CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Nebraska offensive lineman Ryan Klachko has transferred to Illinois.
Illinois coach Tim Beckman said Wednesday that the 6-foot-4, 290-pound redshirt freshman was one of the top high school players in Illinois when he played at Sacred Heart-Griffin High School in Springfield.
Illinois says Klachko has started practicing with the team but under NCAA rules will have to sit out the 2012 season. He has three seasons of eligibility left.
The Nebraska wrestling team announced a challenging schedule for the 2012-13 season on Wednesday, which includes a trip to Madison Square Garden as well as matches against the top three NCAA finishers from 2012.
The Huskers open their season on Nov. 4 at the Warren Williamson/Daktronics Open in Brookings, S.D. Last season Nebraska sent 13 wrestlers to the tournament, which was hosted by South Dakota State. All-American James Green led the Huskers, winning the tournament at 157 pounds.
The first dual of the season is against Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colo., on Nov. 10. It is the first of two non-conference road duals as the next night the Huskers face Wyoming in Laramie, Wyo.
The Huskers’ first conference home dual of the season is on the night of Nov. 16, as they will host 2012 NCAA runner-up Minnesota at the NU Coliseum at 7 p.m. Two days later, Nebraska hosts a pair of afternoon non-conference duals against North Carolina and South Dakota State. The Huskers hold a 10-1 advantage over the Tar Heels in the all-time series.
Nebraska heads to Las Vegas, Nev., Nov. 30-Dec. 1, for the Cliff Keen Invitational. Last season the Huskers finished fourth with 106 points. NU then returns home for a pair of duals against Arizona State (Dec. 8) and Wisconsin (Dec. 9). In 2011-12, the Huskers shut out both opponents by a combined score of 78-0.
On Dec. 16, the Huskers are set to compete in the first Grapple at the Garden in New York, N.Y. NU faces Maryland at 9:30 a.m., before wrestling Rutgers at 11:30 a.m. Other teams participating in the Grapple at the Garden include Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Iowa, Hofstra, Chattanooga and Bucknell. To close out 2012, the Huskers compete at the Midlands Invitational in Evanston, Ill., Dec. 29-30.
January begins with two road Big Ten duals against Michigan and Northwestern. The Huskers head to Ann Arbor, Mich., on Jan. 11 before a trip to Evanston, Ill., on Jan. 13. Nebraska returns home to face Illinois on Jan. 18. The Fighting Illini finished seventh at the 2012 NCAA Championships. Nebraska then heads to University Park, Pa., for a showdown against defending national champion Penn State on Jan. 27.
On Feb. 1, the Huskers host Michigan State at the NU Coliseum. Last season the Big Red crushed the Spartans 27-8 in East Lansing, Mich. The final Big Ten dual of the 2012-13 campaign comes Feb. 10 against Iowa, which finished third at the 2012 NCAA Championships. The Huskers will compete at the NWCA National Duals in Ithaca, N.Y., on Feb. 17. Their opponents are to be determined.
On March 9-10, Nebraska will make its second appearance in the Big Ten Championships in Champaign, Ill. Last season the Huskers produced four top-five finishers. The 2012-13 season concludes March 21-23 at the NCAA Championships in Des Moines, Iowa. Last year Nebraska finished 21st with 28 points. Freshman James Green (157) and junior Josh Ihnen (184) earned All-America honors, as eight Huskers qualified for the 2012 NCAA Championships.
Prior to the regular season, on Nov. 2 Nebraska will hold its annual Red-Black Intersquad meet at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.
Date Opponent/Tournament
Nov. 2 NU Intersquad Devaney Center 7 p.m.
Nov. 4 Warren Williamson/Daktronics Open Brookings, S.D. TBA
Nov. 10 Northern Colorado
Nov. 11 Wyoming
Nov. 16 Minnesota
Nov. 18 North Carolina, South Dakota State NU Coliseum Noon/2 p.m.
Nov.30-Dec. 1 Cliff Keen Invitational Las Vegas, Nev. TBA
Dec. 8 Arizona State NU Coliseum 7 p.m.
Dec. 9 Wisconsin
Dec. 16 Grapple at the Garden
Dec. 29-30 Midlands Invitational Evanston, Ill. TBA
Jan. 11 Michigan
Jan. 13 Northwestern Evanston, Ill. 2 p.m.
Jan. 18 Illinois NU Coliseum 7 p.m.
Jan. 27 Penn State University Park, Pa. 1 p.m.
Feb. 1 Michigan State NU Coliseum 7 p.m.
Feb. 10 Iowa
Feb. 17 NWCA National Duals Ithaca, N.Y. TBA
Feb. 24 NWCA National Duals TBA TBA
March 9-10 Big Ten Championships Champaign, Ill. TBA
March 21-23 NCAA Championships Des Moines, Iowa TBA
— Connor Stange, Nebraska Sports Information
CHICAGO (AP) – Michael and Magic versus Kobe and LeBron? It could be coming to a video game console near you.
With USA Basketball and 2K Sports forming a partnership, fans can see what happens when the 1992 Dream Team goes up against this year’s Olympic gold medal winner once NBA 2K13 hits the shelves this fall.
Never mind that it’s not quite the real thing, more fuel is about to be added to the debate even if Michael Jordan says the 1992 team “was a more well-rounded basketball team.”
It’s hard to argue, considering the 1992 Dream Team had Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. The team that just took gold in London wasn’t bad, either, with LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant leading the way.
NEW YORK (AP) – Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy will square off in China this fall in a one-day exhibition.
Woods and McIlroy are to play an 18-hole match at Lake Jinsha International Golf Club on Oct. 29, the Monday after the top two players in the world ranking compete in different Asian tournaments.
Mark Steinberg at Excel Sports Management, the agent for Woods, says the exhibition has been in the works for a couple of months. He described it as customer entertainment.
McIlroy won the PGA Championship on Sunday, boosting comparisons with Woods. They are the only two players to win multiple majors by more than eight shots over the last 35 years. McIlroy won his second major at a slightly younger age than when Woods won the second of his 14 majors.
LONDON (AP) – The head of the international badminton federation says the playing-to-lose scandal that led to eight players being disqualified from the London Olympics was only a “hiccup” that should not reflect badly on the sport in the long term.
Four women’s doubles pairs were thrown out of the Olympics after trying to lose their last group matches in hopes of gaining an easier path to the final.
Thomas Lund, the head of the Badminton World Federation, said in a statement Wednesday that “our disciplinary committee went in and sent out a strong message that this is not acceptable.”
He added that “people will probably remember the little hiccup, but there are so many positives we can take out of this.”
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Detroit at Minnesota 12:10 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Seattle 2:40 p.m.
Boston at Baltimore 6:05 p.m.
Texas at N-Y Yankees 6:05 p.m.
Chi White Sox at Toronto 6:07 p.m.
Oakland at Kansas City 7:10 p.m.
Cleveland at L.A. Angels 9:05 p.m.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Philadelphia at Miami 11:40 p.m.
Houston at Chi Cubs 12:20 p.m.
Milwaukee at Colorado 2:10 p.m. (LISTEN LIVE on ESPN Radio 1410)
Washington at San Francisco 2:45 p.m.
L.A. Dodgers at Pittsburgh 6:05 p.m.
N-Y Mets at Cincinnati 6:10 p.m.
San Diego at Atlanta 6:10 p.m.
Arizona at St. Louis 7:15 p.m.
UNDATED (AP) – There was quite a pitchers’ duel last night in the Bronx.
Hiroki Kuroda two-hit the Rangers in the Yankees’ 3-0 shutout of Texas. Nick Swisher and Mark Teixeira greeted Alexi Ogando with back-to-back homers in the seventh inning to account for the Bombers’ runs. Ogando was on in relief of All-Star lefty Matt Harrison.
Kuroda had a no-hitter until Elvis Andrus led off the seventh with an infield single. Kuroda picked up his 11th victory of the year and lowered his ERA to 3.06.
The Yanks now lead the AL East by six games over Tampa Bay and Baltimore.
Texas still leads the AL West by six games over Oakland after the Athletics were shut out 5-0 at Kansas City. Jeremy Guthrie gave up only three singles while striking out a season-high eight over seven innings.
The Rays lost a game in the AL East standings by blowing a 2-1 lead in the ninth inning of a 3-2 loss at Seattle. Fernando Rodney gave up a sacrifice fly to Justin Smoak and a game-winning single to Eric Thames after Matt Moore limited the Mariners to a run and six hits while striking out nine in seven innings.
In other American League play, Jose Quintana allowed two runs and eight hits over 6 2/3 innings as the Chicago White Sox topped Toronto 3-2. Quintana won for the first time in his last six starts and helped the White Sox won in Toronto for only the fourth time in 21 games since 2007.
Detroit remains two games behind the Central-leading White Sox after Miguel Cabrera delivered an RBI single and a run-scoring double in the Tigers’ 8-4 win at Minnesota. Cabrera is the first player with 100 RBIs this year, and the third in Tigers history to drive in 100 in five straight seasons.
Mark Reynolds homered twice and drove in four runs as Baltimore whipped Boston 7-1 to stay six games behind the East-leading Yankees. Wei-Yin Chen gave up one run, nine hits and a walk in six-plus innings to pick up his 11th win and help the Orioles move 10 games over .500 for the first time since late June.
The Angels were 9-6 winners over Cleveland as Albert Pujols crushed a three-run homer and had four RBIs. Zack Greinke gave up four runs over seven innings to claim his first win since being acquired from Milwaukee late last month.
Over to the National League, where Madison Bumgarner went the distance on a five-hitter to pitch San Francisco to a 6-1 win over Washington. Bumgarner took a shutout into the seventh and pitched the Giants to their first victory over the Nationals in five tries this season.
Brandon Belt had three hits and drove in three runs, including an RBI single during the Giants’ four-run eighth.
With the victory, the Giants stay in a first-place tie with Los Angeles in the NL West. The Nationals saw their lead in the East trimmed to 4 1/2 games over Atlanta.
The Dodgers tied their season high for runs in a game. Luis Cruz tied career highs with three hits and three RBIs as Los Angeles hammered Pittsburgh 11-0. Chad Billingsley allowed only five hits in eight innings to pitch Kevin Correia (koh-RAY’-uh), who had won seven consecutive decisions before surrendering five runs in six innings.
The Pirates are six games behind the Central-leading Reds following their fifth loss in six games.
Jay Bruce belted a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to give Cincinnati a 3-0 win over the New York Mets. Matos Latos (LAY’-tohs) had to settle for a no-decision despite limiting the Mets to five hits in seven shutout innings.
St. Louis remains seven games behind the Reds after Matt Holliday socked a two-run homer and John Jay added a solo shot to give the Cardinals a 3-0 lead in an 8-2 rout of Arizona. Rookie Joe Kelly allowed six hits in 6 1/3 innings, blanking the Diamondbacks into Miguel Montero’s two-run shot in the seventh.
Tim Hudson combined with three relievers on a five-hitter as Atlanta blanked San Diego 6-0 to end a two-game skid. Martin Prado launched a three-run homer and Dan Uggla added a solo shot to power the Braves to their 15th victory in 20 games.
Kyle Kendrick gave up five hits in seven innings as the Phillies shut out the Marlins for the second straight night, this time 1-0. Neither team scored after Jimmy Rollins led off the game with a homer, sending manager Charlie Manuel to his 700th career victory.
The Astros won for only the third time in their last 28 road games as Brett Wallace and Fernando Martinez each hit three-run homers in a 10-1 laugher against the Cubs. Lucas Harrell gave up a run and six hits in eight innings for his 10th win.
UNDATED (AP) – Boston Red Sox infielder Dustin Pedroia says he believes none of the team’s problems this season should be attributed to first-year manager Bobby Valentine.
Pedroia addressed a report from Yahoo! Sports that he complained about Valentine’s performance at a meeting with team owner John Henry and team president Larry Lucchino last month. Pedroia says has a “great” relationship with Valentine and will go out there and play for him any day of the week.
Yahoo! Sports said Pedroia and teammate Adrian Gonzalez were “the most vocal” at a July 27 meeting in New York.
METAIRIE, La. (AP) – New Orleans owner Tom Benson has met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell (guh-DEHL’) in New York to discuss matters concerning both the team and the league. While the NFL and the Saints are providing very few details, Saints spokesman Greg Bensel says the meeting was productive and that Benson looks forward to many more discussions with the commissioner.
The meeting comes amid the backdrop of lawsuits filed by current and former Saints players who’ve challenged the findings of the NFL’s bounty investigation.
Goodell has used the NFL’s findings as the basis for season-long suspensions of Saints head coach Sean Payton and defensive captain Jonathan Vilma.
TORONTO (AP) – The NHL Players’ Association has made its first contract proposal, less than five weeks before a league-imposed deadline for reaching an agreement.
Union head Donald Fehr (feer) says players are prepared to surrender as much as $465 million in revenue over three years under the proposal if the league continues to grow at an average rate. That figure could swell to $800 if growth holds at the same rate as the last two seasons. However, the proposal also contains a player-controlled fourth-year option that would see the CBA revert to its current terms.
The union is also willing to limit long-term contracts to five years.
The NHL last month made its proposal that featured a 20 percent reduction of players’ share of revenues and limitations to free agency.
The current CBA expires Sept. 15. The NHL has said there will be a lockout if a new agreement isn’t in place by then.
NEW YORK (AP) – The Big East has hired CBS executive vice president Mike Aresco to be commissioner of a conference now in rebuilding mode.
Aresco has been a vice president in charge of programming for CBS since 1996. He’s handled the network’s contract negotiations with the NCAA for the rights to the men’s basketball tournament, and he’s also negotiated CBS’s 15-year deal with the Southeastern Conference.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Baltimore 7 Boston 1
N-Y Yankees 3 Texas 0
Chi White Sox 3 Toronto 2
Detroit 8 Minnesota 4
Kansas City 5 Oakland 0
L.A. Angels 9 Cleveland 6
Seattle 3 Tampa Bay 2
NATIONAL LEAGUE
L.A. Dodgers 11 Pittsburgh 0
Cincinnati 3 N-Y Mets 0
Philadelphia 1 Miami 0
Atlanta 6 San Diego 0
Houston 10 Chi Cubs 1
St. Louis 8 Arizona 2
Colorado 8 Milwaukee 6
San Francisco 6 Washington 1
The Colorado Rockies jumped out in front early and held on late to secure a series victory. Four runs in the first inning sparked an 8-6 Rockies win over the Milwaukee Brewers at Coors Field. Carlos Gonzalez drove in a pair of runs in the first with a single, the first of his four hits on the night. Wilin Rosario added a solo home run in the fifth inning, and red-hot Eric Young Jr. blasted a two-run dinger in the sixth to tack on further insurance. Tyler Chatwood had by far his best outing in a Rockies uniform, working six innings and allowing just two runs. The Brewers rallied for three runs in the ninth inning, but Rafael Betancourt held the rally at bay for his 21st save of the season. The Rockies aim for a sweep of the Brewers this afternoon. ESPN Radio 1410 has the action from Denver, with the pregame show at 1:30 and the first pitch at 2:10.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska women’s basketball coach Connie Yori will be paid a bonus of $31,250 if the Cornhuskers make the NCAA tournament and an additional $100,000 if they win the national championship.
Yori’s bonus structure is outlined in her new contract, which was announced in June and made public Tuesday.
The contract, which runs through June 2017, calls for her to be paid $673,200 a year, up from $660,000.
She’ll earn $15,000 for winning either a Big Ten regular-season or tournament championship.
The more she wins in the NCAA tournament, the more she’ll earn. The scale: $15,000 for a first-round win, $30,000 for a second-round win, $45,000 for a third-round win and $75,000 for reaching the Final Four.
Nebraska (24-9, 10-6) made it to the Big Ten tournament title game last season.
Denver Broncos offensive lineman Chris Kuper suffered a grotesque leg fracture and ankle dislocation in the final game of the 2011 regular season. His comeback from that injury will have to wait a little longer. Kuper, the team’s starting right guard, broke a bone in his left forearm at practice yesterday and will be out for six weeks. That likely keeps him out for at least the first three games of the regular season. Veteran Manny Ramirez will fill in for Kuper in his absence. The Broncos also got some unfortunate injury news about rookie running back Ronnie Hillman. Hillman was held out of the preseason opener last Thursday with a right hamstring injury, but was hoping to play this week before he re-aggravated the injury yesterday during workouts. His status for Saturday’s home preseason opener against Seattle is in doubt.
Lincoln – The Nebraska men’s basketball team will face a 13-game non-conference schedule that features matchups against teams from the Pac-12 and ACC, along with both of the state’s other Division I programs, first-year coach Tim Miles announced Tuesday.
“I’m excited to get going with the season,” Miles said. “Every year is different in how you create a non-conference schedule. Some teams need more of a challenge, and some need more grooming so you prepare accordingly. This one is a nice mix of everything. I think we will be challenged a great deal, and we will know exactly what we have going into the start of Big Ten play.”
The Huskers will play nine home games in their final season at the Bob Devaney Sports Center, including the previously announced Joe Cipriano Nebraska Classic, which features Valparaiso, Nebraska-Omaha, Tulane and Kent State. Nebraska will also face Southern (Nov. 11), USC (Dec. 3), Creighton (Dec. 6), Jacksonville State (Dec. 18) and Nicholls State (Dec. 29) at the Devaney Center.
“We have put together a strong home slate when you look at the Joe Cipriano Classic, a rivalry game with Creighton and a Southern California team that believes it will be an NCAA-caliber team this year. I think that it is going to be fun for our fans.”
In addition, the Huskers will make trips to Wake Forest (Nov. 27), Oregon (Dec. 15) as well as participate in the Sun Bowl Invitational (Dec. 22-23).
“Playing at Wake Forest in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge as well as playing at Oregon will be important games for us, Miles said. “We are also excited to return to El Paso for the Sun Bowl Classic. We had a great experience there with Colorado State last year. The hospitality was amazing, and we are looking forward to going back to be part of the event this year.”
Miles also announced the Huskers will have one exhibition game, as they will take on Midland University on Wednesday, Nov. 7, at the Devaney Center.
Fans can purchase season tickets for as little as $95 by visiting Huskers.com, calling 800-8-BIGRED or stopping by the Nebraska Ticket Office during business hours (Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-5 p.m.). In addition, all fans who purchase season tickets for the 2012-13 season will have priority over the general public when the Huskers move into Pinnacle Bank Arena in 2013-14.
Nebraska will spend most of November at home, opening the final basketball season at the Devaney Center on Sunday, Nov. 11, when the Huskers take on Southern. The contest against the Jaguars, who went 17-14 and finished second in the SWAC standings, will be the first of five consecutive home games before Nebraska travels to Winston-Salem, N.C., for the ACC/Big Ten Challenge game at Wake Forest.
The month of December opens with a tough three-game stretch that begins with a USC team on Dec. 3 that was limited by injuries last year. USC returns nearly its entire roster in 2012-13, including starting point guard Jio Fontan, who missed all of last season following knee surgery, as well as six of the team’s top eight scorers in 2011-12.
The Huskers will continue a busy week when they host Creighton at the Devaney Center on Thursday, Dec. 6. The Bluejays return four starters, including All-American Doug McDermott, from a team that 29 games and reached the third round of the 2012 NCAA Tournament.
Following final exams, the Huskers will trek cross country to take on the Oregon Ducks on Saturday, Dec. 15. Oregon, coached by Dana Altman, went 24-10 last season and tied for second place in the Pac-12 before reaching the quarterfinals of the NIT. Oregon returns two starters, including second-team All-Pac-12 selection E.J. Singler (13.6, 5.6 rpg).
The Huskers will return home for a matchup with a Jacksonville State team that went 15-18 last year and finished sixth in the Ohio Valley Conference, but returns its top nine players, including all five starters.
Nebraska travels to El Paso for the Sun Bowl Invitational, which features Central Michigan, host UTEP and Arkansas Pine Bluff. The Huskers close the non-conference portion of their schedule with a Nicholls State team that returns its top three scorers from last year, including Southland Conference Freshman of the Year Trevon Lewis (12.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg). In addition, senior Fred Hunter, who averaged 15.8 points and a team-high 6.3 rebounds per game in 2010-11, returns after missing all of 2011-12 with knee surgery.
The 2012-13 Big Ten Conference schedule will be announced at a later date by the conference office.
— Shamus McKnight, Nebraska Sports Information
PARK RIDGE, Ill. – The Big Ten announced its 2012 women’s soccer preseason coaches’ poll and players to watch list on Tuesday, with defending regular season champion Penn State earning top honors among the 12 conference teams. The Nittany Lions enter the season as the conference favorites after winning their 14th straight Big Ten title in 2011.
Penn State compiled a 10-1-0 record in Big Ten play last season en route to the conference crown. Illinois checks in at No. 2 after earning its first Big Ten Tournament title since 2003. Ohio State follows at No. 3 in the poll, jumping four spots from its seventh place finish a year ago. Wisconsin and Michigan come in at Nos. 4 and 5, respectively, while Iowa and Michigan State tied for sixth. The complete preseason coaches’ poll can be found below. The 36-player Big Ten Players to Watch List is attached.
The 2012 season officially kicks off on Friday with 11 conference teams opening play.
BIG TEN WOMEN’S SOCCER PRESEASON COACHES’ POLL
1. Penn State
2. Illinois
3. Ohio State
4. Wisconsin
5. Michigan
6. Iowa
7. Michigan State
8. Minnesota
9. Purdue
10. Nebraska
11. Northwestern
12. Indiana
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Higher education experts say an accreditation warning issued to Penn State is serious and appropriate given the issues raised by a recent child sex-abuse scandal, but the school is unlikely to lose its accreditation.
They also expect the university to comply quickly with demands to show its governance, finances and integrity meet standards set by its accreditation agency.
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education issued the warning last week based on the school’s handling of molestation allegations against former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky.
Judith Eaton, president of the Commission on Higher Education Accreditation, said Tuesday that it’s highly unlikely Penn State will end up on probation or lose its accreditation.
Students cannot use federal funds – including Pell grants and government loans – to attend unaccredited schools.
ANDERSON, Ind. (AP) – Colts quarterback Andrew Luck is sticking to the same goal he brought to training camp.
There’s still plenty of room for improvement.
Following a morning walkthrough Tuesday, the two-time Heisman Trophy runner-up acknowledged that he had put some good things on tape when he went 10 of 16 for 188 yards with two touchdowns and a quarterback rating of 142.6 in his first NFL preseason game.
After watching the film, this year’s No. 1 overall draft pick says he needs to play better for the Colts (No. 32 in AP Pro32).
Luck thinks he can improve on changing protections to avoid hits and should complete more passes when the Colts face Pittsburgh on Sunday night.
BOURBONNAIS, Ill. (AP) – The Chicago Bears say Pro Bowl linebacker Brian Urlacher has undergone arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and still hopes to be ready for the season opener.
The Bears say Urlacher underwent an arthroscopic debridement procedure on Tuesday to help relieve swelling in the knee. He missed the offseason training program after spraining the medial collateral ligament and partially spraining the posterior cruciate ligament in the final game last year against Minnesota.
Urlacher was ready for the start of training camp but has not practiced since July 31. Even so, he said Sunday that he expects to be ready for the opener against Indianapolis on Sept. 9.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Boston at Baltimore 6:05 p.m.
Texas at N-Y Yankees 6:05 p.m.
Chi White Sox at Toronto 6:07 p.m.
Detroit at Minnesota 7:10 p.m.
Oakland at Kansas City 7:10 p.m.
Cleveland at L.A. Angels 9:05 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Seattle 9:10 p.m.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
L.A. Dodgers at Pittsburgh 6:05 p.m.
N-Y Mets at Cincinnati 6:10 p.m.
Philadelphia at Miami 6:10 p.m.
San Diego at Atlanta 6:10 p.m.
Houston at Chi Cubs 7:05 p.m.
Arizona at St. Louis 7:15 p.m.
Milwaukee at Colorado 7:40 p.m. (LISTEN LIVE on ESPN Radio 1410)
Washington at San Francisco 9:15 p.m.
