Tuesday Morning Sports – Kansas Wins Fourth National Title, Kearney Baseball Ends Losing Skid, Husker Football Spring Practice Comments, Format Changes May be Coming to Red-White Spring Game, Local Sports Schedule

KANSAS WINS FOURTH NATIONAL TITLE IN ALL-TIME COMEBACK:

Kansas won its fourth NCAA men’s basketball national championship Monday night, securing a 72-69 comeback win over North Carolina in New Orleans.

The victory was very different from Kansas’ Final Four matchup against Villanova, which was a wire-to-wire win. Kansas went into the half down 40-25 and then stormed back to outscore North Carolina by 18 points in the second half. The 15-point comeback is the biggest in championship history.

KU’s Ochai Agbaji (OH-Chi Ah-bah-gee) was named the most outstanding player of the Final Four.

The championship is Bill Self’s second as Kansas head coach. His first came in 2008.

KEARNEY BASEBALL ENDS LINCOLN NORTHEAST WIN STREAK:

The Kearney High baseball team ended their losing skid after dropping their last three consecutive contests to down Lincoln Northeast 10-7 on Monday evening at Memorial Field. 

Kearney had five pitchers make appearances, with Lucas Wegner earning the win but Tanner Johnson saving the contest making the final two outs of the contest. 

The Bearcats had 10 runs on 13 hits with 3 errors, while the Rockets had 7 runs on 5 hits and 2 errors. Kearney now sits at 6-4 on the season and awaits the Grand Island Triangular on Thursday taking on Norfolk and Grand Island. 

NEBRASKA FOOTBALL PRACTICE COMMENTS: SCOTT FROST:

FROST – EVERYONE GOT BETTER OVER SPRING BALL

The Nebraska Football team wraps up their spring practices this week with the annual Red-White Spring Game on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Despite a disappointing start to the final week of spring camp, Head Coach Scott Frost said it has been an enjoyable few weeks… 

The Huskers take Tom Osborne Field at Memorial Stadium on Saturday in the Spring Game that will be carried on KGFW with pregame coverage beginning at 11 AM. 

FROST – NEED MORE CONSISTENCY AND LESS TURNOVERS

Head Coach Scott Frost spoke to the media after Monday’s spring practice session and stated he is still waiting to see more consistency from his offense… 

Something that could aid the offense would be naming the starter under center: currently Casey Thompson, Logan Smothers, Heinrich Haarberg, and Chubba Purdy remain in contention for the Number 1 role behind center. 

FROST – PALMER’S DEVELOPMENT COULD BE SPECIAL

A bevy of transfers arrived to Lincoln over the off-season to infuse more talent into the Nebraska football roster. One of the big names included wide receiver Trey Palmer from LSU, switching from Tiger purple to Cornhusker Red. 

Head Coach Scott Frost said it has been fun to watch the ultra-talented athlete perform this spring… 

Palmer arrived on campus with assistant coach Mickey Joseph and could be a factor in the kick return game, where he has two career special team returns for touchdowns. 

FROST – STILL WORK TO DO AFTER SPRING BALL:

Head Coach for the Nebraska Football team Scott Frost spoke after his media session on Monday and said although spring practices are wrapping up, there is still plenty of work left to be done – especially on the offensive side of the ball… 

Frost and the Huskers will show off their new offense and talent infusion from the off-season in the Red-White Spring Game set for Saturday at Memorial Stadium at 1 PM. 

FORMAT CHANGES COULD BE COMING TO RED-WHITE SPRING GAME:

The format of Saturday’s Nebraska football spring game is still being determined.

Coach Scott Frost said after Monday’s practice that he’d prefer the traditional full two-team format of Reds vs. Whites, but that might not be doable because of injuries. A possible alternative would be an offense-vs.-defense setup similar to what was used in the 2014 spring game.

In the 2014 matchup, the Red “Offense” won 55-46 while the White “Defense” was awarded points for stout stops. 

NEW ADDITION TO NEBRASKA MEN’S BASKETBALL STAFF:

Nebraska men’s basketball Coach Fred Hoiberg announced Monday that Adam Howard will join the Husker coaching staff as an assistant coach.

Howard comes to Lincoln after spending the past four seasons as an assistant at South Alabama, where he was promoted to associate head coach for the Jaguars prior to the 2021-22 season. At USA, he coordinated the Jaguars’ full- and half-court defensive sets and worked with the post players, helping three players earn all-conference recognition.

In his four years at the school under Coach Richie Riley, South Alabama has gone 75-51, including a pair of 20-win seasons, after the school had five straight losing seasons. 

Local Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:

MONDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • BASEBALL: v. Lincoln Northeast
    • KHS 10-7
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • BASEBALL: v. Lincoln Northeast
    • KHS 10-7
  • BOYS GOLF: v. GICC Dual
    • KCHS 166, GICC 176

TUESDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • GIRLS TENNIS: v. North Platte – 4 PM @ Harmon Park
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • BOYS GOLF: @ Wood River Invite (@ Centura Hills) – 10 AM
  • GIRLS TENNIS: @ Lexington – 4 PM
  • GIRLS SOCCER: @ Aurora
  • BOYS SOCCER: @ Aurora
• UNK:
  • WOMENS GOLF: @ Newman Invite @ Newton, KS
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • MENS GOLF: @ Park University Invite

WEDNESDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • WOMENS TENNIS: @ Fort Hays State – 3 PM
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • MENS TENNIS: v. Concordia – 3 PM
  • WOMENS TENNIS: v. Concordia – 3 PM

THURSDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • BASEBALL: @ Grand Island Triangular
  • BOYS SOCCER: @ Fremont – 4:30 PM
  • GIRLS SOCCER: v. Fremont – 7 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • GIRLS TENNIS: @ GICC Invite – 9 AM
  • BASEBALL: @ Grand Island Triangular
• UNK:
  • N/a
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • N/a

FRIDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • GIRLS TENNIS: @ Omaha Varsity Invite @ Koch Tennis Center – 8 AM
  • BOYS GOLF: Meadowlark Invite – 9:30 AM
  • T&F: Kearney Invite @ Kearney High School – 12:30 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • T&F: @ Broken Bow – 1:30 PM
• UNK:
  • M/W T&F: @ K.t. Woodman Classic @ Wichita, KS
  • SOFTBALL: v. Emporia State (Doubleheader) – 2 PM, 4 PM @ Patriot Park
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • M/W T&F: @ Concordia Outdoor Invite
  • SOFTBALL: v. Dordt (Doubleheader) – 4 PM, 6 PM

SATURDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • BASEBALL: @ Lincoln Double Dual – 10 AM
    • v. Lincoln High – 10 AM
    • v.  North Star – 1 PM
  • BOYS SOCCER: @ Lincoln Southwest – 11 AM
  • GIRLS SOCCER: v. Lincoln Southwest @ Kearney High School – 12 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • BASEBALL: @ Lincoln Double Dual
  • GIRLS TENNIS: @ Ralston Invite – 9 AM
  • GIRLS SOCCER: v. Omaha Mercy – 12 PM
• UNK:
  • M/W T&F: @ K.t. Woodman Classic @ Wichita, KS
  • WOMENS TENNIS: v. Newman – 11 AM
  • SOFTBALL: v. Washburn (Doubleheader) – 12 PM, 2 PM @ Patriot Park
  • VOLLEYBALL: v. Colorado Mines – 2 PM @ Ogallala High School
  • VOLLEYBALL: v. Northeastern J.C. – 5 PM @ Ogallala High School
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • M/W T&F: @ Concordia Outdoor Invite
  • BASEBALL: v. Dakota Wesleyan (Doubleheader) – 1 PM, 4 PM
  • SOFTBALL – v. Northwestern College (Doubleheader) – 1 PM, 3 PM