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Undefeated Nebraska Keeps Winning, and ESPN’s Bracketology is Paying Attention

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Undefeated Nebraska Keeps Winning, and ESPN’s Bracketology is Paying Attention


Nebraska’s undefeated men’s basketball team keeps piling up victories and keeps improving its NCAA Tournament profile.

According to Joe Lunardi, the author of ESPN’s Bracketology, the Huskers are an 8-seed, their best showing this season.

Last week, Nebraska was among the “last four byes,” and was a 10-seed. The week before, Nebraska was among the “last four in,” and was an 11-seed.

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No such designations this week for the 8-0 Huskers. This is the third time Nebraska has started a season 8-0. Nebraska started the 1977-78 season 10-0.

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Bracketology has Nebraska playing 9-seed SMU at San Diego in the first round. The Nebraska-SMU winner would play the winner of No. 1 Arizona and 16-seed Tennessee State.

Lunardi’s other top seeds are Purdue, Michigan and Duke. Michigan is Lunardi’s overall No. 1 seed.

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B1G presence in NCAA Tournament

Eleven Big Ten teams are projected to make the tournament (seeds in parentheses):

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* Purdue (1)
* Michigan (1)
* Michigan State (3)
* Illinois (5)
* Indiana (6)
* USC (6)
* Iowa (7)
* Nebraska (8)
* Wisconsin (9)
* Ohio State (10)
* UCLA (10)

The Southeastern Conference also is projected to have 11 teams in the NCAA Tournament, according to Lunardi.

The Big 12 has nine teams; the ACC has seven teams; the Big East has three teams; and the West Coast Conference has two teams.

The Huskers also made their first appearance in ESPN’s Power Rankings of the top 25 teams that were released Thursday. The Huskers are ranked 23rd by ESPN’s Jeff Borzello.

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Nebraska forward Berke Buyuktuncel shoots against South Carolina Upstate. | Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

Borzello wrote about Nebraska: “Another new addition to the rankings, the Cornhuskers actually own the nation’s longest win streak dating back to last season, winning four games to take the inaugural College Basketball Crown and then ripping off eight straight to open this 2025-26 campaign.

“The victory over Oklahoma looks better, too, after the Sooners won at Wake Forest. Rienk Mast has been awesome after missing all of last season with a knee injury; he’s averaging 17.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists.”

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Big Ten teams hold down the top two spots in the ESPN Power Rankings: Michigan (1) and Purdue (2).

Next up for Nebraska: Creighton

The Huskers’ next game is a challenging one. Nebraska plays host to Creighton at 4 p.m. CT on Sunday, Dec. 7, on FS1. The Bluejays (5-3) are among the “first four out” in Lunardi’s latest Bracketology, along with Santa Clara, Miami and VCU.

Two of Creighton’s losses were to ranked teams — 90-63 at No. 19 Gonzaga, and 78-60 at a neutral site to No. 15 Iowa State. Creighton’s other loss was at a neutral site to Baylor, 81-64.

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Nebraska defeated Creighton last season, 74-63, in Omaha. The Huskers have won two of their last three games against the Bluejays.

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There is an obvious caution about Bracketology, especially in early December. Once teams get involved in conference play, Bracketology will change dramatically. Nebraska opens Big Ten play at home against Wisconsin on Wednesday, Dec. 10. The Huskers will face a serious test on Saturday, Dec. 13 at No. 14 Illinois.

These next three games will give everyone a good read on what kind of team Nebraska is.

Nebraska’s last game was a 72-63 triumph over visiting South Carolina Upstate on Nov. 29. The Huskers used a 17-0 run to overcome a slow start.


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Nebraska State Patrol troopers find 242 pounds of cocaine during commercial truck inspection

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Nebraska State Patrol troopers find 242 pounds of cocaine during commercial truck inspection


LEXINGTON, Neb. (KOLN) – Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol arrested one person after finding more than 240 pounds of cocaine during a commercial vehicle inspection.

On Tuesday afternoon, an NSP Carrier Enforcement trooper conducted a commercial vehicle inspection on a semi tractor/trailer driven by Arwinderjit Singh, 30, of California, near mile marker 254 on Interstate 80.

Arwinderjit Singh mugshot(Dawson County Jail)

During the inspection, the trooper became suspicious of criminal activity. An NSP K-9 detected the odor of a controlled substance inside the cab of the semi, troopers said.

After searching the cab, troopers located 242 pounds of cocaine concealed underneath the sleeper bed, NSP said.

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Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol arrested one person after finding more than 240 pounds...
Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol arrested one person after finding more than 240 pounds of cocaine during a commercial vehicle inspection.(Nebraska State Patrol)

Singh was arrested on suspicion of possession of cocaine, possession with intent to deliver, possession of an open alcohol container, no drug tax stamp and displaying a fictitious license plate.

Singh was lodged in Dawson County Jail, and his bond was set at 10% of $2 million. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 12.

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Athlete of the Week: Creighton Prep boys wrestling’s Zaiyahn Ornelas

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Athlete of the Week: Creighton Prep boys wrestling’s Zaiyahn Ornelas


OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Creighton Prep senior Zaiyahn Ornelas won his fourth consecutive Nebraska state wrestling title on Saturday.

According to NSAA records, he joins 39 other wrestlers in state history to accomplish the feat.

“It’s a great feeling,” Ornelas said. “It’s a feeling everybody wants.”

The senior ended his career as the 39th four-time state champion in Nebraska history, winning three at Wilber-Clatonia before joining the Jr. Jays.

Ornelas won three Class C state titles at Wilber-Clatonia at 106, 113 and 120 pounds before transferring to Creighton Prep for his senior season, where he competed in Class A at 126 pounds.

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“Three state titles there and then just thought I could bump up my competition,” Ornelas said.

“Zaiyahn is one of the cleanest technicians I’ve ever seen. That’s a huge testament to his coaching staff at Wilber,” Fisher added.

Ornelas was one of four Creighton Prep wrestlers to win state titles this season, helping lead the Jr. Jays to the Class A team title. Teammates said his presence in the practice room raised their level of competition.

“I could never slack off just because my competition in the state was easy. I always had to come in this room and get better or else I was going to get beat,” said sophomore Cruzer Dominguez, a two-time Class A state champion at 106 and 120 pounds.

Sophomore Kameron Green, the Class A 144-pound state champion this year, also credited Ornelas for aiding in his development.

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“Zaiyahn being a training partner has helped me in tremendous ways,” he said. “When he wrestles, he’s not the nicest or shyest kid, but he’s tenacious and tough.”

The sophomore won his first state title after finishing as a runner-up at 126 pounds as a freshman.

Junior JT Smith, a two-time state champion at 175 and 190 pounds, said the achievement carries weight for the entire team.

“It’s something really special to have a teammate that’s a four-time state champion,” he said. “That’s something everyone wants to be.”

The junior finished the season as a back-to-back state champion after winning a gold medal at 175 pounds as a sophomore.

Fisher said Ornelas’s attitude set the tone from the start.

“He has so many skills and then coming into our room, he’s extremely coachable. Every time he came in here he was humble, ready to work, wanting to get better and that’s why he is as good as he is,” Fisher said.

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Ornelas signed to wrestle at the University of Nebraska in November. He said the move to Creighton Prep delivered what he was looking for.

“This is the reason why I came here. I went out to explore, to find the best, and this is the territory that I found. If it wasn’t for these guys — the push — I would have not been there,” Ornelas said.

“It’s hard to believe. That’s kind of what I wanted since the beginning, freshman year,” he said.

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Nebraska Chamber taps former state senator to lead during leadership transition

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Nebraska Chamber taps former state senator to lead during leadership transition


LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry has selected a former state senator and longtime board member to lead the chamber while it searches for a new president and CEO.

Board of Directors Chair Pat Keenan said Thursday that Matt Williams of Gothenburg agreed to serve as interim president.

ALSO READ: Nebraska Chamber president and CEO resigns after less than a year

“The Board is grateful to Matt for stepping into this role during a very active and productive time for the Nebraska Chamber,” Keenan said. “He has steady leadership, strong relationships and trust from his many years of advocacy for economic development, and decades of experience working with the legislature and state government on tax policy and economic development incentives.”

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Matt Williams(NE Chamber)

Williams represented District 36 in the Nebraska Legislature from 2015 to 2023.

The chamber said Williams has had a lifelong career in banking and serves as chairman of Flatwater Bank. He previously served as chair of the Nebraska Bankers Association and the American Bankers Association.

His long involvement with the chamber includes membership on the Board of Directors; he currently serves as director for District 6. In 2025, he was named to the Nebraska Business Hall of Fame.

“The Nebraska Chamber is on rock-solid footing, with the clear vision of the Board, and talented and hard-working staff hitting its stride in legislative policy and advocacy, technology, manufacturing, leadership-development, fund-raising and membership. The success of cutting-edge initiatives like 6 Regions, One Nebraska, the launch of the Go Big Future series, and the strong member engagement across the state demonstrate the success and strength of this organization. I’m excited to lend my support in whatever way I can for the Chamber. I know how strong businesses and communities make for a stronger Nebraska, and I’m glad to be part of that.”

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