Nebraska
NCAA Tournament Big Ten report— Nebraska makes first Sweet 16
The Big Ten dominated Saturday in the NCAA Tournament with four wins. Michigan and Illinois both looked like teams that were far superior to their opponents. Nebraska still has some magic left in what has been a very magical season.
Here are the scores and the rest of my analysis from the Big Ten games in the NCAA Tournament from second-round Saturday:
No. 1 Michigan 95-72 vs No. 9 Saint Louis
The Wolverines defense held Robert Avila in check and the rest of Saint Louis’s top guys. Yaxel Lendeborg for the Wolverines went in takeover mode, and it added a dangerous element to Michigan’s offense. Lendeborg went off for 25 points, shot 3-5 from 3, and had 6 rebounds. To complement Lendeborg’s great showing, Michigan held in 40 rebounds and shot 47.8% from 3. It was another game where Michigan looked miles ahead of its competition. It’s hard not to view this team as one that will be one of the final teams left at the end of March.
No. 3 Michigan State 77-69 vs No. 6 Louisville
Without star guard Mikel Brown Jr. for Louisville, it was going to be a steep hill to climb to get this victory. Coen Carr and Jeremy Fears Jr. make things even worse with stellar performances. Carr had 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks. Jeremy Fears Jr. had a solid scoring night but was still an elite facilitator with 16 assists. The Spartans’ offense was on par, even with 34 rebounds, and as an offense, shooting 42.3% from 3. Tom Izzo and the Spartans keep the momentum high with another big tournament win.
No. 3 Illinois 76-55 vs No. 11 VCU
VCU played better than in this game than they did in their prebopsi win over North Carolina. Losing Nyk Lewis early in this game was a tough blow, but even with an improved showing, they needed another 30-point masterclass from Terrence Hill Jr., and they didn’t get that. Hill Jr. only posted 17 points off the bench, while Illinois dominated VCU. Tomislav set the game on fire with his poster dunk, and that really sealed the fate of this game. He also chipped in 14 points and played a huge part in the Fighting Illini’s dominant performance on the glass. Andrej Stojakovic led the way with his 21-point performance. Illinois now heads to the Sweet 16.
No. 5 Vanderbilt 74-72 vs No. 4 Nebraska
Just another game showing why college basketball is amazing in March. 8 seconds left in the game, and the Cornhuskers do not call a timeout and immediately take the ball up and get a game-winning layup. Vanderbilt gets two seconds for a half-court heave, and it is as close as it gets to sinking in before rattling out. What a game. The perfect season keeps going for Nebraska. This game was too close for comfort all the way through, and down the stretch, both teams were trading buckets. The Cornhuskers got 4 of their players to reach double figures, and it was their shooting 47.4% and 55.8% from the field that made the difference. The Cornhuskers made the shots, and they head to the sweet 16 now after getting their first tournament win ever.
Overview
The momentum is still high in the Big Ten as the top teams from the regular season are having similar success in the NCAA tournament. Nebraska’s dream season has yet to come to an end, and they top their only tournament win in program history with a thrilling win over Vanderbilt.
Nebraska
Disaster declaration sought for May storm damage in Nebraska
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen said Thursday that he has asked President Donald Trump to issue a major disaster declaration for damage caused by storms that hit the state May 15-18.
The storms spawned tornadoes and flash flooding across Buffalo, Fillmore, Gage, Howard, Jefferson, Nemaha, Thayer and Thurston counties. There were numerous downed power poles and lines as well as extensive damage to schools, building and roadways. Damage just to public infrastructure is estimated at nearly $5 million.
In addition to the disaster declaration request, Pillen said he also has requested access to the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which provides funding to governments to allow them to rebuild in ways that will reduce or mitigate future disaster losses. Approval would allow the state to apply for such grants.
Thursday’s disaster declaration request is the second in two months. Back in May, Pillen requested one for historic wildfires in March that impacted Arthur, Garden, Grant, Lincoln and Morill counties. At the time of the request, it was estimated there was at least $9.7 million in damage from the fires, which were the worst in Nebraska’s history.
Nebraska
Bandits back in the win column with tournament-opening victory in Nebraska – East Idaho News
OMAHA, Neb. – The Bandits opened the Omaha, Nebraska tournament with a 7-4 win over Fremont.
The Bandits, coming off two losses to Billings at last week’s Bandits Invitational, trailed 4-3 in the fifth, but tied it up on a sac fly by Cole Croft.
They scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth for the win.
Carter Bowen finished 3 for 3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Conner Cannon and Taye Lords each knocked in two runs for Idaho Falls (10-2).
Tyson Christenson picked up the win with four innings of relief.
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Nebraska
Today in History – June 17: Nebraska boomtown named Kearney County seat
LOWELL, Neb. (WOWT) – On this day in 1872, the boomtown of Lowell, Nebraska was named the seat of Kearney County.
The Nebraska State Historical Society says the Burlington and Missouri River Railroads chose it as a town site the year before.
For a short time, it became a major shipping point for central Nebraska.
Its status would be short-lived.
Later that year, the railroad expanded to Kearney, which became the center for regional trading.
Lowell’s land office was removed in 1874.
Four years later, the boom town was nothing more than a village.
MORE LOCAL HISTORY
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