Nebraska

Minnesota, Nebraska rise in USA TODAY Sports Big Ten women’s basketball power rankings

Published

1 year ago

January 9, 2025

Minnesota, Nebraska rise in USA TODAY Sports Big Ten women’s basketball power rankings

Conference play is in full swing for Big Ten women’s basketball, with elite matchups on the docket all throughout each week.

Minnesota and Nebraska are on the rise, and the teams at the top haven’t missed a beat.

Here are the latest USA TODAY Sports Network Big Ten women’s basketball power rankings. Rankings are reflective of games through Jan. 8.

1. UCLA (16-0)

Previously: No. 1

What to know: The Bruins keep rolling right along, having snagged road wins at Indiana and Purdue. UCLA won’t face another nationally ranked team until Jan. 26.

2. USC (15-1)

Previously: No. 2

What to know: The Trojans completed a successful East Coast swing with road wins over Rutgers and Maryland. USC doesn’t have another ranked matchup as of now until Feb. 2.

3. Ohio State (15-0)

Previously: No. 4

What to know: Wednesday’s big road win at Michigan adds significant substance to Ohio State’s hot start. The Buckeyes don’t have another ranked matchup until Jan. 23.

4. Maryland (14-1)

Previously: No. 3

What to know: Wednesday’s home loss to USC was offset some by wins over Rutgers and Iowa since the last rankings. A daunting stretch is upcoming, though, with Maryland set to face three top-10 teams between Jan. 20 and Jan. 26.

5. Minnesota (16-1)

Previously: No. 8

What to know: There are still strength-of-schedule questions, especially considering Minnesota dropped its only ranked matchup so far. But the Golden Gophers continue ripping off wins to balance things out. A Tuesday trek to Maryland will put Minnesota under the microscope.

6. Michigan State (12-3)

Previously: No. 5

What to know: Wednesday’s road loss at Nebraska marked Michigan State’s third loss in its last four games. The Spartans will look to get back on track Sunday versus Washington.

7. Iowa (12-3)

Previously: No. 6

What to know: The home stumble against Maryland was a disappointing one, especially considering many foes don’t escape Carver-Hawkeye Arena with a victory. Looking at current rankings, the Hawkeyes won’t face another top-25 team until Feb. 2. Iowa needs to stack wins until then.

8. Nebraska (12-4)

Previously: No. 10

What to know: The Cornhuskers needed their 2-0 showing since the last poll, after dropping three straight ranked matchups in a 10-day span. Road trips to Rutgers and Iowa are upcoming.

9. Indiana (11-4)

Previously: No. 7

What to know: The Hoosiers gave it a whirl against No. 1 UCLA, but Indiana couldn’t pull out the home upset last weekend. After winning at Northwestern on Wednesday, the Hoosiers have a tricky trip to Iowa on Sunday.

10. Michigan (10-5)

Previously: No. 9

What to know: The Wolverines have suddenly dropped three straight after Wednesday’s upset bid at Ohio State fell short. Michigan has a favorable matchup Saturday at Purdue to get back on schedule.

11. Washington (12-4)

Previously: No. 11

What to know: The Huskies have won five straight but are currently set to face four ranked teams in their next six games.

12. Illinois (11-4)

Previously: No. 12

What to know: The Fighting Illini need some positive momentum after consecutive losses to Washington and Minnesota.

13. Oregon (11-4)

Previously: No. 13

What to know: An upcoming East Coast road swing offers Oregon a chance to climb in the coming days.

14. Wisconsin (10-6)

Previously: No. 14

What to know: Wisconsin is on a four-game losing streak after its West Coast trip to Oregon and Washington produced two losses. Things don’t get any easier with upcoming games against Maryland and Ohio State.

15. Penn State (9-6)

Previously: No. 15

What to know: Already on a four-game losing streak, the path gets even tougher for Penn State with road trips to USC and UCLA lurking.

16. Rutgers (8-8)

Previously: No. 16

What to know: The Scarlet Knights will host Nebraska on Sunday, trying to snap a four-game losing streak.

17. Purdue (7-8)

Previously: No. 17

What to know: Purdue enters Saturday’s game against Michigan on a three-game losing streak.

18. Northwestern (7-9)

Previously: No. 18

What to know: Northwestern will enter its West Coast swing to UCLA and USC on a four-game losing streak.

Dargan Southard is a sports trending reporter and covers Iowa athletics for the Des Moines Register and HawkCentral.com. Email him at msouthard@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.

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Nebraska

Missing 8-year-old girl found safe in Nebraska following Amber Alert in Wisconsin

Published

9 hours ago

April 4, 2026

Press Room

Missing 8-year-old girl found safe in Nebraska following Amber Alert in Wisconsin

One person was taken into custody in Nebraska, and a woman is being interviewed in connection to an Amber Alert case out of Wisconsin.According to WISN, Wautoma police said an eight-year-old girl went missing on Friday.She was believed to be with Joseph Nicpon, 44, and Betty Lenz, 34, and had been last seen on Interstate 90 near Sparta.An Amber Alert was then issued, stating she may be in danger after she went missing from Wautoma.The Federal Bureau of Investigation in Milwaukee announced it was supporting law enforcement in response to the Amber Alert in an effort to find the girl. According to Nebraska State Patrol, troopers received information about the vehicle associated with the Amber Alert. Troopers located the vehicle on Interstate 80 west of Gretna. NSP said the vehicle exited at the Greenwood interchange before turning onto Highway 63.Troopers said they had found the girl safe, and Nicpon was taken into custody. Police also said Lenz was taken in for questioning. Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |

WAUTOMA, Wis. —

One person was taken into custody in Nebraska, and a woman is being interviewed in connection to an Amber Alert case out of Wisconsin.

According to WISN, Wautoma police said an eight-year-old girl went missing on Friday.

She was believed to be with Joseph Nicpon, 44, and Betty Lenz, 34, and had been last seen on Interstate 90 near Sparta.

An Amber Alert was then issued, stating she may be in danger after she went missing from Wautoma.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation in Milwaukee announced it was supporting law enforcement in response to the Amber Alert in an effort to find the girl.

According to Nebraska State Patrol, troopers received information about the vehicle associated with the Amber Alert. Troopers located the vehicle on Interstate 80 west of Gretna.

NSP said the vehicle exited at the Greenwood interchange before turning onto Highway 63.

Troopers said they had found the girl safe, and Nicpon was taken into custody. Police also said Lenz was taken in for questioning.

Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.

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Nebraska

Southeast Nebraska neighbors: Obituaries for April 4

Published

21 hours ago

April 4, 2026

Press Room

Southeast Nebraska neighbors: Obituaries for April 4

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Nebraska

Nebraska’s Hoiberg named AP National Coach of the Year

Published

1 day ago

April 3, 2026

Press Room

Nebraska’s Hoiberg named AP National Coach of the Year

Nebraska basketball coach Fred Hoiberg has been rewarded – in a big way – after leading the Huskers to their best season in history.

Hoiberg on Friday was named The Associated Press National Coach of the Year.

Hoiberg led Nebraska to a 28-7 season that included a school record for both overall victories and conference victories, a record 24-game winning streak and the first two NCAA tournament wins in the school’s history.

He did all that with a team that among its seven regular players included two walk-ons, a redshirt freshman and a player who missed all of last year with a knee injury.

“It took us some time to get here, but it was all about getting the right players in here, especially the ones that the fans could get behind,” Hoiberg told The Associated Press.

That team was picked to finish 14th in the 18-team Big Ten this year. Instead, the Huskers finished tied for second.

Hoiberg summed up the team’s accomplishments in an interview with college basketball reporter Andy Katz.

“For all the things we accomplished this year — top five ranking, 20 straight wins, 15 wins in league — you know, a lot of doubters,” he said. “I think we accomplished a lot.”

Hoiberg becomes the first Husker men’s basketball coach to win the AP award in its 59-year history. He joins former Husker women’s basketball coach Connie Yori, who won the award in 2010.

The award comes after Hoiberg was named Big Ten coach of the year last month by the league’s coaches.

The coach who won only 24 games his first three seasons has won a school record 72 the past three seasons and this year became the first Husker men’s basketball coach in history to string together three consecutive 20-win seasons.

The university, recognizing his achievements, signed Hoiberg to a contract extension last month that raises his salary from $4.35 million a year to $5 million and extends his tenure through the 2031-2032 season.

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