, all coordinators, and select assistant coaches throughout the spring practices. 

Nebraska will have a break from spring ball during the scheduled UNL spring break from March 14-20. 

Spring practices will conclude with the Husker Spring Game set for April 9. 

NEBRASKA PRO DAY SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 22:

Intertwined with the Nebraska Football spring football practice schedule, the Huskers will be hosting their Pro Day on March 22 at the Hawks Championship Center. Portions of the Pro Day will be open to the media and more detailed information will be shared as the event nears.

A list of Huskers looking to make an impression for NFL scouts include receiver Samori Toure, defensive backs Cam Taylor-Britt and Deontai Williams, linebacker/hybrid defender JoJo Domann, center Cam Jurgens, tight end Austin Allen, and defensive end Ben Stille.

NEBRASKA BEACH VOLLEYBALL MAKES A RETURN THIS WEEK:

For the first time in nearly two years, the Nebraska volleyball team will play a beach volleyball match when it hosts Oklahoma Wesleyan on Thursday at Noon at the Hawks Championship Center. It will be one of three matches the Huskers will host in their opening week. Nebraska will also play Wayne State on Friday at 8 a.m. and Park on Friday at 4 p.m., both inside the Hawks Championship Center. 

All three matches will have a free live video stream available to watch on Twitter (@HuskerVBall) and on the Nebraska Volleyball Facebook page. NU’s home matches are closed to the public because of space limitations inside the Hawks Championship Center. 

The Huskers haven’t played a beach volleyball match since March 9, 2020. The rest of the 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19, and the Huskers didn’t play beach volleyball in 2021 as the indoor season was played during the spring.

Before the 2020 beach season came to an end, Kenzie Knuckles and Madi Kubik had compiled an 8-2 record as a pair through 10 matches. Nicklin Hames had won seven of 10 matches played with her partner, Lauren Stivrins. Hames has a 22-12 career beach volleyball record, while Knuckles and Kubik are each 20-14 in their careers. All three rank among the top eight in school history in career victories. No other Husker on the beach roster has competed in a collegiate beach volleyball match. 

HUSKER FOOTBALL LANDS 2023 QUARTERBACK COMMITMENT:

A comfort level with the coaching staff and a fit in the offense gave William Watson III all he needed to make his college decision.

With that the Springfield, Mass. Central standout found his college home, and Nebraska found its quarterback for the class of 2023.

The 6-foot, 170-pound Watson announced his football commitment to the Cornhuskers during halftime of his basketball game Tuesday.

Nebraska’s new offensive coordinator, Mark Whipple, was the leader recruiter for Watson while he was at Pittsburgh. Whipple made several coaching stops around New England and is highly regarded in the area. When Whipple was hired at Nebraska, he made Watson a priority to the class.

He is the fifth member of Nebraska’s class. He joins offensive linemen Gunner Gottula of Lincoln (Neb.) Southeast and Sam Sledge of Omaha (Neb.) Creighton Prep, cornerback Dwight Bootle II of Miami Killian and receiver Benjamin Brahmer of Pierce (Neb.) High.

BEARCAT BOYS EARN THIRD SEED IN A-1 DISTRICT:

The Kearney boys locked in a third seed for the A-1 District for postseason basketball after finishing their regular season at 12-10. 

Kearney will face #2 seeded Omaha North (13-10) in Omaha on Monday, Feb. 28. The winner will take on the winner of  #1 Millard North and #4 Bellevue East/#5 Omaha Burke at Millard North High School on Wednesday, Mar. 2. 

Pregame coverage will begin on KGFW at 5:45 PM on Monday night with tip-off set for 6 PM. 

Local Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:

TUESDAY:

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
• • BOYS BASKETBALL: C1-11 Sub Districts @ Kearney Catholic
    • #1 Kearney Catholic v. #5 Gothenburg
      • #1 KCHS 65-29
    • #2 Minden v. #3 Cozad
      • #2 Minden 66-60

WEDNESDAY:

• UNK:
  • WOMENS BASKETBALL: v. Northwest Missouri State @ Health & Sports Center – 5:30 PM
  • MENS BASKETBALL: v. Northwest Missouri State @ Health & Sports Center – 7:30 PM
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • WOMENS BASEKTBALL: @ No. 9 Morningside University – 6 PM

THURSDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • SWIMMING & DIVING: State Tournament
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • SWIMMING & DIVING: State Tournament
  • BOYS BASKETBALL: C1-11 Sub Districts Championship @ Kearney Catholic
    • #1 Kearney Catholic v. #2 Minden – 7 PM
• UNK:
  • N/a
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • N/a

FRIDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • M/W T&F: @ MIAA Championships @ Maryville, MO
  • WOMENS BASKETBALL: v. Missouri Western State @ Health & Sports Center – 5:30 PM
  • MENS BASKETBALL: v. Missouri Western State @ Health & Sports Center – 7:30 PM
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • BASEBALL: @ Ottawa, KS
    • @ Ottawa University – 12 PM
    • @ Ottawa University (Doubleheader)
  • SOFTBALL: @ Hillsboro, KS
    • @ Tabor College – 2 PM
    • @ Tabor College (Doubleheader)

SATURDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • GIRLS BASKETBALL: A-2 District Basketball Tournament:
    • #2 Kearney v. #3 Gretna @ Kearney High School – 3 PM
      • Pregame on KGFW starts at 2:45 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • M/W T&F: @ MIAA Championships @ Maryville, MO
  • WRESTLING: @ NCAA Super Region VI @ Grand Junction, CO
  • SOFTBALL: @ Washburn Classic @ Topeka, KS
    • v. Mary
    • v. St. Louis
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • WOMENS WRESTLING: @ KCAC Conference Tounament @ St. Mary’s KS – 9 AM
  • BASEBALL: @ Ottawa, KS
    • @ Ottawa University – 12 PM
    • @ Ottawa University (Doubleheader)
  • SOFTBALL: @ North Newton, KS
    • @ Bethel College – 1 PM 
    • @ Bethel College (Doubleheader)