HUSKER MEN TAKE ON OHIO STATE:
The Nebraska men’s basketball team returns to Pinnacle Bank Arena tonight as the Huskers host Ohio State. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.
Nebraska (9-9, 2-5 Big Ten) continues its schedule gauntlet, as the Huskers have played the nation’s toughest schedule according to the NCAA’s NET rankings, while Wednesday’s matchup with Ohio State will be NU’s 10th game against a Quad 1 opponent in 19 games this season.
The Huskers were short-handed in their 73-55 loss at No. 3 Purdue on Friday, as starters Juwan Gary and Sam Griesel missed the game with injuries. Nebraska is hoping to have Griesel return for tonight’s action.
Ohio State (10-7, 2-4 Big Ten) looks to bounce back following a 68-64 overtime loss to Rutgers on Sunday. That contest had 22 lead changes.
KGFW’s pregame coverage begins at 5 PM with Kent Pavelka on the call from the Huskers Radio Network.
NEBRASKA WOMEN AIM BACK FOR WINNING WAYS AT PURDUE:
The Nebraska women’s basketball team hunts for a Big Ten road win on tonight when the Big Red takes on Purdue in West Lafayette, Ind.
Tip-off between the Huskers (11-7, 3-4 Big Ten) and the Boilermakers (12-5, 3-4 Big Ten) is set for 6 p.m.
Tonight’s game could be a pivotal contest in the Big Ten for both teams. They enter the game tied for seventh in the conference standings at 3-4, and on paper, it would be tough to find more evenly matched teams across all statistical categories. The numbers prove themselves in the NCAA’s NET rankings, where Nebraska entered the week at No. 42 and Purdue at No. 47.
Nebraska is coming off a 76-67 loss to unbeaten and then-No. 3 Ohio State on Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln.
LAUENSTEIN SET TO TAKE BREAK FROM HUSKER VOLLEYBALL:
Whitney Lauenstein announced her decision “to step away from the volleyball team” Tuesday evening via her social media pages, citing a need to focus on herself and be with her family. That need stems from continuing to heal after the passing of her father, Ryan Launstein, in 2021.
After appearing in 27 matches as a freshman, the Waverly native leveled up in her second season. Through the non-conference, she was playing in near All-American form. Lauenstein finished as a member of the AVCA All-Region Team.
LOPER FOOTBALL NAMES OFFENSIVE LINE COACH:
Nebraska Kearney head football coach Ryan Held announced today that Nate Baker is the Lopers new offensive line coach and run game coordinator.
The Georgia native spent the 2022 season as Senior Defensive Quality Control at Buffalo. Previously, he was co-offensive coordinator/tackles and tights coach at Division II Savannah (Ga.) State for three seasons. He also has coached at Georgia Military College, a junior college program, and at his alma mater, Georgia Southern.
Having recruiting experience in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and the JUCO ranks in Kansas, Baker has helped coach seven All-Americans, seven first-team all-conference picks and seen four of his players get drafted or be in an NFL camp.
FUTURE HUSKER STAR WINS GATORADE VOLLEYBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
Nebraska volleyball incoming freshman Harper Murray was named the 2022-23 Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year on Monday.
Murray is the fifth Nebraska volleyball player to be named the Gatorade National Player of the Year. The others are Ally Batenhorst (2020-21), Lexi Sun (2016-17), Mikaela Foecke (2014-15) and Gina Mancuso (2008-09).
The 6-foot-2 senior outside hitter amassed 726 kills and 409 digs this past season, leading Skyline High School in Michigan to the Division 1 regional semifinals. Murray also recorded 86 service aces and 40 blocks, and she posted a .405 hitting percentage.
Murray is one of two incoming Huskers who was named a state Gatorade Player of the Year recipient this season. Setter Bergen Reilly was chosen as South Dakota’s Gatorade Player of the Year.
CENTENNIAL CONFERENCE ANNOUNCES TOURNAMENT BRACKETS:
The Centennial Conference Basketball Tournament brackets were released Tuesday afternoon.
Seedings were determined from adjusted wild card averages and power-points from the respective teams’ win/loss record.
On the girls side, Hastings’ St. Cecilia earned its top seed while GICC was placed 5th, and Kearney Catholic at 8th. The Crusaders will travel to #4 Scotus Central Catholic on Tuesday, Jan. 24 at 5:30 PM. #8 Kearney Catholic hosts #9 Omaha Concordia on Monday, Jan. 23 at 5:30 PM. Winner will travel to #1 Hastings St. Cecilia on Tuesday.
For the boys, Kearney Catholic landed #11 while GICC is 7th, Hastings St. Cecilia at 6th, and Omaha Concordia earning the top seed. The Stars travel to Hastings St. Cecilia for a rematch on Monday, Jan. 23 at 6 PM. The winner will travel to #3 Aquinas Catholic. GICC hosts #10 Lincoln Christian on Monday.
STORM ACQUIRE NEW GOALTENDER IN TRADE:
The Tri-City Storm has acquired goaltender Patriks Bērziņš from the Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks (NAHL) in exchange for goaltender Karlis Mezsargs and future considerations.
Bērziņš was a standout player for Team Latvia in this month’s IIHF World Junior Championship in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Moncton, New Brunswick. He faced more shots than any other goaltender in the tournament during the preliminary round of the event.
HUSKERS’ CRONIN TABBED BIG TEN WRESTLER OF THE WEEK:
Nebraska’s Liam Cronin (125) claimed his first Big Ten and NCAA Wrestler of the Week honor of his career, when the conference and the NCAA announced its award winners Tuesday afternoon.
The Orange, Calif., native and 2021 NCAA qualifier recorded two top five wins this past weekend. On Friday against Minnesota, Cronin defeated #4 Patrick McKee by decision, 11-6.
On Sunday, Cronin faced Northwestern’s #3 Michael DeAugustino. After a scoreless first period, Cronin used a takedown and four nearfall points to take the 6-1 advantage. He secured the statement win with a third period reversal, takedown and the riding time point to win by major decision, 11-1.
Cronin, who is currently the third-ranked wrestler in the nation according to the InterMat rankings, has 64 career victories. He is also 13-2 on the season and 2-0 in conference competition.
This is the first weekly honor for the Huskers since Mikey Labriola garnered the award last season on Feb. 22, 2022.
GEBBIA RETURNS TO BIG TEN; TRANSFERS TO BUCKEYES:
Former Oregon State quarterback Tristan Gebbia is joining Ohio State via transfer for his final year of collegiate eligibility.
A seventh-year senior who started his career at Nebraska as a member of the recruiting class of 2017, Gebbia is expected to be a backup for the Buckeyes. While he started five games for Oregon State between the 2019 and 2020 seasons, he did not play at all in 2021 due to a hamstring injury and played in just four games in 2022, completing 10 of 11 passes for 79 yards.
The addition of Gebbia gives Ohio State four scholarship quarterbacks in 2023. He plans to become a coach after his playing career.
Local Results & Schedules:
THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:
WEDNESDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- N/a
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- N/a
- UNK:
- Women’s Basketball: @ Emporia State – 5:30 PM
- Men’s Basketball: @ Emporia State – 7:30 PM
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- Men’s Basketball: @ Doane – 7:30 PM
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- Nebraska Men’s Basketball v. Ohio State (5 PM – 8:45 PM)
THURSDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- Swimming & Diving: Norfolk Dual @ Kearney High School – 4 PM
- Wrestling: @ Columbus Dual – 7 PM
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- Swimming & Diving: Norfolk Dual @ Kearney High School – 4 PM
- Girls Basketball: @ Aurora – 5:30 PM
- Boys Basketball: @ Aurora – 7:30 PM
- UNK:
- N/a
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- N/a
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- Sports Nightly (6 PM – 8 PM)
FRIDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- Girls Basketball: v. Norfolk @ Kearney High School – 6 PM
- KGFW Pregame at 5:45 PM
- Boys Basketball: v. Norfolk @ Kearney High School – 7:45 PM
- KGFW Pregame at conclusion of KHS GBB
- Girls Basketball: v. Norfolk @ Kearney High School – 6 PM
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- N/a
- UNK:
- N/a
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- Men’s Wrestling: @ Missouri Valley Invite @ Marshall, MO – 9 AM
- Women’s Basketball: v. Dakota Wesleyan @ Lynn Farrell Arena – 5 PM
- Men’s Basketball: v. Dakota Wesleyan @ Lynn Farrell Arena – 6:45 PM
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- Kearney High Girls Basketball v. Norfolk (5:45 PM – 7:45 PM)
- Kearney High Boys Basketball v. Norfolk (7:45 PM – 9:45 PM)
SATURDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- Swimming & Diving: @ Ralston Dive Invite – 9 AM
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- Swimming & Diving: @ Ralston Dive Invite – 9 AM
- Wrestling: @ Centennial Conference – 10 AM
- Girls Basketball: v. Aquinas – 1:30 PM
- Boys Basketball: v. Aquinas – 3:30 PM
- UNK:
- Wrestling: v. Northern State – 9 AM
- Wrestling: v. Western Colorado – 10:30 AM
- Wrestling: v. Adams State – 12 PM
- M/W T&F: @ NW Missouri State Open – 12 PM
- Women’s Basketball: @ Washburn – 1:30 PM
- Men’s Basketball: @ Washburn – 3:30 PM
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- M/W T&F: @ Polar Dog Invite @ Concordia – 10 AM / 1 PM
- Men’s Wrestling: @ Missouri Valley Invite @ Marshall, MO – 9 AM
- Women’s Basketball: v. Jamestown @ Lynn Farrell Arena – 1 PM
- Men’s Basketball: v. Jamestown @ Lynn Farrell Arena – 2:45 PM
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- Nebraska Men’s Basketball @ Penn State (12:15 PM – 4 PM)
SUNDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- N/a
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- N/a
- UNK:
- N/a
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- N/a
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- Nebraska Women’s Basketball v. Maryland (12:45 PM – 4 PM)