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The Weekender: Nebraska Considers Spring Game Cancelation, John Calipari Returns To Kentucky and Tempers Flare Between Arizona and Arizona State

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The Weekender: Nebraska Considers Spring Game Cancelation, John Calipari Returns To Kentucky and Tempers Flare Between Arizona and Arizona State


Own the group chat with The Weekender, highlighting the biggest stories in college sports, standout writing from Eleven Warriors, and a glance at what’s next.

NEBRASKA CONSIDERS SPRING GAME CANCELATION

With the increased prevalence of tampering in college football, Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule has a unique plan to keep eyes off of his players: cancel the spring game. 

“The word ‘tampering’ doesn’t exist anymore,” Rhule said. “It’s just a free open common market. I don’t necessarily want to open up to the outside world and have people watch our guys and say, ‘He looks like a pretty good player. Let’s go get him.’”

While Rhule’s decision could potentially lead to fewer transfers from the program when the spring transfer window opens, it would lose the university a large sum of revenue typically generated from the game. Nebraska’s Spring Game in 2024 drew 60,452 fans to Memorial Stadiums, the fourth-highest total attendance from spring games last season. 

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But, Rhule’s primary focus remains on keeping his players in Lincoln by all means necessary. 

“Guys are being compensated now, and you’re putting money behind some people, a whole other set of parameters,” Rhule said. “Yet, at the same time, you have to get good. Honestly, to me, it’s about protecting the roster and protecting through that portal period.”

CALIPARI RETURNS TO KENTUCKY 

In 15 seasons as the head coach of Kentucky, John Calipari elevated the program into a perennial national title contender. 

With an overall record of 410-123, four Final Four appearances, and the 2012 national championship, Calipari was considered Kentucky royalty up until just last year. But, times have changed. 

After a steady decline across his last few seasons with the Wildcats, Calipari took the head coaching job at Arkansas during the offseason. On Saturday, the legendary head coach returned to Rupp Arena for the first time. 

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Facing a hostile environment from a fanbase that he once called his own, with boos and jeers hurdled his direction, Calipari ultimately handed his former team a stunning loss, as his Razorbacks took care of business in an 89-79 decision. Arkansas was led by a trio of former Wildcats, as Adou Thiero (21 points), D.J. Wagner (17 points) and Zvonimir Ivasic (14 points) pushed the Razorbacks to the win. 

“I’ve got to be honest with you: I looked up a couple of times [at the scoreboard], and I thought we were losing because I kept looking at Kentucky instead of Arkansas,” Calipari said. “I made it clear it was a privilege and an honor to coach here. We had 15 unbelievable years of a great run and support.”

TEMPERS FLARE BETWEEN ARIZONA AND ARIZONA STATE

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree when it comes to the Hurley family. 

Arizona State head coach Bobby Hurley — brother of UConn coach Dan Hurley — had some words for rival Arizona after a testy finish in the Wildcats’ rivalry 81-72 win over the Sun Devils in Tempe, Arizona. 

Constant trash talk throughout Saturday’s contest came to a head late in the game. With less than a minute to play, Sun Devil guard BJ Freeman head-butted Arizona’s Caleb Love — resulting in both players being ejected after Love taunted the Arizona State bench in the aftermath. 

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As a result of the late-game altercation, Hurley decided to pull his team from the post-game handshake line. In his post-game press conference, Hurley criticized the Wildcats for boasting after the win. 

“Right near our bench, it was relentless, constant chatter from a couple of Arizona’s players that wasn’t being policed properly,” Hurley said. “Of course, they’re going to be happy with winning, but it was done with no class, in my opinion.”

Hurley also alluded to the fact that he would refuse to vote for Love for All-Big 12.

The Wildcats and Sun Devils will meet again on March 4 in Tuscon, Arizona. 

ICYMI

THE BUCKEYE 20: RANKING THE 20 BEST PLAYERS FROM OHIO STATE’S 2024 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON

The Eleven Warriors staff compiled its final list of the 20 best players from Ohio State’s national championship team in 2024.

EIGHT POTENTIAL CANDIDATES TO REPLACE JUSTIN FRYE AS OHIO STATE’S OFFENSIVE LINE COACH

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Eleven Warriors’ Dan Hope analyzes potential candidates to fill the void left by Justin Frye’s departure from Ohio State.

HOW WE CHOOSE TO REMEMBER  

Eleven Warriors’ George Eisner reflects on Ohio State’s recent stretch of quarterbacks. 

WHAT’S NEXT

  • 209 Days: Ohio State football’s season-opener vs. Texas
  • 300 Days: The Game





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Second Quarter Dooms Huskers, Nebraska Women’s Basketball Falls to Michigan

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Second Quarter Dooms Huskers, Nebraska Women’s Basketball Falls to Michigan


The Huskers just didn’t have enough Thursday evening.

Nebraska women’s basketball lost to Michigan, 78-60. The Huskers and Wolverines now have matching records of 17-6 on the year and 7-5 in the Big Ten Conference.

Nebraska trailed by just one point in the final minute of the first quarter, but Michigan notched an and-1 with 19 seconds left. The Wolverines kept that momentum going in the second quarter with an 18-0 run as the Huskers failed to score for nearly six minutes of game time.

Michigan won the second quarter 24-7 to take a 42-21 lead into halftime.

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NU answered in the third quarter with a 7-0 run right away. The Huskers continued to cut into the lead, eventually closing the gap to 10 points.

But it was too little, too late for the Big Red. Michigan extended the lead back to 16 at the end of the quarter and to more than 20 for most of the final frame.

The Huskers shot 37.3% for the game, including 3-of-15 from 3. The Wolverines made 46.7% of their shots, including 9-of-21 from deep.

Alexis Markowski notched her 48th-career double-double with game-highs of 21 points and 11 rebounds. Britt Prince added 10 points.

Nebraska stays home Monday to host Iowa. Tip from Pinnacle Bank Arena is set for 7 p.m. CST on the Big Ten Network.

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Box score | Gallery

MORE: Jordy Bahl Blasts Homer, Gets Win in Nebraska Softball’s Season Opener Over No. 6 Tennessee

MORE: Husker Football: The Spring Game Goes Bye-Bye

MORE: WATCH: Cinematic Recap of Nebrasketball’s Comeback Win at Washington

MORE: Gallery: Dani Busboom Kelly’s Welcome Home

MORE: WATCH: Nebraska Volleyball Coach Dani Busboom Kelly’s Introductory Press Conference

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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Proposed cuts would harm rural health care • Nebraska Examiner

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Proposed cuts would harm rural health care • Nebraska Examiner


Nebraska hospitals have a North Star that guides them. Wherever a patient lives in Nebraska, they deserve access to quality care. We must work to ensure our health care providers do not have to choose between financial survival and delivering lifesaving care.

Jeremy Nordquist, president of the Nebraska Hospital Association, speaks during a press conference on Jan. 30, 2023, in Lincoln. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Unfortunately, congressional leadership in Washington has signaled that large cuts to health care services are currently being considered, including major cuts to the Medicaid program.

Medicaid is a major source of health care coverage for Nebraskans in rural areas. Nearly half of all Nebraskans enrolled in Medicaid live in rural counties. These cuts pose severe threats to Nebraska patients and hospitals, particularly in rural communities.

Rural communities need accessible health care to stay strong. Medicaid is essential for protecting hospitals and other critical services in rural Nebraska. Mental health, EMS, home health, hospice, long-term care for older patients and delivering babies for young families are just a few examples of the care delivered in Nebraska.

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Medicaid crucial

In our rural hospitals, Medicaid pays for 26% of all emergency room visits, 33% of all births, 43% of all behavioral health services and 44% of all services provided to minor patients.

Rural hospitals are operating on razor-thin margins. The financial picture for Nebraska’s rural hospitals has not improved in recent years, and many are still struggling to operate in the black. In Nebraska, 54% of rural, independent critical access hospitals are operating at a loss. The average operating margin was only 1.4% for rural hospitals, well below a sustainable operating margin.

These tough financial conditions have forced more than 20% of Nebraska hospitals to reduce or eliminate services in the past two years – vital services like labor and delivery and behavioral health.

Federal health care cuts would harm rural hospitals in Nebraska that are already struggling to stay open. Rural hospitals and patients need meaningful support from lawmakers.

Razor-thin margins

Medicaid is crucial for providing health coverage to children and families in rural and small communities, ensuring access to essential health care. In fact, 55 of Nebraska’s rural counties surpass the state’s average Medicaid enrollment. If lawmakers want to do more than pay lip service to retaining labor and delivery care, behavioral health and senior care in Nebraska, they must protect programs like Medicaid.

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We need Nebraskans to speak up and stop these cuts to health care that will dismantle the hospital safety net and destroy access to care in rural communities. Please act today! Visit ProtectRuralHealthCare.com to make your voice heard.

Jeremy Nordqust is president of the Nebraska Hospital Association. Nordquist served in the Nebraska Legislature from 2009 to 2015 and as a chief of staff in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2015 to 2020.

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Inmate convicted of murder dies in Nebraska prison

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Inmate convicted of murder dies in Nebraska prison


Edward Adams

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A man serving a lengthy sentence for second-degree murder died Tuesday in a Nebraska prison.

Edward Adams, 83, died at the Reception and Treatment Center, according to the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services.

Adams had been in prison since 2007, when he was sentenced in Dodge County to 85 years to life.

His cause of death has not been determined, but authorities said he was being treated for a medical condition.

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A grand jury will investigate his death, as required by Nebraska law.

Categories: Nebraska News, News





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