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U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith draws challengers in Nebraska’s 3rd District House race  • Nebraska Examiner

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U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith draws challengers in Nebraska’s 3rd District House race  • Nebraska Examiner


BLAIR, Nebraska — Two Republicans and two Democrats running for Congress in Nebraska’s sprawling, largely rural 3rd District said they want primary voters to consider someone other than nine-term Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith. 

Smith, 53, was elected to Congress in 2006 after serving two terms as a state senator and one as a Gering City Councilman. He said he remains focused on lowering taxes, boosting trade and slowing or stopping the Biden administration, he said.

“A lot of folks are frustrated at the president,” Smith said of concerns voiced by his constituents. “I’m very proud of my record of pushing back on the president. We’ve made a difference. We’ve derailed his agenda. We’ve stood in the way.”

Having GOP primary opponents is nothing new for Smith in one of the nation’s most conservative congressional districts — 63% Republican and 18% Democrat. It includes central and western Nebraska and much of the northern and southeastern edges.

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He has had at least one primary opponent in every election since 2018 and has never gotten less than 65% of the vote. In 2018, he faced three opponents, including current State Board of Education member Kirk Penner. In 2020, he faced four Republican challengers. 

He spent more to campaign during those races than he has this year, campaign finance records show.

Republican primary fight

What’s new this go-round is the arrival of a national trend in Republican politics pushing state and local parties toward populists. That wave hit Nebraska in 2022 at the state level and has now washed over most county parties in the state.

That, and a dust-up between the new leaders of the state GOP and some members of Nebraska’s all-GOP congressional delegation, are how Hastings discount-store owner John Walz secured primary race endorsements from the state party and many county GOPs. 

No one in the five-member, all-Republican delegation sought or received endorsements from the state party. 

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Smith has avoided criticizing the party. He said he is focused on listening to Republicans in his district who want help with the impact of inflation on their budgets.

He said lawmakers must get serious about more than fighting about discretionary spending. He said they must have difficult bipartisan conversations about entitlement spending.

Both of his GOP opponents in Tuesday’s primary and both of his potential Democratic general election opponents say Smith is all talk, a bland Republican who accomplishes little other than helping corporations and donors funding his campaigns. 

Smith says sometimes it’s hard to see the work he does on the influential tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee to help reduce regulation and taxes and provide agricultural producers obtain fairer access to markets such as South Korea and Colombia. 

Smith said he is one of the House conservatives who exacted concessions from the Biden administration on its previous efforts to hire more Internal Revenue Service agents to audit more Americans, which he said would hassle taxpayers.

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He said that there are limits to what Republicans can negotiate when Democrats hold the Senate and the White House and that things could change next year at the ballot box.

Walz, 54, said he decided to run when Smith voted to keep the government running with continuing budget resolutions instead of using the power of the purse to force Democrats in the Senate and President Joe Biden to negotiate real cuts. 

He said too many Republicans get scared about bad press because of a government shutdown and back down too often. 

“If they used that leverage and they were to go ahead and defund the government and shut the government down … what they’re essentially doing is you’re shutting off the fourth branch of government, the bureaucratic state,” Walz said.

He says he wants the government to be more openly “Judeo-Christian.” Asked how he would represent Nebraskans of other faiths or none, he said that God’s law supersedes man’s but that he could treat people with respect even if he disagreed with them morally.

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He helped organize a news conference earlier this week calling on church leaders across the state to get more involved in the state’s politics, including pressing for a more aggressive ban on abortion than voters might get to consider this fall.

Critics of similar approaches have said this could risk the tax status of churches.

Walz said he helped rebuild the Hastings chapter of the John Birch Society, a conservative group that spent the Cold War era fighting what its members perceived as the influence of communism in the U.S. government during the Cold War. 

The group opposed the Civil Rights Act. Much like the current moment in GOP politics, its members became known for fighting with conservatives who disagreed with some of its beliefs in limited government and national sovereignty.

Walz describes himself as a “MAGA Republican” because people understand that he is not part of “the establishment.” He says he is a loyal supporter of President Donald Trump. 

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Smith has backed Trump as well. He was the only member of the Nebraska delegation who voted not to accept the 2020 election results. He has said the country did better under Trump.

The third Republican in the race is Robert McCuiston, a welder from Holdrege. He was mayor of Tamora, Neb., for five years in the mid-1990s. To him, Smith’s biggest failure is that he fails to “represent the common man,” especially on taxes.

He said Smith has spent so much time in Washington, D.C., that he works more for corporate tax breaks and special interest groups than worrying about working people. McCuiston said Congress should adopt term limits of 12 years and an age cap of 74 years.

He said he would push to change the federal tax code to make sure large businesses and corporations pay their fair share of taxes so middle-class people and small businesses carry less of the burden of funding the federal government.

Some have criticized Smith’s relationships with lobbyists after a New York Times story in 2014 about a ski retreat destination fundraiser featured him prominently.

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McCuiston, 63, considers himself “a moderate Republican” who said he will work with anyone to help fix inflation. He said most central and western Nebraskans don’t see Smith enough. Smith, of Gering, advertises events around the district. 

“He’s basically done nothing for Nebraska,” McCuiston said.

All three advocated more focus on securing the U.S. border with Mexico. Smith hammered Biden for backing away from “remain in Mexico.” Walz talked about chaos he saw on a visit to the border. McCuiston said the border needs to be closed until fixed.

Polling indicates that the border security push is the top issue among likely Republican voters after months of emphasis on it by conservative media and politicians. The economy and spending power also ranked highly for GOP primary voters.

All three describe themselves as “pro-life,” saying they favor banning abortions, with at least one exception, for the life of the mother.

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Smith remains a clear favorite to advance Tuesday. He has outraised Walz $1.2 million to $22,000. None of his other opponents had yet raised or spent the $5,000 that requires reporting donations to the Federal Election Commission.

Smith listed having $1.2 million in campaign cash on hand in the most recent fundraising report, a tally he often shares with other conservative candidates during the general election because of the GOP’s nearly 4-to-1 registration advantage over Democrats in the district. 

Two Democrats compete in the primary

The winner of the GOP primary will face one of two Democrats competing Tuesday. Both Daniel Ebers and David Else said they filed to run for Congress, in part, to make sure that Smith would face a Democrat this fall.  

Ebers, 52, said he went to middle school with Smith in Gering and lived in Cambridge, Neb., until this spring, when he moved to Lincoln to continue his work in hotel management. He said he felt competing was better than complaining about politics.

He says voters deserve more than months of Smith’s commercials saying he is fighting Biden. He said 3rd District voters need “somebody that’s going to represent the people of Nebraska.” 

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“The only thing that he’s putting out there is what the president has done or hasn’t done,” Ebers said. “I don’t feel like that’s telling us what he is doing. The only thing that says is that he’s not willing to work with the other party.”

Ebers said he would focus on the economy. He said his employees tell him they need more money to live comfortably, and his boss and others tell him they aren’t making enough money to pay more. Too many people work too hard and aren’t getting ahead, he said.

On abortion, Ebers said he supports choice and says that discussion should be between a woman and her doctor.

His competitor in the Democratic primary is a familiar face from the 2022 3rd District race, Else, who farms near Overton. He is known for sparring with Republican governors during their radio call-in shows.

The corn and soybean farmer with 130 cows said somebody in the race needs to tell the truth about Trump’s tariff and trade fights with China being part of the reason food is so expensive. He said farmers are still feeling the effects of losing overseas customers.

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Else said American consumers are still paying more for Chinese-manufactured goods, which he said might be a good thing one day, but not when people are struggling to make ends meet. 

He said somebody needs to defend Obamacare for self-employed people like those working in agriculture. He said he still thinks about a woman he saw crying about losing her job for taking care of her child. Health care matters, he said.

The farmer and former meatpacker said he also wants to make sure people understand how important their Latino neighbors are to making Nebraska’s ag economy function. He said he has worked alongside immigrants who earned their pay.

Else, 63, said he caught flak from some Democrats for being willing to compromise on abortion limits at 12 or 13 weeks. He said he told Nebraska Democratic Party leaders that any candidate who competes in the 3rd District will be more conservative.

He said he understands some might disagree, but he won’t stop being who he is: the guy who calls governors and tells them uncomfortable truths. He’s long been critical of Smith, describing him as a placeholder.

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“What has he done?” he asked. “In all those years.”

Said Smith: “We are called to do more than just say what the problems are and focus on solutions.”

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Nebraska

How to Watch Nebraska Men’s Basketball in the Diamond Head Classic: Preview, Team Breakdowns, TV Channels

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How to Watch Nebraska Men’s Basketball in the Diamond Head Classic: Preview, Team Breakdowns, TV Channels


Following a dismal 89-52 loss to Michigan State on the road, the Nebraska men’s basketball team needed a bounce back in a big way.  

That bounce back came in the form of a dominant 85-68 victory over a highly-touted Indiana team at Pinnacle Bank Arena. The Hoosiers were as hyped as any in the conference, being selected second in the Big Ten preseason poll while bringing in a top-five transfer class in the country over the offseason. 

But IU was outclassed by Nebraska, who shot over 65 percent from the field in the first half followed by a defensive effort that stifled the Hoosiers to a 27.8 field goal percentage in the second half to run away. Guard Brice Williams went off with a game-high 30 points with Juwan Gary (14), Connor Essegian (14) and big man Andrew Morgan (10) each reaching double figures to support. 

With a momentum-boosting win over a storied program, it gave the Huskers plenty to build on approaching a holiday tournament in the Diamond Head Classic, which features a field that Nebraska can come out on top of. 

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Here’s all you need to know as NU visits Hawaii for its lone regular-season tournament of the season. 

How to Follow Along 

Murray State men's basketbal

Murray State’s Brain Moore Jr. (14) goes up against Evansville’s Chuck Bailey III (4) as the University of Evansville Purple Aces play the Murray State Racers at Ford Center in Evansville, Ind., Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. Murray State beat Evansville 81-59. / MaCabe Brown / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Murray State Scout

Head Coach: Steve Prohm | 3rd Season in Second Stint; 7th overall at MSU | 139-68 (.671) at Murray State; 236-163 (.591) Career HC | 3x NCAA Tournament Appearances, 8x NBA Draft Picks, 2x OVC Titles, 2x Big 12 titles | Previous head coach at Iowa State | Previous assistant coach at Tulane, Southeastern Louisiana and Centenary.  

2023-2024 Record: 12-20 (9-11 MVC, T-7th) | 1x All-MVC Bench Team | Did not qualify for the postseason. 

All-Time Series: Murray State leads 2-0 (Dec. 30, 2000 last match, 79-71 MSU). 

Fun Fact: The Huskers and Racers have faced only twice in school history with both matchups going the way of the Racers. MSU won in the title game of the 1990 San Juan Shootout and a regular season win in December of 2000. 

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Key Returners: JaCobi Wood, G, Sr. | Nick Ellington, F, Sr. | Alden Applewhite, F, Jr. | Justin Morgan, G, Jr. 

Key Additions: AJ Ferguson, G, Sr. (Southern Illinois) | Terence Harcum, G, Sr. (Appalachian State) | Kylen Milton, G, Sr. (Arkansas-Pine Bluff) | KyeRon Lindsay, F, Jr. (Texas Tech). 

Key Departures: Quincy Anderson, G (Eligibility) | Rob Perry, G (Eligibility) | Brian Moore Jr., G, Sr. (Norfolk State) | Shawn Walker, Jr., G (Eligibility).

Outlook: Murray State enters an important year in the second stint of head coach Steve Prohm. From 2011-2015, Prohm helped the mid-major to new heights, making a pair of NCAA Tournaments – including a win in the First Round in 2012 – winning two Missouri Valley Conference tournament titles and posting a 104-29 record in four seasons. Prohm catapulted that success into a six-year run at Iowa State, taking over for new Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg who went to become the head coach for the Chicago Bulls. 

Prohm went 97-95 in Ames before coming back to Murray State. The success hasn’t all been there for the Racers compared to Prohm’s earlier run with a 35-39 record in just over two complete seasons. 

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Three of the top five scorers from last year’s 12-20 squad moved on from the program, including leading scorer Quincy Anderson (12.6 PPG), Rob Perry (11.9 PPG) and Brian Moore Jr. (9.2 PPG) who transferred to Norfolk State. 

However, JaCobi Wood and Nick Ellington both returned, giving the Racers a pair of returners who produced double-digit points. Wood’s game has grown as a senior, leading the team with 15 points per game. Ellington has remained productive as well with 10.3 points per contest, but Prohm went heavy into the transfer portal to supplement his roster. 

Four of the top six scorers came to Murray State from other schools. 6-foot-7 senior guard AJ Ferguson has had the biggest impact with 12.3 PPG for second on the team alongside a team-leading six rebounds per game. He’s exploded on the scene after spending two seasons at Southern Illinois. Senior guard Terence Harcum was an All-Sun Belt Third Team pick last season with Appalachian State, and is now averaging 12.0 PPG. Kylen Milton rounds out the transfer trio with 11.2 points per game after three seasons at Arkansas-Pine Bluff and one year at Western Kentucky. He brings plenty of experience with now 107 games of college basketball experience. Even Texas Tech transfer KyeRon Lindsay brings a spark with 8.3 points per game. 

This is a balanced team across the board with its scoring, but it emphasizes three-point shooting with a 38.6 percent mark through nine games this season. The Racers are actually better in defending the three, however, with a 27.9 three-point shooting percentage from opponents. 

The Racers don’t have any bad losses on its resume, but going into Sunday they are riding a two-game losing streak with consecutive defeats to Western Kentucky (81-76) and Indiana State (84-74). If Nebraska plays up to its ability, the Huskers should take care of business while having a great chance to win the whole tournament. 

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Tournament Capsules 

Oregon State men's basketball

February 22, 2024; Berkeley, California, USA; Oregon State Beavers head coach Wayne Tinkle (right) instructs center KC Ibekwe (24) against the California Golden Bears during the second half at Haas Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images / Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

Oregon State

Head Coach: Wayne Tinkle | 11th Season at OSU; 19th as Head Coach | 148-179 (.453) at Oregon State; 306-270 (.531) as Head Coach | 5x NCAA Tournament Appearances, 4x Conference titles, 2x Big Sky Coach OTY | Previous head coach at Montana.  

2024 Record: 8-2 (0-0 Pac-12) | Wins: Utah Tech, Weber State, Western Oregon, Cal State Fullerton, UC Davis, Idaho, UC Irvine, Sacramento State | Losses: Oregon, North Texas. 

Stat Leaders (Per Game): Scoring: Michael Rataj (16.7) | Rebounds: Michael Rataj (9.0) | Assists: Damarco Minor (5.9) | Steals: Michael Rataj & Damarco Minor (2.2) | Blocks: Michael Rataj (1.1) | FG%: Parsa Fallah (64.6%) | 3P%: Nate Kingz (53.8%) | FT%: Michael Rataj (89.4%). 

Team Stats (Per Game): Scoring: 76.7 | FG%: 49.3% | 3P%: 38.5% | FT%: 78.7% | Rebounds: 37.0 | Assists: 16.3 | Turnovers: 12.5 | Steals: 8.9 | Blocks: 4.7. 

Key Contributors: Michael Rataj, F, Jr. (16.7 PPG, 9.0 RPG) | Parsa Fallah, F, R-Jr. (12.1 PPG, 4.0 RPG) | Nate Kingz, G, R-Jr. (11.0 PPG) | Damarco Minor, G, Sr. (9.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG | Liutauras Lelevicius, G, R-Soph. (7.5 PPG, 4.0 RPG) | Josiah Lake II, G, Soph. (7.4 PPG). 

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Charleston head coach Chris Mack

Xavier Musketeers head coach Chris Mack calls out a play in the first half of the NCAA Big East Conference basketball game between the Xavier Musketeers and the Georgetown Hoyas at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2018.

020318 Xavier / Sam Greene / USA TODAY NETWORK

Charleston

Head Coach: Chris Mack | 1st Season at Charleston; 13th as Head Coach | 286-135 (.679) as Head Coach | 1x Final Four, 9x NCAA Tournament Appearances, 3x Conference titles, 1x Big East Coach OTY, Atlantic 10 Coach OTY | Previous head coach at Louisville and Xavier.  

2024 Record: 8-2 (0-0 CAA) | Wins: Southern Illinois, South Florida, Florida Atlantic, The Citadel, Northern Kentucky, Tusculum, Saint Joseph’s, Wofford.  | Losses: Liberty, Rhode Island. 

Stat Leaders (Per Game): Scoring: Ante Brzovic (19.5) | Rebounds: Ante Brzovic (8.4) | Assists: CJ Fulton (6.2) | Steals: CJ Fulton (1.6) | Blocks: Ante Brzovic (1.3) | FG%: Ante Brzovic (54.2%) | 3P%: CJ Fulton (50.0%) | FT%: Ante Brzovic (73.7%). 

Team Stats (Per Game): Scoring: 79.9 | FG%: 46.9% | 3P%: 36.1% | FT%: 78.5% | Rebounds: 36.7 | Assists: 16.8 | Turnovers: 13.5 | Steals: 7.4 | Blocks: 2.5. 

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Key Contributors: Ante Brzovic, F, Sr. (19.5 PPG, 8.4 RPG) | AJ Smith, G, Jr. (11.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG) | Deywilk Tavarez, G, Soph. (10.6 PPG) | CJ Fulton, G, Sr. (9.8 PPG, 6.2 APG) | Derrin Boyd, G, Gr. (9.6 PPG) | Lazar Djokovic, F, Soph. (9.6 PPG, 4.7 RPG) | Jaxon Prunty, G, Fr. (7.5 PPG). 

Loyola-Chicago head coach Drew Valentine

Nov 22, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Loyola (Il) Ramblers coach Drew Valentine on the sidelines during the first half against the Creighton Bluejays at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images / William Purnell-Imagn Images

Loyola Chicago 

Head Coach: Drew Valentine | 4th Season at LUC | 67-40 (.626) as Head Coach | 1x NCAA Tournament Appearance, 1x MVC title; 1x Atlantic 10 title | Previous assistant at Oakland and Michigan State. 

2024 Record: 9-1 (0-0 A10) | Wins: Chicago State, Detroit Mercy, Eureka, Princeton, Southern Utah, Tulsa, Eastern Michigan, South Florida, Canisius | Losses: San Francisco.  

Stat Leaders (Per Game): Scoring: Des Watson (12.6) | Rebounds: Francis Nwaokorie (5.9) | Assists: Justin Moore (5.3) | Steals: Des Watson (1.1) | Blocks: Miles Rubin (2.3) | FG%: Jalen DeLoach (66.7%) | 3P%: Sheldon Edwards Jr. (38.6%) | FT%: Jalen Quinn (75.0%). 

Team Stats (Per Game): Scoring: 79.7 | FG%: 47.2% | 3P%: 36.0% | FT%: 64.3% | Rebounds: 38.3 | Assists: 18.8 | Turnovers: 11.4 | Steals: 7.0 | Blocks: 4.8. 

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Key Contributors: Des Watson, G, Sr. (12.6 PPG, 3.6 RPG) | Jayden Dawson, G, Jr. (12 PPG) | Sheldon Edwards Jr., G, Gr. (11.6 PPG) | Miles Rubin, C, Soph. (7.6 PPG, 5.4 RPG) | Justin Moore, G, Jr. (7.7 PPG) | Jalen Quinn, G, Jr. (7.7 PPG) | Kymany Houinsou, G, Jr. (6.7 PPG, 5.4 RPG) | Francis Nwaokorie, F, Sr. (6.9 PPG, 5.9 RPG) | Jalen DeLoach, F, Sr. (6.6 PPG, 4.6 RPG). 

Oakland men's basketball coach Greg Kampe

Oct 20, 2024; Detroit, MI, USA; Oakland Golden Grizzlies head coach Greg Kampe on the sideline in the first half against the Michigan Wolverines at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images / Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Oakland

Head Coach: Greg Kampe | 41st Season at Oakland | 703-544 (.564) at Oakland & Career | 7x NCAA Tournament Appearances, 7x regular season conference titles, 4x tournament conference titles | 4x Summit League Coach OTY, 1x GLIAC Coach OTY. | Longest current tenured men’s basketball coach; Third active coach with 600 or more career wins; Fourth-most active career wins. 

2024 Record: 3-7 (1-2 Horizon League) | Wins: Defiance College, Toledo, Wright State | Losses: (RV) Boise State, (RV) Illinois, No. 1 Kansas, Eastern Michigan, Youngstown State, No. 20 Michigan State, Cleveland State. 

Stat Leaders (Per Game): Scoring: DQ Cole (12.8) | Rebounds: Buru Naivalurua (7.3) | Assists: Jaylen Jones (3.9) | Steals: Jayson Woodrich (1.1) | Blocks: Allen Mukeba (1.8) | FG%: Allen Mukeba (51.0%) | 3P%: Malcolm Christie (33.3%) | FT%: DQ Cole (85.7%). 

Team Stats (Per Game): Scoring: 62.7 | FG%: 40.8% | 3P%: 28.6% | FT%: 59.6% | Rebounds: 34.4 | Assists: 11.3 | Turnovers: 10.9 | Steals: 5.9 | Blocks: 2.8. 

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Key Contributors: DQ Cole, G, Sr. (12.8 PPG, 4.1 RPG) | Allen Mukeba, F, Gr. (12.4 PPG, 5.8 RPG) | Buru Naivalurua, F, Sr. (11.4 PPG, 7.3 RPG) | Malcolm Christie, G, Sr. (8.0 PPG) | Jayson Woodrich, G/F, Gr. (5.9 PPG, 3.9 RPG) | Jaylen Jones, G, Soph. (5.0 PPG, 3.9 APG, 3.8 RPG). 

Charlotte men's basketball coach Andrew Fearne

Jan 6, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Charlotte 49ers head coach Aaron Fearne during the second half against the Florida Atlantic Owls at Dale F. Halton Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images / Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Charlotte

Head Coach: Aaron Fearne | 2nd Season at Charlotte; 15th as Head Coach | 25-16 (.610) at Charlotte | NBL Coach OTY, 2z QBL Coach OTY 2x QBL Champion |Charlotte Interim HC for 2023-2024 season before being elevated; 13 years as head coach in Australian Professional Basketball. 

2024 Record: 6-4 (0-0 AAC) | Wins: Presbyterian, Richmond, Gardner-Webb, Livingstone, Georgia State, West Georgia | Losses: Utah State, Long Island, ETSU, Davidson. 

Stat Leaders (Per Game): Scoring: Nik Graves (16.7) | Rebounds: Jaehshon Thomas (4.0) | Assists: Nik Graves (3.2) | Steals: Robert Braswell IV (1.1) | Blocks: Robert Braswell IV (0.7) | FG%: Giancarlo Rosado (55.8%) | 3P%: Robert Braswell IV (46.3%) | FT%: Robert Braswell IV (86.4%). 

Team Stats (Per Game): Scoring: 72.4 | FG%: 43.1% | 3P%: 30.3% | FT%: 71.6% | Rebounds: 33.3 | Assists: 14.1 | Turnovers: 8.7 | Steals: 5.3 | Blocks: 2.1. 

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Key Contributors: Nik Graves, G, Jr. (16.7 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 3.2 APG) | Robert Braswell IV, G, Gr. (13.9 PPG, 46.3 3P%) | Giancarlo Rosado, F, Gr. (12.5 PPG, 6.5 RPG) | Jaehshon Thomas, G, Jr. (10.4 PPG, 4.0 RPG) | Rich Rolf, F, R-Soph. (5.9 PPG, 3.8 RPG) | Dean Reiber, F, R-Sr. (5.0 PPG, 3.1 RPG) | Kylan Blackmon, G, R-Sr. (5.1 PPG, 2.3 RPG) | Isaiah Folkes, G, Sr. (4.6 PPG, 3.0 RPG). 

Hawaii men's basketballhead coach Eran Ganot

March 20, 2016; Spokane , WA, USA; Hawaii Rainbow Warriors head coach Eran Ganot speaks to players during a stoppage in play against Maryland Terrapins during the first half in the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images / Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

Hawaii

Head Coach: Eran Ganot | 10th Season at Hawaii | 162-105 (.607) at Hawaii; 165-107 (.607) Career record | 1x NCAA Tournament Appearance, 1x Big West Regular Season & Tournament title, 1x Big West Coach OTY  | 3-2 as acting HC for St. Mary’s (CA.) in 2013-2014. 

2024 Record: 6-3 (0-1 Big West) | Wins: Life Pacific, San Jose State, Pacific, Weber State, Hawaii Pacific, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi | Losses: North Carolina, Grand Canyon, Long Beach State. 

Stat Leaders (Per Game): Scoring: Gytis Nemeikša (14.0) | Rebounds: Tanner Christensen (7.6) | Assists: Marcus Greene (2.4) | Steals: Aaron Hunkin-Claytor (0.9) | Blocks: Tanner Christensen (1.1) | FG%: Tanner Christensen (69.0%) | 3P%: Kody Williams (51.4%) | FT%: Marcus Greene (91.7%). 

Team Stats (Per Game): Scoring: 74.7 | FG%: 47.1% | 3P%: 34.5% | FT%: 68.3% | Rebounds: 36.3 | Assists: 11.9 | Turnovers: 12.3 | Steals: 3.9 | Blocks: 2.9. 

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Key Contributors: Gytis Nemeikša, F, Sr. (14.0 PPG, 6.6 RPG) | Tanner Christensen, C, Gr. (12.2 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 69.0 FG%) | Marcus Greene, G, Sr. (11.7 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 2.4 APG) | Kody Williams, G, Jr. (8.2 PPG, 51.4 3P%) | Tom Beattie, G, Soph. (7.3 PPG, 2.3 RPG) | Akira Jacobs, F, Soph. (7.5 PPG, 2.5 RPG) | Ryan Rapp, G, Sr. (7.3 PPG, 4.0 RPG) | Harry Rouhliadeff, F, Jr. (5.2 PPG, 4.3 RPG).

MORE: Lexi Rodriguez Expresses Gratitude as She Says Goodbye to Nebraska Volleyball

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MORE: Nebraska Women’s Basketball Falls at No. 17 Georgia Tech

MORE: Dave Feit’s Historical College Football Playoffs: The Post-Osborne Nebraska Teams

MORE: Purdue Transfer Quarterback Marcos Davila Commits to Nebraska

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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Nebraska

Holiday Hoops: Huskers set for Diamond Head Classic in Hawaii

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Holiday Hoops: Huskers set for Diamond Head Classic in Hawaii


How about some Husker hoops during the holidays in Hawaii.

Nebraska (7-2 overall, 1-1 in Big Ten) begins its Diamond Head Classic slate on Sunday night in Hawaii against Murray State (6-4, 1-1 in Missouri Valley Conference). Tip for the game is set for 8 p.m. central time. It will be televised by ESPN with Roxy Bernstein and Sean Farnham on the call.

The Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic is a three-day tournament with games on Sunday, Monday and Christmas day on Wednesday. The action is played at SimpliFi Arena at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, the home of the hosting Rainbow Warriors.

Nebraska will play the winner of Hawaii and Charlotte in the second game on Monday. College of Charleston, Loyola (Chicago), Oakland and Oregon State make up the rest of the eight-team tournament field.

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Here’s a look at the bracket, which can be viewed here:

Each team in the tournament will play three games in four games. That’s a lot of basketball packed into a short amount of time. That’ll no doubt be a different feeling for the Huskers, who have a schedule with a December stretch of just three games in 21 days.

Obviously, getting off on the right foot in the opener against Murray State is a must for the trip to be considered a success.

“This first one obviously is very important, to try to stay on the right side of the stay bracket,” Fred Hoiberg said during a press conference Thursday before the team departed. “We’ll worry about the second game when we get there, whether it’s Hawaii or Charlotte, and then have a day off to prepare for the third game that we will play.”

Nebraska will catch Murray State on a two-game losing streak. The Racers fell on the road at Western Kentucky 81-76 in overtime last Saturday, then dropped a game at Indiana State on Wednesday 84-74.

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Hoiberg noted how Murray State dug itself in a hole early but never quit and made it a game at the end. The Racers trailed by as many as 22 points in the second half, 53-36 with 12:15 remaining, but slashed the Sycamores’ lead to a two-possession game, 78-74, with 1:37 left.

“It’s a team that shoots the ball as well or better than any team that we played to this point, and they’ve got quick, athletic guards that pose problems on both ends of the court,” Hoiberg said.

Nebraska is coming off a head-turning 85-68 victory against Indiana on Dec. 13, a solid rebound effort after getting embarrassed in a loss at Michigan State.

In the win over the Hoosiers, Brice Williams went off with an outing of 30 points, six rebounds and five assists. The 6-7 guard was named Big Ten Player of the Week and one of five USBWA Oscar Robertson National Players of the Week.

Williams also became only the second Husker in the Big Ten era to have at least 30 points and five assists in a game, joining Teddy Allen (2021).

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Murray State will come into the game averaging 78.8 points per game (7th in MVC) while shooting 47.7% from the field (7th) and 38.6% from 3-point range (4th). The Racers’ defense is allowing 67.0 points per game (3rd) and have done well defending the perimeter, holding opponents to 27.9% shooting from 3 this season.

“Their ability to shoot is the thing that really stands out,” Hoiberg said. “They shoot over 40 percent as a team. Their guards are really quick, and they do a great job getting into the paint.”

Hoiberg knows Murray State head coach Steve Prohm well. Prohm was who took over for Hoiberg at Iowa State when he took the Chicago Bulls head coaching job.

“I think he’s a great guy and I think he’s a hell of a coach,” Hoiberg said of Prohm. “So they do a really good job of spacing the floor. They run a lot of really good actions, especially for their shooters when they get it going. And their bigs, the guys that do play, they’re very active going to the glass. They will throw it in there depending on matchups. I’ve been impressed with this team and their overall quickness and ability to shoot the ball. Those are the things that worry you most about this group.”

With the forecast for Honolulu calling for sunny skies and 80-degree temperatures during the days of the tournament, the Huskers want to enjoy the experience of being in Hawaii during the holidays.

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But making sure winning basketball games and the tournament is the top priority.

“If we go out there and guys want to sit on the beach and do all that, we’re probably not going to be very successful,” Hoiberg said. “We’ve talked a lot to our guys about going out there, enjoying the experience and enjoying the process, but understanding when that ball goes up in the air, we got to be on point and we got to be ready to go.”

Nebraska preferred to fly to Hawaii on Thursday, but due to finals at UNL, the departure day was pushed to Friday. The Huskers landed in Honolulu on Friday afternoon local time.

Hoiberg said the Huskers had a light workout on the court after landing and will have a practice on Saturday before the Sunday game. The tight schedule won’t be an excuse, Hoiberg said, because every team in the tournament, outside of host Hawaii, is making the same trip.

“We’re all in the same boat on this trip,” Hoiberg said. “It’s something where the team that puts the distractions behind them — you got the time change, got a new ball that we’ve been practicing with all week — but it’s the same thing for everybody. It’s the short turnarounds, and the team that prepares the best will have the most success in the tournament this week.”

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On Tuesday, the off day on Christmas Eve, Hoiberg said there will be a team meal with some of the family members that also made the trip. They’ll find time to fit that in between a practice and multiple film sessions.



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Georgia Transfer Defensive Back Justyn Rhett Commits to Nebraska

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Georgia Transfer Defensive Back Justyn Rhett Commits to Nebraska


An SEC defensive back is headed to Lincoln via the transfer portal.

Former Georgia DB Justyn Rhett has committed to Nebraska. He has three years of eligibility remaining.

Rhett appeared in four games over two seasons for the powerhouse Bulldogs. He finishes his Georgia career with three tackles.

The 6-1, 200-pound DB got to Athens from the football factory out of Las Vegas, Bishop Gorman. A four-star prospect out of high school, Rhett was selected to play in Under Armour All-America Game and picked Georgia over Alabama, Michigan, Florida State, LSU, Tennessee, Oregon, Notre Dame, Oregon, and more.

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