Nebraska
BSB Preview: Nebraska vs. Washington in Big Ten opener
BSB Preview: Nebraska vs. Washington in Big Ten opener
Nebraska baseball started the year with a bang, and now the Huskers are searching for answers as conference play begins.
Nebraska (4-6) entered the season ranked in the national Top 25 and moved up one spot after upsetting Top-15 club Vanderbilt as part of a 2-1 start. Since then, the Huskers have lost five of their last seven games – including dropping four of the past five – and are now shifting the starting rotation upon losing Friday ace Mason McConnaughey for the season.
NU star pitcher McConnaughey suffers season-ending arm injury
Fortunately for the Huskers, next up on the board are their first home games this weekend, and they will be welcoming a similarly struggling team in the Washington Huskies.
Washington (5-8) has won two straight games, but the Huskies were on a skid prior to that after losing two consecutive games and dropping six of their previous seven games – defeats at the hands of No. 15 Texas, Illinois (which did not count as a conference game) and a four-game sweep at Stanford.
Here is a look at this weekend’s matchups between the Huskers and Huskies in the Big Ten opening series for both clubs.
Nebraska vs. Washington: How to watch, stream, listen
SATURDAY – GAME 1
Time: 1 p.m. CT
Pitching: RHP Ty Horn (0-1, 5.52 ERA) vs. RHP Jackson Thomas (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
TV/Streaming: B1G+
Radio: Huskers Radio Network, Huskers.com, Huskers App
**********
SATURDAY – GAME 2
Time: Approx. 45 minutes after Game 1
Pitching: LHP Will Walsh (2-1, 2.77 ERA) vs. RHP Reilly McAdams (0-1, 6.75 ERA)
TV/Streaming: B1G+
Radio: Huskers Radio Network, Huskers.com, Huskers App
**********
Sunday, March 9
Time: 12 p.m. CT
Pitching: LHP Jackson Brockett (0-1, 5.00 ERA) vs. RHP Tommy Brandenburg (0-1, 6.28 ERA)
TV/Streaming: B1G+
Radio: Huskers Radio Network, Huskers.com, Huskers App
All games played at Hawks Field at Haymarket Park in Lincoln
Follow the games
>> All three games of this weekend’s series against Washington can be seen on B1G+.
>> Fans can also listen to Ben McLaughlin and Nick Handley call the action this weekend on the Huskers Radio Network.
>> Every game this season can be heard for free on Huskers.com and the Official Nebraska Huskers App for both iOS and android devices.
Nebraska vs. Washington: Series History
>> Through nine all-time meetings, Nebraska holds a 6-3 advantage over Washington in the all-time series.
>> The Huskers and Huskies last met in the 2014 Aramark Pac 12/Big Ten Challenge in Surprise, Ariz., where the Big Red picked up a 13-3 win against Washington.
>> Nebraska has won the last two matchups against Washington, recording victories over the Huskies in 2014 and 2011.
>> This weekend’s series marks the first time the Huskers and Huskies won’t face off in neutral-site matchup after playing at a neutral site in each of the first nine all-time meetings.
Weekend Rotation: Replacing Mason McConnaughey
>> With Brett Sears taken in the 2024 MLB Draft, Drew Christo’s transition to the bullpen and Mason McConnaughey’s season-ending injury, it’s a new-look weekend rotation for the Huskers this year.
>> Ty Horn takes mound for the series opener against Washington after holding down the No. 2 spot in the weekend rotation this season. The sophomore is 0-1 with a 5.52 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 14.2 innings on the year.
>> Redshirt senior Will Walsh is set to take the mound on game two for the Huskers. Walsh is 2-1 with a 2.77 ERA and 14 punchouts in 13 innings and is coming off a relief outing with four perfect innings and six strikeouts in a win vs. Sam Houston last weekend.
>> Senior Jackson Brockett is scheduled to start the series finale, holding an 0-1 record with a 5.00 ERA and eight strikeouts in three appearances this season, including starts against Grand Canyon and Kansas State.
***Nebraska Game Notes***
Huskers in home openers
>> Nebraska is 48-7 in its home openers since the 1970 campaign.
>> Since the opening of Haymarket Park in 2002, the Huskers are 20-2 in home openers.
>> The Big Red have won four of its last five home openers after falling 11-3 to South Alabama last season.
McConnaughey out for season with arm injury
>> Nebraska coach Will Bolt announced Wednesday that junior right-handed pitcher Mason McConnaughey will miss the remainder of the 2025 season after suffering an arm injury against Sam Houston last weekend.
>> McConnaughey began the season as the first Husker named to the Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List since 2016 and earned Preseason All-American recognition from D1Baseball and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
Nunez named Big Ten Freshman of the Week
>> Freshman Devin Nunez was named the Big Ten’s Freshman of the Week after leading the Huskers at the Frisco Classic last weekend.
>> The Navasota, Texas, native hit 7-of-14 with a home run, three RBI and four runs scored in three games while tallying a .714 slugging percentage and a .533 on-base percentage.
>> In Nebraska’s 8-3 win against Sam Houston, Nunez was 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI, a run scored and a walk. The designated hitter had a 3-for-5 night with a pair of runs scored against No. 2 LSU on Saturday.
>> Nunez wrapped up last weekend’s action at the Frisco Classic with a 2-for-5 performance against Kansas State, including a two-run inside-the-park home run for his second homer of the season.
Walsh among nation’s most efficient pitchers
>> Will Walsh comes into the weekend as one of 24 pitchers nationally to record at least a 14-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio and surrender sub-0.70 walks/9 innings on the season.
>> The southpaw has recorded a pair of appearances with six punchouts against UC Irvine and Sam Houston while allowing just one walk on the season through 13 innings.
>> Walsh is one of seven P4 players with at least a 14:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio and less than 0.70 walks allowed per nine innings this year.
Flashing the Leather
>> As of March 6, the Huskers are ranked 11th nationally with a .986 fielding percentage, including one of two P4 teams with a .985-plus fielding percentage and five-or-fewer errors on the season.
Youth movement on the mound
>> The NU pitching staff has seen four true freshmen put up strong outings to begin their time at Nebraska on the mound in the first three weeks of the season.
>> Pryce Bender, Colin Nowaczyk, Gavin Blachowicz and Blake Encarnacion have combined to deal 8.1 innings, allowing just one run on five hits with six punchouts and four walks.
Huskers own dominant record when scoring 6-plus runs
>> Nebraska is 108-23 under head coach Will Bolt when scoring at least six runs.
>> The Big Red have scored six-plus runs in all four victories this season, defeating No. 16 Vanderbilt (6-4), San Diego State (13-0), Louisiana (6-1) and Sam Houston (8-3).
>> The Husker offense reached the six-run mark 34 times last season, compiling a 28-6 record.
>> Nebraska scored six-plus runs in 33 contests (26-7) in 2023 after tallying at least six runs 23 times (19-4) in 2022, 28 times (26-2) in 2021 and seven times (5-2) in 2020.
Hot bats in Husker lineup
>> Devin Nunez is slashing .500/.571/.833 with a pair of homers, four RBI and six runs scored in six appearances, including four starts this season.
>> Will Jesske is second on the team in hitting with a .316 batting average in seven games played. The sophomore has two doubles, a triple, two RBI and three runs while holding a perfect 2-for-2 mark in stolen bases.
>> Cayden Brumbaugh leads the Huskers with four multi-hit games and three multi-RBI performances while serving primarily as the Huskers’ leadoff hitter this season.
>> Joshua Overbeek holds a .286 batting average with three doubles and a triple in eight games, followed by Dylan Carey with a .256 hitting clip, three doubles, a homer and eight runs driven in this year.
>> Cael Frost has homered twice and driven in five runs in eight starts, while Riley Silva has five hits, two RBI and a pair of stolen bases in eight games.
>> Gabe Swansen leads the Husker offense with nine RBI through 10 games, and Case Sanderson has drawn a team-leading six walks on the year.
Huskers in the ‘pen
>> Luke Broderick has appeared in three games for the NU bullpen, including a one-inning save in 6-4 win against No. 16 Vanderbilt.
>> Jalen Worthley is 1-0 on the season and has made a team-high four relief appearances, holding 1.69 ERA and three punchouts in 5.1 innings of work.
>> Pryce Bender has pitched 3.1 scoreless innings and is holding opponents to a .167 batting average across three appearances, while Colin Nowaczyk hasn’t allowed a run in two innings of action.
>> Grant Cleavinger and Caleb Clark have each made three appearances on the mound, while Ryan Harrahill has toed the rubber twice for the NU pitching staff this season.
>> Casey Daiss made his season debut last weekend vs. K-State, dealing 1.2 scoreless frames with just one hit allowed and a strikeout against the Wildcats.
>> Carson Jasa has totaled five strikeouts across 3.2 innings in three appearances, while Drew Christo has taken the mound a team-high four times through the first 10 games.
>> TJ Coats and Gavin Blachowicz have made two relief appearances for the Huskers on the mound this season, while Blake Encarnacion made his collegiate debut against No. 2 LSU last weekend.
All stats & info provided by Nebraska Athletics
Not even more sickness could stop the No. 12 Nebraska men’s basketball team.
With a nasty flu strain ripping through the Huskers and the UNL campus as a whole, Nebraska needed a little more time to take care of Maryland, but freshman star Braden Frager and his team-high 21 points and eight rebounds led a late NU surge for a 74-61 victory over the Terrapins. Forward Pryce Sandfort added to the effort with 16 points and eight rebounds while both Rienk Mast (13) and Sam Hoiberg (12) also reached double figures.
Now with just three games remaining in the regular season, the Huskers venture west for a two-game road trip to L.A., where they start off against a USC team in the middle of a long losing skid. Here’s all you need to know for Saturday’s mid-afternoon showdown between the Huskers and Trojans.
How to Follow Along
- Matchup: Nebraska (24-4, 13-4 B1G) at USC (18-10, 7-10 B1G)
- When: Saturday, February 28
- Where: Galen Center, Los Angeles, Calif.
- Time: 3 p.m. CST
- Watch: Big Ten Network
- Listen: Huskers Radio Network and Affiliates
USC Scout
Head Coach
- Eric Musselman | 2nd season at USC; 11th as HC
- 35-28 (.556) at USC; 256-121 (.679) College Career Record
- 6x NCAA Tournament Apps., 2x Elite Eight, 2x Sweet 16, 1x CBI Championship
- 3x MWC regular season, 1x MWC tournament
- 1x MWC Coach OTY (2018), 1x NBA D-League Coach OTY (2012)
- Previous head coach at Arkansas, Nevada, Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors
- Previous assistant at LSU, Arizona State, Memphis Grizzlies, Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic and Minnesota Timberwolves
2024-2025 Record & Awards
- Record: 17-18 (7-13 B1G, T-12th)
- Finish: L, 60-59 to Villanova in CBC Quarterfinals
- All-B1G: 1x Honorable Mention
All-Time Series
- USC leads 6-5
- Jan. 22, 2025, last matchup, 78-73 USC
Key Returners
- Terrance Williams II | F | Gr. | Was off to a great start with 10.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game last year before getting knocked out for the season just seven games in; has not been the same with just 2.5 PPG in 27 contests this season.
Key Departures
- Desmond Claude | G | Transfer | Named All-Big Ten Honorable Mention last season for the Trojans after leading the team with 15.8 points per game, but transferred to Washington over the offseason.
- Wesley Yates III | G | Transfer | Another player that transferred to Washington, the Texas native was second on the team last season in scoring (14.1) and steals (40) as a redshirt freshman.
- Chibuzo Agbo | G | Graduated | Veteran guard that scored 11.8 points per contest while leading the team with 76 made three-pointers as part of his final college season.
- Saint Thomas | F | Graduated | The Omaha native and Millard North graduate scored 9.5 points and grabbed 5.9 rebounds per game in his final college season.
- Rashaun Agee | F | Graduated | A 6-foot-8 veteran forward who proved to be USC’s most dangerous threat off the bench by scoring over nine points per game.
- Josh Cohen | F | Graduated | A 6-foot-10 post that started in 25 of his 33 appearances while adding 5.9 points per game for the Trojans.
- Clark Slajchert | G | Graduated | Another key reserve for the Trojans who put up four points per game in 11 minutes across 27 games.
- Kevin Patton Jr. | F | Transfer | After scoring 9.8 PPG at San Diego, the California native saw limited action for USC off the bench to prompt his transfer to New Mexico over the offseason.
- Matt Knowling | F | Graduated | Played in 27 contests with an average of over 18 minutes, but added little production with three points and 2.6 rebounds.
Impact Transfers/Newcomers
- Rodney Rice | G | Jr. | The third leading scorer from a Sweet 16 Maryland squad last season, the transfer scored over 20 points per game for the Trojans before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in December.
- Chad Baker-Mazara | G/F | Gr. | A veteran transfer that aided Auburn’s run to the Final Four last season, the Dominican Republic native leads all active Trojans with 18.6 points per game and 71 total assists.
- Ezra Ausar | F | Sr. | The 6-foot-9 forward transfer from Utah scores over 15 points per game and grabs over six rebounds per contest in an elevated role after the injury to Rice.
- Alijah Arenas | G | Fr. | The son of former NBA star Gilbert Arenas, the true freshman missed the first 18 games of the season, but he’s been highly productive with a 13.9 points per game average in his first 10 college games.
- Jacob Cofie | F | Soph. | A massive 6-foot-10 forward from Seattle, the Virginia transfer gives USC a weapon inside with 9.8 points and seven rebounds per game as a full-time starter.
- Kam Woods | G | Gr. | A mid-season transfer from Robert Morris, where he led the program to its 10th NCAA Tournament appearance, the Alabama native has added over eight points and four rebounds in 16 contests this year.
- Jordan Marsh | G | Jr. | The 2025 Big South Conference Newcomer of the Year last season at UNC-Ashville, Marsh acts as the sixth man for the Trojans with 6.7 PPG to lead all reserves.
- Jaden Brownell | F | Gr. | A 6-foot-10 bench forward, the USC big man was a 14-point scorer at Samford last season before making his way to L.A.
- Jerry Easter II | G | Fr. | An Ohio native who went to the heralded Link Academy in Missouri, Easter II has earned six starts in his 26 appearances by scoring 4.4 points per game.
- Gabe Dynes | C | Jr. | The 7-foot-5 center led the country in blocks (104) last season at Youngstown State before transferring to USC, where he’s putting up three points per game, but has collected 30 blocks while only averaging 12 minutes per appearance.
Outlook
A veteran head coach at both the college and NBA levels, Eric Musselman was at the center of one of college basketball’s wildest coaching carousel moves following the 2023–24 season, leaving Arkansas for USC and paving the way for the legendary John Calipari to take over the Razorbacks program.
While Calipari marched his team to a Sweet 16 appearance in his first season, Musselman’s debut season in L.A. ended with a quarterfinal loss in the CBC for an underwhelming year. What followed was an exodus from the program, with top-two scorers Desmond Claude (15.8) and Wesley Yates III (14.1) both transferring to Washington despite standout seasons. Six others graduated, including Omaha native Saint Thomas (9.5) as well as Chibuzo Agbo, a veteran guard who scored 11.8 points per game in his final college season.
That resulted in a whole new crop of transfers to join the team, including the crown jewel of the haul in Rodney Rice, who played a big part in helping Maryland reach the Sweet 16 last season. The junior started out hot for the Trojans, logging over 20 points per game, but a devastating shoulder injury ended his season just seven games in, which immediately lowered the ceiling for a USC team with decent talent. Chad Baker-Mazara has stepped up in the place of Rice with 18.6 points per game and a team-high 71 assists after transferring from Auburn, where he helped the Tigers reach the Final Four.
Utah transfer Ezra Ausar has produced at a high level with over 15 points and six rebounds per contest. Despite missing the first 18 games of the season, true freshman Alijah Arenas has averaged 13.9 points per game as a starter. Sophomore and Virginia transfer Jacob Cofie is the muscle in the post, scoring 9.8 points per game and grabbing a team-high seven rebounds per contest. Similar to Arenas, Robert Morris transfer Kam Woods has been a big mid-season addition with over eight points and 4.6 rebounds per game. Plus, Jordan Marsh (6.7), Jaden Brownell (5.3), and 7-foot-5 center Gabe Dynes give Musselman the opportunity to mix-and-match his lineup off the bench depending on the matchup.
The Rice injury is massive, and could end up being one of the primary reasons for the Trojans missing the NCAA Tournament, for which they are a bubble team in the latest projections. It’s crunch time for USC, which is in the midst of a four-game losing streak after dropping contests to Ohio State, No. 10 Illinois, Oregon, and UCLA. Three of those four were winnable for the Trojans and games that could really haunt them as they search for key wins down the stretch to lock up a spot in March Madness.
Against a Trojan team that doesn’t defend well, but ranks as one of the top rebounding teams in the conference, USC is an interesting matchup for Nebraska. Being on the road and dealing with more sickness isn’t helpful, but I’m riding the Huskers for this one to reach 25 wins on the year.
Nebraska
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.
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.
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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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.”
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.
“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.
“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.”
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.”
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.
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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