Nebraska
How to Watch Nebraska Men’s Basketball vs. Boise State in the Crown Semifinals: Preview, Breakdown, TV Channel
As Rod Tidwell once famously said, “Show me the money!”.
That’s the case for the Nebraska men’s basketball team who locked in a $50,000 NIL package with its win over a depleted Georgetown team in the quarterfinals of the College Basketball Crown on Wednesday night. With two of their three leading scorers still held out due to illness, the Hoyas couldn’t keep up with the Huskers.
Brice Williams poured in a game-high 28 points while Juway Gary added a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Plus, Andrew Morgan chipped in 12 points and nine rebounds off the bench as NU locked up multiple wins in the postseason for the first time since 2004. Extending their trip in Vegas, the Huskers move on to the semifinals of the CBC which sees them face off against a Boise State squad who had legitimate beef with the selection committee to earn an at-large spot for the NCAA Tournament.
Here’s all you need to know as Nebraska takes on the Broncos for a Saturday afternoon showdown in the College Basketball Crown.
How to Follow Along
Boise State Scout
Head Coach: Leon Rice | 15th Season at Boise State; 17th as HC | 296-176 (.627) at BSU | 5x NCAA Tournament Appearances, 2x MWC regular season titles, 1x MWC tournament title | 2x MWC Coach OTY | Previous head coach at Yakima Valley CC | Previous assistant at Gonzaga, Yakima Valley CC, Northern Colorado and Oregon.
2024-2025 Record: 26-10 (14-6 MWC, T-4th) | MWC Sixth Man OTY, 1x All-MWC First Team, 1x All-MWC Second Team.
All-Time Series: First meeting.
MWC Tournament: L, 69-56 to No. 2 seed Colorado State in MWC Championship.
Notable Wins: *Clemson (84-71), *Saint Mary’s (67-65), *New Mexico (86-78), *New Mexico (72-69).
*Signifies NCAA Tournament Qualifier
Key Absences: Dylan Anderson, C, Soph, 3.5 PPG, 1.7 RPG (Transfer Portal) | Chris Lockett Jr., G, R-Fr., 3.1 PPG, 1.4 RPG (Transfer Portal).
Projected Lineup: Tyson Degenhart, F, Sr. (18.1 PPG, 6.1 RPG) | Alvaro Cardenas, G, Sr. (11.7 PPG, 6.9 PPG) | Andrew Meadow, F, Soph. (12.6 PPG, 4.3 RPG) | Pearson Carmichael, F, Fr. (6.6 PPG, 2.6 RPG) | O’Mar Stanley, F, Sr. (6.8 PPG, 4.7 RPG).
Outlook: Unlike its first two opponents, Nebraska will take on a Boise State team that’s full strength and has all impact players ready to play. The Broncos were good in a standout Mountain West Conference that got four teams into the Dance (Colorado State, Utah State, New Mexico, San Diego St.), but were left on the outside looking in on Selection Sunday. That’s why Boise State was one of the favorites heading into the CBC and it’s for good reason.
All-Mountain West first team selection senior forward Tyson Degenhart leads the way for the Broncos pouring in a team-leading 18.7 PPG and over six rebounds. He teams up with fellow forward Andrew Morgan (12.6 PPG) to create a dangerous frontcourt for the Broncos. Plus, head coach Leon Rice and Boise State have Mountain West Sixth Man of the Year Javan Buchanan come off the bench. He’s fourth on the team with a 9.6 PPG average, but was the leading scorer in the quarterfinal win over Butler by adding 27 points in the Broncos 100-93 victory.
Point guard Alvaro Cardnenas leads the backcourt for Boise and is third double-digit scorer with 11.7 PPG and over six assists per contest. He’s volatile with a team-high 85 turnovers, but he also leads the Broncos with 51 steals while also chipping in over three rebounds per game. BSU is forward heavy, but RJ Keene II will be the other primary guard as the 6-foot-7 junior as the grinder as he averages 2.1 points and 4.5 rebounds in 35 games this season. While they don’t turn in the most production on the team, forwards O’Mar Stanley (6.8 PPG, 4.7 RPG) and Pearson Carmichael (6.6 PPG, 2.6 RPG) complete a very tall and lengthy starting lineup for the Broncos.
The Broncos were top three in both overall scoring (76 PPG) and defense (66.6 PPG) in the Mountain West during the regular season, so they’re stout across the board. BSU can’t shoot from beyond the arc ranking 10th of 11 teams in three-point shooting (31.6%). However, as one can assume from their lineup’s height, rebounding is the key to the Broncos’ success as they led the conference in fewest opponent rebounds per game while ranking second in team rebounds (36.3). Plus, they were the conference leader in team free-throw percentage at 77.8% so it’s pretty obvious what Boise State’s game plan is.
Unfortunately, that’s not a great matchup for Nebraska. Granted, the Huskers were middle of the pack in rebounding this year in the Big Ten, but one of the biggest critiques of the team has been the lack of control inside the paint. There shouldn’t be too much worry about Williams getting his points in, but there’s a real question about Gary’s impact if the Broncos can key on him. Considering the Broncos style of play and how their team’s built, give me Boise State to win this one and end Nebraska’s season.
Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.
The results are in for the Nebraska Lottery’s draw games on Sunday, April 19, 2026.
Here’s a look at winning numbers for each game on April 19.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 19 drawing
4-3-3
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 5 numbers from April 19 drawing
14-19-24-30-34
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning 2 By 2 numbers from April 19 drawing
Red Balls: 01-02, White Balls: 09-26
Check 2 By 2 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning MyDay numbers from April 19 drawing
Month: 08, Day: 16, Year: 61
Check MyDay payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from April 19 drawing
32-42-52-53-55, Bonus: 05
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Nebraska Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3, 5: By 10 p.m. CT daily.
- Lucky For Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
- 2 By 2: By 10 p.m. CT daily.
- MyDaY: By 10 p.m. CT daily.
- Lotto America: 9:15 p.m CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a USA Today editor. You can send feedback using this form.
The New Orleans Saints made a big splash in free agency when they signed Travis Etienne Jr. to pair with Alvin Kamara in the backfield. Etienne’s addition probably means that the Saints won’t select a back with an early choice in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, don’t be surprised if the team adds another back with a later pick. If that’s the case, Emmett Johnson of the Nebraska Cornhuskers could be someone on their radar.
Etienne will likely be the featured back, but Kamara’s future beyond 2026 is in some doubt. Kamara turns 31 in July and is entering his 10th season with a big contract after already showing some possible decline. Behind them, Kendre Miller has proven he shouldn’t be relied on and 2025 sixth round choice Devin Neal has flashed potential but remains unproven. The Saints may be wise to add more talent to their backfield with a middle or later round pick.
Emmett Johnson bio
- Position: Running back
- College: Nebraska Cornhuskers
- Height: 5-feet, 10 inches
- Weight: 202 pounds
- 40-yard dash: 4.56 seconds
- 10-yard split: 1.59 seconds
- 3-cone drill: 7.32 seconds
- 20-yard shuttle: 4.29 seconds
- Vertical jump: 35.5″
- Broad jump: 10′
Recipient of the 2021 Minnesota Mr. Football award at Academy of Holy Angels High School, Johnson began with the Nebraska Cornhuskers as a three-star recruit. He’d take a redshirt in 2022 then rushed for 411 yards with 2 scores in 2023 as part of a backfield committee. In 2024, Johnson picked up 598 yards on the ground and caught 39 passes for 286 yards with 3 total scores.
By 2025, Johnson was the Cornhuskers featured weapon and exploded onto the national radar. Johnson’s 1,451 rushing yards and 251 carries both led the Big Ten and were among the NCAA leaders. He also caught a team-high 46 passes and scored 15 touchdowns, as his 1,821 yards from scrimmage were second across the NCAA. Those eye-popping numbers earned him 1st Team All-American honors as well as the 2025 Big Ten Running Back of the Year.
Strengths
- Hits rushing lanes with authority
- Makes sharp cuts at top speed
- Decisive north-south runner
- Good acceleration into the second level
- Legitimate receiving threat
Weaknesses
- Doesn’t have breakaway speed
- Has trouble creating yards when the hole isn’t there
- Must maintain balance better through contact
- Doesn’t break many tackles
- Only one year of high-level production
Emmett Johnson 2026 draft outlook
Johnson’s 2025 tape and production are worthy of a high pick, but teams looking for a featured back might be wary of his lack of power. Still, Johnson has a strong chance of being picked somewhere on the second day and shouldn’t last later than the fourth round. His decisive one-cut and go style and receiving ability gives him a strong chance to be an instant contributor with an incredibly high upside of a potential starter.
New Orleans has had success with late-round picks and undrafted players at running back. Emmett Johnson won’t last that long. But, if Johnson slips into Day 3, the Saints could be tempted to add him and bolster their backfield in multiple ways.
Carson Jasa pitched a strong game, earning his second complete-game of the season. Nebraska’s offense started fast and kept rolling, leading to a 12-2 run-rule win over No. 12 USC in seven innings on Saturday at Hawks Field. This marked head coach Will Bolt’s 200th career win at Nebraska.
A season-high crowd of 7,602 fans filled the ballpark, making for one of the most exciting games of the year. This attendance is the 25th largest in Hawks Field history and the second biggest since Nebraska joined the Big Ten, just behind the 7,650 fans at a 2021 doubleheader against Michigan. The fans saw Nebraska play a complete game, improving to 30-9 overall and 14-3 in the conference. USC fell to 30-10 and 13-7 in Big Ten play.
Nebraska’s offense scored 12 runs on 12 hits and made only one error. USC scored just two runs on five hits and had two defensive mistakes. Drew Grego led the way, going 3-for-4 and missing the cycle by only a triple. He hit a home run, a double, and drove in four runs. Dylan Carey also went 3-for-4 with a home run and scored three times. Case Sanderson went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs, and Jett Buck added a double and scored three runs. Mac Moyer, Joshua Overbeek, and Trey Fikes each had a hit.
Jasa took control on the mound right from the start. He pitched all seven innings, giving up just two runs, only one earned, on five hits. He struck out seven and walked only two, moving his record to 7-1 this season.
The Huskers started strong, taking an early lead in the first inning. Nebraska sent eight batters to the plate and scored four runs right away. Sanderson brought in the first run with a groundout that scored Moyer. Buck hit a double to bring home Carey, Grego added an RBI double to score Buck, and Overbeek finished the inning with a single that made it 4-0.
Nebraska added to its lead in the third inning with three solo home runs.. Sanderson and Carey hit back-to-back homers, and Grego followed by sending the first pitch he saw over the left field wall. That made it 7-0 and put the game out of reach.
The Huskers continued to add on in the fifth inning, capitalizing on aggressive baserunning. Carey and Buck each stole. The Huskers kept building their lead in the fifth inning by taking advantage of aggressive baserunning. Carey and Buck both stole bases to get into scoring position, and Grego singled to left field to drive them both in, making it 9-0.
USC rallied briefly in the top of the seventh, scoring two runs on three hits and a Nebraska error. A solo home run gave the Trojans their first run, and a mix of hits and a defensive mistake brought in another, making it 10-2. Stokes drew walks to put runners on base, and Trey Fikes delivered an RBI single to left field. A USC fielding error on the play allowed both Buck and Stokes to score, ending the game at 12-2 and clinching the series for the Huskers.
Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.
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