Story by NU Athletic Communications

The Nebraska softball team opens Big Ten Conference play this weekend when the Huskers host Illinois for a three-game series on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Bowlin Stadium.

First pitch on Friday is set for 5 p.m., Saturday’s game will start at 1 p.m. and Sunday’s finale is slated for Noon. Tickets can be purchased by visiting huskers.com/softball, calling 1-800-8-BIG-RED or at the Bowlin Stadium ticket office beginning one hour prior to first pitch.

Fans unable to make it out to Bowlin Stadium can listen to Nate Rohr call every game this season for free on Huskers.com or the official Huskers app. Friday’s game will also be televised on the Big Ten Network, while Sunday’s game will air within the state borders on Nebraska Public Media. Fans can also stream the games on Saturday and Sunday with a subscription to Big Ten+, with subscriptions starting at $9.99 per month. Friday’s game will be available on foxsports.com/live for those who receive the Big Ten Network.

Nebraska is 30-15 in conference play the past two seasons, finishing second in the regular-season standings in 2022 and fourth in 2023. Nebraska and Northwestern are the only two Big Ten teams who have won 30 conference games over the last two seasons.

The Huskers have swept the opening series of the conference season each of the past two seasons. In 2022, Nebraska won both games of a shortened series at No. 19 Michigan. Last year, the Huskers swept a three-game series against Purdue at Bowlin Stadium.

A Sister Act at the Top of the LineupThe Andrews sisters have hit first and second in the Nebraska batting order each of the past 13 games with younger sister Billie Andrews leading off and older sister Brooke Andrews hitting second. The sisters have proven to be a productive combination at the top of the order.

Caneda Thriving as ‘Second’ Leadoff HitterWith the Andrews sisters anchoring the top of the lineup, Nebraska has been searching for a strong No. 9 hitter who can act as a second leadoff hitter batting ahead of Billie Andrews. The Huskers appear to have found that hitter in Katelyn Caneda.

Bredwell &amp; Bland Swinging Hot BatsWhile the top and bottom of the Husker lineup have been strong of late, two big bats in the middle of the order have been productive as well. Ava Bredwell and Samantha Bland have both been enjoying hot stretches entering Big Ten play this weekend.

Olensky Stepping Up in the CircleWith the season-ending injury to two-time first-team All-American Jordy Bahl, each of Nebraska’s pitchers has had to step up in Bahl’s absence. One pitcher who has emerged is freshman left-hander Caitlin Olensky.

Billie Andrews Ties Husker Home Run RecordBillie Andrews ranks eighth nationally in home runs and sixth in home runs per game with 11 homers in 25 games. Andrews has tied the Nebraska record with 54 career home runs.

Scouting Illinois (12-13, 0-0 Big Ten)Illinois brings a 12-13 record into the opening weekend of Big Ten Conference play. The Fighting Illini have won four of their last six games following a 9-2 road win at Illinois State on Tuesday. Illinois has been at its best on the road, posting a 4-2 record in true road games.

Nebraska and Illinois share four common opponents this season in UCLA, San Diego State and Missouri. Both teams went 0-4 against those three opponents.

Illinois is batting .311 as a team, an average that ranks second in the Big Ten. A total of seven starters are hitting above .340. The Illini average 5.3 runs per game. Defensively, Illinois boasts a 4.12 ERA and a .964 fielding percentage while allowing 5.3 runs per game.

Story by NU Athletic CommunicationsThe Nebraska softball team opens Big Ten Conference play this weekend when the Huskers host Illinois for a three-game series on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Bowlin Stadium.First pitch on Friday is set for 5 p.m., Saturday’s game will start at 1 p.m. and Sunday’s finale is slated for Noon. Tickets can be purchased by visiting huskers.com/softball, calling 1-800-8-BIG-RED or at the Bowlin Stadium ticket office beginning one hour prior to first pitch.Fans unable to make it out to Bowlin Stadium can listen to Nate Rohr call every game this season for free on Huskers.com or the official Huskers app. Friday’s game will also be televised on the Big Ten Network, while Sunday’s game will air within the state borders on Nebraska Public Media. Fans can also stream the games on Saturday and Sunday with a subscription to Big Ten+, with subscriptions starting at $9.99 per month. Friday’s game will be available on foxsports.com/live for those who receive the Big Ten Network.Nebraska is 30-15 in conference play the past two seasons, finishing second in the regular-season standings in 2022 and fourth in 2023. Nebraska and Northwestern are the only two Big Ten teams who have won 30 conference games over the last two seasons.The Huskers have swept the opening series of the conference season each of the past two seasons. In 2022, Nebraska won both games of a shortened series at No. 19 Michigan. Last year, the Huskers swept a three-game series against Purdue at Bowlin Stadium.Leading Off<ul>
 <li>Nebraska’s current 10-game homestand is the longest in Bowlin Stadium history.</li><li>NU ranks fourth nationally with 56 doubles.</li><li>The Huskers have used a different batting order in all 29 games this year.</li><li>Billie Andrews and Sydney Gray are the only players to win multiple Big Ten Player of the Week awards this season.</li><li>Billie Andrews is one of only 15 players nationally averaging 1.0 hit, 1.0 run and 1.0 RBI per game this season.</li><li>Billie Andrews has hit 54 career home runs. That is more than every player on the Illinois roster combined (47).</li><li>Billie Andrews is tied with Taylor Edwards for the Nebraska all-time home run record. Andrews’ next home run will be the 55th of her career, an NU record.</li><li>Ava Bredwell has had both a run scored and an RBI in six consecutive games.</li><li>Ava Bredwell enters Friday’s game with 99 career hits, one shy of 100.</li><li>Brooke Andrews went 5-for-5 against Northern Colorado last Sunday, posting the first five-hit game by a Husker since the 2006 season.</li><li>Caitlin Olensky threw a shutout against Creighton last Saturday, the first shutout by a Husker freshman since 2019.</li>
 </ul>A Sister Act at the Top of the LineupThe Andrews sisters have hit first and second in the Nebraska batting order each of the past 13 games with younger sister Billie Andrews leading off and older sister Brooke Andrews hitting second. The sisters have proven to be a productive combination at the top of the order.<ul>
 <li>During the last 13 games when Billie has led off and Brooke has hit second, Nebraska has averaged 6.8 runs per game. In the first 16 games, Nebraska averaged 4.7 runs per game.</li><li>The duo have hit .385 collectively over the last 13 games while combining to average 2.7 hits per game, 2.5 runs per game and 1.9 RBIs per game.</li>
 </ul>Caneda Thriving as ‘Second’ Leadoff HitterWith the Andrews sisters anchoring the top of the lineup, Nebraska has been searching for a strong No. 9 hitter who can act as a second leadoff hitter batting ahead of Billie Andrews. The Huskers appear to have found that hitter in Katelyn Caneda.<ul>
 <li>Caneda, who posted the third-highest batting average (.366) by a freshman in program history last season, has bounced back from a slow start to the season. In her last 11 games, Caneda is batting .394 (13-for-33) with a .487 on-base percentage, nine runs and eight RBIs.</li><li>As Caneda has gotten hot, Rhonda Revelle has chosen to move Caneda down in the order to the No. 9 spot in the hopes that Caneda will get on base in front of Billie Andrews. The move has proven effective as Nebraska has scored 23 runs in the three games Caneda has hit ninth, with Caneda scoring six runs and Billie Andrews totaling seven RBIs.</li><li>Since moving into the No. 9 spot in the lineup three games ago, Caneda is 6-for-7 with two walks, reaching base in eight of her nine plate appearances.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>Bredwell &amp; Bland Swinging Hot BatsWhile the top and bottom of the Husker lineup have been strong of late, two big bats in the middle of the order have been productive as well. Ava Bredwell and Samantha Bland have both been enjoying hot stretches entering Big Ten play this weekend.<ul>
 <li>Bredwell has been on fire the last 11 games. During that stretch, she is 15-for-33 (.455) with three doubles, two triples, three homers and 11 RBIs. Over the past 11 games, Bredwell leads NU in batting average, slugging percentage (.939) and on-base percentage (.561).</li><li>Bredwell has been even better the past six games. She has come to the plate 21 times in the last six games and reached base 14 times for a .667 on-base percentage. She is 11-for-18 (.611) the last six games with two doubles, one triple, two homers and seven RBIs. Bredwell has at least one hit, one run and one RBI in five straight games.</li><li>Bland has also been hot the past 11 games. She is batting .344 (11-for-32) during that stretch with four doubles, one home run and 10 RBIs. In four games at the Big Red Spring Classic last week, Bland was 9-for-16 (.563) with three doubles, one homer and seven RBIs.</li>
 </ul>Olensky Stepping Up in the CircleWith the season-ending injury to two-time first-team All-American Jordy Bahl, each of Nebraska’s pitchers has had to step up in Bahl’s absence. One pitcher who has emerged is freshman left-hander Caitlin Olensky.<ul>
 <li>Olensky owns the team’s lowest ERA (3.37), as she is the only Husker with an ERA below 4.00. Olensky also leads NU in strikeouts per seven innings (4.2) and opponent average (.269).</li><li>Over&nbsp;the last 10 games, Olensky is 1-0 with a 2.19 ERA in 22.1 innings. In the first 19 games of the season, Olensky was 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA in 23.1 innings.</li><li>Olensky pitched in four of Nebraska’s six games last week and went 1-0 with a 1.98 ERA in a team-high 17.2 innings. In her lone start of the week, Olensky threw a 5.0-inning shutout against Creighton for her first career shutout and complete game.</li>
 </ul>Billie Andrews Ties Husker Home Run RecordBillie Andrews ranks eighth nationally in home runs and sixth in home runs per game with 11 homers in 25 games. Andrews has tied the Nebraska record with 54 career home runs.<ul>
 <li>Last Sunday against Northern Colorado, Andrews hit her 54th career home run. That tied the Nebraska record first set by two-time All-American Taylor Edwards, who played from 2011 to 2014.</li><li>Andrews has also tied another home run record. She has seven games with multiple homers in her career, tying Tristen Edwards (2017-21) for the most multi-homer games in NU history.</li><li>Andrews ranks 15th among all active Division I players with 54 career home runs. She has played at least nine fewer games than each of the 14 players ranked ahead of her on the active home run chart, with the exception of Wichita State’s Addison Barnard.</li>
 </ul>Scouting Illinois (12-13, 0-0 Big Ten)Illinois brings a 12-13 record into the opening weekend of Big Ten Conference play. The Fighting Illini have won four of their last six games following a 9-2 road win at Illinois State on Tuesday. Illinois has been at its best on the road, posting a 4-2 record in true road games.Nebraska and Illinois share four common opponents this season in UCLA, San Diego State and Missouri. Both teams went 0-4 against those three opponents.Illinois is batting .311 as a team, an average that ranks second in the Big Ten. A total of seven starters are hitting above .340. The Illini average 5.3 runs per game. Defensively, Illinois boasts a 4.12 ERA and a .964 fielding percentage while allowing 5.3 runs per game.<ul>
 <li>Paige Berkmeyer leads Illinois with a .362 batting average, 20 RBIs and a .451 on-base percentage. She has added four doubles and two home runs.</li><li>Kelly Ryono is hitting .360 and is tops on the team in runs (19), hits (32), doubles (7), triples (1), home runs (5), stolen bases (6) and slugging percentage (.629).</li><li>Adisyn Caryl boasts a .351 average with six doubles and 11 RBIs.</li><li>Abby Ryniec (.347) and Megan Ward (.342) round out the group of seven Illini starters hitting above .400.</li><li>In the circle, Tori McQueen has been Illinois’ top pitcher, but the Illini have relied on three pitchers throughout this season. McQueen is 6-6 this spring with one save and a 2.26 ERA in 74.1 innings. She leads the Illini in ERA, wins, appearances (16), starts (12), complete games (7), shutouts (2), saves, innings pitched, strikeouts (80) and opponent average (.237).</li><li>McQueen leads the Big Ten and ranks 12th nationally with a 7.27-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio, as she has struck out 80 batters and walked only 11. McQueen also ranks second in the Big Ten in shutouts and walks allowed per seven innings (1.04).</li><li>Lauren Wiles has seen the most action behind McQueen, tying McQueen for the team lead with 16 appearances. Wiles, who has started eight games, is 4-4 on the year with a 5.68 ERA in 49.1 innings. She has walked 27 batters and struck out 22 and opponents are hitting .339 against her.</li><li>Briana Bower is 2-3 with a 4.83 ERA in 37.2 innings. She has appeared in 13 games with five starts and has struck out 23 and walked 18.</li><li>Juliana Hooker (0-0, 31.50 ERA in 1.1 IP) rounds out the Illini staff.</li><li>Tyra Perry is in her ninth season at Illinois, where she owns a 255-179 record. Perry has led Illinois to four NCAA Tournament appearances in her first eight seasons.</li><li>Perry previously was the head coach at Ball State, Western Kentucky and Birmingham-Southern. She owns a 664-567 record in 23 career seasons as a head coach. Perry is one of only three active head coaches - and the only female head coach - to take three different programs to the NCAA Tournament.</li>
 </ul>

Nebraska softball hosts Illinois to open Big Ten play

Kansas City, Mo.&nbsp;- Seven Huskers advanced to the 2024 NCAA Championship quarterfinals after claiming victories in their respective second round matches on Thursday evening as the Nebraska wrestling team sits in sixth place with 21 points.&nbsp;

Eight qualifying Nebraska wrestlers remain alive as both quarterfinal and consolation matches will take place Friday morning starting at 11 a.m. (CT).&nbsp;

In his second match of the day, No. 15 Caleb Smith (125) faced No. 2 Luke Stanich of Lehigh and was the first Husker to earn a spot in Friday morning’s quarterfinals. The pair was tied 1-1 after regulation and went on to sudden victory where Smith got the takedown for the 4-1 upset victory.&nbsp;

At 141, in the third match of the year between the two, No. 9 Brock Hardy met Michigan’s No. 8 Sergio Lemley. Hardy used two takedowns in the opening period to roll to the 10-4 decision and earn a spot in tomorrow’s quarterfinals.&nbsp;

The third Husker to advance in the winner’s bracket was top-seeded Ridge Lovett. The Post Falls, Idaho, native defeated Indiana’s No. 17 Graham Rooks by decision 11-4 to move on. Up next at 157, No. 8 Peyton Robb met No. 9 Will Lewan at 157. Robb used a big move in the second period to secure the 11-6 decision for his spot in the quarterfinals and earn his 100th career victory.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Redshirt freshman No. 8 Antrell Taylor (165), in his first career NCAA Championship, wrestled No. 9 Peyton Hall of West Virginia. Taylor got on top quickly and showed great defense in the final period to hang on for the 11-9 decision. Taylor will face top-seeded Keegan O’Toole (Missouri) in tomorrow’s quarterfinals.&nbsp;

No. 5 Lenny Pinto (184) became the sixth Husker to move on in the winner’s bracket as he used a takedown late in Period Three to top No. 12 Jaden Bullock of Michigan, 4-2. The eighth and final Husker to wrestle in the second round match was No. 10 Silas Allred as he met No. 26 Andy Smith of Virginia Tech. Allred scored a late takedown to earn the 4-2 decision and became the seventh Husker to advance to the quarterfinal match.&nbsp;

At 133, No. 14 redshirt freshman Jacob Van Dee met No. 3 Kai Orine of NC State. Van Dee kept the match close as the wrestlers were scoreless heading into the final period before Orine tallied the escape and riding time point for the 2-0 victory. Van Dee is still alive and will wrestle in the consolation tomorrow morning.&nbsp;

No. 29 Nash Hutmacher wrestled Cleveland State’s No. 20 Daniel Bucknavich in the Huskers’ lone consolation match of the day. The match went the distance, but Bucknavich got the takedown in overtime to earn the 5-2 victory.&nbsp;

In the opening round of the NCAA Championships, the Huskers saw eight of their nine wrestlers advance in the championship bracket. Smith (125), Van Dee (133), Hardy (141), Lovett (149), Robb (157), Taylor (165), Pinto (184) and Allred (197) all tallied victories in their first matches to qualify for the second round. Hutmacher battled, but fell and moved on to the consolation bracket.&nbsp;

T-Mobile Center | Kansas City, Mo.&nbsp;

First Round: No. 15 Smith dec. No. 15 Michael DeAugustino (MICH) 4-1 SV-1

Second Round: No. 15 Smith dec. No. 2 Luke Stanich (LEH) 4-1 SV-1&nbsp;

Quarterfinals: No. 15 Smith vs. No. 10 Eric Barnett (WIS)

First Round: No. 14 Van Dee dec. No. 19 Julian Farber (UNI) 5-1

Second Round: No. 3 Kai Orine (NCST) dec. No. 14 Van Dee 2-0

Cons. Second Round: No. 14 Van Dee vs. No. 20 Tyler Wells (MINN)&nbsp;

First Round: No. 9 Hardy tech. fall No. 24 Danny Pucino (ILL) 20-4 (6:35)&nbsp;

Second Round: No. 9 Hardy dec. No. 8 Sergio Lemley (MICH) 10-4

Quarterfinals: No. 9 Hardy vs. No. 1 Jesse Mendez (OHST)

First Round: No. 1 Lovett pinned No. 33 Michael Cetta (RUT) 1:30

Second Round: No. 1 Lovett dec. No. 17 Graham Rooks (IND) 11-4

Quarterfinals: No. 1 Lovett vs. No. 8 Casey Swiderski (ISU)

First Round: No. 8 Robb dec. No. 25 Trevor Chumbley (NW) 1-0

Second Round: No. 8 Robb dec. No. 9 Will Lewan (MICH) 11-6

Quarterfinals: No. 8 Robb vs. No. 1 Levi Haines (PSU)

First Round: No. 8 Taylor major dec. No. 25 Holden Heller (PITT) 11-0

Second Round: No. 8 Taylor dec. No. 9 Peyton Hall (WVU) 11-9

Quarterfinals: No. 8 Taylor vs. No. 1 Keegan O’Toole (MIZZ)

First Round: No. 5 Pinto tech. fall No. 28 Caleb Hopkins (CAMP) 25-8 (7:00)

Second Round: No. 5 Pinto dec. No. 12 Jaden Bullock (MICH) 4-2

Quarterfinals: No. 5 Pinto vs. No. 4 Trey Munoz (ORST)&nbsp;

First Round: No. 10 Allred dec. No. 23 Luke Geog (OHST) 10-3

Second Round: No. 10 Allred dec. No. 26 Andy Smith (VT) 4-2

Quarterfinals: No. 10 Allred vs. No. 2 Trent Hidlay (NCST)

HWT: No. 29 Nash Hutmacher (0-2) DNP&nbsp;

First Round: No. 4 Cohlton Schultz (ASU) dec. No. 29 Hutmacher 10-3

Cons. First Round: No. 29 Hutmacher vs. No. 20 Daniel Bucknavich (CSU)&nbsp;

Story by NU Athletic CommunicationsKansas City, Mo.&nbsp;- Seven Huskers advanced to the 2024 NCAA Championship quarterfinals after claiming victories in their respective second round matches on Thursday evening as the Nebraska wrestling team sits in sixth place with 21 points.&nbsp;Eight qualifying Nebraska wrestlers remain alive as both quarterfinal and consolation matches will take place Friday morning starting at 11 a.m. (CT).&nbsp;Second Round&nbsp;In his second match of the day, No. 15 Caleb Smith (125) faced No. 2 Luke Stanich of Lehigh and was the first Husker to earn a spot in Friday morning’s quarterfinals. The pair was tied 1-1 after regulation and went on to sudden victory where Smith got the takedown for the 4-1 upset victory.&nbsp;At 141, in the third match of the year between the two, No. 9 Brock Hardy met Michigan’s No. 8 Sergio Lemley. Hardy used two takedowns in the opening period to roll to the 10-4 decision and earn a spot in tomorrow’s quarterfinals.&nbsp;The third Husker to advance in the winner’s bracket was top-seeded Ridge Lovett. The Post Falls, Idaho, native defeated Indiana’s No. 17 Graham Rooks by decision 11-4 to move on. Up next at 157, No. 8 Peyton Robb met No. 9 Will Lewan at 157. Robb used a big move in the second period to secure the 11-6 decision for his spot in the quarterfinals and earn his 100th career victory.&nbsp;&nbsp;Redshirt freshman No. 8 Antrell Taylor (165), in his first career NCAA Championship, wrestled No. 9 Peyton Hall of West Virginia. Taylor got on top quickly and showed great defense in the final period to hang on for the 11-9 decision. Taylor will face top-seeded Keegan O’Toole (Missouri) in tomorrow’s quarterfinals.&nbsp;No. 5 Lenny Pinto (184) became the sixth Husker to move on in the winner’s bracket as he used a takedown late in Period Three to top No. 12 Jaden Bullock of Michigan, 4-2. The eighth and final Husker to wrestle in the second round match was No. 10 Silas Allred as he met No. 26 Andy Smith of Virginia Tech. Allred scored a late takedown to earn the 4-2 decision and became the seventh Husker to advance to the quarterfinal match.&nbsp;At 133, No. 14 redshirt freshman Jacob Van Dee met No. 3 Kai Orine of NC State. Van Dee kept the match close as the wrestlers were scoreless heading into the final period before Orine tallied the escape and riding time point for the 2-0 victory. Van Dee is still alive and will wrestle in the consolation tomorrow morning.&nbsp;Cons. First RoundNo. 29 Nash Hutmacher wrestled Cleveland State’s No. 20 Daniel Bucknavich in the Huskers’ lone consolation match of the day. The match went the distance, but Bucknavich got the takedown in overtime to earn the 5-2 victory.&nbsp;First Round&nbsp;In the opening round of the NCAA Championships, the Huskers saw eight of their nine wrestlers advance in the championship bracket. Smith (125), Van Dee (133), Hardy (141), Lovett (149), Robb (157), Taylor (165), Pinto (184) and Allred (197) all tallied victories in their first matches to qualify for the second round. Hutmacher battled, but fell and moved on to the consolation bracket.&nbsp;NCAA ChampionshipsT-Mobile Center | Kansas City, Mo.&nbsp;Sessions I - IIMarch 21, 2024125: No. 15 Caleb Smith&nbsp;First Round: No. 15 Smith dec. No. 15 Michael DeAugustino (MICH) 4-1 SV-1Second Round: No. 15 Smith dec. No. 2 Luke Stanich (LEH) 4-1 SV-1&nbsp;Quarterfinals: No. 15 Smith vs. No. 10 Eric Barnett (WIS)133: No. 14 Jacob Van DeeFirst Round: No. 14 Van Dee dec. No. 19 Julian Farber (UNI) 5-1Second Round: No. 3 Kai Orine (NCST) dec. No. 14 Van Dee 2-0Cons. Second Round: No. 14 Van Dee vs. No. 20 Tyler Wells (MINN)&nbsp;141: No. 9 Brock Hardy&nbsp;First Round: No. 9 Hardy tech. fall No. 24 Danny Pucino (ILL) 20-4 (6:35)&nbsp;Second Round: No. 9 Hardy dec. No. 8 Sergio Lemley (MICH) 10-4Quarterfinals: No. 9 Hardy vs. No. 1 Jesse Mendez (OHST)149: No. 1 Ridge Lovett&nbsp;First Round: No. 1 Lovett pinned No. 33 Michael Cetta (RUT) 1:30Second Round: No. 1 Lovett dec. No. 17 Graham Rooks (IND) 11-4Quarterfinals: No. 1 Lovett vs. No. 8 Casey Swiderski (ISU)157: No. 8 Peyton RobbFirst Round: No. 8 Robb dec. No. 25 Trevor Chumbley (NW) 1-0Second Round: No. 8 Robb dec. No. 9 Will Lewan (MICH) 11-6Quarterfinals: No. 8 Robb vs. No. 1 Levi Haines (PSU)165: No. 8 Antrell Taylor&nbsp;First Round: No. 8 Taylor major dec. No. 25 Holden Heller (PITT) 11-0Second Round: No. 8 Taylor dec. No. 9 Peyton Hall (WVU) 11-9Quarterfinals: No. 8 Taylor vs. No. 1 Keegan O’Toole (MIZZ)184: No. 5 Lenny Pinto&nbsp;First Round: No. 5 Pinto tech. fall No. 28 Caleb Hopkins (CAMP) 25-8 (7:00)Second Round: No. 5 Pinto dec. No. 12 Jaden Bullock (MICH) 4-2Quarterfinals: No. 5 Pinto vs. No. 4 Trey Munoz (ORST)&nbsp;197: No. 10 Silas AllredFirst Round: No. 10 Allred dec. No. 23 Luke Geog (OHST) 10-3Second Round: No. 10 Allred dec. No. 26 Andy Smith (VT) 4-2Quarterfinals: No. 10 Allred vs. No. 2 Trent Hidlay (NCST)HWT: No. 29 Nash Hutmacher (0-2) DNP&nbsp;First Round: No. 4 Cohlton Schultz (ASU) dec. No. 29 Hutmacher 10-3Cons. First Round: No. 29 Hutmacher vs. No. 20 Daniel Bucknavich (CSU)&nbsp;

NU sits in Sixth, Seven Huskers advance to NCAA Quarterfinals

LINCOLN, Ne -&nbsp;The Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA) is pleased to announce the student recipients of the Winter 2023-2024 Nebraska Chiropractic Physicians Association (NCPA) Academic All-State Awards. Since 2006 this NSAA Awards Program has recognized students who meet the criteria for nomination by their school in the season of their activity.  Each year the NSAA and the NCPA recognize students during Fall, Winter, and Spring Seasons who are nominated by their schools for their individual academic excellence, leadership, and significant contributions in their NSAA activity.

(Schools listed by Alphabetic order)

Arnold - Rio Remund/Boys Basketball/Speech, Bryn Schwarz/Girls Basketball, Delaney Rogers/Speech

Arthur County - Colton Pilakowski/Boys Basketball, Reese Swanson/Boys Basketball, Dakota Glinn/Girls Basketball, Laynee Ohm/Girls Basketball, Ryan Eilers/Speech, Jaycen Hanna/Speech

Brady - Keaton Fattig/Girls Basketball, Payton Stienike/Girls Basketball, Ava Foster/Speech, Trina Pearson/Speech, Aiden Mitchum/Wrestling, Haydn Thomsen/Wrestling, Ailyah Mitchum/Girls Wrestling

Chase County - Easton Fries/Boys Basketball, Jensen Olsen/Boys Basketball, Olivia Spady/Girls Basketball, Kylee Wiest/Girls Basketball, George Colton/Speech, Andrew Wiest/Speech, Tyler O'Neil/Wrestling, Jaret Peterson/Wrestling, Hayley Rusher/Girls Wrestling, Brooke Schilke/Girls Wrestling

Cozad - Olliver Davis/Boys Basketball, Mason Fales/Boys Basketball, Makaia Baker/Girls Basketball, Graci Marhenke/Girls Basketball, Larkyn Malcom/Speech, Makenzie Smock/Speech, Matthew Arndt/Wrestling, Myles Ide/Wrestling

Dundy County-Stratton - Lane Brown/Boys Basketball, Brodie Rogers/Boys Basketball, Laynee Lutz/Girls Basketball, Lexie Yrkoski/Girls Basketball, Emma Baldeh/Speech, Klayton Rinne/Speech

Garden County - Carver Corfiedd/Boys Basketball, Logan Levick/Boys Basketball, Rebecca Dodge/Girls Basketball, Ridglyn Stanczyk/Girls Basketball, Daniel Beauchamp/Speech, Olivia Beauchamp/Speech, Gunner Roberson/Wrestling, Kyle Rote/Wrestling

Gothenburg - Braeden Anderson/Boys Basketball, Tucker Keith/Boys Basketball, Clara Evert/Girls Basketball, Aubrey O'Hare/Girls Basketball, Jackson Nelson/Speech, Hayden Ricley/Speech, Tristan Koch/Wrestling, Max Wyatt/Wrestling, Abby Negley/Girls Wrestling

Hayes Center - Kade Broz/Boys Basketball, Grady Erickson/Boys Basketball, Ella Shepperd-Broz/Girls Basketball

Hershey - Max Berntson/Boys Basketball, Cole Murdock/Boys Basketball, Haily Miller/Girls Basketball, Aliyah Vaughn/Girls Basketball, Katie Abbott/Speech, Lillian Fuchser/Speech, Jaydon Parker/Wrestling, Zane Woodward/Wrestling

Maywood - Blayklee Farr/Girls Basketball, Pryce Johnson/Speech, Graci peterka/Speech

McPherson County - Katherine Anderson/Speech, Isaac Goosey/Speech

Medicine Valley - Ethan Brown/Boys Basketball, Kahner Kotschwar/Boys Basketball, Alaina Eberle/Girls Basketball, Stella Heapy/Girls Basketball, Shya Gudaitis/Wrestling

Mullen - Brandon Hardin/Boys Basketball, Alexander Werner/Boys Basketball, Harper Anderson/Girls Basketball, Hayley Donohoe/Girls Basketball, Sydnee Cheever/Speech, Medora DNaeyer/Speech, Chase Gracey/Wrestling, Tate Kvanvig/Wrestling

North Platte High - Landon O'brien/Boys Basketball, Jackson Polk/Boys Basketball, Ellie Blakely/Girls Basketball, Clancy Brown/Girls Basketball, Sawyer Magnuson/Speech, Meara Roberts/Speech, Noah Short/Boys Swimming, Sydney hatch/Girls Swimming, Elenor Wehr/Girls Swiming, Cayden Eyten/Wrestling, Alex Gove/Wrestling, Janalliah Bourgeois/Girls Wrestling

North Platte St. Patrick's - Michael Furmanski/Boys Basketball, Sutton Tickle/Boys Basketball, Kinsey Kimberling/Girls Basketball, Cara Robert/Girls Basketball, Nicholas Krondak/Speech, Danyale Zheng/Speech, Hudson Deeds/Wrestling, Emilio Dimas/Wrestling

Ogallala - Caleb Castillo/Boys Basketball, Caden Rezac/Boys Basketball, Aelyn Cain/Girls Basketball, Eideann Tuttle/Girls Basketball, Oliver Nielsen/Boys Bowling, Isaac Orth/Boys Bowling, Lillian Holthusen/Speech, Tylee Wang/Speech, Jaden Fanning/Wrestling

Paxton - Joshua Eakins/Boys Basketball, Tanner Hebblethwaite/Boys Basketball, Ella Fote/Girls Basketball, Jacelyn Jorgensen/Girls Basketball, Miah Fox/Speech, Audrey Holm/Speech, Kenyon Florom/Wrestling

Perkins County - Nolan Foster/Boys Basketball, Ryder Potts/Boys Basketball, Kaitlin Cook/Girls Basketball, Maggie Fisher/Girls Basketball, Kaitlin Meyer/Speech, Ella Uehling/Speech, Henry Taylor/Wrestling, Layla Vigil/Girls Wrestling

South Platte - Quinten Koenen/Boys Basketball, Dashle Richards/Boys Basketball/Speech, Madison Cheleen/Girls Basketball, Britany Lofton/Girls Basketball, Madison Johnson/Speech, Bradyn Miller/Wrestling

Stapleton - Kyle Kramer/Boys Basketball, Kelsey Amos/Girls Basketball, Rhayana Bruns/Girls Basketball, Tessa Hansen/Speech, Cayson Johnston/Speech, Kaden Allen/Wrestling, Mariah Duran/Girls Wrestling

Sutherland - J.T. Lantis/Boys Basketball, Boone Snyder/Boys Basketball, Fallyn Elfeldt/Girls Basketball, Glory Naughtin/Girls Basketball/Speech, Peyton Fisher/Speech, Luke Harper/Wrestling, Aydan Kaps/Speech

Wallace - Kendyle Flaming/Girls Basketball, Reagan Pelster/Girls Basketball, Ryleigh Hanson/Speech, Brylie Robinson/Speech

Wauneta-Palisade - Graden Sutherland/Boys Basketball, Ashton Wheeler/Boys Basketball, McKenna Doetker/Girls Basketball, Izabelle Stehno/Girls Basketball

LINCOLN, Ne -&nbsp;The Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA) is pleased to announce the student recipients of the Winter 2023-2024 Nebraska Chiropractic Physicians Association (NCPA) Academic All-State Awards. Since 2006 this NSAA Awards Program has recognized students who meet the criteria for nomination by their school in the season of their activity. Each year the NSAA and the NCPA recognize students during Fall, Winter, and Spring Seasons who are nominated by their schools for their individual academic excellence, leadership, and significant contributions in their NSAA activity.(Schools listed by Alphabetic order)Arnold - Rio Remund/Boys Basketball/Speech, Bryn Schwarz/Girls Basketball, Delaney Rogers/SpeechArthur County - Colton Pilakowski/Boys Basketball, Reese Swanson/Boys Basketball, Dakota Glinn/Girls Basketball, Laynee Ohm/Girls Basketball, Ryan Eilers/Speech, Jaycen Hanna/SpeechBrady - Keaton Fattig/Girls Basketball, Payton Stienike/Girls Basketball, Ava Foster/Speech, Trina Pearson/Speech, Aiden Mitchum/Wrestling, Haydn Thomsen/Wrestling, Ailyah Mitchum/Girls WrestlingChase County - Easton Fries/Boys Basketball, Jensen Olsen/Boys Basketball, Olivia Spady/Girls Basketball, Kylee Wiest/Girls Basketball, George Colton/Speech, Andrew Wiest/Speech, Tyler O'Neil/Wrestling, Jaret Peterson/Wrestling, Hayley Rusher/Girls Wrestling, Brooke Schilke/Girls WrestlingCozad - Olliver Davis/Boys Basketball, Mason Fales/Boys Basketball, Makaia Baker/Girls Basketball, Graci Marhenke/Girls Basketball, Larkyn Malcom/Speech, Makenzie Smock/Speech, Matthew Arndt/Wrestling, Myles Ide/WrestlingDundy County-Stratton - Lane Brown/Boys Basketball, Brodie Rogers/Boys Basketball, Laynee Lutz/Girls Basketball, Lexie Yrkoski/Girls Basketball, Emma Baldeh/Speech, Klayton Rinne/SpeechGarden County - Carver Corfiedd/Boys Basketball, Logan Levick/Boys Basketball, Rebecca Dodge/Girls Basketball, Ridglyn Stanczyk/Girls Basketball, Daniel Beauchamp/Speech, Olivia Beauchamp/Speech, Gunner Roberson/Wrestling, Kyle Rote/WrestlingGothenburg - Braeden Anderson/Boys Basketball, Tucker Keith/Boys Basketball, Clara Evert/Girls Basketball, Aubrey O'Hare/Girls Basketball, Jackson Nelson/Speech, Hayden Ricley/Speech, Tristan Koch/Wrestling, Max Wyatt/Wrestling, Abby Negley/Girls WrestlingHayes Center - Kade Broz/Boys Basketball, Grady Erickson/Boys Basketball, Ella Shepperd-Broz/Girls BasketballHershey - Max Berntson/Boys Basketball, Cole Murdock/Boys Basketball, Haily Miller/Girls Basketball, Aliyah Vaughn/Girls Basketball, Katie Abbott/Speech, Lillian Fuchser/Speech, Jaydon Parker/Wrestling, Zane Woodward/WrestlingMaywood - Blayklee Farr/Girls Basketball, Pryce Johnson/Speech, Graci peterka/SpeechMcPherson County - Katherine Anderson/Speech, Isaac Goosey/SpeechMedicine Valley - Ethan Brown/Boys Basketball, Kahner Kotschwar/Boys Basketball, Alaina Eberle/Girls Basketball, Stella Heapy/Girls Basketball, Shya Gudaitis/WrestlingMullen - Brandon Hardin/Boys Basketball, Alexander Werner/Boys Basketball, Harper Anderson/Girls Basketball, Hayley Donohoe/Girls Basketball, Sydnee Cheever/Speech, Medora DNaeyer/Speech, Chase Gracey/Wrestling, Tate Kvanvig/WrestlingNorth Platte High - Landon O'brien/Boys Basketball, Jackson Polk/Boys Basketball, Ellie Blakely/Girls Basketball, Clancy Brown/Girls Basketball, Sawyer Magnuson/Speech, Meara Roberts/Speech, Noah Short/Boys Swimming, Sydney hatch/Girls Swimming, Elenor Wehr/Girls Swiming, Cayden Eyten/Wrestling, Alex Gove/Wrestling, Janalliah Bourgeois/Girls WrestlingNorth Platte St. Patrick's - Michael Furmanski/Boys Basketball, Sutton Tickle/Boys Basketball, Kinsey Kimberling/Girls Basketball, Cara Robert/Girls Basketball, Nicholas Krondak/Speech, Danyale Zheng/Speech, Hudson Deeds/Wrestling, Emilio Dimas/WrestlingOgallala - Caleb Castillo/Boys Basketball, Caden Rezac/Boys Basketball, Aelyn Cain/Girls Basketball, Eideann Tuttle/Girls Basketball, Oliver Nielsen/Boys Bowling, Isaac Orth/Boys Bowling, Lillian Holthusen/Speech, Tylee Wang/Speech, Jaden Fanning/WrestlingPaxton - Joshua Eakins/Boys Basketball, Tanner Hebblethwaite/Boys Basketball, Ella Fote/Girls Basketball, Jacelyn Jorgensen/Girls Basketball, Miah Fox/Speech, Audrey Holm/Speech, Kenyon Florom/WrestlingPerkins County - Nolan Foster/Boys Basketball, Ryder Potts/Boys Basketball, Kaitlin Cook/Girls Basketball, Maggie Fisher/Girls Basketball, Kaitlin Meyer/Speech, Ella Uehling/Speech, Henry Taylor/Wrestling, Layla Vigil/Girls WrestlingSouth Platte - Quinten Koenen/Boys Basketball, Dashle Richards/Boys Basketball/Speech, Madison Cheleen/Girls Basketball, Britany Lofton/Girls Basketball, Madison Johnson/Speech, Bradyn Miller/WrestlingStapleton - Kyle Kramer/Boys Basketball, Kelsey Amos/Girls Basketball, Rhayana Bruns/Girls Basketball, Tessa Hansen/Speech, Cayson Johnston/Speech, Kaden Allen/Wrestling, Mariah Duran/Girls WrestlingSutherland - J.T. Lantis/Boys Basketball, Boone Snyder/Boys Basketball, Fallyn Elfeldt/Girls Basketball, Glory Naughtin/Girls Basketball/Speech, Peyton Fisher/Speech, Luke Harper/Wrestling, Aydan Kaps/SpeechWallace - Kendyle Flaming/Girls Basketball, Reagan Pelster/Girls Basketball, Ryleigh Hanson/Speech, Brylie Robinson/SpeechWauneta-Palisade - Graden Sutherland/Boys Basketball, Ashton Wheeler/Boys Basketball, McKenna Doetker/Girls Basketball, Izabelle Stehno/Girls Basketball

Area Athletes Earn Academic All State Awards

Timely hitting lifted Omaha to a 5-2 victory over the Nebraska softball team Wednesday at Bowlin Stadium.&nbsp;

Nebraska was just 3-for-14 with runners on base in the game. The Huskers had two runners on base with one or no outs in the third, fifth and sixth innings but managed only one run in those three frames.

Ava Bredwell led the Husker offense with a 3-for-3 day that included a home run. Katelyn Caneda went 2-for-3 while Broooke Andrews was 1-for-4 with an RBI.

Kaylin Kinney (10-8) took the loss for Nebraska (16-13). Kinney allowed five runs in 3.0 innings. Sarah Harness pitched well in relief, tossing 4.0 shutout innings and giving up only two hits.

Kamryn Meyer (12-3) earned the win for Omaha (22-7), which won its 11th straight game. Meyer allowed only one run in 4.0 innings while Sydney Nuismer earned her second save of the season after allowing one run in 3.0 innings.

Omaha took a 1-0 lead one batter into the game when Lynsey Tucker led off the game with a solo home run.&nbsp;

Bredwell tied the game when she led off the bottom of the second inning with a solo home run off the scoreboard in left field.

Omaha answered back with four runs in the top of the third. The Huskers committed two errors in the inning and twice failed to get an out on an infield ground ball, but the Mavericks also came up with five hits in the frame, including a pair of RBI singles.

In the bottom of the third, Bella Bacon and Caneda reached on back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second with no outs for the top of the order. But Meyer retired the top three hitters in the Husker lineup to preserve the 4-1 lead.

In the fourth inning, Bredwell led off with a single but was stranded there.

In the fifth, Bacon and Caneda reached to begin the inning before UNO turned a double play. Brooke Andrews then came through with an RBI single to cut the lead to 5-2.

Nebraska had the tying run at the plate with one out and two on in the sixth inning but could not push a run across. The Huskers were then retired in order in the seventh.

Nebraska wraps up its 10-game homestand when it begins Big Ten Conference play by hosting Illinois in a three-game series this weekend.

Story by NU Athletic CommunicationsTimely hitting lifted Omaha to a 5-2 victory over the Nebraska softball team Wednesday at Bowlin Stadium.&nbsp;Nebraska was just 3-for-14 with runners on base in the game. The Huskers had two runners on base with one or no outs in the third, fifth and sixth innings but managed only one run in those three frames.Ava Bredwell led the Husker offense with a 3-for-3 day that included a home run. Katelyn Caneda went 2-for-3 while Broooke Andrews was 1-for-4 with an RBI.Kaylin Kinney (10-8) took the loss for Nebraska (16-13). Kinney allowed five runs in 3.0 innings. Sarah Harness pitched well in relief, tossing 4.0 shutout innings and giving up only two hits.Kamryn Meyer (12-3) earned the win for Omaha (22-7), which won its 11th straight game. Meyer allowed only one run in 4.0 innings while Sydney Nuismer earned her second save of the season after allowing one run in 3.0 innings.Omaha took a 1-0 lead one batter into the game when Lynsey Tucker led off the game with a solo home run.&nbsp;Bredwell tied the game when she led off the bottom of the second inning with a solo home run off the scoreboard in left field.Omaha answered back with four runs in the top of the third. The Huskers committed two errors in the inning and twice failed to get an out on an infield ground ball, but the Mavericks also came up with five hits in the frame, including a pair of RBI singles.In the bottom of the third, Bella Bacon and Caneda reached on back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second with no outs for the top of the order. But Meyer retired the top three hitters in the Husker lineup to preserve the 4-1 lead.In the fourth inning, Bredwell led off with a single but was stranded there.In the fifth, Bacon and Caneda reached to begin the inning before UNO turned a double play. Brooke Andrews then came through with an RBI single to cut the lead to 5-2.Nebraska had the tying run at the plate with one out and two on in the sixth inning but could not push a run across. The Huskers were then retired in order in the seventh.Nebraska wraps up its 10-game homestand when it begins Big Ten Conference play by hosting Illinois in a three-game series this weekend.Post-Game Notes<ul>
 <li>UNO's home run to begin the game was the first home run off Kaylin Kinney in 26.0 innings.</li><li>Ava Bredwell tied her career high with three hits.</li><li>Katelyn Caneda had hits in her first two at bats to stretch her streak to seven consecutive at bats with a hit and nine consecutive plate appearance reaching base safely</li><li>Billie Andrews went 0-for-4, snapping her streak of 23 consecutive games reaching base safely.</li>
 </ul>

Huskers softball falls to Mavs

The Nebraska women’s gymnastics team (11-9, 4-5 Big Ten) will travel to East Lansing, Mich., to take part in the Big Ten Championships on Saturday, March 23. The Huskers will compete in the first session of the championships, which starts at 11 a.m. (CT) at the Jenison Field House, and will be streamed on the Big Ten Network.&nbsp;

NU concluded its regular season slate with a 198.100-197.375 loss to No. 12 Arkansas on Friday, March 15. Despite falling to the Razorbacks, the Big Red posted its highest team score of the year with its 197.375. It also posted season-high totals on vault (49.375) and beam (49.400).

Emma Spence claimed the all around title with a career-high-tying 39.650. Three Huskers – Spence, Sophia McClelland and Csenge Bácskay – all earned a share of the beam title, each notching a 9.900.&nbsp;

Six Nebraska athletes posted new or tied career highs –&nbsp;Isabel Sikon on vault (9.875) and beam (9.875), Spence in the all-around (39.650) and floor (9.950), Ayzhia Hall on vault (9.900), Whitney Jencks on floor (9.875), McClelland on floor (9.925) and Bácskay on beam (9.900).&nbsp;

The Huskers will take on No. 24 Penn State, Maryland, Illinois, Iowa and Rutgers. NU has already faced all five of its opponents, and has come out victorious against all of them except Maryland.&nbsp;

The current Big Ten standings are below – Team (NQS, High Score).

Fans can follow the Huskers on Facebook at HuskerWGym, Twitter at HuskerWGym or Instagram at huskerwgym for live updates during the meet. The meet will also be streamed live on the Big Ten Network.

Story by NU Athletic CommunicationsThe Nebraska women’s gymnastics team (11-9, 4-5 Big Ten) will travel to East Lansing, Mich., to take part in the Big Ten Championships on Saturday, March 23. The Huskers will compete in the first session of the championships, which starts at 11 a.m. (CT) at the Jenison Field House, and will be streamed on the Big Ten Network.&nbsp;Last Time OutNU concluded its regular season slate with a 198.100-197.375 loss to No. 12 Arkansas on Friday, March 15. Despite falling to the Razorbacks, the Big Red posted its highest team score of the year with its 197.375. It also posted season-high totals on vault (49.375) and beam (49.400).Emma Spence claimed the all around title with a career-high-tying 39.650. Three Huskers – Spence, Sophia McClelland and Csenge Bácskay – all earned a share of the beam title, each notching a 9.900.&nbsp;Six Nebraska athletes posted new or tied career highs –&nbsp;Isabel Sikon on vault (9.875) and beam (9.875), Spence in the all-around (39.650) and floor (9.950), Ayzhia Hall on vault (9.900), Whitney Jencks on floor (9.875), McClelland on floor (9.925) and Bácskay on beam (9.900).&nbsp;Scouting the CompetitionThe Huskers will take on No. 24 Penn State, Maryland, Illinois, Iowa and Rutgers. NU has already faced all five of its opponents, and has come out victorious against all of them except Maryland.&nbsp;The current Big Ten standings are below – Team (NQS, High Score).<ol>
 <li>Michigan State (197.615, 198.150)</li><li>Michigan (197.545, 197.725)</li><li>Minnesota (197.190, 197.725)</li><li>Ohio State (197.100, 197.350)</li><li>Penn State (196.825, 197.025)</li><li>Nebraska (196.755, 197.375)</li><li>Maryland (196.725, 197.300)</li><li>Illinois (196.630, 197.275)</li><li>Iowa (196.305, 196.525)</li><li>Rutgers (195.815, 196.825)</li>
 </ol>Follow the Huskers&nbsp;Fans can follow the Huskers on Facebook at HuskerWGym, Twitter at HuskerWGym or Instagram at huskerwgym for live updates during the meet. The meet will also be streamed live on the Big Ten Network.

Huskers kick-off Postseason at Big Ten Championships

Will Walsh tossed six scoreless innings and recorded a season-high nine strikeouts in Nebraska’s 3-1 win vs. North Dakota State on Wednesday night at Hawks Field at Haymarket Park.

Nebraska (15-5) picked up its fifth win in a row with three runs on seven hits. North Dakota State (5-15) recorded one run, six hits and an error.

Garrett Anglim led the Huskers at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI. Tyler Stone tallied two hits, while Joshua Overbeek, Ben Columbus and Dylan Carey recorded one hit apiece.

Walsh moved to 2-0 on the season after posting his second consecutive quality start. The Leawood, Kan., native allowed just four hits across six scoreless innings, while issuing zero walks with the season-high nine punchouts.&nbsp;

Kyle Froehlich allowed one run on two hits in 1.2 innings of work, before Jalen Worthley struck out the lone batter he faced. Rans Sanders collected his first save with the Huskers after dealing a scoreless inning in the ninth.

Some wild pitching in the first loaded the bases for the Huskers, while a four-pitch walk to Anglim gave the Big Red the 1-0 lead in the opening frame.

Walsh kept the Bison off the board in the second and third innings to keep NDSU scoreless through the first time through the order.

Nebraska doubled its lead in the third, tacking on a second run behind a pair of hits. Case Sanderson was hit by the pitch and moved to third on a one-out single from Stone. Anglim came through with his second RBI of the night, this time lacing a 1-1 pitch to center for an RBI single to plate Sanderson.

Walsh hung scoreless frames in the fourth and fifth, before recording three strikeouts in the top of the sixth to move his strikeout total for the night to nine.

The NU offense generated its third run of the night in the seventh to stretch the lead to 3-0. Sandersson drew a leadoff walk, while Bryce Hughes entered as a pinch-runner and stole second. Anglim followed with a single up the middle to put runners on first and third with one out. Hughes plated Nebraska’s third run on a play where Anglim was caught stealing second to make it 3-0 through seven innings.

NDSU plated its lone run of the night after a two-out RBI triple to the wall in right-center brought the Bison within two. Worthley replaced Froehlich on the mound and struck out the lone batter he faced to keep it a 3-1 advantage for the Big Red.

Sanders took the mound in the ninth and retired the Bison in order to preserve the 3-1 win for the Huskers.

Nebraska wraps up its eight-game homestand this weekend with a three-game series against New Mexico State on Friday-Sunday, March 22-24. First pitch of Friday’s series opener between the Huskers and Aggies is set for 6:05 p.m.

Story by NU Athletic CommunicationsWill Walsh tossed six scoreless innings and recorded a season-high nine strikeouts in Nebraska’s 3-1 win vs. North Dakota State on Wednesday night at Hawks Field at Haymarket Park.Nebraska (15-5) picked up its fifth win in a row with three runs on seven hits. North Dakota State (5-15) recorded one run, six hits and an error.Garrett Anglim led the Huskers at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI. Tyler Stone tallied two hits, while Joshua Overbeek, Ben Columbus and Dylan Carey recorded one hit apiece.Walsh moved to 2-0 on the season after posting his second consecutive quality start. The Leawood, Kan., native allowed just four hits across six scoreless innings, while issuing zero walks with the season-high nine punchouts.&nbsp;Kyle Froehlich allowed one run on two hits in 1.2 innings of work, before Jalen Worthley struck out the lone batter he faced. Rans Sanders collected his first save with the Huskers after dealing a scoreless inning in the ninth.Some wild pitching in the first loaded the bases for the Huskers, while a four-pitch walk to Anglim gave the Big Red the 1-0 lead in the opening frame.Walsh kept the Bison off the board in the second and third innings to keep NDSU scoreless through the first time through the order.Nebraska doubled its lead in the third, tacking on a second run behind a pair of hits. Case Sanderson was hit by the pitch and moved to third on a one-out single from Stone. Anglim came through with his second RBI of the night, this time lacing a 1-1 pitch to center for an RBI single to plate Sanderson.Walsh hung scoreless frames in the fourth and fifth, before recording three strikeouts in the top of the sixth to move his strikeout total for the night to nine.The NU offense generated its third run of the night in the seventh to stretch the lead to 3-0. Sandersson drew a leadoff walk, while Bryce Hughes entered as a pinch-runner and stole second. Anglim followed with a single up the middle to put runners on first and third with one out. Hughes plated Nebraska’s third run on a play where Anglim was caught stealing second to make it 3-0 through seven innings.NDSU plated its lone run of the night after a two-out RBI triple to the wall in right-center brought the Bison within two. Worthley replaced Froehlich on the mound and struck out the lone batter he faced to keep it a 3-1 advantage for the Big Red.Sanders took the mound in the ninth and retired the Bison in order to preserve the 3-1 win for the Huskers.Nebraska wraps up its eight-game homestand this weekend with a three-game series against New Mexico State on Friday-Sunday, March 22-24. First pitch of Friday’s series opener between the Huskers and Aggies is set for 6:05 p.m.

Walsh deals gem in win vs. Bison

Lincoln&nbsp;-&nbsp;Nebraska has agreed to a contract extension with Head Women’s Basketball Coach Amy Williams, as announced by Interim Athletic Director Dennis Leblanc and University of Nebraska Interim President Chris Kabourek on Wednesday.

The new contract with Williams, who has guided Nebraska to three NCAA Tournament appearances including its second in the past three seasons, extends through the 2028-29 season and will pay the Husker coach $950,000 next season, with annual increases in each of the subsequent contract years.

“I would like to thank Interim President Dr. Chris Kabourek, Interim Athletic Director Dennis Leblanc and Executive Associate Athletic Director Keith Zimmer for their consistent leadership for our athletic department and our University as a whole,” Williams said. “I am grateful for their confidence in our leadership and the direction and vision we have for our program. There is a lot of momentum with Nebraska Women’s Basketball, and we are eager to keep chasing excellence. I am greatful for the dedication of our coaching staff, the hard work and commitment of our players, and the unwavering support of our amazing Husker fans.”

Nebraska enters Friday’s NCAA Tournament game against Texas A&amp;M with a 22-11 overall record and a No. 6 seed in the NCAA Albany 1 Regional, after fighting its way to the championship game of the 2024 TIAA Big Ten Tournament at the Target Center in Minneapolis, March 10. The Huskers fell to NCAA Tournament No. 1 seed Iowa in overtime, just a month after knocking off the AP No. 2 Hawkeyes in front of a sold-out crowd of more than 15,000 at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Feb. 11.

“Coach Williams has an excellent track record of success in leading our program on the court, including postseason tournament trips in each of the last four seasons,” Leblanc said. “Coach Williams takes great pride in representing the University of Nebraska as an alum, and she sets a standard of excellence for our student-athletes on and off the court. Our women’s basketball program continues to produce a 100 percent graduation success rate every year and helps set the standard in community service and outreach for our department.”

Nebraska has averaged more than 21 wins per season over the last three years and advanced to at least the Big Ten Tournament semifinals in two of the past three seasons under Coach Williams.&nbsp; The Huskers posted 13 wins over NET Top 75 teams in 2023-24 and ranked 15th nationally in average home attendance with nearly 6,100 fans per game.

“This is a huge win for our women’s basketball program and all of Team Nebraska,” Kabourek said. “Under Coach Williams’ leadership, we are experiencing incredible momentum on the court and in the classroom. Coach Williams is a competitor, she loves her alma mater and she is an outstanding role model for the young women in our program. I know she will continue to lead the Huskers to great success in the future.”

Story by NU Athletic CommunicationsLincoln&nbsp;-&nbsp;Nebraska has agreed to a contract extension with Head Women’s Basketball Coach Amy Williams, as announced by Interim Athletic Director Dennis Leblanc and University of Nebraska Interim President Chris Kabourek on Wednesday.The new contract with Williams, who has guided Nebraska to three NCAA Tournament appearances including its second in the past three seasons, extends through the 2028-29 season and will pay the Husker coach $950,000 next season, with annual increases in each of the subsequent contract years.“I would like to thank Interim President Dr. Chris Kabourek, Interim Athletic Director Dennis Leblanc and Executive Associate Athletic Director Keith Zimmer for their consistent leadership for our athletic department and our University as a whole,” Williams said. “I am grateful for their confidence in our leadership and the direction and vision we have for our program. There is a lot of momentum with Nebraska Women’s Basketball, and we are eager to keep chasing excellence. I am greatful for the dedication of our coaching staff, the hard work and commitment of our players, and the unwavering support of our amazing Husker fans.”Nebraska enters Friday’s NCAA Tournament game against Texas A&amp;M with a 22-11 overall record and a No. 6 seed in the NCAA Albany 1 Regional, after fighting its way to the championship game of the 2024 TIAA Big Ten Tournament at the Target Center in Minneapolis, March 10. The Huskers fell to NCAA Tournament No. 1 seed Iowa in overtime, just a month after knocking off the AP No. 2 Hawkeyes in front of a sold-out crowd of more than 15,000 at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Feb. 11.“Coach Williams has an excellent track record of success in leading our program on the court, including postseason tournament trips in each of the last four seasons,” Leblanc said. “Coach Williams takes great pride in representing the University of Nebraska as an alum, and she sets a standard of excellence for our student-athletes on and off the court. Our women’s basketball program continues to produce a 100 percent graduation success rate every year and helps set the standard in community service and outreach for our department.”Nebraska has averaged more than 21 wins per season over the last three years and advanced to at least the Big Ten Tournament semifinals in two of the past three seasons under Coach Williams.&nbsp; The Huskers posted 13 wins over NET Top 75 teams in 2023-24 and ranked 15th nationally in average home attendance with nearly 6,100 fans per game.“This is a huge win for our women’s basketball program and all of Team Nebraska,” Kabourek said. “Under Coach Williams’ leadership, we are experiencing incredible momentum on the court and in the classroom. Coach Williams is a competitor, she loves her alma mater and she is an outstanding role model for the young women in our program. I know she will continue to lead the Huskers to great success in the future.”

Huskers announce Contract Extension for Williams

Emma Spence, Sophia McClelland and Kinsey Davis were given All-Big Ten honors, the conference announced on Wednesday.

Spence was named a member of the All-Big Ten First Team, while McClelland and Davis were named to the All-Big Ten Second Team.&nbsp;

This marks Davis’ third all-conference honor, as she was tabbed a First-Team All-Big Ten member in 2022 and a Second-Team All-Big Ten member in 2023. Spence and McClelland both notched their second honor. Spence earned First-Team All-Conference honors and McClelland garnered Second-Team All-Conference honors in 2023.

So far this season, Spence, a Canada native, has earned career highs on vault (9.925), floor (9.950) and in the all-around (39.650), along with posting season highs of 9.900 or above in every event. She was named a Big Ten Co-Gymnast of the Week on Tuesday for her standout performance against Arkansas, where she tied career highs on floor and in the all-around. The junior has earned 13 event titles this season – one on vault, four on bars, one on beam, two on floor and five in the all-around.&nbsp;

McClelland, a senior from Camarillo, Calif., has been a mainstay in the Huskers’ lineup this season, competing in every meet but one and claiming eight event titles along the way – five on beam, two on floor and one in the all-around. She’s earned career highs of 9.950 on beam and 9.925 on floor.&nbsp;

Davis has been named a Big Ten Co-Event Specialist of the Week twice this season, both times after earning a career-high 9.975 on bars. The senior from Huntersville, N.C., has grabbed three event titles on bars this season and has competed in the event in every meet this season, along with competing on vault in eight meets.&nbsp;

Fourteen Huskers also earned Academic All-Big Ten honors – Katelyn Barth, Clara Colombo, Martina Comin, Kinsey Davis, Emalee Frost, Allie Gard, Genesis Gibson, Lauren Homecillo, Katie Kuenemann, Sophia McClelland, Halle Rourke, Emma Simpton, Emma Spence and Annie Worley.&nbsp;

NU will travel to East Lansing, Mich., to compete in the Big Ten Championships this Saturday, March 23. The Huskers are one of six teams in Session I of the championships, which will start at 11 a.m. (CT) and will be streamed on the Big Ten Network.

Story by NU Athletic CommunicationsEmma Spence, Sophia McClelland and Kinsey Davis were given All-Big Ten honors, the conference announced on Wednesday.Spence was named a member of the All-Big Ten First Team, while McClelland and Davis were named to the All-Big Ten Second Team.&nbsp;This marks Davis’ third all-conference honor, as she was tabbed a First-Team All-Big Ten member in 2022 and a Second-Team All-Big Ten member in 2023. Spence and McClelland both notched their second honor. Spence earned First-Team All-Conference honors and McClelland garnered Second-Team All-Conference honors in 2023.So far this season, Spence, a Canada native, has earned career highs on vault (9.925), floor (9.950) and in the all-around (39.650), along with posting season highs of 9.900 or above in every event. She was named a Big Ten Co-Gymnast of the Week on Tuesday for her standout performance against Arkansas, where she tied career highs on floor and in the all-around. The junior has earned 13 event titles this season – one on vault, four on bars, one on beam, two on floor and five in the all-around.&nbsp;McClelland, a senior from Camarillo, Calif., has been a mainstay in the Huskers’ lineup this season, competing in every meet but one and claiming eight event titles along the way – five on beam, two on floor and one in the all-around. She’s earned career highs of 9.950 on beam and 9.925 on floor.&nbsp;Davis has been named a Big Ten Co-Event Specialist of the Week twice this season, both times after earning a career-high 9.975 on bars. The senior from Huntersville, N.C., has grabbed three event titles on bars this season and has competed in the event in every meet this season, along with competing on vault in eight meets.&nbsp;Fourteen Huskers also earned Academic All-Big Ten honors – Katelyn Barth, Clara Colombo, Martina Comin, Kinsey Davis, Emalee Frost, Allie Gard, Genesis Gibson, Lauren Homecillo, Katie Kuenemann, Sophia McClelland, Halle Rourke, Emma Simpton, Emma Spence and Annie Worley.&nbsp;NU will travel to East Lansing, Mich., to compete in the Big Ten Championships this Saturday, March 23. The Huskers are one of six teams in Session I of the championships, which will start at 11 a.m. (CT) and will be streamed on the Big Ten Network.

Three Huskers named to All-Big Ten Teams

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">2024 Nebraska Football Pro Day Live from Lincoln, Nebraska <a href="https://t.co/uMPOINeAah">https://t.co/uMPOINeAah</a>&mdash; Nebraska Football (@HuskerFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/HuskerFootball/status/1770457801250230415?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

2024 Nebraska Football Pro Day

University of Nebraska Interim President Chris Kabourek announced today that he has named Troy Dannen, a leading voice in collegiate athletics with extensive experience as an athletic director and deep ties to the Midwest and Big Ten, as Nebraska’s next AD, effective Friday.

Dannen currently serves as Director of Athletics at the University of Washington, a fellow Big Ten institution. Previously, he was AD at Tulane, and before that led athletics at his alma mater, the University of Northern Iowa. Dannen brings Midwestern roots, having grown up on a farm just outside Marshalltown, Iowa.

“From my first conversation with Troy Dannen, I knew he was a perfect fit for Nebraska,” Kabourek said. “He is a fierce competitor, he holds himself and his programs to uncommonly high standards, and he cares personally about the success of student-athletes in sports, school and life. Troy sees the vision and momentum we have here at Nebraska, from our bold investments in facilities to our record success in the classroom to our bold plan to elevate our national reputation and competitiveness, and he is excited to be a part of it. I am thrilled that we’ve found someone who is 100% aligned with our high expectations and will be all-in on Nebraska.

“Husker Nation, we’ve found a winner in Troy Dannen. I can’t wait to welcome him and his family to Nebraska.”

Dannen said: “Joining the Nebraska family is truly an honor. My family and I are humbled by the opportunity to be part of such a proud athletics program, institution, community and state. Growing up in Iowa, I watched a lot of Nebraska football on Saturdays with my family. I’ve spent a lot of time in the state and I’ve found that we share a similar approach to life, work and sports: Work hard, stay humble, compete and expect to win.

“There is a storied tradition at Nebraska, but more work to be done. I truly believe our best years are ahead of us. I couldn’t be more grateful to Interim President Chris Kabourek for this opportunity. Chris has championed an inspiring vision for excellence across the University of Nebraska and he and I are completely aligned on where Nebraska needs to go in the future. I look forward to doing my part to helping Nebraska win championships across the board, graduate our student-athletes and elevate the world-class reputation of the University of Nebraska. I can’t wait to arrive in Nebraska and get to work.”

Head Football Coach Matt Rhule said: “I’m so fired up about this hire. Interim President Kabourek has found exactly the right person to lead the Huskers forward. Troy sees what we see – that Nebraska is a special place, with special people, a great vision and the courage to be unabashed about wanting to win across the board. The fact that someone of Troy’s caliber wants to join Team Nebraska will light a fire across our entire department. Let’s go!”

Dannen has been at Washington since 2023. He’s also in his fourth year as chair of the NCAA Football Competition Committee and as an Executive Committee member of the Football Oversight Committee.

From 2021 through 2023, Dannen served on the NCAA Constitution Committee and then the Division I Transformation Committee, as one of a small group of chancellors, presidents, directors of athletics, commissioners and Faculty Athletic Representatives across all three NCAA divisions tasked with charting a future path for college athletics. In 2022, Dannen was a finalist for&nbsp;Sports Business Journal’s&nbsp;Athletic Director of the Year award, and he received the Distinguished American Award by the Sugar Bowl Chapter of the National Football Foundation.He arrived at Washington after serving as Director of Athletics at Tulane University since 2015. While at Tulane, Green Wave student-athletes earned 49 All-American honors, won a national championship, 21 conference championships and earned 41 postseason appearances.In 2022-23, Tulane football won their first American Athletic Conference football championship, and won the Cotton Bowl over USC, ranked 9th in the nation at that time. Men’s basketball won 20 regular season games for the first time in two decades. Men’s tennis advanced to its sixth NCAA tournament in seven years, both bowling and beach volleyball finished ranked in the Top 20, and baseball won the conference championship.Tulane’s football program participated in an unprecedented three consecutive bowl games from 2018-20, winning back-to-back bowl games for the first time in 128 years of football at the University.In the classroom, Tulane student-athletes excelled at a high-level. At the end of the 2022-2023 academic year, over 68% of Green Wave student-athletes earned a 3.0 GPA or better, with a 93% Graduation Success Rate and a record-setting department Academic Progress Report of 992, with seven teams earning a perfect 1000 APR score.Dannen spearheaded fundraising efforts and numerous capital projects at Tulane.&nbsp;He helped secure the largest unrestricted gift in Tulane Athletics history, an endowment gift which funds the operation of a new sport (sailing), and a $10 million lead gift for capital renovations, which is the second largest gift in department history.&nbsp;In addition, marketing and licensing revenue grew four-fold, and in 2022-23, Tulane football, basketball and volleyball set ticket sales and revenue records.&nbsp;Under Dannen’s leadership, the Green Wave Club Annual Fund grew by 40% in terms of donors, and 45% in terms of dollars.Increases in fundraising and major gift donors positively impacted capital project development and completion. A $13 million renovation to the Reilly Natatorium, home of the swimming and diving program, as well as $8 million in renovations to locker rooms and the Wilson Center sports medicine center were completed in 2023. Dannen also oversaw construction of a new dining facility, weight room, basketball and volleyball locker rooms. Tulane also completed a $2.4 million academic center renovation and a $5 million television and digital production center.Dannen came to Tulane after serving eight years as the Director of Athletics at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) from 2008-15. During his tenure, the Panthers enjoyed success at both the conference and national levels, as UNI was recognized with 39 All-Americans, 13 Coaches of the Year and nine Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Players of the Year. UNI football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, volleyball and softball combined to reach 15 NCAA tournaments and 20 postseason berths during that stretch. For his efforts, Dannen was recognized as NACDA’s FCS Athletic Director of the Year in 2014.Prior to his time at UNI, Dannen served as the Iowa High School Athletic Union’s Executive Director for seven years.&nbsp;Dannen graduated from UNI in 1989 with a degree in communications. He is married to Amy, and together they have four children: Elle, Emily, Holly and William.

Story by NU Athletic CommunicationsUniversity of Nebraska Interim President Chris Kabourek announced today that he has named Troy Dannen, a leading voice in collegiate athletics with extensive experience as an athletic director and deep ties to the Midwest and Big Ten, as Nebraska’s next AD, effective Friday.Dannen currently serves as Director of Athletics at the University of Washington, a fellow Big Ten institution. Previously, he was AD at Tulane, and before that led athletics at his alma mater, the University of Northern Iowa. Dannen brings Midwestern roots, having grown up on a farm just outside Marshalltown, Iowa.“From my first conversation with Troy Dannen, I knew he was a perfect fit for Nebraska,” Kabourek said. “He is a fierce competitor, he holds himself and his programs to uncommonly high standards, and he cares personally about the success of student-athletes in sports, school and life. Troy sees the vision and momentum we have here at Nebraska, from our bold investments in facilities to our record success in the classroom to our bold plan to elevate our national reputation and competitiveness, and he is excited to be a part of it. I am thrilled that we’ve found someone who is 100% aligned with our high expectations and will be all-in on Nebraska.“Husker Nation, we’ve found a winner in Troy Dannen. I can’t wait to welcome him and his family to Nebraska.”Dannen said: “Joining the Nebraska family is truly an honor. My family and I are humbled by the opportunity to be part of such a proud athletics program, institution, community and state. Growing up in Iowa, I watched a lot of Nebraska football on Saturdays with my family. I’ve spent a lot of time in the state and I’ve found that we share a similar approach to life, work and sports: Work hard, stay humble, compete and expect to win.“There is a storied tradition at Nebraska, but more work to be done. I truly believe our best years are ahead of us. I couldn’t be more grateful to Interim President Chris Kabourek for this opportunity. Chris has championed an inspiring vision for excellence across the University of Nebraska and he and I are completely aligned on where Nebraska needs to go in the future. I look forward to doing my part to helping Nebraska win championships across the board, graduate our student-athletes and elevate the world-class reputation of the University of Nebraska. I can’t wait to arrive in Nebraska and get to work.”Head Football Coach Matt Rhule said: “I’m so fired up about this hire. Interim President Kabourek has found exactly the right person to lead the Huskers forward. Troy sees what we see – that Nebraska is a special place, with special people, a great vision and the courage to be unabashed about wanting to win across the board. The fact that someone of Troy’s caliber wants to join Team Nebraska will light a fire across our entire department. Let’s go!”Dannen has been at Washington since 2023. He’s also in his fourth year as chair of the NCAA Football Competition Committee and as an Executive Committee member of the Football Oversight Committee.From 2021 through 2023, Dannen served on the NCAA Constitution Committee and then the Division I Transformation Committee, as one of a small group of chancellors, presidents, directors of athletics, commissioners and Faculty Athletic Representatives across all three NCAA divisions tasked with charting a future path for college athletics. In 2022, Dannen was a finalist for&nbsp;Sports Business Journal’s&nbsp;Athletic Director of the Year award, and he received the Distinguished American Award by the Sugar Bowl Chapter of the National Football Foundation.He arrived at Washington after serving as Director of Athletics at Tulane University since 2015. While at Tulane, Green Wave student-athletes earned 49 All-American honors, won a national championship, 21 conference championships and earned 41 postseason appearances.In 2022-23, Tulane football won their first American Athletic Conference football championship, and won the Cotton Bowl over USC, ranked 9th in the nation at that time. Men’s basketball won 20 regular season games for the first time in two decades. Men’s tennis advanced to its sixth NCAA tournament in seven years, both bowling and beach volleyball finished ranked in the Top 20, and baseball won the conference championship.Tulane’s football program participated in an unprecedented three consecutive bowl games from 2018-20, winning back-to-back bowl games for the first time in 128 years of football at the University.In the classroom, Tulane student-athletes excelled at a high-level. At the end of the 2022-2023 academic year, over 68% of Green Wave student-athletes earned a 3.0 GPA or better, with a 93% Graduation Success Rate and a record-setting department Academic Progress Report of 992, with seven teams earning a perfect 1000 APR score.Dannen spearheaded fundraising efforts and numerous capital projects at Tulane.&nbsp;He helped secure the largest unrestricted gift in Tulane Athletics history, an endowment gift which funds the operation of a new sport (sailing), and a $10 million lead gift for capital renovations, which is the second largest gift in department history.&nbsp;In addition, marketing and licensing revenue grew four-fold, and in 2022-23, Tulane football, basketball and volleyball set ticket sales and revenue records.&nbsp;Under Dannen’s leadership, the Green Wave Club Annual Fund grew by 40% in terms of donors, and 45% in terms of dollars.Increases in fundraising and major gift donors positively impacted capital project development and completion. A $13 million renovation to the Reilly Natatorium, home of the swimming and diving program, as well as $8 million in renovations to locker rooms and the Wilson Center sports medicine center were completed in 2023. Dannen also oversaw construction of a new dining facility, weight room, basketball and volleyball locker rooms. Tulane also completed a $2.4 million academic center renovation and a $5 million television and digital production center.Dannen came to Tulane after serving eight years as the Director of Athletics at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) from 2008-15. During his tenure, the Panthers enjoyed success at both the conference and national levels, as UNI was recognized with 39 All-Americans, 13 Coaches of the Year and nine Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Players of the Year. UNI football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, volleyball and softball combined to reach 15 NCAA tournaments and 20 postseason berths during that stretch. For his efforts, Dannen was recognized as NACDA’s FCS Athletic Director of the Year in 2014.Prior to his time at UNI, Dannen served as the Iowa High School Athletic Union’s Executive Director for seven years.&nbsp;Dannen graduated from UNI in 1989 with a degree in communications. He is married to Amy, and together they have four children: Elle, Emily, Holly and William.

Troy Dannen named Nebraska Director of Athletics

The Nebraska men's basketball team makes its first NCAA appearance in a decade, as the Huskers are the No. 8 seed in the South Regional. The Huskers (23-10) open tournament action on Friday evening when they face ninth-seeded Texas A&amp;M (20-14). Tipoff is set for 5:50 p.m. (central) and the game will be televised by TNT and carried on the Huskers Radio Network.

Under the direction of Big Ten Coach of the Year Fred Hoiberg, Nebraska’s 23 wins are the most since the 1990-91 season and the second-highest total in school history.&nbsp; The Huskers are coming off a Big Ten semifinal appearance, as the Huskers dropped a 98-87 decision to No. 13 Illinois on March 15.

Nebraska features a balanced attack led by All-Big Ten performers Keisei Tominaga and Rienk Mast. Tominaga, a two-time All-Big Ten honoree, leads Nebraska in scoring at 14.9 points per game and has a team-high 71 3-pointers. Mast, a 6-foot-10 junior forward, averages 12.5 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game in his first season at Nebraska and leads the Huskers in both rebounds and assists.&nbsp; The Huskers feature four players who average double figures in Brice Williams (13.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg) and Juwan Gary (11.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg) and eight players who average at least 18 minutes per contest.

The Huskers average 77.6 points per game to rank fourth in the Big Ten and is NU’s highest scoring average since the 1995-96 season. NU leads the Big Ten in 3-pointers per game (9.5/gm) while its 312 3-pointers shattered the previous school mark of 270 set in 2019.

Texas A&amp;M is 20-14 on the season after losing to Florida, 95-90, in the SEC semifinals on Saturday. The Aggies had won five straight before the loss to the Gators, including a 97-87 win over Kentucky in the quarterfinals. Two-time All-SEC guard Wade Taylor IV paces the Aggie attack with 18.9 points and 4.0 points per game, while Tyrence Radford chips in 16.0 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.

The winner of the NU/Texas A&amp;M matchup will face the winner of the game between No. 1 seed Houston and No. 16 seed Longwood on Sunday. The start time and TV info will be determined following Friday's games.&nbsp;

Nebraska's NCAA Tournament History

The 2024 NCAA Tournament marks Nebraska’s eighth NCAA Tournament appearance and 27th postseason appearance in school history (eight NCAAs, 19 NITs). NU makes its first appearance since the 2013-14 campaign and second since 1998.

The Huskers made their first appearance in 1986 and made four straight appearances in the early 1990s, led by Rich King and Eric Piatkowski. Nebraska returned to the NCAAs in 1998 behind NBA first-round pick Tyronn Lue while its most recent appearance came in 2014.

• Fred Hoiberg is the fourth Husker coach to take his team to the NCAAs, joining Moe Iba (1986), Danny Nee (1991-92-93-94-98) and Tim Miles (2014). It will be the fifth NCAA appearance of his career, as he guided Iowa State to four straight NCAAs between 2012 and 2015.&nbsp; In addition, Hoiberg's grandfather, Jerry Bush, guided Toledo to an appearance in the 1954 NCAA Tournament.

• Junior forward Juwan Gary is the only active Husker with NCAA Tournament experience, as he played in two tournaments in his time at Alabama, including the Crimson Tide’s 2021 run to the Sweet 16.

• Nebraska's 23 wins this season are the most by Nebraska since the 1990-91 season. It ranks second on Nebraska's single-season win chart.

• Nebraska has increased its win total in each of the past three years, marking the first time NU has done that since the mid-1960s (1963-64 to 1965-66).&nbsp; According to BTN Research, Nebraska is one of four teams nationally and the only team in a power conference to improve its win total by at least six games in each of the past two seasons (as of March 18). The others are James Madison, Lamar and South Florida.&nbsp;

In addition, the Huskers have also improved their conference win percentage in each of the past four seasons, culminating with a 12-8 mark in 2023-24.

• Nebraska is one of 23 teams nationally that ranks in the top 50 both in offensive and defensive efficiency in KenPom entering the NCAA Tournament. It marks the first time that Nebraska has been ranked in the top 50 of offensive and defensive efficiency in the KenPom era (1996-97).

• Nebraska has two top-10 wins for the first time since 2013-14 and the sixth time in school history (2023-24, 2013-14, 1993-94, 1991-92, 1990-91 and 1957-58).&nbsp; The 1957-58 team was coached by Jerry Bush, the grandfather of current Husker Head Coach Fred Hoiberg.

• Over the past two seasons, NU has won 21 conference games, the highest two-year total since the 1965-66 and 1966-67 teams won 22 conference tilts. The last two seasons under Fred Hoiberg mark just the fourth time in school history that Nebraska has won 20 or more conference games in a two-year span.

• The Huskers finished the regular season with an 18-1 record inside Pinnacle Bank Arena, setting a single-season mark for home wins in a season. The .947 mark is NU's best home mark by winning percentage since 1965-66. NU went a perfect 10-0 at home in Big Ten play, marking the third time NU has posted an unblemished home conference mark since World War II (also 1965-66, 2017-18). The other seasons with a perfect conference record were between 1908 and 1921.

• Nebraska enters the NCAA Tournament averaging 77.6 points per game.&nbsp; It is an increase of nearly nine points per game from last year and NU's highest scoring average since 1995-96 (80.2 ppg).&nbsp; NU's highest average since joining the Big Ten is 73.3 points per game in 2021-22.

NU has climbed from 149th to 36th nationally in offensive efficiency in KenPom as of March 18.

•&nbsp; The Huskers have been one of the most consistent teams in the Big Ten for more than a year. NU is 29-13 over the last 39 games dating back to Feb. 1, 2023, which ranks second only to Purdue in the Big Ten in winning percentage in that span.

• The Huskers are 25-7 under Fred Hoiberg when scoring at least 80 points, including 20-4 over the last three seasons. The 98-87 loss to No. 13 Illinois in the Big Ten Tournament marked the first time in the last three seasons that Nebraska scored 80 or more points and lost in regulation.

• Nebraska enters the NCAA Tournament shooting 75.4 percent from the foul line. It is the Huskers' best season from the charity stripe since the 2011-12 team set a school record with a .766 free throw percentage.

• Nebraska's bench has been productive all season, averaging a Big Ten best 21.9 points per game as of March 18.

• The 2024 season marks the fourth time that both the Husker men and women reached the NCAA Tournament (also 1993, 1998 and 2014). The Husker women are 22-11 heading into their first-round matchup with Texas A&amp;M on Friday night. The 2023-24 season marks the first time that both the Husker men's and women's programs won at least 22 games in the same season.&nbsp; Nebraska is one of 22 programs nationally and just two in the Big Ten - along with Michigan State - to have both their men's and women's teams reach the 2024 NCAA Tournament.&nbsp; Nebraska is one of 12 teams with both teams seeded eighth or higher.

• A few Huskers are approaching milestones heading into Friday's NCAA Tournament opener. Keisei Tominaga: Ranks eighth on NU's single-season list with 71 3-pointers and needs eight to move into a tie for sixth place with Tyronn Lue (1998) and Cary Cochran (2001)...he can climb NU's career list as he has 173 and is within striking distance of Brian Conklin (176, seventh) and Erick Strickland (179, sixth)...Tominaga is also three points away from tying Herschell Turner for 30th on NU's career scoring list. C.J. Wilcher: With 144 career 3-pointers, he is two 3-pointers from tying Cookie Belcher for 10th on NU's career 3-point chart (146).&nbsp; Rienk Mast: Needs 11 points to reach 1,400 points for his career and is six shy of 900 career rebounds.

1990-91 - Nebraska's 23 wins are the most since the 1990-91 team set a school record with 26 wins.

9.5 - NU tops the Big Ten and ranks 26th nationally with 9.5 3-pointers per game as of March 18. The per game average would match the single-season school record for 3-pointers per game (9.5/gm, 2001-02). &nbsp;The Huskers' 312 3-pointers is a school record (previous, 270 in 2018-19), while the Huskers are 11-4 this season when hitting at least 10 3-pointers in a game.&nbsp;

25 - Nebraska has won 25 straight games when out-rebounding its opponent dating back to Nov. 27, 2022, against Florida State. The Huskers are a perfect 16-0 this season when out-rebounding foes.

22 - Nebraska has won 22 straight games dating back to last season when holding an opponent to 70 points or less. This season, NU is 18-0 following the win over Indiana on March 15.

8 - Nebraska is one of eight teams in the country to have at least five 1,000-point scorers on its roster. The group includes Josiah Allick, Jarron Coleman, Rienk Mast, Keisei Tominaga and Brice Williams. St. John's with six is the only program with more 1,000-point scorers (six) on its roster.

.939 - C.J. &nbsp;Wilcher's free throw percentage this season, as he has hit 31 of 33 from the foul line. Wilcher was a perfect 23-of-23 in Big Ten play and has hit 28 straight free throws dating back to Nov. 9.

15.6 - Brice Williams is averaging 15.6 points in eight career postseason games (conference tournament and 2023 CBI), well above his career scoring average of 10.2 points per game. Over the last two years, that number jumps to &nbsp;17.7 after his performance in the 2024 Big Ten Tournament.

2 - Rienk Mast became only the second Husker in the last 25 years to post a 30-point, 10-rebound game with his performance against Ohio State on Jan. 24. He joined Aleks Maric, who accomplished the feat four times in his career from 2005 to 2008.

1.38 - Nebraska's assist-to-turnover ratio this season, which is on pace to be NU's best assist-to-turnover ratio since 1985-86 (1.64).&nbsp;

9 - Nine members of the Husker men's basketball team were named to the NU Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll for the fall semester announced on Feb. 22. The group includes Josiah Allick, Henry Burt, Jeffrey Grace III, Sam Hoiberg, Rienk Mast, Eli Rice, Keisei Tominaga, &nbsp;C.J. Wilcher and Brice Williams. Mast was one of 72 Huskers across all sports with a perfect 4.0 GPA.

14,597 - Nebraska ranks 15th nationally in average attendance, averaging 14,597 fans per game. Nebraska has been ranked in the top 25 nationally in attendance every year since Pinnacle Bank Arena opened in 2013-14, except for 2020-21 when no fans were allowed.

11 - Fred Hoiberg has 11 career wins against top-10 teams and 28 wins over ranked opponents in his collegiate coaching career. This season, NU has wins over No. 1 Purdue and No. 6 Wisconsin.&nbsp;

Texas A&amp;M comes into Friday's NCAA Tournament opener with a 20-14 record after reaching the semifinals of the Southeastern Conference Tournament. The Aggies were tested in non-conference action with wins over Iowa State and Ohio State while suffering close losses to Houston, Florida Atlantic and Houston. The Aggies played some of their best basketball down the stretch, winning five straight games before losing to Florida in the semifinals.

Buzz Williams is in his fifth season at Texas A&amp;M and has guided the Aggies to three straight 20-win seasons and back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances. Previously, he spent five seasons at Virginia Tech, six seasons at Marquette and one season at New Orleans.

The Aggies' strength is on the glass where Texas A&amp;M ranks seventh nationally in rebounding margin (+8.9 per game) while leading the nation with 17 offensive boards per contest. Andersson Garcia, who began his career at Mississippi State, averages 9.4 rebounds per game to pace the Aggies, but it is a group effort with four players averaging at least five rebounds per contest. Garcia is a member of the SEC All-Defensive Team as he averages 1.3 steals per contest. Wade Taylor IV is the catalyst of the Aggie attack, as he tops the team in scoring (18.9 ppg), assists (4.0 apg) and steals (1.9 spg). Taylor ranks in the top 10 in the SEC in scoring (fourth), steals (fourth) and assists (ninth). Tyrece Radford is the Aggies' other double-figure scorer, as he averages 16.0 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.

Series History: Friday's NCAA opener will mark the 21st meeting between the two programs, but the first since the 2010-11 season. Nebraska leads the all-time series, 12-8, while 16 of the 20 matchups came between 1996-97 and 2010-11, when both programs were members of the Big 12 Conference. The last meeting between the two teams was a 57-48 win over No. 13 Texas A&amp;M at the Bob Devaney Sports Center on Jan. 29, 2011. In that game, Jorge Brian Diaz had 16 points to pace three Huskers in double figures, while Nebraska overcame a 31-24 halftime deficit by holding Texas A&amp;M to 17 second-half points on 24 percent shooting.

Story by NU Athletic CommunicationsThe Nebraska men's basketball team makes its first NCAA appearance in a decade, as the Huskers are the No. 8 seed in the South Regional. The Huskers (23-10) open tournament action on Friday evening when they face ninth-seeded Texas A&amp;M (20-14). Tipoff is set for 5:50 p.m. (central) and the game will be televised by TNT and carried on the Huskers Radio Network.Under the direction of Big Ten Coach of the Year Fred Hoiberg, Nebraska’s 23 wins are the most since the 1990-91 season and the second-highest total in school history.&nbsp; The Huskers are coming off a Big Ten semifinal appearance, as the Huskers dropped a 98-87 decision to No. 13 Illinois on March 15.Nebraska features a balanced attack led by All-Big Ten performers Keisei Tominaga and Rienk Mast. Tominaga, a two-time All-Big Ten honoree, leads Nebraska in scoring at 14.9 points per game and has a team-high 71 3-pointers. Mast, a 6-foot-10 junior forward, averages 12.5 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game in his first season at Nebraska and leads the Huskers in both rebounds and assists.&nbsp; The Huskers feature four players who average double figures in Brice Williams (13.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg) and Juwan Gary (11.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg) and eight players who average at least 18 minutes per contest.The Huskers average 77.6 points per game to rank fourth in the Big Ten and is NU’s highest scoring average since the 1995-96 season. NU leads the Big Ten in 3-pointers per game (9.5/gm) while its 312 3-pointers shattered the previous school mark of 270 set in 2019.Texas A&amp;M is 20-14 on the season after losing to Florida, 95-90, in the SEC semifinals on Saturday. The Aggies had won five straight before the loss to the Gators, including a 97-87 win over Kentucky in the quarterfinals. Two-time All-SEC guard Wade Taylor IV paces the Aggie attack with 18.9 points and 4.0 points per game, while Tyrence Radford chips in 16.0 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.The winner of the NU/Texas A&amp;M matchup will face the winner of the game between No. 1 seed Houston and No. 16 seed Longwood on Sunday. The start time and TV info will be determined following Friday's games.&nbsp;Nebraska's NCAA Tournament HistoryThe 2024 NCAA Tournament marks Nebraska’s eighth NCAA Tournament appearance and 27th postseason appearance in school history (eight NCAAs, 19 NITs). NU makes its first appearance since the 2013-14 campaign and second since 1998.The Huskers made their first appearance in 1986 and made four straight appearances in the early 1990s, led by Rich King and Eric Piatkowski. Nebraska returned to the NCAAs in 1998 behind NBA first-round pick Tyronn Lue while its most recent appearance came in 2014.• Fred Hoiberg is the fourth Husker coach to take his team to the NCAAs, joining Moe Iba (1986), Danny Nee (1991-92-93-94-98) and Tim Miles (2014). It will be the fifth NCAA appearance of his career, as he guided Iowa State to four straight NCAAs between 2012 and 2015.&nbsp; In addition, Hoiberg's grandfather, Jerry Bush, guided Toledo to an appearance in the 1954 NCAA Tournament.• Junior forward Juwan Gary is the only active Husker with NCAA Tournament experience, as he played in two tournaments in his time at Alabama, including the Crimson Tide’s 2021 run to the Sweet 16.&nbsp;Worth Noting• Nebraska's 23 wins this season are the most by Nebraska since the 1990-91 season. It ranks second on Nebraska's single-season win chart.• Nebraska has increased its win total in each of the past three years, marking the first time NU has done that since the mid-1960s (1963-64 to 1965-66).&nbsp; According to BTN Research, Nebraska is one of four teams nationally and the only team in a power conference to improve its win total by at least six games in each of the past two seasons (as of March 18). The others are James Madison, Lamar and South Florida.&nbsp;In addition, the Huskers have also improved their conference win percentage in each of the past four seasons, culminating with a 12-8 mark in 2023-24.• Nebraska is one of 23 teams nationally that ranks in the top 50 both in offensive and defensive efficiency in KenPom entering the NCAA Tournament. It marks the first time that Nebraska has been ranked in the top 50 of offensive and defensive efficiency in the KenPom era (1996-97).• Nebraska has two top-10 wins for the first time since 2013-14 and the sixth time in school history (2023-24, 2013-14, 1993-94, 1991-92, 1990-91 and 1957-58).&nbsp; The 1957-58 team was coached by Jerry Bush, the grandfather of current Husker Head Coach Fred Hoiberg.• Over the past two seasons, NU has won 21 conference games, the highest two-year total since the 1965-66 and 1966-67 teams won 22 conference tilts. The last two seasons under Fred Hoiberg mark just the fourth time in school history that Nebraska has won 20 or more conference games in a two-year span.• The Huskers finished the regular season with an 18-1 record inside Pinnacle Bank Arena, setting a single-season mark for home wins in a season. The .947 mark is NU's best home mark by winning percentage since 1965-66. NU went a perfect 10-0 at home in Big Ten play, marking the third time NU has posted an unblemished home conference mark since World War II (also 1965-66, 2017-18). The other seasons with a perfect conference record were between 1908 and 1921.• Nebraska enters the NCAA Tournament averaging 77.6 points per game.&nbsp; It is an increase of nearly nine points per game from last year and NU's highest scoring average since 1995-96 (80.2 ppg).&nbsp; NU's highest average since joining the Big Ten is 73.3 points per game in 2021-22.NU has climbed from 149th to 36th nationally in offensive efficiency in KenPom as of March 18.•&nbsp; The Huskers have been one of the most consistent teams in the Big Ten for more than a year. NU is 29-13 over the last 39 games dating back to Feb. 1, 2023, which ranks second only to Purdue in the Big Ten in winning percentage in that span.• The Huskers are 25-7 under Fred Hoiberg when scoring at least 80 points, including 20-4 over the last three seasons. The 98-87 loss to No. 13 Illinois in the Big Ten Tournament marked the first time in the last three seasons that Nebraska scored 80 or more points and lost in regulation.• Nebraska enters the NCAA Tournament shooting 75.4 percent from the foul line. It is the Huskers' best season from the charity stripe since the 2011-12 team set a school record with a .766 free throw percentage.• Nebraska's bench has been productive all season, averaging a Big Ten best 21.9 points per game as of March 18.• The 2024 season marks the fourth time that both the Husker men and women reached the NCAA Tournament (also 1993, 1998 and 2014). The Husker women are 22-11 heading into their first-round matchup with Texas A&amp;M on Friday night. The 2023-24 season marks the first time that both the Husker men's and women's programs won at least 22 games in the same season.&nbsp; Nebraska is one of 22 programs nationally and just two in the Big Ten - along with Michigan State - to have both their men's and women's teams reach the 2024 NCAA Tournament.&nbsp; Nebraska is one of 12 teams with both teams seeded eighth or higher.• A few Huskers are approaching milestones heading into Friday's NCAA Tournament opener. Keisei Tominaga: Ranks eighth on NU's single-season list with 71 3-pointers and needs eight to move into a tie for sixth place with Tyronn Lue (1998) and Cary Cochran (2001)...he can climb NU's career list as he has 173 and is within striking distance of Brian Conklin (176, seventh) and Erick Strickland (179, sixth)...Tominaga is also three points away from tying Herschell Turner for 30th on NU's career scoring list. C.J. Wilcher: With 144 career 3-pointers, he is two 3-pointers from tying Cookie Belcher for 10th on NU's career 3-point chart (146).&nbsp; Rienk Mast: Needs 11 points to reach 1,400 points for his career and is six shy of 900 career rebounds.Numbers to Know1990-91 - Nebraska's 23 wins are the most since the 1990-91 team set a school record with 26 wins.9.5 - NU tops the Big Ten and ranks 26th nationally with 9.5 3-pointers per game as of March 18. The per game average would match the single-season school record for 3-pointers per game (9.5/gm, 2001-02). &nbsp;The Huskers' 312 3-pointers is a school record (previous, 270 in 2018-19), while the Huskers are 11-4 this season when hitting at least 10 3-pointers in a game.&nbsp;25 - Nebraska has won 25 straight games when out-rebounding its opponent dating back to Nov. 27, 2022, against Florida State. The Huskers are a perfect 16-0 this season when out-rebounding foes.22 - Nebraska has won 22 straight games dating back to last season when holding an opponent to 70 points or less. This season, NU is 18-0 following the win over Indiana on March 15.8 - Nebraska is one of eight teams in the country to have at least five 1,000-point scorers on its roster. The group includes Josiah Allick, Jarron Coleman, Rienk Mast, Keisei Tominaga and Brice Williams. St. John's with six is the only program with more 1,000-point scorers (six) on its roster..939 - C.J. &nbsp;Wilcher's free throw percentage this season, as he has hit 31 of 33 from the foul line. Wilcher was a perfect 23-of-23 in Big Ten play and has hit 28 straight free throws dating back to Nov. 9.15.6 - Brice Williams is averaging 15.6 points in eight career postseason games (conference tournament and 2023 CBI), well above his career scoring average of 10.2 points per game. Over the last two years, that number jumps to &nbsp;17.7 after his performance in the 2024 Big Ten Tournament.2 - Rienk Mast became only the second Husker in the last 25 years to post a 30-point, 10-rebound game with his performance against Ohio State on Jan. 24. He joined Aleks Maric, who accomplished the feat four times in his career from 2005 to 2008.1.38 - Nebraska's assist-to-turnover ratio this season, which is on pace to be NU's best assist-to-turnover ratio since 1985-86 (1.64).&nbsp;9 - Nine members of the Husker men's basketball team were named to the NU Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll for the fall semester announced on Feb. 22. The group includes Josiah Allick, Henry Burt, Jeffrey Grace III, Sam Hoiberg, Rienk Mast, Eli Rice, Keisei Tominaga, &nbsp;C.J. Wilcher and Brice Williams. Mast was one of 72 Huskers across all sports with a perfect 4.0 GPA.14,597 - Nebraska ranks 15th nationally in average attendance, averaging 14,597 fans per game. Nebraska has been ranked in the top 25 nationally in attendance every year since Pinnacle Bank Arena opened in 2013-14, except for 2020-21 when no fans were allowed.11 - Fred Hoiberg has 11 career wins against top-10 teams and 28 wins over ranked opponents in his collegiate coaching career. This season, NU has wins over No. 1 Purdue and No. 6 Wisconsin.&nbsp;Scouting Texas A&amp;MTexas A&amp;M comes into Friday's NCAA Tournament opener with a 20-14 record after reaching the semifinals of the Southeastern Conference Tournament. The Aggies were tested in non-conference action with wins over Iowa State and Ohio State while suffering close losses to Houston, Florida Atlantic and Houston. The Aggies played some of their best basketball down the stretch, winning five straight games before losing to Florida in the semifinals.Buzz Williams is in his fifth season at Texas A&amp;M and has guided the Aggies to three straight 20-win seasons and back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances. Previously, he spent five seasons at Virginia Tech, six seasons at Marquette and one season at New Orleans.The Aggies' strength is on the glass where Texas A&amp;M ranks seventh nationally in rebounding margin (+8.9 per game) while leading the nation with 17 offensive boards per contest. Andersson Garcia, who began his career at Mississippi State, averages 9.4 rebounds per game to pace the Aggies, but it is a group effort with four players averaging at least five rebounds per contest. Garcia is a member of the SEC All-Defensive Team as he averages 1.3 steals per contest. Wade Taylor IV is the catalyst of the Aggie attack, as he tops the team in scoring (18.9 ppg), assists (4.0 apg) and steals (1.9 spg). Taylor ranks in the top 10 in the SEC in scoring (fourth), steals (fourth) and assists (ninth). Tyrece Radford is the Aggies' other double-figure scorer, as he averages 16.0 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.Series History: Friday's NCAA opener will mark the 21st meeting between the two programs, but the first since the 2010-11 season. Nebraska leads the all-time series, 12-8, while 16 of the 20 matchups came between 1996-97 and 2010-11, when both programs were members of the Big 12 Conference. The last meeting between the two teams was a 57-48 win over No. 13 Texas A&amp;M at the Bob Devaney Sports Center on Jan. 29, 2011. In that game, Jorge Brian Diaz had 16 points to pace three Huskers in double figures, while Nebraska overcame a 31-24 halftime deficit by holding Texas A&amp;M to 17 second-half points on 24 percent shooting.

Nebraska battles Texas A&M in NCAA First Round Friday evening

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Sources: Nebraska is finalizing a six-year deal to make Washington athletic director Troy Dannen the school’s new athletic director. The hiring of Dannen gives Nebraska an immediate replacement for Trev Alberts, who left for Texas A&amp;M last week. <a href="https://t.co/q9SRkTK7hk">pic.twitter.com/q9SRkTK7hk</a>&mdash; Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteThamel/status/1770450141637493039?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>