ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) — The Big Ten says it is seeking more feedback on whether freshmen should compete in athletics.
The conference released a statement Tuesday indicating it wants to know what others think and will seek input from national leaders inside and outside college athletics before the 2016 NCAA National Convention.
The Big Ten is seeking feedback on establishing “a year of readiness for all sports — or select sports; student-athlete time demands; playing seasons; initial eligibility requirements; and other areas impacting academics on college campuses across the country.”
Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany says the conference “won’t go it alone on any of these matters” and plans to work with “our colleagues in the NCAA Division I governance structure.”
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Chicago Bulls will play the Dallas Mavericks in an NBA exhibition game in Lincoln this fall.
Pinnacle Bank Arena announced on Tuesday that the teams will square off on Friday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m.
Tickets ranging from $18 to $203 will go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday.
This season’s Bulls roster features former Creighton University star Doug McDermott as well as Derrick Rose and All-Stars Jimmy Butler and Pau Gasol. The Mavericks are led by longtime star Dirk Nowitzki in addition to Monta Ellis and Tyson Chandler.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Two members of Congress have asked NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to clarify whether teams can lose draft picks if they do not properly address domestic violence.
In a letter sent Tuesday to Goodell, Sen. Brian Schatz, a Democrat from Hawaii, and Rep. Jackie Speier, a Democrat from California, write: “We urge you to create accountability at all levels of the NFL, particularly among team owners, who have the most direct financial incentives to avoid long-term suspensions and quickly get players back on the field.”
The letter notes that the league has docked clubs draft picks in the past, such as when the Saints were investigated for a bounty system and when the Patriots were caught videotaping an opponent’s sideline signals.
University of Nebraska Head Football Coach Mike Riley announced Tuesday the hiring of Brian Stewart as the Huskers’ defensive backs coach. Stewart brings defensive coordinator experience at both the college and professional levels to the Husker staff.
Stewart comes to Nebraska after spending the past three seasons as the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at the University of Maryland. His stop at Maryland continued an impressive coaching resume that includes seven years as a defensive coordinator—five years in college football and two in the National Football League. Stewart also has 15 years of tutoring defensive backs on his coaching resume.
“I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of the Nebraska football program,” Stewart said. “The opportunity to coach at Nebraska is awesome. My first impression is ‘wow’. From the weight room to walking down the hallway and seeing the national championship trophies, Nebraska is what you think it is…a football powerhouse.
“The most important thing for me in my coaching career is my family. Coach Riley and his staff have been together so long, and you can just see the loyalty and trust. I’m proud to be a part of that.”
Riley said adding another experienced coach to his staff will provide excellent leadership to a veteran group of Nebraska defensive backs.
“Brian Stewart brings a record of success in both the collegiate and professional ranks and will be a great fit at the University of Nebraska,” Riley said. “He has experience coaching and recruiting in all parts of the country, most recently with experience in the Big Ten Conference. We look forward to Brian getting started with our defensive staff and our secondary.”
The 50-year old Stewart completes a Nebraska defensive staff that includes four coaches who all have professional coaching or playing experience. The defensive staff has three coaches with coordinator experience, including Stewart, defensive coordinator Mark Banker and defensive line coach Hank Hughes. Both Stewart and Banker have served as defensive coordinators in both college and the National Football League.
Including Stewart, the Nebraska staff has eight coaches with professional coaching experience. The group has a total of 46 years coaching in the professional ranks, including 30 years in the National Football League. The staff also has three coaches with professional playing experience.
In his three seasons on the Maryland staff, Stewart helped the Terrapins to a pair of bowl appearances. The attacking Terrapin defense tallied more than 30 sacks each of the past two seasons.
Defensive back Will Likely was a standout under Stewart’s guidance, leading the Big Ten in interceptions in 2014 en route to first-team all-conference honors. In Stewart’s first year at Maryland in 2012, his defense finished in the top three in the ACC in total defense, rushing defense and pass defense, and was 21st nationally in total defense.
Stewart re-joined the college ranks as the defensive coordinator at the University of Houston in 2010 and 2011. Stewart helped the Cougars to a 13-1 record and No. 14 final national ranking in 2011.
He spent the previous eight years in the NFL, including a two-year stint as the Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator in 2007 and 2008. As the Cowboys’ defense coordinator, Stewart guided Dallas to two top-10 rankings in fewest yards allowed. He helped the Cowboys to a 13-3 record and NFC East divisional title in 2007.
Stewart also served as an assistant coach with the Philadelphia Eagles (2009), San Diego Chargers (2004-06) and the Houston Texas (2002-03). Each of the teams Stewart coached in his final six NFL seasons won at least nine games, including three division champions and four playoff teams. During his time in the professional ranks, Stewart helped 14 players make Pro Bowl appearances.
Before his stint in the National Football League, Stewart had college assistant coaching stops at Syracuse, Missouri, San Jose State, Northern Arizona and Cal Poly. A California native, Stewart played defensive back at Santa Monica City College and Northern Arizona.
Riley also announced that Jon Clark has joined the Nebraska staff as a defensive graduate assistant coach. Clark comes to Nebraska after one season as the secondary coach at East Texas Baptist University. Clark also served as the defensive coordinator at Canyon State Academy and was a student assistant coach for Arizona State. Clark was a letterwinner for the Sun Devil defense as a player.
DENVER (AP) — Brook Lopez led seven Nets players in double figures with 19 points, and Brooklyn won its second consecutive road game by beating the Denver Nuggets 110-82 on Monday night.
Deron Williams added 16 points and 12 assists, and Thaddeus Young scored 15 in another solid outing for the Nets since his acquisition last week from Minnesota in exchange for Kevin Garnett. Brooklyn, coming off a 114-105 win at the Los Angeles Lakers last Friday, won back-to-back road games for the first time since mid-January.
Danilo Gallinari had 22 points for the struggling Nuggets, who have lost 16 of 18 — including seven in a row at home. It matches their longest losing streak at the Pepsi Center since also dropping seven straight from Feb. 6 to March 2, 2003.
PHOENIX (AP) — Commissioner Rob Manfred says new rules intended to speed up the pace of games are aimed at luring younger fans to baseball.
Manfred, speaking publicly on the changes for the first time since they were announced last Friday, says the rules are a “measured” approach worked out with the MLB Players Association.
The new commissioner, who took over when Bud Selig retired in January, says he has four children in their 20s, and that the attention span for that generation “seems to be shorter than the rest of ours.”
This season, batters will be required to have one foot in the batter’s box and pitchers and batters will be required to be ready to go at the conclusion of television commercials.
The Nebraska women’s basketball team shoots for a season split with Minnesota while aiming for its fourth straight 20-win season when the Huskers battle the Golden Gophers Tuesday in Lincoln.
Tip-off between the Big Red (19-8, 9-7 Big Ten) and the Gophers (22-6, 11-5 Big Ten) at Pinnacle Bank Arena is set for 8 p.m. (CT) with tickets available now at Huskers.com. Tickets can also be purchased the night of the game at the Pinnacle Bank Arena Box Office beginning at 6 p.m.
Live national television coverage will be provided by the Big Ten Network with Kevin Kugler and Stephanie White on the call. Live radio coverage from the Husker Sports Network is also available with Matt Coatney and Jeff Griesch calling the action on stations across the network, including B107.3 FM in Lincoln, 93.3 FM in Omaha and 880 AM in Lexington. Free live audio is available on Huskers.com.
Nebraska is coming off a 67-64 road win at Indiana on Saturday, as the Huskers closed their regular-season road schedule with a 7-6 mark. NU finished 4-5 in Big Ten road games, including a 72-69 loss at Minnesota to open conference play on Dec. 29. Five of Nebraska’s six road losses have been by single digits, with the only exception a 12-point loss at No. 5 Maryland, and all five of those league road losses have come to current top-50 RPI teams.
The Big Red have been strong at home, carrying a 12-2 record into their final regular-season week at Pinnacle Bank Arena. NU’s only two home losses have come to top-10 RPI teams Maryland and Iowa.
This week’s games between Minnesota and Ohio State (March 1) will mark the final home appearances for the most accomplished senior class in Nebraska history. Seniors Emily Cady, Brandi Jeffery, Tear’a Laudermill and Hailie Sample have joined forces to lead the Huskers to a school-record-tying 94 wins during their four years in Lincoln.
With all four expected to be in the starting five, Tuesday night’s game with Minnesota should mark the 500th combined appearances in Husker uniforms for the seniors. The quartet has combined for 3,691 points, 2,380 rebounds and 798 assists in their college careers.
Nebraska Cornhuskers (19-8, 9-7 Big Ten)
3 – Hailie Sample – 6-1 – Sr. – F – 7.4 ppg, 6.9 rpg
23 – Emily Cady – 6-2 – Sr. – F – 12.0 ppg, 10.4 rpg
1 – Tear’a Laudermill – 5-9 – Sr. – G – 14.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg
5 – Natalie Romeo – 5-7 – Fr. – G – 7.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg
13 – Brandi Jeffery – 5-7 – Sr. – G – 7.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg Off the Bench
33 – Rachel Theriot (OUT) – 6-0 – Jr. – G – 16.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg
22 – Allie Havers – 6-5 – So. – C – 4.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg
31 – Anya Kalenta – 6-3 – Jr. – F – 4.0 ppg, 1.7 rpg
30 – Chandler Smith – 6-0 – Fr. – G – 2.0 ppg, 1.7 rpg
34 – Jasmine Cincore – 5-8 – Fr. – G – 1.5 ppg, 0.3 rpg
12 – Emily Wood – 5-5 – Fr. – G – 0.3 ppg, 0.6 rpg
11 – Esther Ramacieri – 5-8 – So. – G – 0.1 ppg, 0.5 rpg
50 – Darrien Washington – 6-2 – Fr. – F – Redshirting Head Coach: Connie Yori (Creighton, 1986)
13th Season at NU (260-150); 25th Season Overall (455-290)
Minnesota Golden Gophers (22-6, 11-5 Big Ten)
23 – Shae Kelley – 6-1 – Sr. – F – 16.6 ppg, 9.1 rpg
32 – Amanda Zahui B. – 6-5 – So. – C – 18.6 ppg, 12.7 rpg
3 – Shayne Mullaney – 5-10 – Jr. – G – 7.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg
24 – Mikayla Bailey – 5-9 – Jr. – G – 7.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg
33 – Carlie Wagner – 5-10 – Fr. – G – 12.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg Off the Bench
1 – Rachel Banham (OUT) – 5-9 – Sr. – G – 18.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg
20 – Kayla Hirt – 6-2 – Jr. – G/F – 5.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg
52 – Josie Buckingham – 6-5 – Fr. – C – 1.7 ppg, 1.7 rpg
2 – Stabresa McDaniel – 5-10 – So. – G – 1.5 ppg, 1.2 rpg
22 – Joanna Hedstrom – 6-1 – So. – G – 1.1 ppg, 0.9 rpg
5 – Tory Jacobs – 5-10 – Fr. – G/F – 1.1 ppg, 0.5 rpg Head Coach: Marlene Stollings (Ohio, 1998)
1st Season at Minnesota (22-6); 4th Season Overall (71-48)
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) — A pair of Tennessee girls basketball high school teams have been pulled from the postseason for trying to lose a game to avoid the top-ranked team and improve their chances of advancing to the state tournament.
The programs at Riverdale (22-8), a state champion in 2013, and Smyrna also were fined $500 Monday and placed on probation for a year by the Tennessee Secondary School athletic Association.
TSSAA executive director Bernard Childress wrote Monday in letters to the schools’ principals that the teams “made a mockery” with intentional turnovers off various violations and missed free throws. The referee also reported he stopped play ordering the coaches not to make a travesty of the game with a Smyrna player about to shoot at the wrong basket.
The college baseball season would run from April to August instead of February to June under an ambitious idea pushed by West Virginia coach Randy Mazey.
Mazey said Monday he plans to finalize the proposal this fall. He would need a conference to submit it into the NCAA legislative process.
Mazey said playing in the summer would increase ticket revenue and exposure. Among other benefits: decreasing the amount of money northern programs spend on travel and raising graduation rates because players would be enrolled in summer school.
But drafted players would have to hold off signing with major-league teams that selected them in June. Also, an agreement would have to be reached with ESPN to move the College World Series from June to August.
KEARNEY, Neb. – Tri-City Storm Head Coach Jim Hulton announced the acquisition of forward Christopher Brown from the Green Bay GamblersMonday along with a sixth round pick in Phase II of the 2015 USHL Phase II Draft in exchange for defenseman Gordi Myer and a player to be named later.
Brown, a sixth round draft pick of the Buffalo Sabres in the 2014 NHL Draft last summer, is committed to play college hockey at Boston College and was the leading scorer on the Gamblers’ roster with 13 goals and 19 assists in 43 games.
The forward, a native of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., is in his first USHL season and just celebrated his 19th birthday on Sunday.
“All the reports that we got from the internal scouting we’ve done is that Chris Brown absolutely fits our mold,” said Hulton. “He’s a 200-foot player who is very responsible away from the puck, a front-line penalty killer and power play player, and a top face-off guy. He comes from a hockey pedigree and understands the intangibles that it takes to be a successful player and a successful team member.”
Hulton also said that the common denominator from all the reports he got was that Brown is a responsible player with the kind of character he was looking to add to the team.
“We’ve been looking all season for a bit of a puck distributor in the middle and we think with Chris we’ve achieved that without giving up anything from our identity,” Hulton said.
Myer will head to Green Bay after appearing in 32 games with Tri-City this season.
“It was a difficult decision,” Hulton said. “Any time you have to add, there’s a necessary deletion and there’s a cost to acquire a player of Chris’s ability. We think Gordi has an extremely bright future and is going to be a force to be reckoned with in this league. He was a great teammate, very coachable, and improved in leaps and bounds this season. We wish him all the best and thank him for his time as a member of the Storm.”
Brown is coming off a two-assist game against Youngstown on Sunday. During the 2013-14 season, he played for Cranbrook-Kingswood Upper School in Bloomfield Township, Mich.
“I think this helps us set up for the run to clinch a playoff spot and then hopefully to have success in the playoffs,” Hulton said.
This weekend Western Conference leading Sioux City will travel to Kearney for a two-game series. Friday’s contest begins at 7:30 p.m., whileSaturday’s gets underway at 7:05.
For more information and to purchase tickets, contact the Viaero Event Center Box Office at 308.338.8011 or visit www.stormhockey.com.
ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) — The Big Ten says it is seeking more feedback on whether freshmen should compete in athletics.
