HUSKER WOMEN RETURN HOME TO FACE BADGERS:
Following a 10-day competitive layoff due to health and safety protocols, Nebraska will return to action Thursday night to battle the Wisconsin Badgers as part of a men’s and women’s basketball double-header between the two schools at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Tip-off between the Husker women (13-4, 2-4 Big Ten) and the Badgers (5-13, 2-6 Big Ten) is set for 8 p.m. (CT) with live coverage by the Big Ten Network.
Because of the rare double-header, men’s basketball ticket holders for the Wisconsin game will be able to attend the women’s game and sit in select general admission areas free of charge
Nebraska will be looking forward to the return of Jaz Shelley to the court after missing the game at Iowa (Jan. 16) because of COVID protocols. Shelley is the only Big Ten player to rank in the conference’s top in scoring (13.8 ppg), rebounding (7.5 rpg), assists (4.4 apg), blocks (1.2 bpg) and steals (1.8 spg).
The Badgers have won two of their past three Big Ten games, including their first road win with a 49-45 victory at Rutgers (Jan. 16).
HUSKER MEN’S BASKETBALL READY TO RETURN TO ACTION:
The Nebraska men’s basketball team returns from a short pause on Thursday afternoon, as the Huskers host No. 11 Wisconsin at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. (central) and will be carried on the Big Ten Network and the Huskers Radio Network.
The matchup was originally scheduled for Jan. 25, but was pushed back two days to allow for Nebraska to return from its short pause
The Huskers (6-13, 0-8 Big Ten) have been off since a 78-71 loss to Indiana on Jan. 17
Wisconsin (15-3, 6-2 Big Ten) looks to bounce back following an 86-74 loss to No. 14 Michigan State on Jan. 21.
NEBRASKA ATHLETIC DIRECTOR TREV ALBERTS SPORTS NIGHTLY COMMENTS:
ALBERTS – ENDZONE SEATS TO INCREASE SIZE, REDUCE CAPACITY
Nebraska Athletic Director Trev Alberts had his monthly visit to Sports Nightly on Wednesday and immediately spoke about renovations coming to Memorial Stadium for the fall. One of those changes include the increase of size in seats in the endzones…
Alberts added that these changes will be in place for the upcoming 2022 season, and that the changes will reduce capacity of Memorial Stadium slightly.
ALBERTS – SPRING GAME, IRELAND TICKETS AVAILABLE SOON
Nebraska Athletic Director Trev Alberts spoke on Sports Nightly last night regarding the Spring Game and Ireland tickets for fans and when they would be available for the public…
More information can be found at Huskers.com.
ALBERTS – CHANGE IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Athletic Director for Nebraska Trev Alberts joined Sports Nightly on Wednesday and spoke about the report that the Big Ten Conference is considering removing divisions to aid in the conference’s quest for more College Football Playoff representation…
Alberts continued that each decision made by the conference is made to help the Big Ten’s ability to grow and to compete into the CFP.
ALBERTS – NO NATURAL GRASS COMING TO MEMORIAL STADIUM
Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium is receiving a face-lift in the form of a new playing surface after the Spring Game. Athletic Director Trev Alberts spoke on Sports Nightly Wednesday regarding why the Home of the Huskers will not see natural grass…
Alberts continued that the growing process in the winter and keeping the grass alive in the cold costs outweigh the benefits of playing on the natural surface.
ALBERTS – FOOTBALL IS BUILDING MOMENTUM WITH HIRES
Nebraska Athletic Director Trev Alberts spoke on Sports Nightly Wednesday night and gave high praise to Head Football coach Scott Frost for his ability to bring in a new, talented assistant offensive staff…
The Huskers football season kicks off in Ireland against Northwestern in August.
ALBERTS – ALCOHOL SALES NOT COMING TO MEMORIAL STADIUM SOON
Nebraska Athletic Director Trev Alberts mentioned several stadium updates to the home of the Huskers on Wednesday’s Sports Nightly, but was asked if the inclusion of alcohol sales could be on the horizon…
Memorial Stadium sold alcohol during the Garth Brooks concert last summer, and alcohol sales discussion topics were introduced in the fan survey released by Nebraska athletics earlier this month.
STORM TO BATTLE LINCOLN IN TEXAS:
The Tri-City Storm opens play in the 2022 USHL Frosty Cup tonight in a battle against the Lincoln Stars as the first place team in the USHL’s standings.
Tri-City has won eight consecutive games for the second time this season and seeks to tie a season-high streak of nine consecutive wins in tonight’s battle against in-state rival Lincoln. The matchup will be played at the Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas. Puck drop is set for 7:30pm CT.
BIG TEN CONSIDERING REMOVAL OF DIVISIONS:
The Big Ten is considering scheduling models that could eliminate divisions and reduce conference play to eight games according to a report stated by Iowa athletic director Gary Barta.
The Big Ten plays a nine-game conference schedule that features six divisional and three cross-divisional games. However, the league could reevaluate its positioning after its media rights expire following the 2022 season.
The Alliance created last summer between three power conferences – the Big Ten, ACC, and Pac-12 – adds another level of intrigue to the situation. Each conference expressed interest in scheduling non-conference matchups heading forward. Eliminating a conference game could be a way to free up extra opportunities for non conference matchups.
No West Division team has won the conference in the eight years since the format was introduced in 2014.
ISABELLE BOURNE TO RECEIVE ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP:
Nebraska forward Isabelle Bourne has been selected as the recipient of the Latimer Family Women’s Basketball Scholarship, which will be presented for the first time during Thursday night’s game with Wisconsin at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
The Latimer Family Women’s Basketball Scholarship recognizes a Husker who combines a high level of academic and athletic achievement, effective leadership skills, integrity and commitment to excellence in all endeavors.
Bourne, a 6-2 sophomore forward from Canberra, Australia, has been one of Nebraska’s top performers on the court and in the classroom in her three seasons for the Huskers. The two-time team captain is averaging 10.1 points and 4.4 rebounds while starting all 17 games for the Big Red this season, after earning honorable-mention All-Big Ten accolades in 2020-21.
NEBRASKA T&F ALEX TALLEY EARNS SECOND BIG TEN HONOR:
Nebraska track and field’s Alex Talley was named the Big Ten Men’s Field Athlete of the Week for the second time this season
Talley captured his third win of the season in the shot put with a launch of 64-10 (19.76m), while finishing second with a toss of 69-10 1/4 (21.29m) in the weight throw.
The West Fargo, N.D., native leads the 12th-ranked Huskers as the Big Ten’s leader in the shot put and weight throw. On the national level, Talley currently sits fifth in both events.
COOK, “IF ALBERTS HAD NOT TAKEN THE AD JOB, I WOULD HAVE”:
Head Nebraska Volleyball Coach John Cook joined Lincoln’s 93.7 The Ticket on Tuesday and gave an interesting perspective regarding the Athletic Director hire made back in July, even adding he would have stepped into the role if needed…
Cook reiterated that Nebraska Athletics was in desperate need of central leadership, and that Alberts has been one of the best Athletic Director’s that the Head Volleyball Coach has worked with at Nebraska.
Local Results & Schedules:
THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- WOMENS BASKETBALL: @ No. 19 Concordia
- HC 68-60
- MENS BASKETBALL: @ No. 25 Concordia
- Concordia 82-68
- WOMENS BASKETBALL: @ No. 19 Concordia
THURSDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- GIRLS BASKETBALL: @ North Platte – 5 PM
- Pregame on KGFW starting at 4:45 PM
- BOYS BASKETBALL: @ North Platte – 6:45 PM
- Pregame on KGFW starting at 6:30 PM
- GIRLS BASKETBALL: @ North Platte – 5 PM
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- GIRLS BASKETBALL: Centennial Conference Tournament @ Bergan#4 Kearney Catholic v. #3 Archbishop Bergan
- UNK:
- WRESTLING: @ Central Missouri – 7 PM
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- N/a
FRIDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- SWIMMING & DIVING: @ Westside Invite
- GIRLS BASKETBALL: v. Lincoln High – 6 PM
- Pregame coverage on KGFW starting at 5:45 PM
- BOYS BASKETBALL: v. Lincoln High – 7:45 PM
- Pregame coverage on KGFW starting at 7:30 PM
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- SWIMMING & DIVING: @ Westside Invite
- WRESTLING: v. Perkins County
- BOYS BASKETBALL: Centennial Conference Tournament @ GICC
- #2 Kearney Catholic v. #3 Omaha Concordia – 7:45 PM
- UNK:
- M/W T&F: Charlie Foster Classic Invite @ Cushing Coliseum – 3 PM
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- M/W T&F: @ Charlie Foster Classic, Kearney
- MENS WRESTLING: @ Sioux City, IA (GPAC Duals)
SATURDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- WRESTLING: @ Garden City, KS Invite
- SWIMMING & DIVING: @ Westside Invite
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- SWIMMING & DIVING: @ Westside Invite
- WRESTLING: @ Doniphan-Trumbull Invite
- GIRLS BASKETBALL: Centennial Conference Tournament @ GICC
- BOYS BASKETBALL: Centennial Conference Tournament @ GICC
- UNK:
- WOMENS BASKETBALL: v. Fort Hays State @ Health & Sports Center – 2 PM
- MENS BASKETBALL: v. Fort Hays State @ Health & Sports Center – 4 PM
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- MENS BASKETBALL: v. Dordt University @ Lynn Farrell Arena – 2 PM
- WOMENS BASKETBALL: v. Dordt University @ Lynn Farrell Arena – 4 PM