Nebraska

HuskerOnline – Nebraska Opponent Spring Review: Wisconsin

Published

3 years ago

May 28, 2022

HuskerOnline – Nebraska Opponent Spring Review: Wisconsin

As Nebraska enters a vital fifth season below head coach Scott Frost in 2022, we determined to have a look at the place issues stand with the Huskers’ 12 opponents popping out of spring practices.

Immediately, we proceed with Wisconsin, which is hoping some offseason shakeups can spark one other run at a Massive Ten West title in 2022.

Jon McNamara from BadgerBlitz.com gave his ideas on the Badgers” offseason and their upcoming matchup with Nebraska in Lincoln.

1. Engram brings a brand new identification to the offense

Wisconsin has turn into often known as a program of stability over the previous couple of a long time, however the Badgers shook issues up on the offensive facet of the ball this offseason.

In one of the vital energetic winters below head coach Paul Chryst, UW introduced in former Penn State star receiver and long-time NFL assistant Bobby Engram as its new offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach.

That rent was particularly notable as a result of, till now, these had been the roles – together with calling the performs – that Chryst dealt with himself alongside together with his head teaching duties.

It’s nonetheless unknown whether or not Chryst will flip over full play-calling management to Engram this fall or if will probably be a shared duty between them, however Engram’s affect ought to change issues up in Madison to some extent.

2. Bostad’s return to the offensive line

From 2008-11, Bob Bostad oversaw one of the vital spectacular stretches of offensive line play Wisconsin has ever had.

Together with serving to information the Badgers to back-to-back Massive Ten titles in 2010 and ’11 because the staff’s offensive line coach and run recreation coordinator, he groomed eight NFL draft picks over 4 seasons, together with three first-round choices.

Bostad left UW for the NFL from 2012-15 after which rejoined the staff in 2017, however as the within linebackers coach.

However when Joe Rudolph left to take a job at Virginia Tech in January, Chryst didn’t hesitate to offer the keys to certainly one of Wisconsin’s proudest items again to Bostad.

Expectations for that group are very excessive, because the hope is that Bostad can return the o-line to its once-dominant kind.

3. How far can Graham Mertz take the Badgers?

After storming onto the scene as a redshirt freshman in 2020 and throwing 5 touchdowns within the season opener, Wisconsin’s offense has been a blended bag below quarterback Graham Mertz.

A former highschool All-American and the highest-rated quarterback signee in program historical past, Mertz solely threw for 1,800 yards and had extra interceptions (10) than he did landing passes (9) final season.

Having began the previous 20 video games for the Badgers, Mertz will as soon as once more take the reins of the offense in 2022 with a profession report of 13-7 as a starter.

Wisconsin will at all times rely closely upon its operating recreation, particularly with star operating again Braelon Allen returning. However for the UW to achieve its full potential, it is aware of it wants extra stability and manufacturing by the air.

Is Mertz lastly able to play as much as his lofty recruiting profile? Or will or not it’s extra of the identical in his third season below heart?

A brand new offensive coordinator would possibly assist his growth, however Wisconsin’s offense will solely go so far as Mertz takes it.

McNamara: “Final yr’s recreation was sort of a nail-biter, and I believe if there had perhaps two or three extra minutes, perhaps Nebraska comes out on prime.

“Clearly, I don’t have an ideal perspective on Nebraska proper now, however they’ve been aggressive each yr, and have at all times performed Wisconsin extraordinarily robust.

“This yr, going to Nebraska, I sort of take a look at that recreation as a toss-up. I believe it may go both manner. I believe Nebraska is transferring in the proper route, and I believe Wisconsin has gotten higher. I believe that one will go right down to the wire.”

McNamara: “I believe that is most likely about an eight- or nine-win Wisconsin staff, and any time you’re round there, you’re going to have a shot at making it to Indianapolis for the Massive Ten title recreation. That’s simply the way in which the divisions have performed out.

“So I really feel like Wisconsin will completely be within the combine for the Massive Ten title dialog as a result of they do play within the Massive Ten West.

“I believe the offensive line shall be improved; they need to have the ability to run the soccer, they usually have a greater set of receivers than they did a yr in the past. The protection misplaced some guys, however they reloaded, and I believe they need to be good, too.

“That’s why quite a lot of that may experience on what Graham Mertz is ready to do. I’m taking a look at this as perhaps a two or three-loss staff, and perhaps when all is claimed and finished, they end 9-3. That’s what I’ll say proper now.”

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Nebraska

Southern Illinois Transfer Defensive Back Jamir Conn Commits to Nebraska

Published

4 hours ago

January 5, 2025

Press Room

Southern Illinois Transfer Defensive Back Jamir Conn Commits to Nebraska

KALEB HENRY

Kaleb Henry is an award-winning sports reporter, covering collegiate athletics since 2014 via radio, podcasting, and digital journalism. His experience with Big Ten Conference teams goes back more than a decade, including time covering programs such as the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Oregon Ducks, and USC Trojans. He has contributed to Sports Illustrated since 2021. Kaleb has won multiple awards for his sports coverage from the Nebraska Broadcasters Association and Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association. Prior to working in sports journalism, Kaleb was a Division I athlete on the Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Track and Field team where he discussed NCAA legislation as SIUE’s representative to the Ohio Valley Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

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Nebraska

Coach Mick Cronin Critiques UCLA’s Performance After Loss to Nebraska

Published

11 hours ago

January 5, 2025

Press Room

Coach Mick Cronin Critiques UCLA’s Performance After Loss to Nebraska

The No. 15-ranked UCLA men’s basketball team suffered its first Big Ten Conference loss of the season, falling 66-58 to Nebraska on Saturday afternoon at Pinnacle Bank Arena. The defeat dropped the Bruins to 11-3 overall and 2-1 in the conference. Despite a strong defensive start, UCLA’s offense struggled, particularly from beyond the arc, where they shot just 4-of-28 (14.3%).

Coach Mick Cronin was blunt in his assessment of the game when he addressed the media postgame.

“We didn’t play well enough to win against a good team on the road.” he said. “That’s really all I have to say.”

Cronin didn’t mince words when evaluating the performance of his bench players.

“Dylan Andrews has got to play way better or Dominick Harris or Trent Perry got opportunities today,” he said. “They played a combined 17 minutes, neither one of them scored. I told them they were going to get an opportunity with Eric out. They played for 17 minutes and didn’t get a basket.”

The Bruins’ struggles from the floor were evident, as Cronin pointed out.

“If you shoot the ball as poorly as we did, the only chance you have is to take care of the ball,” he said. “You can’t give them 17 points off your turnovers. You’ve got no chance, can’t overcome it. It’s just math at the end of the day.”

UCLA’s poor shooting performance was highlighted by a drastic dip in their 3-point shooting percentage.

“We shot 42% from the three in the month of December as a team. Today we shot 14%,” Cronin said.

He explained that when the Bruins couldn’t hit their shots, Nebraska’s defense tightened, making it even harder for UCLA to score.

“They did a good job, but I got to be honest, we missed a ton of open shots,” Cronin said. “They just try to take the paint away from you, and what happens is, in Basketball, and this isn’t just this game, when you can’t make a shot, they pack it in even tighter. You start making shots, all of a sudden, their cutting, their laying it in because you’ve got to open your defense up. So, the floor gets real, real small and easier to defend when nobody can make a shot.”

Despite the tough loss, Cronin was quick to credit Nebraska for their defensive effort.

“Their players did a great job on the defensive end. They were the better defensive team today, and that’s why they won,” he said. “I don’t think environment has anything to do with anything, I just don’t. I think it makes it more fun for the players … somebody cheers so you play better? Not a big believer in that.”

Tyler Bilodeau led UCLA with 15 points, while Lazar Stefanovic added 10. Kobe Johnson contributed a career-high 11 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the offensive struggles. Despite solid individual efforts, UCLA couldn’t find consistency as a team, especially from long-range.

The Bruins will return to Pauley Pavilion to host Michigan on Jan. 7. Cronin and his team will need to refocus and recover from this setback as they continue their Big Ten journey.

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Nebraska

Snow showers will stick around until early Sunday afternoon

Published

19 hours ago

January 5, 2025

Press Room

Snow showers will stick around until early Sunday afternoon

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (KNOP) – It’s really going to feel like winter as we go through the next week with highs falling through the 30s to mainly in the 20s. There will be lots of cloud cover this week, and we will be on the western fringe of a snow system that will give light to moderate amounts of snow and ice to the Central Midwest. For us, some could pick up 2-3″ of snow as it stays breezy from Saturday through Sunday.

A very chilly Saturday to start the weekend.(Maxuser | Justin Craft)

Saturday we kept mostly cloudy skies with snow showers/freezing rain; it was breezy with highs in the lower 20s. Sunday snow showers taper off late morning/ early afternoon, then we keep the mostly cloudy skies; colder with highs near 16. We’re under a winter weather advisory until 6:00 pm Sunday.

About another inch or two of snow through Sunday morning across Greater Nebraska.(Maxuser | Justin Craft)

Monday we will have partly cloudy skies with highs near 30. Tuesday brings mostly cloudy skies with highs in the low 20s. Wednesday we will have sunny skies; warmer with highs in the mid-30s.

Thursday look for partly cloudy skies, it will be breezy with highs in the upper 30s. Friday sunny skies and highs near 34. Next Saturday partly cloudy skies and highs near 43.