The Nebraska men’s basketball schedule for the 2011-2012 season won’t be revealed until next week, when the Big Ten Conference schedule is released. But some of Nebraska’s non-conference opponents have let slip that the Huskers are on their slate for the coming campaign. The Huskers will travel to Los Angeles to take on USC on November 14th. It will be the third straight year the Huskers have faced the Trojans, with Nebraska having won both previous meetings. In addition, Nebraska will play host to Rhode Island on November 20th. The Rams are a member of the Atlantic-10 Conference and won 20 games last season. These non-conference tilts are in addition to known contests on the road against Creighton and TCU and a known home game against South Dakota.

The Denver Broncos have upgraded their running back corps with their first free agent signing of the offseason. The Broncos inked veteran Willis McGahee to a three-year deal worth 7.5 million dollars, with three million guaranteed. McGahee spent the last four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. He has rushed for 6,167 yards and 55 touchdowns in his seven seasons, but averaged just 3.8 yards per carry on his 100 touches last year, the lowest such average of his career. McGahee will share carries with established starter Knowshon Moreno in the Denver backfield. Who will be handing them the football still remains in question, as any chance Kyle Orton would be traded to Miami appears to have disappeared today with Miami’s signing of quarterback Matt Moore. Orton took first-team snaps at practice again today.

The Colorado Rockies have struggled on their current West coast road trip, but are hoping to finish up strong at the home of the last place team in the NL West. The Rockies open a three-game series in San Diego against the Padres tonight. It’s the Rockies’ first visit to San Diego since taking two out of three at Petco Park in early June. The Rockies own a 5-4 record against the Padres this season. Jason Hammel takes the mound for the Rockies tonight. He gave up a career-high 12 hits and 8 runs in his last start, a loss at Arizona, and is hoping to stop a personal two-game losing streak. He’ll be opposed by San Diego’s Tim Stauffer. The soft-tossing righty has a 2.18 ERA in eight career outings against the Rockies. ESPN Radio 1410 has the action from San Diego tonight. Pregame coverage starts at 8:30 with the first pitch at 9:05.

Nebraska head football coach Bo Pelini met the media for the first time as a Big Ten Conference member yesterday at Big Ten Media Days in Chicago. Pelini’s 15 minute press conference addressed, among other topics, the health of quarterback Taylor Martinez, the Huskers’ tough conference schedule, and how Nebraska’s style of play will fit in the Big Ten. All in all, Pelini says he’s excited for all of the new challenges. Pelini will answer more questions today, and players Rex Burkhead, Lavonte David and Jared Crick will have time with the media as well.

Click Here to view Pelini’s full press conference.

The Denver Broncos haven’t yet participated in the NFL’s free agent frenzy, preferring instead to focus on signing their own draft picks. Linebacker Von Miller, the second overall pick of the 2011 draft; safety Rahim Moore, the team’s second-round selection; linebacker Nate Irving and offensive lineman Orlando Franklin all came to contract terms with the Broncos yesterday and can begin practicing today. Though the Broncos have made no free agent signings, they have scheduled visits with a pair of players: defensive tackle Derek Landri, formerly of Carolina, and tight end Daniel Fells, formerly of St. Louis. The Broncos did not cut any players on the first day teams were allowed to part ways with their personnel, and have apparently made no progress on a Kyle Orton deal, as Orton took first-team snaps at practice yesterday.

The Big Ten Conference did not produce a preseason coaches poll or an all-conference team, but members of the media honored twelve players as this season’s ‘Players to Watch’ as media days began today in Chicago, and two Huskers were among the dozen named. Linebacker Lavonte David and defensive lineman Jared Crick were two of the five players from the Big Ten’s Legends Division to be named Players to Watch. David and Crick both earned All-America honors last year and have been named to the watch list to a pair of awards that honor the country’s best defensvie player, the Nagurski Trophy and Bednarik Award. Other Legends Division Players to Watch were Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson, Northwestern quarterback Dan Persa, and Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins.

Big Ten Preseason Players to Watch List
Legends Division
Kirk Cousins, QB, Michigan State
Jared Crick, DT, Nebraska
Lavonte David, LB, Nebraska
Dan Persa, QB, Northwestern
Denard Robinson, QB, Michigan
 
Leaders Division
Montee Ball, RB, Wisconsin
Damarlo Belcher, WR, Indiana
Mike Brewster, C, Ohio State
Michael Mauti, LB, Penn State
Nathan Scheelhaase, QB, Illinois
John Simon, DT, Ohio State
James White, RB, Wisconsin