Nebraska

Preview: Nebraska Begins Big Ten Tourney

Published

2 years ago

May 21, 2024

Preview: Nebraska Begins Big Ten Tourney

Nebraska Husker Baseball

OMAHA – Nebraska Baseball gears up for the Big Ten Baseball tournament in Omaha today with its first round matchup set with seventh seeded Ohio State:

NEBRASKA vs. OHIO STATE

May 21, 2024

Omaha, Neb. | Charles Schwab Field

Tuesday, May 21 – 2 p.m. CT

Pitching: TBD vs. TBD

TV/Streaming: BTN

Radio: Huskers Radio Network, Huskers.com, Huskers App

Follow the Game

• Every game of the 2024 Big Ten Baseball Tournament can be seen on Big Ten Network. Connor Onion and Danan Hughes will be on the call on BTN on Tuesday afternoon.

• Fans can also listen to Dave Gustafson Ben McLaughlin call the action this week 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. Ohio State

• Through 35 all-time meetings, Nebraska holds an 21-14 advantage over the Buckeyes in the all-time series.

• The Huskers took two of three games from Ohio State in a weekend series earlier this season in Lincoln.

• Tuesday’s matchup marks the sixth meeting between the two programs in the Big Ten Tournament. The Buckeyes have won three of the five meetings in the Big Ten Tournament after picking up a 3-1 win against the Big Red in 2019.

Huskers in the Big Ten Tournament

• This week marks the ninth Big Ten Tournament the Huskers have appeared in since joining the Big Ten in 2012.

• Nebraska holds a 14-15 record in 29 all-time games in the Big Ten Tournament, including an 8-7 mark in the four seasons the tournament has been played in Omaha.

Clark’s Mid-Season Evolution on the Mound

• It’s been a tale of two seasons in 2024 for Caleb Clark. After a slow start to the year, the southpaw has come on strong, providing key outings in crucial moments for the NU pitching staff in the last month.

• The sophomore has made 10 outings since Nebraska’s series at Rutgers in mid-April, allowing just eight earned runs in 21 innings for a 3.43 ERA.

• Clark has limited opposing hitters to a .173 hitting clip since making the change on the mound and has tallied 24 punchouts to nine walks.

Husker Duo Climb Strikeout List in Big Ten Era

• Brett Sears and Mason McConnaughey rank among leaders in single-season strikeouts by an NU pitcher since the Huskers joined the Big Ten in 2012.

• Sears has 87 strikeouts this season, which are third-most by a Husker in the Big Ten era and just one away from tying Cade Povich (2021) in second.

• McConnaughey ranks tied for seventh on the list with 70 strikeouts this year, just two shy of tying Shay Schanaman in sixth.

Middle-Third Production Boosting the Big Red

• Nebraska has been successful the second time through the lineup on the mound and in the batter’s box, outscoring opponents 151-75 in the middle-third innings this season.

• The Huskers hold a 54-20 advantage in the fourth inning, while outscoring opponents 45-20 in the fifth inning and 52-35 in the sixth inning.

• The Husker offense is hitting .306 at the plate with 76 extra-base hits and 141 RBI in the fourth through sixth innings, while the NU pitching staff is limiting opponents to a .237 hitting clip and a 3.84 ERA in the middle-third innings.

Sanderson’s Early Impact at Collegiate Level

• Freshman Case Sanderson leads the Huskers with a .373 batting average along with four doubles, a triple, two home runs and 21 RBI across 45 games, including 34 starts.

• The Nevada, Mo., native has reached base in 24 of his last 25 games and is hitting .385 (30-for-78) with six extra-base hits and 12 RBI over that span.

• Sanderson has reached base at a .510 clip this season for the Huskers, which ranks 19th in the nation and second in the Big Ten.

Silva’s Speed With Stolen Bases

• Riley Silva is one of five D1 players to steal 31-plus bases and be caught three-or-fewer times, joining K-State’s Brendan Jones as the only Power Five players this season.

• Silva is the 10th NU player since 2000 to swipe at least 20 bases, and the first Husker to steal 30-or-more bases in a season since Jamal Strong (35) in 2000.

Worthley, Daiss Holding Down the Husker Bullpen

• NU’s set-up man, Jalen Worthley, is 3-0 with a 3.64 ERA and four saves across a bullpen-high 29.1 innings. The southpaw has made a team-high 10 multi-inning relief appearances for NU and punched out 28 batters while issuing just six walks.

• The Huskers’ closer, Casey Daiss, leads the Big Red in saves (5) and boasts a 3.48 ERA across 20.2 innings of work. Daiss has held opponents scoreless in 15 of his 19 appearances this season for the Big Red.

Silva Plunked Third-Most Times in Season

• Riley Silva has been hit by pitch 23 times this season, which is third-most in program history.

• Silva is one away from tying Corey Miller (1996) in second and five shy of the program record of 28 set by Daniel Bruce in 2002.

Bats in the Nebraska Lineup

• Tyler Stone is batting .313 with eight home runs and 33 RBI for the Big Red, while Ben Columbus has posted a .309 average this season with four doubles, five home runs and 26 RBI.

• Cole Evans is hitting .265 this season with 10 doubles, five home runs, and 40 RBI over a team-high 53 games played, including 46 starts.

• Dylan Carey has hits in 16 of his last 24 games and leads the Big Red with 15 doubles, raising his batting average from .236 to .261 over that span.

• Rhett Stokes holds a .339 batting average with 11 doubles, a home run and 15 RBI, while Cayden Brumbaugh is hitting .323 with 11 doubles, three triples and 19 RBI.

• Garrett Anglim holds a .255 batting average this season with seven doubles, two homers and 22 RBI. Joshua Overbeek is batting .282 with 10 extra-base hits, 22 RBI and 34 runs scored.

Huskers in the Pen

• Rans Sanders has a 4.05 ERA for the Huskers across 13.1 innings with a pair of saves, allowing six earned runs this season.

• Kyle Perry’s 23 relief appearances lead all NU relievers as the senior is 1-2 with a 5.89 ERA and a career-high tying three saves.

• Evan Borst is limiting opponents to a .182 batting average (8-for-44) this season, posting 15 strikeouts over 12.1 innings of work.

• Kyle Froehlich has appeared in 18 games for the Huskers, punching out 18 batters while issuing five walks across 18.1 innings.

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Nebraska

Athlete of the Week: Creighton Prep boys wrestling’s Zaiyahn Ornelas

Published

4 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Athlete of the Week: Creighton Prep boys wrestling’s Zaiyahn Ornelas

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.”

The senior ended his career as the 39th four-time state champion in Nebraska history, winning three at Wilber-Clatonia before joining the Jr. Jays.

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.”

The sophomore won his first state title after finishing as a runner-up at 126 pounds as a freshman.

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.”

The junior finished the season as a back-to-back state champion after winning a gold medal at 175 pounds as a sophomore.

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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Nebraska

Nebraska Chamber taps former state senator to lead during leadership transition

Published

16 hours ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

Nebraska Chamber taps former state senator to lead during leadership transition

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry has selected a former state senator and longtime board member to lead the chamber while it searches for a new president and CEO.

Board of Directors Chair Pat Keenan said Thursday that Matt Williams of Gothenburg agreed to serve as interim president.

ALSO READ: Nebraska Chamber president and CEO resigns after less than a year

“The Board is grateful to Matt for stepping into this role during a very active and productive time for the Nebraska Chamber,” Keenan said. “He has steady leadership, strong relationships and trust from his many years of advocacy for economic development, and decades of experience working with the legislature and state government on tax policy and economic development incentives.”

Matt Williams(NE Chamber)

Williams represented District 36 in the Nebraska Legislature from 2015 to 2023.

The chamber said Williams has had a lifelong career in banking and serves as chairman of Flatwater Bank. He previously served as chair of the Nebraska Bankers Association and the American Bankers Association.

His long involvement with the chamber includes membership on the Board of Directors; he currently serves as director for District 6. In 2025, he was named to the Nebraska Business Hall of Fame.

“The Nebraska Chamber is on rock-solid footing, with the clear vision of the Board, and talented and hard-working staff hitting its stride in legislative policy and advocacy, technology, manufacturing, leadership-development, fund-raising and membership. The success of cutting-edge initiatives like 6 Regions, One Nebraska, the launch of the Go Big Future series, and the strong member engagement across the state demonstrate the success and strength of this organization. I’m excited to lend my support in whatever way I can for the Chamber. I know how strong businesses and communities make for a stronger Nebraska, and I’m glad to be part of that.”

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Nebraska

Maryland men’s basketball silenced late by No. 12 Nebraska, 74-61

Published

1 day ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

Maryland men’s basketball silenced late by No. 12 Nebraska, 74-61

Maryland men’s basketball has found itself in plenty of close games over the past few weeks. Four of its last five were decided by seven points or less, and the Terps won three of them.

Head coach Buzz Williams had ostensibly found a winning recipe in crunch time. That is, until Wednesday’s clash with No. 12 Nebraska.

Down by five with just over six minutes to play, the key ingredients for a comeback were nowhere to be found. Andre Mills, who had been superb over Maryland’s past few matches, turned the ball over to star forward Pryce Sandfort on an errant pass. Just seconds later, Sandfort splashed a 3-pointer, and Pinnacle Bank Arena went wild.

That sequence was the cap of a 9-0 run and the middle of an 0-of-4 shooting stretch for Maryland. What was largely a competitive contest soon became lopsided, and the Terps fell, 74-61.

Williams used his coach’s challenge just a minute and a half into Wednesday’s contest. The reversed call didn’t result in points right away — the Terps turned it over the very next possession — but it undoubtedly sent a crystal clear, no-nonsense message to the sideline.

And Maryland’s defense was ready for the rowdy away game occasion. The Terps notched just five points in the opening five minutes — two coming on a thunderous Solomon Washington slam — but didn’t allow Nebraska on the scoresheet. In fact, Maryland turned the Cornhuskers over twice in that span, and Guillermo Del Pino rejected a Jamarques Lawrence layup.

Nebraska started the game 0-of-6 from the field before finding the net. Sandfort channeled his shooting prowess, sinking a 3-pointer to give the Cornhuskers their first advantage of the match six-and-a-half minutes in.

Forward Braden Frager was the true catalyst for Nebraska’s sudden surge, logging seven of the team’s first 10 points and operating well in transition. His quick-hit offense didn’t allow Maryland to set up its effective half-court defense.

The Terps’ offense remained relatively cold as the midway point of the half approached. They embarked on a 1-of-8 shooting stretch, with Nebraska consistently switching on Maryland’s perimeter looks and forcing Washington into some perimeter shots.

Interestingly enough, it was Washington and his frontcourt counterpart — Elijah Saunders — that offered the team a surge from beyond the arc. The two combined for four of the squad’s first five 3-pointers — two of Saunders’ makes came in the last five minutes of the half to keep Maryland within striking distance.

The Cornhuskers took a six point advantage into the halftime locker room, up 33-27.

Rienk Mast finally got into a bit of rhythm to open the second half, burying a 3-pointer in an attempt to keep the Terps at bay. But Maryland’s offense wasn’t rattled. It didn’t revert to the same isolation playbook that it has sometimes found itself running; it instead was gritty on the glass and earned multiple second-chance opportunities.

Nebraska was being worn down on defense, and its crowd was becoming less intense. Maryland just needed to establish some prolonged momentum.

But the game remained deadlocked for the ensuing minutes. Andre Mills began to display some of the athletic lane-driving traits he’s exhibited over the past 10 contests. But he also drilled a pair of long-range jumpers, quickly becoming the team’s leading second-half scorer.

As the clock ticked below 10 minutes left with the game decided by just a matter of points, the Terps’ offense hit a stagnant stretch. Coit took four consecutive shots — and made only one — while the team’s ball movement came to a screeching halt.

After Nebraska’s 9-0 run, things didn’t realign on the attack for Maryland. Coit continued to struggle, going 2-of-6 from three in the second half. Mills also missed back-to-back looks, and from there, the result was all but decided.

1. Elijah Saunders’ big day. With Mills struggling in the first half Wednesday, Saunders picked up some of the slack. The 40% 3-point shooter made half of his looks, resulting in a season-high five 3-pointers against the Cornhuskers. That comes just one game after he set his previous season-high of four 3-pointers against Washington.

2. Paint production erased. Maryland’s frontcourt did some damage Wednesday night, but much of it came from deep. The Terps finished with just 14 points in the paint compared to Nebraska’s 26. Despite both teams grabbing seven offensive rebounds, Maryland didn’t make much of the second chance opportunities in the restricted area.

3. More Del Pino minutes. After playing 27 minutes and securing the win with an alley-oop lob against Washington, Del Pino was on the court for 15 minutes Wednesday. Though he finished without any points, he seems to have earned Williams’ trust and continues to operate the floor well from a distribution perspective.

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