Tuesday Afternoon Sports – Husker Baseball Heads to Manhattan, Nebraska Football Tuesday Practice Comments, Storm Ready for Lancer Matchup, Kearney Baseball Wins at Northeast, UConn Earns National Title, Local Sports Schedules

HUSKER BASEBALL HEAD TO MANHATTAN FOR OLD BIG 12 MATCHUP:

Nebraska treks south for a midweek matchup at Kansas State on Tuesday night in Manhattan, Kan. First pitch between the Huskers and Wildcats is set for 6 p.m. at Tointon Family Stadium.

Nebraska has faced off against Kansas State in 288 all-time meetings and holds a 171-117 record against the Wildcats.

The two teams split a home-and-home two-game slate last season, with each team recording a win in their home ballpark. The Huskers’ last win over K-State in Manhattan came in a 6-1 victory over the Wildcats on April 11, 2017.

KGFW’s pregame coverage begins at 5:30 PM tonight.

HUSKER FOOTBALL PRACTICE COMMENTS – TUESDAY:

BARTHEL – BACKS NEED DETAILS AND DEVELOPMENT:

EJ Barthel, new Nebraska Football running backs coach, was asked if the current backfield’s experience is aiding in spring practices…

Barthel mentioned that all the backs continue to experience success and is hoping to work them all in a regular rotation. 

BARTHEL – NO BACK HAS SIGNIFICANT EXPERIENCE:

Nebraska Football running backs coach EJ Barthel was asked after Tuesday’s practice regarding his backfield’s continued development…

The Huskers are hoping to bring Ajay Allen and Gabe Ervin back into the fold after their injuries last season, while Rahmir Johnson and Anthony Grant look to get back to their recent success in 2021 and 2022 respectively.

BARTHEL – ERVIN IS MAKING IMPROVEMENTS:

EJ Barthel – Nebraska running backs coach – spoke after Tuesday’s practice stating that Gabe Ervin has shown more strides this spring season…

The Huskers return four backs with starting experience and significant touches including Ervin, Rahmir Johnson, Anthony Grant, and Ajay Allen.

FOLEY – KEMP CONTINUES TO WORK AT RETURN GAME:

Special Teams coach for Nebraska Football Ed Foley said he’s happy with the continued efforts by Virginia transfer receiver Billy Kemp IV to find new ways to improve his game…

The Huskers’ new receiver finished fourth all time in Cavalier history in receptions. 

FOLEY – SPECIAL TEAMS CONTINUES TO PLAY WELL:

Ed Foley, Nebraska Football’s new special teams coordinator, added after Tuesday’s practice that so far he’s having fun and his excitement continues to build…

Nebraska is now on their second special teams coach in two years, having hired Bill Busch last season to fill the role after it was vacant for numerous seasons.

FOLEY – BUSCHINI FINDING ACCURACY:

Returning punter Brian Buschini continues his refinement of skills in spring practices, as special teams coach Ed Foley mentioned during his Tuesday press conference…

Nebraska’s punter returns for a second season after transferring from Montana in 2022, and will have a new number – repping No. 18 to honor Brook Berringer. 

STORM READY FOR TUESDAY HOME SHOWDOWN:

The Tri-City Storm is set to host the Omaha Lancers in tonight’s midweek game at the Viaero Center. The Storm completed a two-game sweep over the Sioux Falls Stampede in last weekend’s home series. 

Tonight’s game matchup was originally scheduled as the Storm’s Home Opener for the 2022-2023 season. Puck drop for tonight’s midweek battle between the Storm and the Lancers is scheduled for 7:05pm CT.

Tri-City (31-18-3-3) will face off against the Omaha Lancers for the final time this season in tonight’s home game. The Storm has posted a 7-1-0-1 record in head-to-head matchups against the Lancers this season, after the team finished the 2021-2022 regular season with a 7-3-0-0 record against Omaha.

KEARNEY BASEBALL TAKES DOWN ROCKETS AT DEN HARTOG:

The Kearney Baseball team earned their third win on the season Monday night, taking down the Lincoln Northeast Rockets late and holding on for a 3-2 victory at Den Hartog Field. 

The Bearcats pitching duo of Aidan Poppe and Brodie Arnold sat down ten batters. Meanwhile, a sacrifice fly by Griffin Novacek brought in the winning score in the top of the sixth to give Kearney a lead they wouldn’t squander. 

Kearney (3-7) now rests until Thursday traveling to Grand Island for a triangular at Ryder Park facing Norfolk and the Islanders. 

BEARCAT BASEBALL’S BRAD ARCHER TO STEP DOWN AT END OF SEASON:

Kearney Baseball Head Coach Brad Archer has informed his team and Kearney High School that this season will be his final year leading the Bearcats, stepping down at the conclusion of the season.

Kearney began their high school baseball program five seasons ago, as Archer is the only head coach in program history. Archer has coached the Bearcats for four seasons, with the only exception being the canceled COVID year in 2020.

Archer’s current career mark is 47-35. Kearney has had two state tournament runs, including an eighth seed placement in the 2022 tournament and a 2019 District Championship.

LOPER WOMEN END IN TOP TWENTY OF FINAL D2 POLL:

The Nebraska-Kearney women’s basketball team finished 19th in the final edition of the 2022-23 Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Division II Top 25 poll.

Ashland (Ohio) University beat Minnesota-Duluth, 78-67, this past Saturday in Dallas to claim the national title. The Eagles finished 37-0 with Central Region-member UMD posting a 32-4 mark to be ranked second.

UNK (28-5) tallied 174 points to be one of five Central Region squads in the poll. Besides UMD, the others were Minnesota State (11th), Central Missouri (17th) and Missouri Southern (18th). Southern Nazarene (Okla.) and Augustana were among those receiving votes. Last year, the Lopers were 28th in the final rankings while being ninth in the 2020-21 season.

This past winter UNK won the MIAA regular season title (20-2), strung together 15 straight wins, went 15-0 at home, tied the school-record for wins and reached the NCAA Tournament for a third straight season.

UCONN CLAIMS FIFTH NATIONAL TITLE WITH ROUT OF AZTECS:

UConn completed its dominant march to the top of college basketball with a 76-59 win over San Diego State in the national championship game. The No. 4 seed Huskies earned their fifth title in program history by suffocating the No. 5 seed Aztecs’ offense and systematically finding good looks against SDSU’s typically strong defense.

The win draws UConn even with Duke and Indiana in a tie for fourth place in the race for most titles in men’s college basketball history. All of the Huskies’ championships have come in the past 25 years, extending UConn’s edge as the most-decorated program of the past quarter-century.

Over that span, the Huskies have now won titles with three different coaches as Dan Hurley joined predecessors Kevin Ollie and Jim Calhoun in taking UConn to the sport’s summit.

San Diego State used several big runs late in the second half to cut UConn’s lead down to as little as five points. But UConn responded at every turn and flipped a switch when its lead fell to 60-55, rattling off a 9-0 run to put the game out of reach.

NCAA BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP RESULT/SCHEDULE:

MEN’S – MONDAY RESULT:

No. 4 UConn 76-59 No. 5 San Diego State

Local Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:

MONDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Baseball: @ Lincoln Northeast @ Den Hartog Field
    • KHS 3-2 LNE
  • Boys Soccer: v. Lincoln North Star @ Kearney High School
    • KHS 2-0 LNS

TUESDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Girls Tennis: Varsity Dual v. North Platte @ Harmon Park – 4 PM
  • Girls Soccer: v. Norfolk @ Kearney High School – 7:30 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Boys Golf: @ Wood River Invite – 10 AM
  • Girls Tennis: v. Lexington – 4 PM
  • Track & Field: @ Minden Invite – 4 PM
  • Girls Soccer: v. Aurora – 4:30 PM
  • Boys Soccer; v. Aurora – 6:30 PM
• UNK:
  • Women’s Golf: v. Bulldog Spring Invite @ Lincoln, NE
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • M/W Golf: @ Sterling Warrior Invite @ Hutchinson, KS – 10 AM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Nebraska Baseball @ Kansas State (5:30 PM – 10 PM)

WEDNESDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • N/a
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • N/a
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Sports Nightly (6 PM – 8 PM)

THURSDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Boys Golf: @ Kearney Invite @ Meadowlark Hills – 10 AM
  • Track & Field: v. Kearney Invite @ Kearney High School – 12:30 PM
    • 12:30 PM = Field Events
    • 1 PM = Running Events
  • Baseball: @ Grand Island Triangular @ Ryder Park
    • GAME 1 v. Norfolk – 4 PM
    • GAME 2 v. Grand Island – 6 PM
  • Boys Soccer: @ Lincoln East @ Seacrest Field – 5 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Boys Golf: @ Arcadia Loup City Invite – 10 AM
  • Girls Tennis: @ Lexington Invite – 10 AM
• UNK:
  • Volleyball: v. Regis @ Ogallala, NE – 8:30 PM
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • Softball: v. Morningside – 4 PM
  • Softball: v. Morningside – 6 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Sports Nightly (6 PM – 8 PM)

FRIDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Girls Tennis: @ Omaha Westside Invite @ Koch Family Tennis Center – 8 AM
  • Girls Soccer: @ Lincoln High @ Beechner Athletic Complex – 1 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • Women’s Soccer: v. Iowa Western C.C. @ Foster Field – 1 PM
  • Softball: @ Emporia State – 3 PM
  • M/W T&F: @ Jo Meaker Classic @ Canyon, TX – 3 PM
  • Softball: @ Emporia State – 5 PM
  • M/W T&F: @ K.T. Woodman Classic @ Wichita, KS – 6 PM
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • M/W T&F: @ K.T. Woodman Classic @ Wichita, KS – 6 PM
  • Baseball: v. Northwestern @ Duncan Field – 1 PM
  • Baseball: v. Northwestern @ Duncan Field – 3:30 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Nebraska Baseball v. Northwestern (5:30 PM – 10 PM)

SATURDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Baseball: @ Double Dual @ Lincoln’s Densmore Fields
    • GAME 1 v. Lincoln High – 10 AM
    • GAME 2 v. Lincoln North Star – 1 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • M/W T&F: @ Jo Meaker Classic @ Canyon, TX – 12:30 PM
  • M/W T&F: @ K.T. Woodman Classic @ Wichita, KS – 12 PM
  • Women’s Tennis: @ Missouri Western
  • Softball: @ Washburn – 1 PM
  • Softball: @ Washburn – 3 PM
• HASTINGS COLLEGE: 
  • M/W T&F: @ K.T. Woodman Classic @ Wichita, KS – 12 PM
  • Baseball: v. Morningside @ Duncan Field – 1 PM
  • Softball: v. Mount Marty – 1 PM
  • Softball: v. Mount Marty – 3 PM
  • Baseball: v. Morningside @ Duncan Field – 4 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Nebraska Baseball v. Northwestern (1:30 PM – 6 PM)

SUNDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • N/a
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • N/a
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Nebraska Baseball v. Northwestern (12 PM – 4 PM)