Tuesday Morning Sports – Chinander Spring Football Comments, State Basketball Day 1 Results; Day 2 Schedule, Nebraska Baseball Rescheduled, Local Sports Schedule

NEBRASKA SPRING PRACTICE ERIC CHINANDER COMMENTS:

CHINANDER – PROUD TO SEE ALUMS MAKE COMBINE:

Defensive Coordinator of the Huskers Erik Chinander made his first press appearance of the spring season on Monday, and spoke about how proud he was to see two former Blackshirts participating in the NFL Combine…

Taylor-Britt ran a blazing 4.38 40 yard dash, while JoJo Domann impressed with his athleticism. Both are currently projected as picks in the upcoming NFL Draft.

CHINANDER – YOUNG DEFENSIVE LINE FEELING URGENCY:

Erik Chinander spoke to the media on Monday and addressed the sense of urgency in his young defensive line… 

The young Blackshirts are missing a few seniors from graduation and are looking to line on Ty Robinson as the key centerpiece with the most returning experience. 

CHINANDER – GIFFORD NEEDS A STEP TO BREAK THROUGH:

Blackshirts coordinator Erik Chinander was asked at his Monday press conference who he’s looking forward to making the next step on the defense, and the quick answer came in the form of linebacker Isaac Gifford. Chinander did add that the sophomore will need to be quick to breakthrough… 

Gifford is the younger brother of former Blackshirt and NFL linebacker Luke Gifford, both from Lincoln. Gifford saw significant action last year, replacing JoJo Domann when the senior was injured the final two games. 

CHINANDER – EVERYONE LOOKS GOOD BEFORE YOU START TACKLING:

Defensive Coordinator Erik Chinander spoke to the media on Monday saying his defense is looking good after the first week of Spring practices, but the real hitting hasn’t come just yet… 

Chinander continued by saying he’s looking forward to playing physically with his defense once the scrimmages come around. The first Husker scrimmage is set for this upcoming Friday.

CHINANDER – FIRST WEEK WAS ALL ABOUT INSTALL:

Defensive Coordinator for the Nebraska Football team Erik Chinader spoke on Monday that the first week of spring practices was good for his team to get back to basics and re-learn the concepts of the defense… 

Chinander also added he’s looking forward to seeing his defense compete against the offense when scrimmages come later this week.

CHINANDER – YOUNG GUYS COMMUNICATION IS BIGGEST HURDLE:

As plenty of fresh faced Husker defenders begin their Nebraska careers during this year’s spring practices, defensive coordinator Erik Chinander adds he’s looking for his new players to be great communicators for success… 

Chinander spoke highly of Isaac Gifford, saying the young linebacker has taken a big step forward and is looking fast. 

CHINANDER – GOOD FOR DEFENSE TO SEE NEW OFFENSIVE SCHEMES:

With the addition of new offensive assistants to the coaching staff over the offseason, defensive coordinator Erik Chinander said it has been good for his Blackshirts to see new concepts in their spring practice sessions… 

Chinander did not mention what quarterbacks his defense has competed against up to this point of spring practices. 

NEBRASKA BASEBALL AGAINST K-STATE MOVED TO WEDNESDAY:

Due to weather and travel complications with the K-State baseball program returning to Manhattan from last weekend’s series, Nebraska’s midweek matchup at Kansas State has been moved to Wednesday, March 9.

First pitch between the Huskers and Wildcats is set for 4:02 p.m. on Wednesday at Tointon Family Stadium in Manhattan, Kan.

KGFW will be broadcasting the Nebraska Men’s basketball contest against Northwestern on Wednesday.

HUSKERS EARN WEEKLY CONFERENCE HONORS:

Alonzo Verge Jr. and Bryce McGowens were honored Monday, as the Big Ten Conference announced its weekly honors. Verge shared Big Ten Player of the Week honors with Iowa’s Keegan Murray, while McGowens was named Freshman of the Week.

Both were recognized following the Huskers’ 2-0 week which included road wins at No. 23 Ohio State and No. 10 Wisconsin. It marked the first time in program history that Nebraska won consecutive road games against ranked opponents.

Verge averaged 19.5 points on 50 percent shooting, 8.5 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game in two wins to post his first weekly honor. The senior posted his team-best fifth double-double at Ohio State with 13 points and 11 assists and keyed NU’s win at Wisconsin with a game-high 26 points and six assists.

McGowens shined in the Huskers’ 78-70 win at Ohio State, with a game-high 26 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the field and 8-of-9 from the foul line. It was his 11th 20-point game of the season, breaking NU’s freshman record, while he became just the fifth Husker freshman or sophomore to score 500 points in a season.

LOCAL TEAMS TAKE ON STATE TOURNAMENT, DAY 1 RESULTS & DAY 2 SCHEDULE:

Area teams in action taking on the NSAA Boys & Girls state basketball tournament:

MONDAY RESULTS:

GIRLS:

CLASS C1:

#5 Gothenburg 45 – 43 #3 Broken Bow

#3 GICC 40 – 31 #6 St. Paul

CLASS D2:

#5 Sterling 60 – 33 #4 Anselmo-Merna

BOYS:

CLASS C2:

#8 Amherst 53 – 43 #1 Freeman

#4 GICC 51 – 37 #5 Doniphan-Trumbull

CLASS D1:

#5 Burwell 65 – 58 #4 EPPJ

#3 Loomis 55 – 34 #6 Riverside 

TUESDAY TEAMS IN ACTION:

GIRLS:

CLASS B:

#5 York v. #4 Norris – 10:45 AM

#3 Adams Central v. #6 Beatrice – 7:45 PM

CLASS C2:

#1 Hastings St. Cecilia v. #8 Elkhorn Valley – 1:30 PM

CLASS D1:

#4 Shelton v. #5 Niobrara/Verdigre

BOYS:

CLASS C1:

#3 Kearney Catholic v. #6 Wayne – 3:15 PM

CLASS D2:

#8 Shelton v. #1 St. Mary’s – 10:45 AM

Local Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:

TUESDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • BOYS BASKETBALL: State Tournament @ Lincoln (Quarterfinals)
    • #3 KCHS v. #6 Wayne @ Bob Devaney Sports Center – 3:15 PM
• UNK:
  • WOMENS GOLF: v. SMSU @ Spring Invite, Litchfield Park, AZ
• 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:
  • BOYS BASKETBALL: State Tournament @ Lincoln (Semifinals)
• UNK:
  • N/a
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • BASEBALL: @ Rusmatt Tournament
    • V. Rochester University – 6:30 PM

FRIDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • UNK MENS TRACK: @ NCAA Indoor Championships, Pittsburg, KS
  • WRESTLING: @ NCAA Div. 2 Championships
  • WOMENS TENNIS: @ Cameron Lawton, OK
  • WOMENS BASKETBALL: @ NCAA TOURNAMENT (Hays, KS)
    • UNK v. Minnesota-Duluth – 12 PM
  • SOFTBALL: @ Missouri Western (Doubleheader) – 2 PM, 4 PM
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • WOMENS WRESTLING: @ NAIA National Championships
  • SOFTBALL: @ McPherson Tournament
    • v. No. 24 Central Baptist College – 10:30 AM
    • v. Tabor College – 12:45 PM
  • BASEBALL: @ Rusmatt Tournament
    • v. Cornerstone University

SATURDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • BOYS BASKETBALL: State Tournament @ Lincoln (Championship)
• UNK:
  • UNK MENS TRACK: @ NCAA Indoor Championships, Pittsburg, KS
  • WRESTLING: @ NCAA Div. 2 Championships
  • WOMENS TENNIS: @ Angelo State
  • SOFTBALL: @ Northwest Missouri State – 12 PM, 2 PM
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • WOMENS WRESTLING: @ NAIA National Championships
  • BASEBALL: @ Rusmatt Tournament
    • v. Cornerstone University