DURANT, NETS AGREE TO MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER:
Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets are staying together.
A trade request that jolted the franchise and dominated NBA headlines has been removed. The Nets will return next season with their All-Star forward in uniform — and with their championship hopes intact.
The Nets said Tuesday that the team’s leadership met a day earlier with Durant and business partner Rich Kleiman in Los Angeles and “agreed to move forward with our partnership,” general manager Sean Marks said in a statement.
The uncertainty around Durant’s future in Brooklyn likely contributed to the Nets being left off the five-game Christmas lineup and being scheduled to appear only eight times on ABC and ESPN.
SABAN RECEIVES $94 MILLION CONTRACT DEAL:
Alabama coach Nick Saban is getting a new eight-year contract worth at least $93.6 million, eclipsing the recent megadeal of Southeastern Conference rival Kirby Smart.
The University of Alabama trustees compensation committee on Tuesday approved a one-year extension through Feb. 28, 2030 for the 70-year old Saban, who has led the Crimson Tide to six national titles. Saban’s deal averages out to $11.7 million per year, topping Smart’s $11.25 million pay at defending national champion Georgia.
The announcement comes a month after Smart agreed to a 10-year deal worth more than $110 million. The Bulldogs beat Alabama in the national championship game in January.
HUSKER PLAYER PRACTICE COMMENTS:
THOMPSON – HAD A FEELING I’D BE THE STARTER:
Nebraska Quarterback Casey Thompson was named the No. 1 QB last week heading into the Northwestern contest. Thompson added he was beginning to suspect that the job was his to lose…
Thompson added he’s happy to given the opportunity to lead by example and showcase his college football experience when heading to Ireland leading the Big Red offense.
THOMPSON – HUSKERS HAVE MORE DEPTH, TALENT THAN TEXAS:
Casey Thompson, the Texas transfer, made comments earlier this week comparing this year’s Huskers squad to his Longhorn teams from previous seasons…
Thompson is one of many transfers brought in to increase the talent across the board at nearly each position for the Huskers. Nebraska was one of the leaders in college football this offseason in transfer portal additions.
TANNOR – HUSKERS HAVE TO BE READY TO COME OUT AND COMPETE:
Edge rusher Caleb Tannor was voted a captain by his peers last week and said he’s bringing that mentality to Ireland as the Huskers look to get off on the right foot in Week Zero…
The Huskers have only beaten South Alabama in a season opener under Scott Frost with that win coming in 2019. Nebraska is set to battle Northwestern in Dublin on Saturday with kickoff at 11:30 AM.
HENRICH – NOTHING CHANGES WITH NEW CAPTAIN MANTRA:
Linebacker Nick Henrich was one of three defensive players selected as a captain for the Big Red recently, and Henrich adds that it won’t change much of his leadership philosophies…
Henrich added that he’s excited to see how Nebraska plays together and is anxious to showcase how good the Huskers can be in Ireland.
VOKALEK – MORE PLAYMAKERS ON ROSTER THAN EVER BEFORE:
Tight End Travis Vokalek was named the only offensive captain for the season, and the long-haired senior was quick to mention there’s plenty of talent on the offensive side of the ball…
Vokalek aims to start in Ireland on Saturday against Northwestern as Nebraska battles the Wildcats in Week Zero.
NELSON – FOCUS ON THE THINGS WE CAN CONTROL:
Husker captain Garrett Nelson spoke to the media earlier this week and was asked how does a trip to Ireland with a Week Zero contest looming affect the players on the Big Red…
Nelson was voted a captain earlier last week and added he’s excited to lead by example to get the Huskers back to their winning ways.
HUSKER WOMEN’S HOOPS TICKETS AVAILABLE:
Nebraska women’s basketball season tickets went on sale Tuesday for the upcoming 2022-23 campaign.
The Huskers, who return five starters from their 2021-22 team that finished 24-9 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament, provide a variety of affordable season ticket packages.
Nebraska, which has ranked among the top 25 teams nationally in average home attendance for 12 consecutive seasons, is expected to be led inside by 2022 Big Ten Freshman of the Year Alexis Markowski (Lincoln, Neb.) and All-Big Ten forward Isabelle Bourne (Canberra, Australia), while All-Big Ten guards Jaz Shelley (Moe, Australia) and Sam Haiby (Moorhead, Minn.) provide electricity and experience in the backcourt.
HUSKER MEN’S HOOPS LOSES McPHERSON FOR SEASON:
Nebraska men’s basketball coach Fred Hoiberg confirmed Monday that redshirt freshman guard Quaran McPherson recently suffered a season-ending knee injury.
McPherson suffered the injury in training prior to returning to Lincoln for the start of the fall semester. An MRI by Nebraska’s medical staff upon his return revealed the extent of the injury to McPherson’s left knee. He will undergo surgery in the coming weeks and will start his rehab.
According to men’s basketball athletic trainer R.J. Pietig, McPherson’s recovery is expected to be between six and eight months following surgery. McPherson is expected to make a full recovery in time for the start of the 2023-24 season.
ALBERTS ANNOUNCES ALL NON-CONFERENCE GAMES SOLD OUT:
The Nebraska sellout streak will continue through the Huskers’ 2022 non-conference season.
Nebraska athletic director Trev Alberts announced Monday that the Huskers’ trio of non-conference games has sold out, meaning that Nebraska’s record sellout streak — which currently sits at 382 — will make it to at least 385 games.
The Nebraska athletic department has been aggressive this month with special teams for Husker fans to try and move excess tickets — that included a deal in July where some Nebraska tickets were available for $30 for Nebraska’s home opener with North Dakota.
FORMER HUSKER OZIGBO CLAIMED BY BRONCOS:
Former Nebraska running back Devine Ozigbo is headed back to the AFC after being claimed off waivers by the Denver Broncos on Monday afternoon.
There were a flurry of moves on Monday as NFL teams had to cut down from 85 to 80 players on their preseason rosters. Ozigbo had been with the New Orleans Saints in the preseason before being waived.
Ozigbo spent part of last season with the Saints and Jaguars before signing a futures contract with the Patriots late in the season. Ozigbo was waived by New England in May and ending up with the Saints, the team, which signed him as an undrafted free agent out of Nebraska.
MAYFIELD NAMED STARTING QUARTERBACK FOR PANTHERS:
The Carolina Panthers are turning to quarterback Baker Mayfield to lead their offense.
Coach Matt Rhule announced Monday that Mayfield will start Carolina’s Sept. 11 regular-season opener against his former team, the Cleveland Browns — a decision that had been anticipated for several weeks.
Mayfield, acquired in a trade with the Browns earlier this offseason, beat out incumbent starter Sam Darnold for the starting quarterback job.
Local Results & Schedules:
THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:
MONDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- Softball: @ North Platte
- North Platte 6 – 2 Kearney
- Softball: @ North Platte
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- Stars Softball: Triangular v. STC & Centennial
- GAME 1: KCHS 22 – 3 Centennial
- GAME 2: Hastings St. Cecilia 8 – 4 KCHS
- Stars Softball: Triangular v. STC & Centennial
TUESDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- N/a
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- Stars Softball: @ CCV – 5 PM
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- Sports Nightly (6 PM – 8 PM)
WEDNESDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- Softball: v. Lincoln Northeast (Doubleheader) – 5 PM @ Patriot Park
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- N/a
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- Sports Nightly (6 PM – 8 PM)
THURSDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- Softball: @ Fremont – 5 PM
- Volleyball: @ Lincoln North Star – 6:30 PM
- Football: @ Lincoln East – 7 PM
- KGFW Preview Show @ 6 PM; KGFW Pregame @ 6:30 PM
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- Girls Golf: Kearney Catholic Invite – 9 AM
- Boys Tennis: @ GICC – 4 PM
- Softball: v. Hershey (Doubleheader) – 5 PM
- Volleyball: v. Columbus Scotus – 5:30 PM
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- High School Football Preview Show (6 – 6:30 PM)
- Kearney High Football @ Lincoln East (6:30 PM – 10 PM)
FRIDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- Girls Golf: KHS Invite @ Meadowlark – 9:30 AM
- Boys Tennis: KHS Quad (v. KCHS, Holdrege, McCook) – 1:30 PM
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- Boys Tennis: Kearney High Quad (v. KHS, Holdrege, McCook) – 1:30 PM
- Football: @ Doniphan-Trumbull – 7 PM
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- Nebraska Volleyball v. Texas A&M Corpus Christi (10:30 AM – 1:45 PM)
- Nebraska Volleyball v. Tulsa (6 PM – 9:15 PM)
SATURDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- Softball: LPS Softball Classic Invite – 9 AM
- Volleyball: Norfolk Invite – 9 AM
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- Boys Tennis: @ GICC Invite – 9 AM
- Softball: @ Holdrege Invite – 9 AM
- Volleyball: Kearney Catholic Triangular v. Aquinas & Hastings St. Cecilia – 1 PM
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- Nebraska Cornhuskers Football v. Northwestern (7:30 AM – 6:30 PM)
SUNDAY:
- N/a
