Basketball – Page 52 – North Platte Post Archive

Theriot Earns Preseason All-America Honor

Posted on October 20, 2014

Nebraska women’s basketball point guard Rachel Theriot was named to the College Sports Madness Preseason All-America Team announced on Sunday, Oct. 19.

Theriot, a 6-0 junior from Middleburg Heights, Ohio, claimed a spot on the fourth-team All-America squad by the news service. She was one of three Big Ten point guards named to the four, five-player preseason All-America teams.

Minnesota senior Rachel Banham was chosen on the College Sports Madness second-team All-America squad, while Iowa senior Samantha Logic took third-team honors.

Theriot and the Huskers will make their 2014-15 debut at the Big Red Tip-off at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Wednesday, Oct. 29. Doors open at 5:45 with the event scheduled to run from 6:30 to approximately 8:30 p.m.

Nebraska will make its exhibition debut against Wayne State at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Sunday, Nov. 2, at 2 p.m. The Wildcats are picked No. 6 in the preseason NCAA Division II rankings.

College Sports Madness Preseason All-Americans

First Team
G – Tiffany Mitchell, South Carolina
G – Jewell Loyd, Notre Dame
G/F – Reshanda Gray, California
F – Breanna Stewart, UConn (Player of the Year)
F/C – Isabelle Harrison, Tennessee

Second Team
G – Brittany Boyd, California
G – Rachel Banham, Minnesota
G/F – Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, UConn
F – Elizabeth Williams, Duke
F/C – Jillian Alleyne, Oregon

Third Team
G – Marissa Janning, Creighton
G – Samantha Logic, Iowa
G – Bria Holmes, West Virginia
G/F – Courtney Walker, Texas A&M
F/C – Nneka Enemkpali, Texas

Fourth Team
G – Aliyyah Handford, St. John’s
G – Brittany Hrynko, DePaul
G/F – Rachel Theriot, Nebraska
F – Dearica Hamby, Wake Forest
F/C – Nina Davis, Baylor

NBA Partners with China to Expand Training

Posted on October 17, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA has agreed to a multiyear partnership with China’s Ministry of Education to incorporate basketball curriculum in elementary, middle and high schools across the country.

The league announced the deal Friday in Beijing. The league says the initiative will provide enhanced basketball training to 3 million students by 2017.

Commissioner Adam Silver says the partnership will help “our long-standing commitment with the Chinese Basketball Association to grow the game in China.”

The program will bring NBA players, former stars and coaches to Chinese schools for clinics and specialized instruction for Chinese physical education teachers and coaches.

The NBA will also help the Ministry of Education in operating the country’s youth basketball leagues.

NBA Approves Modifications for Instant Replay

Posted on October 16, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA’s Board of Governors has approved several modifications to the league’s instant replay system.

The most notable change announced Thursday night allows officials to use replay only in the last two minutes of overtime. Last year, instant replay was available for use in the entire overtime period.

Referees can also now review plays to determine if a clear-path foul is warranted even if they did not initially call a clear-path foul. Previously a clear-path foul had to be called for the play to be eligible for review.

Referees also will be able to use replay to determine if a foul merits being upgraded to a flagrant foul. Last season, they could only use replay if a flagrant foul was called on the floor.

Huskers Ranked 21st in Preseason Coaches Poll

Posted on October 16, 2014

The Nebraska men’s basketball team broke into the USA Today preseason coaches’ poll released Thursday, as the Huskers were ranked 21st with a total of 153 points.

Nebraska, which is coming off a 19-13 season capped by an NCAA Tournament appearance, returns all five starters, including All-Big Ten selections Terran Petteway and Shavon Shields, heading into its season opener against Northern Kentucky on Nov. 16.

The Huskers are ranked in the preseason poll for only the second time since USA Today took over the poll in 1991, and the first since being ranked 22nd at the start of the 1992-93 season. It also marks the first time the Huskers have been ranked in the coaches’ poll since December of 1994.

The Big Ten is well represented with six schools featured in the preseason rankings by 32 Division I head coaches. The group is headed by Wisconsin, which was chosen as the Big Ten preseason favorite by the media on Thursday, as the Badgers are ranked fourth. Other ranked teams include Michigan State (18th), Ohio State (20th), Michigan (23rd) and Iowa (25th), while Minnesota and Illinois are also receiving votes.

Fans can get their first opportunity to see the Huskers on Wednesday, Oct. 29, as the Huskers host the Big Red Tip-Off at Pinnacle Bank Arena. The event is open to the public and begins at 6:30 p.m.

Theriot Earns Preseason All-Big Ten Honors

Posted on October 16, 2014

Nebraska point guard Rachel Theriot earned preseason first-team All-Big Ten honors from conference coaches and media, when the Big Ten announced its preseason awards on Thursday, Oct. 16.

The awards were announced while Theriot and Nebraska Coach Connie Yori were in Chicago attending Big Ten Basketball Media Day.

Theriot, a 6-0 junior from Middleburg Heights, Ohio, averaged 14.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game last season to help the Huskers to a 26-7 overall record and a trip to the second round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament. She was even better in Big Ten play, averaging 15.6 points, 3.6 boards and 7.3 assists per contest while carrying a Big Ten-best 2.7-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. She helped the Huskers to a 12-4 conference mark.

Theriot was at her best during Nebraska’s run to the Big Ten Tournament title, averaging 18.7 points and 10.0 assists, including a Big Ten Tournament-record 18 assists in a second-round win over Minnesota. They were the most assists by a Big Ten player against a Big Ten opponent in history.

A first-team All-Big Ten selection as a sophomore, Theriot added Big Ten Tournament MVP honors, before being named an honorable-mention All-American by the Associated Press.

Theriot was joined on the Big Ten coaches’ five-player preseason team by Iowa senior point guard Samantha Logic, Michigan State sophomore guard Aerial Powers, Northwestern sophomore forward Nia Coffey and Minnesota senior guard Rachel Banham, who was named preseason Big Ten Player of the Year by both the coaches and the media.

The media chose Theriot, Logic and Banham along with Ohio State junior guard Ameryst Alston, Minnesota sophomore center Amanda Zahui B., and Maryland sophomore guard Lexie Brown.

As a team, Nebraska was picked to finish third in the media’s preseason conference power rankings, trailing preseason favorite Maryland and No. 2 Michigan State. Maryland, which enters its first season in the Big Ten, is coming off a trip to the NCAA Women’s Final Four. Michigan State shared the 2014 Big Ten regular-season title with Penn State.

Iowa was the preseason No. 3 pick by the conference coaches behind Maryland and Michigan State. The Big Ten does not announce a full preseason team poll, but chooses only the top-three teams in the conference.

2014-15 Big Ten Coaches Preseason Rankings

1. Maryland
2. Michigan State
3. Iowa

2014-15 Coaches All-Big Ten Team

Rachel Theriot, Jr., G, Nebraska
Aerial Powers, So., G, Michigan State
Nia Coffey, So., F, Northwestern
Samantha Logic, Sr., G, Iowa
Rachel Banham, Sr., G, Minnesota (Player of the Year)

2014-15 Big Ten Media Preseason Rankings

1. Maryland
2. Michigan State
3. Nebraska

2014-15 Media All-Big Ten Team

Rachel Theriot, Jr., G, Nebraska
Ameryst Alston, Jr., G, Ohio State
Lexie Brown, So., G, Maryland
Amanda Zahui B., So., C, Minnesota
Samantha Logic, Sr., G, Iowa
Rachel Banham, Sr., G, Minnesota (Player of the Year)

Maryland Picked to Win Big Ten

Posted on October 16, 2014

ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) — Big Ten newcomer Maryland is the pick to win the conference in women’s basketball in a vote by coaches and media. Minnesota’s Rachel Banham is the Preseason Player of the Year.

Maryland and Rutgers are playing in their first season in the conference. The Terrapins won 28 games and reached the Final Four last season. They beat out Michigan State for preseason conference honors, with Iowa picked third.

Banham, a senior, averaged 22.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.3 steals last season.

She was joined on the coaches’ preseason team by Iowa’s Samantha Logic, Michigan State’s Aerial Powers, Nebraska’s Rachel Theriot and Northwestern’s Nia Coffey. Six players were chosen because of a tie.

The results of the vote were announced Thursday.

Petteway Named to Preseason All-Big Ten Team

Posted on October 16, 2014

Chicago — Nebraska junior guard/forward Terran Petteway was honored Thursday morning, as he was chosen for the preseason All-Big Ten team.

The five-member team, which is selected from media members from around the Big Ten region, were announced prior to the opening session of Big Ten Media Day in Chicago. Petteway is a returning first-team All-Big Ten pick after averaging a conference-high 18.1 points and 4.8 rebounds per game in 2013-14.

He is the first Husker chosen to a preseason all-conference team since Aleks Maric in 2007.

In 2013-14, Petteway became the first Husker to lead the conference in scoring in over 60 years en route to earning first-team all-district accolades by the NABC (coaches) and U.S. Basketball Writers Association (writers). He was a consistent scorer for the Big Red, reaching double figures 30 times in 32 games, including a pair of 30-point outings. He had a career-high 35 point game – the most by a Husker since 2008 – against Minnesota. Petteway had many of his best games against NU’s toughest opponents, averaging 20.8 points and 4.9 rebounds in 12 games against top-50 RPI teams last season.

Petteway is joined on first team by Indiana’s Yogi Ferrell, Caris LeVert of Michigan and the Wisconsin duo of Sam Dekker and Frank Kaminsky. In addition, the conference released the top three teams in the preseason poll. Wisconsin was a unanimous choice to win the league with Michigan State and Ohio State picked second and third, respectively.

All-Session Tickets for 2015 Big Ten Women’s and Men’s Basketball Tournaments On Sale Monday, Oct. 20

Posted on October 15, 2014

ROSEMONT, Ill. – All-session tickets for the 2015 Big Ten Women’s and Men’s Basketball Tournaments will go on sale to the general public on Monday, Oct. 20, at Noon CT. The Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament will be held from March 4-8 at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, Ill. The Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament will return to the United Center in Chicago from March 11-15. Both events will feature a five-day format for the first time in conference history.

Lower level tickets for both tournaments may be purchased through the 14 Big Ten university ticket offices, but please contact the schools directly for on-campus sale dates. General public tickets for the women’s event can be purchased through the Sears Centre Arena ticket offices at 1-888-SEARS-TIX (732-7784) or www.searscentre.com. Upper level tickets for the men’s tournament may be purchased at Ticketmaster outlets, www.ticketmaster.com, by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 or going towww.unitedcenter.com.

The Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament all-session tickets are available for $70 through January 31, which is a 22 percent discount off the regular price of $90. Fans wishing to purchase all-session tickets within their university’s fan block for their respective team’s games are encouraged to contact their school’s ticket office. The women’s tournament will feature general admission seating, allowing fans to witness the action from the best available seats in Sears Centre Arena.

The Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament all-session tickets for the 100 and 200 levels at the United Center are available for $375 through the Big Ten university ticket offices only. All-session tickets for the 300 level are available for $275 or $200 (depending on seat location) through Ticketmaster or the United Center box office only. Orders will be limited to four all-session tickets.

The men’s tournament will continue to feature a discounted student ticket program. For the 2015 event, students of Big Ten universities will be able to purchase tickets for $20, good for only the session or sessions featuring their school. All students must have a valid student ID for entry. Student section seating will be available in balcony sections and orders will be limited to one ticket per student. Details on the new discounted student ticket program will be sent to the university ticket offices for distribution directly to students.

The 2015 Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament will be played at the Sears Centre Arena for the second time in the past three years. The 2015 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament returns to Chicago for the ninth time, including the inaugural event in 1998 and most recently in 2013. For more information on both events, including full brackets, go to bigten.org.

Big Red Tip-Off Set for Oct. 29

Posted on October 15, 2014

Lincoln – The Nebraska Athletic Department invites fans to get their first look at the 2014-15 Husker men’s and women’s basketball programs, as the Huskers will host the Big Red Tip-Off at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Wednesday, Oct. 29.

The fun and free event will feature scrimmages from both programs. Doors at Pinnacle Bank Arena open at 5:45 p.m. while the program will begin at 6:30 p.m. with introductions of both teams. The Husker women will conduct a 15-minute scrimmage first before halftime festivities take place with a 3-point shooting contest between players from both teams, a dunk contest from the Husker men and a performance by the Scarlets. The Husker men will scrimmage for 15 minutes following halftime while the teams will have combined autograph session on the main concourse at the end of the event until 8:30 p.m. The men’s scrimmage will feature live commentary from Coach Miles, while Sports Nightly will broadcast its show during the 6 p.m. hour from Pinnacle Bank Arena.

The Big Red Tip-Off marks the first opportunity to see the 2014-15 Huskers prior to the first exhibition games for the women (Wayne State on Nov. 2) and men (Southwest Minnesota State on Nov. 6). The Nebraska Athletic Ticket Office will have staff on hand to assist fans in purchasing women’s season tickets, or in answering questions about the men’s basketball waitlist or transferring tickets.

Hopes are high for both teams entering the 2014-15 season, as the Husker men return all five starters from a team that reached the NCAA Tournament, while the Husker women return four starters back from its Big Ten Tournament championship squad.

The Nebraska men have been a preseason top-25 selection by several publications coming off a year where the Huskers went 19-13 and reached the NCAA Tournament. Tim Miles, the reigning Big Ten Coach of the Year, welcomes back all five starters, including All-America candidate Terran Petteway and All-Big Ten performer Shavon Shields. Petteway led the Big Ten in scoring at 18.1 points per game while averaging 4.8 rebounds per game, while Shields averaged 12.8 points and a team-best 5.8 caroms per outing. It marks the first time since 2003-04 and just the third time in the last 15 years that the Huskers returned a pair of double-figure scorers. Forwards Walter Pitchford and David Rivers and guard Tai Webster round out the Husker returning starters. In all, Nebraska welcomes back nine letterwinners who return 81.5 percent of NU’s points and 85.6 percent of its rebounds from last season. The Huskers also welcome a five-member recruiting class including transfers Moses Abraham (Georgetown) and Andrew White III (Kansas), as well as freshmen Jake Hammond, Tarin Smith and B.J. Day.

The Husker women return four starters who all earned All-Big Ten awards in 2014, led by first-team all-conference and honorable-mention All-American Rachel Theriot. The 6-0 point guard fueled Nebraska’s run to the Big Ten Tournament title by earning MVP honors. She is joined by second-team All-Big Ten selections Emily Cady and Tear’a Laudermill and Big Ten All-Defensive Team pick Hailie Sample. The returning Huskers helped Nebraska to a 26-7 overall record that included a 12-4 Big Ten mark in 2014. The Big Red advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament and finished in the top 25 in the national rankings for the third straight year. The four returning starters along with senior Brandi Jeffery and sophomores Allie Havers and Esther Ramacieri will be joined by the highest-ranked recruiting class in school history in 2014-15. NU’s seven-player group of newcomers give Coach Connie Yori a talented 14-player roster, which matches her second-largest squad in her 13 seasons at Nebraska.

Big Red Tip-Off Event Schedule

5:45 p.m. – Gates open
6:00 p.m. – Sports Nightly Broadcast from Pinnacle Bank Arena
6:30 p.m. – Introductions of both men’s and women’s teams
6:50 p.m. – Women’s scrimmage for 15 minutes
7:05 p.m. – Halftime show (3-point contest, dunk contest, Scarlets performance)
7:25 p.m. – Men’s scrimmage for 15 minutes
7:45 p.m. – Autograph session on concourse until 8:30 p.m. (4 areas of MBB/WBB players)

NBA to Test 44-Minute Game, 4 Shorter than Normal

Posted on October 14, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — The Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics will play a 44-minute preseason game on Sunday as the NBA experiments with a shorter game.

The contest will be four minutes shorter than the NBA’s standard 48-minute game. The league says Monday that the teams will play four 11-minute quarters, one minute shorter than normal.

There also will be only two mandatory timeouts per quarter. There are three mandatory timeouts in the second and fourth quarters of the 48-minute game.