Wednesday Morning Sports – Husker Women Face No. 14 Michigan, Bearcat Basketball Begins HAC Tournament, Nelson Declares for NFL Draft, Tuesday Bowl Recap, Local Sports Schedule

HUSKER WOMEN MEET No. 14 MICHIGAN:

The Nebraska women’s basketball team returns to Pinnacle Bank Arena to close its five-game December home stand by battling its fifth top-20 opponent of the season, when the Huskers take on Michigan.

Tip-off between Nebraska (10-3, 2-0 Big Ten) and the No. 14 Wolverines (11-1, 1-0 Big 12) is set for 6 p.m. (CT) in Lincoln.

Nebraska is coming off an epic 85-79 3OT victory over No. 20 Kansas at Pinnacle Bank Arena (Dec. 21) to improve to 4-0 on the current stand and 7-0 at home this season.

Nebraska has won 24 of its last 25 at PBA with 22 wins by double figures, including a 79-58 win over then-No. 8 Michigan on Jan. 4, 2022, which matched NU’s largest victory margin ever over a top-10 opponent.

No. 14 Michigan comes to Lincoln with an 11-1 overall record following a 76-68 win over No. 6 North Carolina in Charlotte (Dec. 20). Coach Kim Barnes Arico is in her 11th season leading Michigan and her 27th year as a head coach. She will take aim at her 500th career win.

BEARCAT BASKETBALL BEGINS HAC TOURNAMENT:

After the conclusion of the NSAA Moratorium, the Kearney Bearcat basketball teams are back and ready to face Heartland Athletic Conference action taking on their holiday tournament beginning today at Kearney High School. 

Both boys and girls Bearcat teams are ranked #6 in the HAC Tournament – a combination of a coaches poll, powerpoints, and overall record contribute to the rankings – and face #11 Fremont today to open the tournament. 

Pregame begins at 1:45 PM with the Kearney girls facing the Tigers with the boys matchup to follow. Listen to the contests on KGFW with Austin Jacobsen on the call.

NELSON JOINS OTHER HUSKERS IN DECLARING FOR NFL DRAFT:

Garrett Nelson, team captain in 2022 and leader of the Nebraska defense, has declared for the NFL draft. He was one of few Huskers who made all conference honors, being selected to All-Big Ten second team by coaches and media.

Nelson started and played in every game in 2021 and 2022, and all 8 games in the 2020 Covid season. He started in 32 games over the course of his Husker career.

Nelson joins outside EDGE rusher Ochaun Mathis and tight ends Chancellor Brewington and Travis Vokalek as Huskers declaring for the 2023 NFL Draft. 

J.J. WATT RETIRING FROM NFL:

Three-time Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt announced today that this will be his final NFL season.

Watt’s last two games will be on the road, at the Atlanta Falcons this Sunday and then at the San Francisco 49ers in the Cardinals’ regular-season finale.

Watt has 9.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss and 33 total tackles through 14 games this year.

The 33-year-old got off to a blistering start when he entered the NFL in 2011. Through his first five years, he was a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, a four-time All-Pro and led the league in sacks twice. His three DPOY nods are tied for the most all-time with Lawrence Taylor and Aaron Donald.

Watt’s 111.5 career sacks ranks him 26th all time. 

DONCIC DOMINATES WITH SIXTY POINT TRIPLE-DOUBLE:

Luka Doncic thought his improbable tying basket in the final second of regulation actually won the game.

No biggie. The Dallas superstar just set the table for a triple-double unlike the NBA has ever seen.

Doncic had a franchise-record 60 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists, including the tying basket off his intentionally missed free throw to force overtime, as the Mavericks rallied for a wild 126-121 victory over the New York Knicks on Tuesday night.

The first 60-point game in Dallas history also included Doncic’s career high in rebounds and was the first 60-20-10 game in NBA history.

NCAA BOWL GAME SCORES/SCHEDULE:

TUESDAY:

Camellia Bowl: Buffalo 23-21 Georgia Southern

First Responder Bowl: Memphis 38-10 Utah State

Birmingham Bowl: East Carolina 53-29 Coastal Carolina

Guaranteed Rate Bowl: Wisconsin 24-17 Oklahoma State

WEDNESDAY:

Military Bowl: UCF v. Duke – 1 PM

Liberty Bowl: Kansas v. Arkansas – 4:30 PM

Holiday Bowl: No. 15 Oregon v. North Carolina – 7 PM

Texas Bowl: Texas Tech v. Mississippi – 8 PM

Local Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:

WEDNESDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Girls Basketball: Heartland Athletic Conference Tournament @ Kearney High School:
    • #6 Kearney v. #11 Fremont – 2 PM
  • Boys Basketball: Heartland Athletic Conference Tournament @ Kearney High School:
    • #6 Kearney v. #11 Fremont – 3:45 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • N/a
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Kearney Girls Basketball v. Fremont (1:45 PM – 3:45 PM)
  • Kearney Boys Basketball v. Fremont (3:45 PM – 5:45 PM)
  • Nebraska Women’s Basketball v. Michigan (5:45 PM – 9 PM)

THURSDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Girls Basketball: Heartland Athletic Conference Tournament
    • #6 Kearney v. TBA
  • Boys Basketball: Heartland Athletic Conference Tournament
    • #6 Kearney v. TBA
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Girls Basketball: Amherst Holiday Tournament
    • York v. Hastings St. Cecilia – 1:30 PM
    • Amherst v. Kearney Catholic – 4:45 PM
  • Boys Basketball: Amherst Holiday Tournament
    • York v. Hastings St. Cecilia – 3 PM
    • Amherst v. Kearney Catholic – 6:30 PM
• UNK:
  • N/a
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Kearney Girls Basketball v. TBA (TBD)
  • Kearney Boys Basketball v. TBA (TBD)
  • Nebraska Men’s Basketball v. Iowa (5 PM – 8:45 PM)

FRIDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Girls Basketball: Heartland Athletic Conference Tournament Semifinal @ Lincoln North Star
    • #6 Kearney v. TBA
  • Boys Basketball: Heartland Athletic Conference Tournament @ Lincoln East
    • #6 Kearney v. TBA
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Girls Basketball: Amherst Holiday Tournament
    • TBD (Consolation 11 AM / Final 2 PM)
  • Boys Basketball: Amherst Holiday Tournament
    • TBD (Consolation 12:30 PM / Final 3:30 PM)
• UNK:
  • N/a
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Kearney Girls Basketball v. TBA (TBD)
  • Kearney Boys Basketball v. TBA (TBD)
  • Sports Nightly (6 PM – 8 PM)

SATURDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Girls Basketball: Heartland Athletic Conference Tournament Final @ Lincoln North Star
    • #6 Kearney v. TBA
  • Boys Basketball: Heartland Athletic Conference Tournament @ Lincoln East
    • #6 Kearney v. TBA
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • Women’s Basketball: @ Lincoln University – 1 PM
  • Men’s Basketball: @ Lincoln University – 3 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Kearney Girls Basketball v. TBA (TBD)
  • Kearney Boys Basketball v. TBA (TBD)

SUNDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • N/a
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Nebraska Women’s Basketball @ Indiana (12 PM – 3 PM)