Nebraska
Big Ten basketball power rankings: Look out for Nebraska
Another week of college basketball action saw significant movement in the Big Ten Conference. Out of nowhere, the Nebraska Cornhuskers are 11-0 to start the season and are quickly ascending the national rankings. They dominated the Wisconsin Badgers on Wednesday night, handing Greg Gard the most lopsided loss of his coaching career.
Along with Nebraska, Michigan, Purdue, Michigan State and UCLA are tied atop the conference standings at 2-0. That top group will likely remain consistent over the next few weeks before the Big Ten schedule intensifies in early January.
As we enter the final stretch of nonconference play, here is an updated snapshot of the full conference power rankings. Michigan remains the leader.
Updated Big Ten Basketball Power Rankings (Dec. 15)
- Michigan Wolverines (10-0, 2-0 Big Ten; No. 1 in KenPom) — No change
- Purdue Boilermakers (10-1, 2-0 Big Ten; No. 6 in KenPom) — No change
- Michigan State Spartans (9-1, 2-0 Big Ten; No. 12 in KenPom) — No change
- Illinois Fighting Illini (8-3, 1-1 Big Ten; No. 14 in KenPom) — No change
- Nebraska Cornhuskers (11-0, 2-0 Big Ten; No. 21 in KenPom) — Up 6
- Iowa Hawkeyes (9-2, 1-1 Big Ten; No. 20 in KenPom) — No change
- USC Trojans (10-1, 1-1 Big Ten; No. 38 in KenPom) — No change
- Indiana Hoosiers (8-3, 1-1 Big Ten; No. 26 in KenPom) — Up 2
- Wisconsin Badgers (7-3, 1-1 Big Ten; No. 37 in KenPom) — Down 4
- Ohio State Buckeyes (8-2, 1-1 Big Ten; No. 39 in KenPom) — Down 1
- UCLA Bruins (7-3, 2-0 Big Ten; No. 31 in KenPom) — Down 3
- Washington Huskies (7-3, 1-1 Big Ten; No. 48 in KenPom) — No change
- Northwestern Wildcats (6-4, 0-2 Big Ten; No. 58 in KenPom) — Up 1
- Oregon Ducks (5-5, 0-2 Big Ten; No. 84 in KenPom) — Up 3
- Maryland Terrapins (6-5, 0-2 Big Ten; No. 100 in KenPom) — No change
- Minnesota Golden Gophers (6-5, 1-1 Big Ten; No. 108 in KenPom) — No change
- Penn State Nittany Lions (8-3, 0-2 Big Ten; No. 107 in KenPom) — Down 4
- Rutgers Scarlet Knights (5-6, 0-2 Big Ten; No. 147 in KenPom) — No change
Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
LINCOLN, Neb. (WOWT) – On this day in 1930, a new addition was hoisted atop Nebraska’s Capitol Building.
The statue of “The Sower,” modeled after the traditional method of hand-sowing grain for planting, stands 19-and-a-half feet tall.
It was created by New York sculptor Lee Lawrie.
The Sower is represented as a barefoot man, with his sleeves and pant legs rolled up as he works.
It stands as a symbol of the importance of agriculture in Nebraska.
—
MORE LOCAL HISTORY
—
On July 4, 2026, our country will celebrate its 250th birthday. Every day leading up to it, First Alert 6 will take a look at the people and events that shaped our area.
—
Get a first alert to severe weather approaching your area. Download the First Alert 6 Weather app.
Copyright 2026 WOWT. All rights reserved.
GRETNA, Neb. (WOWT) – A new recreation area opened Thursday in Gretna, honoring a notable Nebraska Native American while reducing flooding risks.
The Sergeant Mad Bear Recreation Area, located just off 168th and Giles, was officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The park is named after Sergeant Mad Bear, a Pawnee warrior who lived in the area during the 1860s. He was wounded in battle and became the first Native American in the country to receive the Medal of Honor.
“This lake that we’re here for is named after one of our soldiers. And a revered soldier,” said Pat Leading Fox, head chief of the Pawnee Nation Chiefs Council.
Honoring Pawnee heritage
Leading Fox said he was honored to see Mad Bear’s name live on at the site.
“He’s a Pawnee member. He’s a member of the band that I represent, Skidi Band, S-K-I-D-I. And to stand here, you know, where he could possibly have, you know, walked, you know, really is touching,” Leading Fox said.
For Leading Fox, the park represents more than a place to relax.
“This is our homeland here so you I always say home, we’re home,” he said.
Dual purpose: recreation and flood control
The park also serves as a flood reservoir, one of many managed by the Papio Missouri River NRD.
“This is part of a larger plan to control flows downstream. It works in conjunction with the levees and with the other reservoirs,” said Ian Ghanavati of the Papio Missouri River NRD.
The reservoir is currently empty but designed to fill with rainwater.
“Where the rock is, where you can kind of see the edge of the earth, that’s where the shoreline will come up to. We just need some rain to fill it,” Ghanavati said.
Community amenity
The empty reservoir has not deterred park visitors, who are already using the area’s other amenities.
Jen Boswell, a park visitor, said she uses the walking trail regularly.
“They just put in the trail from our street down to the path here. So yeah, I try to come down and walk at least three times around,” Boswell said.
Boswell said she is looking forward to using the park more as it develops.
“Walk, play, ride our bikes, scooters around here, fish. I think you could even put maybe like a kayak in here once it’s ready. So it’s going to be a great addition to the area for sure,” she said.
Sergeant Mad Bear is the second reservoir to open in the Papio NRD, following the Forest City Reservoir which opened last fall.
Copyright 2026 WOWT. All rights reserved.
-
Colorado2 minutes agoEx-owner of Colorado funeral home where decomposing bodies were found is sentenced to 30 years
-
Connecticut8 minutes agoFairfield police cancel Jennings Beach Carnival over public safety concerns
-
Delaware14 minutes agoPhoto Gallery: Smyrna Boys Lacrosse vs Sussex Central – Milford LIVE! – Local Delaware News, Kent and Sussex Counties
-
Florida20 minutes agoBrowns trade up, select Florida OT
-
Georgia26 minutes agoSteelers select Georgia CB Dalyen Everette in third round of 2026 NFL Draft
-
Hawaii32 minutes ago‘Trashy’: visitors complain over homeless encampment on Waikiki beach
-
Idaho38 minutes agoIdaho Department of Lands to hold fire prevention meeting at Clarkston
-
Illinois44 minutes agoPatriots take Illinois edge rusher Gabe Jacas 55th overall in 2026 NFL Draft