LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Tulsa assistant coach Britney Brown is joining the Nebraska women’s basketball staff.

Cornhuskers coach Connie Yori announced Tuesday she has hired Brown as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.

Yori called Brown a “talented young coach who has been influenced by a pair of outstanding head coaches in Sherri Coale at Oklahoma and Matilda Mossman at Tulsa.”

Brown was at Tulsa four seasons after two years as a high school assistant. Prior to that, she was video coordinator at Oklahoma.

Brown played at Oklahoma from 2004 to 2007. She replaces Shimmy Gray-Miller, who took an assistant’s job at Florida this month.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Major League Baseball suspended Kansas City’s Kelvin Herrera for five games and fined him and fellow pitcher Yordano Ventura after both targeted Brett Lawrie during a testy series against Oakland over the weekend.

Herrera was tossed in the eighth inning of Sunday’s game after throwing behind Lawrie. Ventura was ejected from Saturday’s game when he hit Lawrie with a pitch after Josh Reddick’s home run.

Both incidents came after Lawrie’s hard slide into Alcides Escobar injured the left knee of the Kansas City shortstop on Friday and caused benches to clear. Escobar called it a “dirty slide” and did not play Saturday or Sunday.

MLB did not disclose the amounts of the fines. Herrera can appeal his suspension or it can take effect beginning Tuesday night against Minnesota.

CLEVELAND (AP) — Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel did not address his teammates as a group following his release from rehab, but he’s already shown them he’s hoping to win back their trust.

Manziel recently spent more than 70 days in treatment for an undisclosed issue. He reported to Cleveland’s training facility on Monday for the start of the team’s offseason program, and Pro Bowl cornerback Joe Haden said Manziel stayed three hours later than required.

Haden said he believes Manziel has “his mind right.” Asked if he thinks Manziel can be a successful NFL quarterback, Haden said: “a thousand percent.”

Browns coach Mike Pettine has spoken privately with the young quarterback. Pettine did not share any of his conversation with Manziel except to say: “the one comment I’ll share that Johnny’s made — ‘Don’t judge me on my words, judge me on my actions.'”

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska reserve defensive back Boaz Joseph has been ticketed for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

University assistant police chief Charlotte Evans says Tuesday that investigators found 3.3 grams of marijuana in a tobacco tin in Joseph’s room at an apartment last Thursday. Evans says officers were there to execute a search warrant in connection with an unrelated fraud investigation. Two other people were ticketed for having drugs and paraphernalia.

Joseph, a 21-year-old sophomore from Weston, Florida, appeared in five games and made one tackle last season.

The athletic department says coach Mike Riley is aware of the situation and had no immediate comment.

Joseph had been ticketed last June for bike theft in Lincoln. That case was dismissed in December after he completed a pre-trial diversion program.

ATLANTA (AP) — Mike Budenholzer of the Atlanta Hawks has been chosen as NBA coach of the year.

The second-year coach was honored Tuesday after leading the Hawks to a 60-22 record — the best in franchise history — and top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Budenholzer received 67 first-place votes and 513 points overall in balloting by sports writers and broadcasters. Golden State’s Steve Kerr, who guided the Warriors to an NBA-best 67-15 record, received 56 first-place votes and 471 points.

A longtime assistant at San Antonio, Budenholzer’s team was plagued by injuries and went 38-44 in his debut season. But the Hawks surged to the top of the East, giving Atlanta its first coach of the year since Lenny Wilkins in 1994.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (NCBWA) — Thirty-nine players have been named to the midseason watch list for the 11th annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award, given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball, the association announced Tuesday.

George Washington sophomore Eddie Muhl, the nation’s saves leader with 14, highlights the 2015 midseason watch list, while Nevada junior Adam Whitt has 13 and five players have 12 saves with four weeks left in the regular season. Rider senior Eric Thomas and Louisville sophomore Zack Burdi have 0.00 ERAs, while Texas Tech senior Corey Taylor has a 0.36 ERA in 50 innings across 17 appearances, the best ERA in the nation among players with at least one inning pitched per team game.

Muhl has a 0.47 ERA in 19.1 innings over 18 appearances, striking out 17 and walking only four. Whitt holds a 0.99 ERA in 27.1 innings of work across 20 appearances, with 33 strikeouts and only four walks.

Illinois’ Tyler Jay averages a watch list-best 2.0 innings pitched per appearance, notching eight saves and holding a 5-1 record with a 0.71 ERA, 43 strikeouts and three walks in 38 innings over 19 appearances. UCLA’s David Berg, the 2013 Stopper of the Year, is 4-0 with eight saves and a 0.98 ERA in 36.2 innings over 25 appearances, also striking out 43 and walking three.

The Atlantic Coast and Southern Conferences lead the way with four members of the midseason watch list apiece, while four conferences – the Big 12, Pac-12, SEC and West Coast Conferences – each have three nominees.

The NCBWA will announce five finalists for the 2015 Stopper of the Year – the Division I national saves leader and four other relief pitching standouts – on Wednesday, June 3, prior to the start of NCAA Super Regional competition. The NCBWA’s All-America Committee will select the winner, with this year’s recipient to be announced during the 2015 College World Series.

Texas hurler J. Brent Cox won the inaugural Stopper of the Year Award in 2005, with Don Czyz of Kansas claiming the honor in 2006 and Luke Prihoda of Sam Houston State winning it in 2007. Georgia’s Joshua Fields topped the field in 2008, San Diego State’s Addison Reed grabbed the honor in 2009 and Texas’ Chance Ruffin earned the honor in 2010. The Longhorns’ Corey Knebel won in 2011 with Southeastern Louisiana’s Stefan Lopez picking up the honor in 2012. UCLA’s Berg was crowned the winner in 2013, while Louisville’s Nick Burdi took home the 2014 honor.

The NCBWA, founded in 1962, presents the Dick Howser Trophy to the nation’s top player. It also selects All-America Teams for all Divisions, a Division I Freshman All-American team, Division I and III Players of the Week, Division I District Players of the Year and Division III Players of the Year.

2015 NCBWA Stopper of the Year Midseason Watch List
Pitcher School Class
David Berg UCLA Sr.
David Bigelow Gonzaga Sr.
Tim Black Central Michigan Sr.
Nolan Blackwood Memphis So.
Chris Brown Georgia Southern Jr.
Zack Burdi Louisville So.
Ryan Burr Arizona State Jr.
J.D. Busfield Loyola Marymount So.
Matt Dennis Bradley So.
Taylor Edens VMI Jr.
Riley Ferrell TCU Jr.
Bryan Garcia Miami (Fla.) So.
Andres Gracia Samford Sr.
Ian Hamilton Washington State So.
Stuart Holmes Nicholls State Sr.
Skylar Hunter The Citadel Jr.
Tyler Jay Illinois Jr.
Reece Karalus Santa Clara So.
Colin Kober McNeese State So.
Ryan Meisinger Radford Jr.
Ryan Milton Southern Miss Sr.
Eddie Muhl George Washington So.
Tyler Peitzmeier Cal State Fullerton Sr.
Tommy Peterson South Florida So.
Josh Roeder Nebraska Sr.
C.J. Saylor San Diego State So.
Josh Sborz Virginia Jr.
Jesse Stallings LSU Fr.
Will Stillman Wofford Jr.
Travis Stout Jacksonville State Sr.
Billy Strode Florida State Sr.
Corey Taylor Texas Tech Sr.
Eric Thomas Rider Sr.
Colin Tornberg UT-Arlington Sr.
Stephen Villines Kansas So.
Adam Whitt Nevada Jr.
Taylor Widener South Carolina So.
Breckin Williams Missouri Jr.
Bryan Young Missouri State S

CHICAGO – BTN is the home for complete coverage of Big Ten spring championships in May and will televise events in the sports of baseball, softball, rowing, and men’s and women’s lacrosse, golf, tennis and outdoor track and field. In all, BTN will offer more than 70 hours of coverage.

Broadcast coverage of Big Ten spring championships begins on April 30, when BTN will televise the Big Ten Men’s Lacrosse Tournament Semifinals, hosted by Maryland. The Big Ten Men’s Lacrosse Tournament Championship Game will air at 8 PM ET on Saturday, May 2. The Big Ten Women’s Lacrosse Tournament Quarterfinals will stream live on BTN Plus on April 30, at 3 PM ET and 5 PM ET. BTN will also air both semifinal games live on May 1 at 5:30 PM ET and 8 PM ET.

The Big Ten Women’s Golf Championships will air at 7 PM ET on Wednesday, May 6, while the Big Ten Men’s Golf Championships will air at 7 PM ET on Wednesday, May 13. The Minnesota men’s team won the 2014 Big Ten Championships, while Michigan State and Ohio State shared the women’s title.

The Big Ten Men’s Tennis Tournament, hosted by Illinois, will air at 7 PM ET on Tuesday, May 12, followed by the Big Ten Women’s Tennis Tournament, hosted by Northwestern. The Ohio State men’s and Northwestern women’s teams look to defend their Big Ten Tournament crowns from a year ago.

At 11 AM ET on Sunday, May 24, the network will provide coverage of the Big Ten Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships from Michigan State. The Wisconsin men’s and Penn State women’s teams earned 2014 titles.

At 6 PM ET on Sunday, May 24, BTN will televise the Big Ten Rowing Championships from Eagle Creek Park in Indianapolis, as the Buckeyes seek their third-consecutive Big Ten title. Ohio State is also the two-time defending national champion.

BTN will provide live coverage of the entire Big Ten Softball Tournament from Ohio State. Game 1 begins at noon ET Thursday May 7, followed by Game 2 at approximately 2:30 PM ET. Both games will be streamed live on BTN Plus. Television coverage on BTN begins that day with Game 3 at 5:30 PM ET and Game 4 at approximately 8 PM ET.  The championship game will air at 8:30 PM ET on Saturday, May 9. Minnesota won last season’s Big Ten Tournament crown.

BTN’s coverage of the Big Ten Baseball Tournament is May 20-24 from Target Field in Minneapolis, Minn., home of the Minnesota Twins. Two games are scheduled to air each day, Wednesday through Friday, and potentially four games on Saturday. The Big Ten Baseball Tournament Championship Game will air at 2 PM ET on Sunday, May 24. Last season, Indiana won its second-straight Big Ten Tournament. The B1G Diamond Report will air following the last game of the day from Thursday through Sunday of the tournament.

In the latest polls, the Big Ten has nationally ranked teams in the sports of baseball (No. 8 Illinois, No. 18 Maryland and No. 21 Iowa), men’s golf (No. 2 Illinois, No. 44 Iowa and No. 49 Michigan), women’s golf (No. 13 Northwestern, No. 36 Ohio State and No. 39 Purdue), men’s lacrosse (No. 3 Maryland and No. 10 Ohio State), women’s lacrosse (No. 1 Maryland, No. 8 Penn State, No. 9 Northwestern and No. 17 Ohio State), rowing (No. 1 Ohio State, No. 8 Wisconsin, No. 11 Michigan, No. 12 Indiana and No. 20 Minnesota), softball (No. 4 Michigan and No. 12 Minnesota), men’s tennis (No. 2 Illinois, No. 11 Ohio State, No. 27 Northwestern, No. 33 Minnesota, No. 43 Indiana, No. 51 Penn State and No. 66 Iowa), women’s tennis (No. 14 Michigan, No. 17 Ohio State, No. 27 Northwestern, No. 34 Purdue, No. 48 Indiana, No. 50 Michigan State, No. 51 Illinois, No. 52 Penn State and No. 68 Maryland), men’s track and field (No. 15 Penn State and No. 19 Nebraska) and women’s track and field (No. 14 Michigan State).

The complete television schedule for the 2015 Big Ten Spring Championships and Tournaments appears below. For more information on these events, go to www.BTN.com or www.bigten.org.

2015 Big Ten Network Spring Championships/Tournament Schedule

Sport	Dates	Site	Air Date and Time (ET)	Defending Champion
(W) Tennis	April 23-26	Northwestern	Tuesday, May 12 – 7:30 PM	Northwestern
(M) Tennis	April 23-26	Illinois	Tuesday, May 12 – 7 PM	Ohio State
(W) Golf	April 24-26	Indianapolis, IN	Wednesday, May 6 – 7 PM	Michigan State, Ohio State
(M) Golf	April 24-26	Newburgh, IN	Wednesday, May 13 – 7 PM	Minnesota
(M/W) Outdoor Track & Field	May 15-17	Michigan State	Sunday, May 24 – 11 AM	Wisconsin / Penn State
Rowing	May 16-17	Indianapolis, IN	Sunday, May 24 – 6 PM	Ohio State

 

2015 Big Ten Men’s Lacrosse Tournament Schedule

 

Games	Date	Air Time (ET)
Semifinal 1	Thursday, April 30	5:30 PM
Semifinal 2	Thursday, April 30	8:00 PM
Championship	Saturday, May 2	8:00 PM

 

2015 Big Ten Women’s Lacrosse Tournament Schedule

 

Games	Date	Air Time (ET)
No. 4 Seed vs. No. 5 Seed	Thursday, April 30	3:00 PM**
No. 3 Seed vs. No. 6 Seed	Thursday, April 30	5:30 PM**
No. 1 Seed vs. Quarterfinal One Winner	Friday, May 1	5:30 PM
No. 2 Seed vs. Quarterfinal Two Winner	Friday, May 1	8:00 PM

**Student U Production aired on BTN Plus

 

2015 Big Ten Softball Tournament Schedule

 

Games	Date	Air Time (ET)
TBD Matchup vs. TBD Matchup	Thursday, May 7	12:00 PM*
TBD Matchup vs. TBD Matchup	Thursday, May 7	2:30 PM*
TBD Matchup vs. TBD Matchup	Thursday, May 7	5:30 PM**
TBD Matchup vs. TBD Matchup	Thursday, May 7	8:00 PM **
Seed 4 vs. Game 1 Winner	Friday, May 8	12:00 PM
Seed 1 vs. Game 2 Winner	Friday, May 8	2:30 PM
Seed 3 vs. Game 3 Winner	Friday, May 8	5:30 PM
Seed 2 vs. Game 4 Winner	Friday, May 8	8:00 PM
Game 5 Winner vs. Game 6 Winner	Saturday, May 9	3:30 PM
Game 7 Winner vs. Game 8 Winner	Saturday, May 9	6:00 PM
Championship	Saturday, May 9	8:30 PM

*Game will air on BTN Plus (Subscription Required)

**Student U Production

 

2015 Big Ten Baseball Tournament Schedule
Games	Date	Air Time (ET)
TBD Matchup vs. TBD Matchup	Wednesday, May 20	TBD
TBD Matchup vs. TBD Matchup	Wednesday, May 20	TBD
Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner	Thursday, May 21	6:00 PM
Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Winner	Thursday, May 21	10:00 PM
Game 5 Winner vs. Game 7 Loser	Friday, May 22	4:30 PM
Game 6 Winner vs. Game 8 Loser	Friday, May 22	8:30 PM
Game 8 Winner vs. Game 9 Winner	Saturday, May 23	TBD
Game 7 Winner vs. Game 10 Winner	Saturday, May 23	TBD
Game 12 Winner vs. Game 12 Loser (if necessary)	Saturday, May 23	TBD
Game 11 Winner vs. Game 11 Loser (if necessary)	Saturday, May 23	TBD
Championship	Sunday, May 24	2:00 PM

 

KEARNEY, Neb. – While the Storm are still waiting to find out its counterpart for the upcoming Western Conference Final series, the team has announced it will host Game 1 of the series on Friday night, regardless of their opponent.

The second-seeded Tri-City Storm will take on either first-seeded Sioux City or fourth-seeded Sioux Falls in a best-of-five series starting on Friday at 7:30 p.m at the Viaero Event Center.

Tickets for Game 1 are on sale now at the Viaero Event Center Box Office and can be purchased in person, online at stormhockey.com, or over the phone by calling 308.338.8011.

The game will be a Free Kids Friday, with kids 12-and-under getting one free ticket for each paid adult. Tri-City will also offer $2 soda and $2 hot dogs for all fans from doors open at 6:30 p.m. until the puck drops at 7:30.

The full schedule for the series will be released at the conclusion of the Sioux City/Sioux Falls series Tuesday night.

Cunningham’s Journal in Kearney will continue to host official watch parties for all road playoff games.

Fans that purchased the ‘Pay As We Play’ ticket package can use their tickets labeled ‘Round 2 Home Game 1’ for Friday night’s game.

The Nebraska Baseball Academy is returning to North Platte this summer to help local ballplayers hone their skills.

The camp is designed for all baseball players, and organizers say it is an opportunity for players to learn the proper techniques needed in the game of baseball.

The camp will take place Monday, June 29, at Bill Wood Field, West 18th Street and Highway 83.

The camp is open to players age seven through 2016 high school graduates.

The camp costs $63 if players register online, and $68 for registrants paying by cash or check.

The deadline to regsiter is June 25.

Contact Pete Volz at (308) 520-1576 or Renee Brinkmann at (402) 413-8881 for more information.

Tyler Viers of the Mid-Plains Rodeo team won the bull-riding event with 79 points at   the University of Nebraska-Lincoln rodeo this past weekend.

The Mid-Plains men’s team took seventh in the team standings with 150 points, while the women’s team took sixth place with 105 points.

Individually, besides Viers winning the bull riding, Duell Puttergill took fifth in the saddle bronc riding. Kalie Jacobson took third in the women’s breakaway roping.

On the year, the Mid-Plains men’s team is in seventh place with 1070 points and the women’s team is in 10^th place with 110 points.  Individually, Puttergill is in sixth place with 260 points in saddle bronc riding.  Tyler Murray is tied for 11^th in steer wrestling with 200 points. Jacobson is in 14^th place with 110 points in breakaway roping.

In the bull riding, Mid-Plains has five cowboys in the top 15 led by Keali’i’auka Kaai in fourth place with 290 points. Colter Glendy and Tyler Viers are fifth and sixth in the region with 230 and 190 points respectively. Tyler Wriedt is 10^th with 80 points and Dakota Rice is tied for 11^th with 70 points.

Mid-Plains travels this weekend to Spearfish S.D. to compete in the Black Hills State University rodeo on April 24 – 25.