Friday Afternoon Sports – Runza Seniors Continue Creighton Prep Tourney, Husker Hoops to Battle Boston College in ACC Challenge, McGowens Picked up by Hornets in NBA Draft, Friday Sports Schedule

RUNZA SENIORS DOWN ARKANSAS BRYANT, PREPARE FOR TOURNAMENT PLAY:

Kearney finally earned a victory in the Creighton Prep CWS Tournament yesterday, as the Runza Seniors downed Arkansas Bryant 3-1 to claim their spot in pool play for the remainder of the weekend.

The Runza Seniors will battle Watertown, South Dakota in pool play today. First pitch is set for 5 PM from Millard West High School.

HUSKER HOOPS SET TO HOST BOSTON COLLEGE IN ACC/BIG TEN CHALLENGE:

Nebraska will see a familiar foe in the 2022 ACC/Big Ten Men’s Basketball Challenge, as the Huskers will host Boston College at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 30. The matchup will mark the second meeting between the Huskers and Eagles and first since a 71-62 Husker victory at PBA in the 2017 Challenge. 

Under second-year coach Earl Grant, Boston College brings back four starters from a team that won 13 games and tied for 11th in the ACC last season.

The Huskers return two of its top four scorers from a year ago for fourth-year coach Fred Hoiberg in super senior Derrick Walker (9.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg) and sophomore guard C.J. Wilcher (8.1 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 53 3-pointers.  NU has retooled its roster with a trio of Division I transfers in Emmanuel Bandoumel (SMU), Juwan Gary (Alabama) and Sam Griesel (North Dakota State) and a recruiting class that is ranked in the top 30 nationally by both Rivals and 247Sports. 

McGOWENS SELECTED IN NBA SECOND ROUND BY TIMBERWOLVES; TRADED TO HORNETS:

Bryce McGowens became Nebraska’s highest-drafted player since 1998, as he was selected in the second round (No. 40 overall) by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2022 NBA Draft Thursday night before being traded to the Charlotte Hornets.   

McGowens, a 6-foot-7 guard from Pendleton, S.C., became NU’s highest draft pick since Tyronn Lue was taken No. 23 overall in the 1998 NBA Draft. McGowens’ selection also marks the third Husker NBA draft pick in a four-year span, joining Isaiah Roby (2019) and Dalano Banton (No. 21). Before this stretch, the last time it occurred for the NU basketball program was between 1979 and 1982.

McGowens turned in an impressive freshman campaign, earning Big Ten Newcomer-of-the-Year honors by the Associated Press after averaging a team-high 16.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. A third-team All-Big Ten selection by both the coaches and media, he ranked ninth in the Big Ten in scoring in 2021-22.

HUSKER FOOTBALL ADDS NORTHERN IOWA TO 2024 SCHEDULE:

According to FBSchedules.com, the Nebraska Cornhuskers have added the Northern Iowa Panthers to their 2024 football schedule.

A copy of the football game contract with the University of Nebraska was obtained from the University of Northern Iowa via a state public records request.

Nebraska will host Northern Iowa at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb., on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, which will mark the first-ever meeting between the two schools on the gridiron. The Cornhuskers will pay the Panthers a $600,000 guarantee for playing the contest, according to the copy of the contract.

Northern Iowa is currently a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). Former Nebraska quarterback and captain Joe Ganz is currently a receivers coach for the Panthers. 

TEXAS LANDS TOP QUARTERBACK RECRUIT MANNING:

The latest Manning quarterback, and the nation’s top recruit for next year’s class, has verbally committed to a future SEC school: Arch Manning tweeted Thursday that he plans to play at Texas.

The quarterback’s message included a photo of him dropping back for a pass while wearing a Longhorns shirt.

Manning is going into his senior season at Isidore Newman, a prep school in New Orleans where his Super Bowl MVP uncles Peyton and Eli also played. Arch Manning’s father, Cooper, is the older brother of Peyton and Eli.

Peyton Manning played his college ball at Tennessee. Eli Manning followed their father and Arch’s grandfather, Archie, in playing at Ole Miss.

Local Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:

THURSDAY:

• POST 52: v. GI Dinsdale
  • POST 52 10-6
• POST 52: v. Grand Island 5 Points Bank
  • 5 Points Bank 6-2
• Runza Seniors: @ Creighton Prep Tournament
  • v. Arkansas Bryant Black Sox Seniors
    • Runza 3-1
• COLLEGE WORLD SERIES:
  • Arkansas v. Ole Miss
    • Ole Miss 2-0

FRIDAY:

• STANLEY CUP FINALS: Game 5 @ Colorado – 7 PM
  • Tampa Bay Lightning @ Colorado Avalanche (COL 3-1)
• Runza Seniors: @ Creighton Prep Tournament
  • Tournament Play: Kearney v. Watertown, SD (@ Millard West HS) – 5 PM

SATURDAY:

• COLLEGE WORLD SERIES FINALS: Game 1 – 6 PM
  • Oklahoma v. Ole Miss

SUNDAY:

• COLLEGE WORLD SERIES FINALS: Game 2 – 2 PM
  • Oklahoma v. Ole Miss
• STANLEY CUP FINALS: TBA Game 6 @ Tampa Bay – 7 PM
  • Colorado Avalanche @ Tampa Bay Lightning