KEARNEY BASKETBALL FACES BUSY DAY AGAINST METRO TEAMS:
The Kearney Basketball teams are both coming off losses looking to find success against Metro-based teams today.
The Bearcat boys will travel to Omaha Bryan for an afternoon matchup between 9-4 Kearney and 5-5 Bryan. Tip off is set for 2 PM with pregame on KGFW at 1:45 PM.
The Bearcat girls will stay home facing top ranked and Metro Conference Tournament champion Bellevue West (12-1) as the Thunderbirds come to Kearney High School. Tip-off is set for 4:15 PM.
HUSKER MEN BLOWN OUT BY PURDUE:
Derrick Walker led Nebraska with 19 points, but a short-handed Nebraska squad fell at No. 3 Purdue, 73-55, Friday night at Mackey Arena.
Nebraska (9-9, 2-5 Big Ten) was without two of its three leading scorers, as Juwan Gary (shoulder) and Sam Griesel (hip) missed Friday’s game because of injury.
Purdue seized the opening minutes of the second half, out-scoring Nebraska 11-0 in the first 3:44 of the half to build a 46-24 lead
The Huskers return to action on Wednesday, Jan. 18, as they host the Ohio State Buckeyes. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.
NEBRASKA WOMEN HOST BUCKEYES FOR BIG TEN SHOWDOWN:
The Nebraska women’s basketball team takes aim at an upset when the Huskers battle unbeaten and No. 3 Ohio State for an afternoon showdown in Lincoln.
Tip-off between the Huskers (11-6, 3-3 Big Ten) and the Buckeyes (17-0, 6-0 Big Ten) is set for 1:30 p.m.
The game marks the second straight trip for Ohio State to Lincoln as a nationally ranked and unbeaten team. Nebraska knocked off undefeated (7-0) and then-No. 15 Ohio State, 63-55, at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Jan. 16, 2021, as Kate Cain (22 points, 12 rebounds, 9 blocks) and Sam Haiby (11 points, 10 assists, 8 rebounds) both nearly notched triple-doubles for the Huskers.
Nebraska already owns a pair of top-20 wins this season, most recently an 85-79 3OT victory over No. 20 Kansas at Pinnacle Bank Arena (Dec. 21, 2022). The Huskers also defeated No. 20 Maryland (90-67) in College Park (Dec. 4, 2022).
Coach Kevin McGuff brings his unbeaten Ohio State Buckeyes to Lincoln with a 17-0 record that includes a 6-0 Big Ten mark following an 87-81 come-from-behind overtime win over current-No. 24 Illinois last Sunday at Value City Arena in Columbus.
STORM DROP HOME GAME TO STARS; REMATCH TONIGHT IN LINCOLN:
The Tri-City Storm dropped a home contest to the Lincoln Stars by a final score of 4-1 Friday night at the Viaero Center. Trevor Connelly scored the Storm’s lone goal in the loss.
Tri-City will battle Lincoln tomorrow night at the Ice Box in a rematch of tonight’s game at the Viaero Center. Puck drop is set for 6:05pm CT.
LOPER WRESTLING CRUSHES NEWMAN:
The second-ranked Nebraska Kearney wrestling team had six bonus point wins to easily fly by Newman, 36-3, Friday night in Wichita.
This was the Lopers first MIAA dual of the year. UNK is now 6-3 (1-0) while the Jets fall to 1-2 (0-2)
UNK hosts the annual Midwest Duals next weekend at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds. The Lopers face Northern State, Western Colorado and Adams State on Saturday.
LOPER FOOTBALL ADDS SCHAFFNER AS DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR:
UNK head football coach Ryan Held announced today that Tim Schaffner is the Lopers new defensive coordinator and safeties coach.
Schaffner was defensive coordinator at FCS-member Idaho State in 2022 after spending 17 years at Butler (Kan.) Community College. He was the Grizzlies head coach from 2015-21 and a part of two NJCAA National Championships, nine league titles and seven region titles in his time in El Dorado.
His “Chaos Tempo/1-800-I-GO-FAST” brand of defense emphasizes fast, physical and swarming play that led the region in scoring, total and rushing defense for seven straight years, while finishing in the top two in every other major category during that time period.
His defense has posted 23 shutouts over a 13-season span – nearly two per year.
HUSKER FOOTBALL PRESS CONFERENCE COMMENTS – ASSISTANT COACHES:
BARTHEL – THANKFUL FOR NEBRASKA OPPORTUNITY:
New Husker Running Backs coach EJ Barthel opened his introductory press conference comments on Thursday afternoon with a thanks for Head Coach Matt Rhule…
Nebraska has a talented stable of running backs including Anthony Grant – last season’s leading rusher – and Ajay Allen who returns from injury. Rahmir Johnson and Gabe Ervin Jr. both return as well for the Big Red.
BARTHEL – IMPRESSED WITH RUNNING BACK ROOM:
EJ Barthel, new Husker Football Running Backs coach, was asked what his evaluation of the Nebraska running back room appeared to him during his first few weeks on campus…
Nebraska’s running backs were efficient in the beginning of the 2022 season as Anthony Grant led all runners in rushing yards through the Huskers’ first bye week, but petered off late in the season. The Big Red also return Ajay Allen, Rahmir Johnson, and Gabe Ervin Jr.
BARTHEL – COACHING STAFF HAS LEARNED FROM PANTHERS EXPERIENCE:
New Husker running backs coach EJ Barthel was asked what the main lesson learned from his stint in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers taught him coming back to college football…
Barthel continued by saying the entire staff has grown in coaching philosophy, but has also been able to evaluate what an “NFL prospect” looks like, and how to build their players toward that model.
COOPER – RHULE RELATIONSHIP VERY STRONG:
Evan Cooper, the new secondary coach for Husker Football, opened his introductory press conference comments by speaking on his relationship with Matt Rhule and why he came to Nebraska…
Nebraska removed the entirety of Scott Frost’s and Mickey Joseph’s assistant staff through the hiring process, as Cooper arrives with Rhule having followed the coach to each of his stops with the Panthers, Baylor Bears, and at Temple.
COOPER – RECRUITMENT MIND SIMILAR TO RHULE
Evan Cooper, new secondary coach under Matt Rhule, was asked what mindset he shares with his head coach regarding recruiting tactics and practices when building the roster…
Nebraska had a stellar start to the 2023 recruiting cycle, signing multiple star athletes and moving the Huskers recruiting ranking from the mid-60s to a Top 25 class.
COOPER – VERY PLEASED WITH CURRENT SECONDARY:
New Nebraska secondary coach Evan Cooper addressed the media during his introductory press conference on Thursday afternoon and gave his evaluation of the Huskers’ current defensive backs…
The Huskers have lost several talented defensive backs over the years, but do return safety Marques Buford Jr.
NFL WILD CARD SCHEDULE:
SATURDAY:
NFC – #7 Seattle Seahawks @ #2 San Francisco 49ers – 3:30 PM
AFC – #5 Los Angeles Chargers @ #4 Jacksonville Jaguars – 7:15 PM
SUNDAY:
AFC – #7 Miami Dolphins @ #2 Buffalo Bills – 12 PM
NFC – #6 New York Giants @ #3 Minnesota Vikings – 3:30 PM
AFC – #6 Baltimore Ravens @ #3 Cincinnati Bengals – 7:15 PM
MONDAY:
NFC – #5 Dallas Cowboys @ #4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 7:15 PM
Local Results & Schedules:
THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:
FRIDAY:
- UNK:
- Wrestling: @ Newman
- UNK 36-3 Newman
- Wrestling: @ Newman
SATURDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- Wrestling: HAC Championships @ Lincoln Southwest – 9:30 AM
- Swimming & Diving: @ Lincoln High Invite – 10 AM
- Boys Basketball: @ Omaha Bryan – 2 PM
- KGFW Pregame beginning at 1:45 PM
- Girls Basketball: v. Bellevue West @ Kearney High School – 4:15 PM
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- Swimming & Diving: @ Lincoln High Invite – 10 AM
- Wrestling: @ Gibbon Invite – 10 AM
- Girls Basketball: @ Hastings St. Cecilia – 1 PM
- Boys Basketball: @ Hastings St. Cecilia – 3 PM
- UNK:
- M/W T&F: @ Graduate Classic @ Lincoln, NE – 11:30 AM
- Swimming: @ OC Invite @ Irvine, CA
- Women’s Basketball: @ Fort Hays State – 2 PM
- Men’s Basketball: @ Fort Hays State – 4 PM
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- Kearney High Boys Basketball @ Omaha Bryan (1:45 PM – 3:45 PM)
SUNDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- N/a
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- N/a
- UNK:
- N/a
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- N/a
