Big Ten – Page 16 – North Platte Post Archive

Pollmiller, Rolfzen Earn Big Ten Weekly Honors

Posted on October 28, 2013October 29, 2013

Nebraska junior Mary Pollmiller and freshman Kadie Rolfzen were honored by the Big Ten Conference on Monday. Pollmiller was named the league’s Setter of the Week, while Rolfzen earned Freshman of the Week accolades. Both Pollmiller and Rolfzen helped the Huskers to victories over Iowa (3-0) and Ohio State (3-1) last week.

Pollmiller paced the Husker offense last week, averaging 12.3 assists per set and helped Nebraska to a .345 team hitting percentage. She recorded a double-double against the Buckeyes, with 53 assists and 11 digs. The honor marks her second career Big Ten weekly award.

Rolfzen posted a .449 hitting percentage on the week, totaling 27 kills and 21 digs and averaging 3.9 kills and 3 digs per set. She recorded the fifth double-double of her career against the Hawkeyes with 11 kills and 12 digs. The honor marks the first Big Ten weekly award of her career.

This week the Huskers host the Illinois Fighting Illini on Wednesday, Oct. 30 at 6:30 p.m. The match will air on the Big Ten Network. Nebraska is home on Saturday, Nov. 2 as the Northwestern Wildcats will come to the Devaney Center for a 7:30 p.m.match.

2013 Big Ten Volleyball Players of the Week

Sept. 2 P: Tori Dixon, Sr., MINN

D: Bethany Yeager, Sr., IOWA

S: Taylor Sherwin, Jr., OSU

F: Maddie Mayers, ILL

Sept. 9 P: Kaitlyn Leary, Sr., OSU

D: Tori Dixon, Sr., MINN

S: Lexi Dannemiller, Jr., MICH

F: Abby Cole, MICH

Sept. 16 P: Lauren Wicinski, Sr., MSU

D: Faye Adelaja, Fr., PUR

S: Taylor Sherwin, Jr., OSU

F: Amber Rolfzen, NEB

Faye Adelaja, PUR

Sept. 23 P: Stephanie Holthus, Sr., NU

D: Tori Dixon, Sr., MINN

S: Caleigh Ryan, Fr., NU

F: Caleigh Ryan, NU

Sept. 30 P: Lauren Wicinski, Sr., MSU

D: Ashley Wittman, Sr., MINN

S: Mary Pollmiller, Jr., NEB

F: Haleigh Nelson, WIS

Oct. 7 P: Lauren Wicinski, Sr., MSU

Kelsey Robinson, Sr., NEB

D: Meghan Haggerty, So., NEB

S: Micha Hancock, Jr., PSU

F: Amber Rolfzen, NEB

Oct. 14 P: Katie Slay, Sr., PSU

D: Tori Dixon, Sr., MINN

S: Micha Hancock, Jr., PSU

F: Caleigh Ryan, NU

Oct. 21 P: Val Nichol, Jr., PUR

D: Annemarie Hickey, Sr., WIS

S: Lexi Dannemiller, Jr., MICH

F: Hannah Tapp, MINN

Oct. 28 P: Ashley Wittman, Sr., MINN

D: KiKi Jones, Jr., PUR

S: Mary Pollmiller, Jr., NEB

F: Kadie Rolfzen, NEB

Johnson Named B1G Freshman of the Week

Posted on October 28, 2013October 29, 2013

Lincoln – Nebraska soccer freshman forward Jaycie Johnson was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week for the third time this season as announced by the Conference office on Monday. Johnson earned the award after notching a pair of scores, including the game winner in the 103rd minute, to defeat No. 16 Penn State in thrilling fashion on Sunday.

Johnson, the Lake Winnebago, Mo. native, leads the Huskers in goals with nine and has amassed four game-winning tallies in her freshman season.

Johnson was named Big Ten Offensive Player and Freshman of the Week earlier this year on Aug. 26 and also claimed first-year honors on Sept. 23 as the freshman continues to be a big-time contributor for the first-place Huskers.

Nebraska (14-3-1, 9-1-0 Big Ten) will battle Indiana in Lincoln this Friday at 4 p.m. as the Huskers look to wrap up its first Big Ten title with a victory.

Big Ten Football Players of the Week

Posted on October 28, 2013

Following Big Ten football games on Oct. 26, the offensive, defensive and special teams players of the week and freshman of the week in the Big Ten were announced this morning. Below are this week’s honorees:

Offensive Player of the Week

Braxton Miller, Ohio State

Jr., QB, Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne

• Had a hand in five Ohio State touchdowns, including three passing and two rushing, in the Buckeyes’ victory over Penn State

• Finished with 320 yards of total offense, completing 18 of 24 passes for a career-high 252 yards, and rushing for 68 yards on 11 carries in less than three quarters

• Has been a part of 61 Ohio State touchdowns in his career, tied for third in program history

• Records his third career weekly honor and second this season

• Last Ohio State Offensive Player of the Week: Carlos Hyde (Oct. 7, 2013)

Defensive Player of the Week

James Morris, Iowa

Sr., LB, Solon, Iowa/Solon

• Recorded eight tackles, including 2.5 for loss and two sacks, and recovered a fumble in Iowa’s overtime victory over Northwestern

• Recovered a Wildcat fumble late in the second quarter, thwarting the drive and preserving Iowa’s 10-point lead

• Became the first player in the Football Bowl Subdivision to record three interceptions, three sacks and 50 tackles this season

• Claims his second career Defensive Player of the Week honor and second this season

• Last Iowa Defensive Player of the Week: James Morris (Sept. 30, 2013)

Special Teams Player of the Week

Chris Hawthorne, Minnesota

Sr., K, Raleigh, N.C./Leesville Road

• Converted on both field goal attempts and four extra points to help Minnesota defeat nationally ranked Nebraska

• Connected on a 26-yarder in the second quarter to give the Gophers a 17-10 lead

• Made a 45-yard try in the third quarter, giving Minnesota a 27-13 advantage

• Claims his first career Special Teams Player of the Week honor

• Last Minnesota Special Teams Player of the Week: Marcus Jones (Sept. 9, 2013)

Freshman of the Week

Dontre Wilson, Ohio State

RB, DeSoto, Texas/Desoto

• Finished with 96 all-purpose yards and a touchdown in Ohio State’s victory over Penn State

• Recorded a career-long 49 yard kickoff return in the second quarter, leading to the Buckeyes’ fifth touchdown

• Was on the receiving end of a 26-yard touchdown pass from Braxton Miller in the third quarter

• Wins his first career weekly award

• Last Ohio State Freshman of the Week: Joey Bosa (Oct. 7, 2013)

Big Ten Football Players of the Week

Posted on October 21, 2013

Following Big Ten football games on Oct. 19, the offensive, defensive and special teams players of the week and freshman of the week in the Big Ten were announced this morning. Below are this week’s honorees:

Offensive Player of the Week

Jeremy Gallon, Michigan

Sr., WR, Apopka, Fla./Apopka

· Established a Big Ten record with 369 receiving yards, the second-most in Football Bowl Subdivision history, in Michigan’s victory over Indiana
· Broke the Big Ten’s previous mark of 301 yards set by Purdue’s Chris Daniels in 1999
· Caught a career-high 14 passes for an average of 26.4 yards per catch, scoring two touchdowns as the Wolverines posted a school-record 751 yards of total offense
· Scored on touchdown catches of 21 and 50 yards, two of his six plays that went for more than 20 yards on the day
· Records his second career weekly honor and second this season
· Last Michigan Offensive Player of the Week: Jeremy Gallon (Sept. 9, 2013)

Defensive Player of the Week

Max Bullough, Michigan State

Sr., LB, Traverse City, Mich./St. Francis

· Recorded 10 tackles, including two for loss and a sack, and forced a fumble in Michigan State’s shutout against Purdue, the Spartans’ first shutout of a conference foe since 1999
· Had a hand in the Spartans’ first score of the game, recording a sack and a forced fumble in the second quarter, resulting in a 45-yard Denicos Allen touchdown return
· Posted double-digit tackles for the seventh time in his career as the Spartan defense allowed just 226 total yards
· Claims his first career Defensive Player of the Week honor
· Last Michigan State Defensive Player of the Week: Darqueze Dennard (Oct. 6, 2013)

Special Teams Player of the Week

Mitch Ewald, Indiana

Sr., K, Naperville, Ill./Waubonsie Valley

· Chipped in 11 points as Indiana scored 40 or more points for the fourth time this season, finishing with 47 on the road against Michigan
· Closed out the first half with a 50-yard field goal, becoming the first Hoosier to convert a 50-yarder since 2002
· Also converted from 23 yards out and was successful on all five extra point attempts
· Claims his second career Special Teams Player of the Week honor and first since his freshman season
· Last Indiana Special Teams Player of the Week: Mitch Ewald (Nov. 29, 2010)

Freshman of the Week

Desmond King, Iowa

DB, Detroit, Mich./East English Village

· Totaled a career-best 12 tackles, including 10 solo stops, in the Hawkeyes road contest against Ohio State
· Was part of an Iowa defense that held the Buckeyes to more than 12 points below their season average
· Ranks second among all Big Ten freshmen in tackles, averaging nearly six stops per contest
· Wins his first career weekly award
· Last Iowa Freshman of the Week: N/A

Hooper, Cady, Yori Named to Early All-Big Ten Teams

Posted on October 16, 2013October 17, 2013

Lincoln – Nebraska forwards Jordan Hooper and Emily Cady and Coach Connie Yori were named to the College Sports Madness Preseason All-Big Ten teams on Wednesday, Oct. 16.

Hooper, a two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection, was named to the College Sports Madness first-team All-Big Ten squad, while Cady claimed second-team honors. Yori, who was named the 2013 Big Ten Coach of the Year by the conference coaches, was named the 2014 preseason coach of the year by College Sports Madness.

Hooper, a 6-2 senior from Alliance, Neb., was joined on the first team by 2013 Big Ten Player of the Year Maggie Lucas from Penn State, along with Minnesota’s Rachel Banham, Michigan State’s Klarissa Bell and Wisconsin’s Jacki Gulczynski.

Hooper, a preseason national player-of-the-year candidate and a two-time honorable-mention All-American, enters her senior season with 1,685 points, 811 rebounds and 215 career three-pointers while starting 98 consecutive games for the Huskers. Last season, Hooper averaged 17.9 points and 8.8 rebounds per game while helping the Huskers to the NCAA Sweet 16. Nebraska finished with a 25-9 overall record that included a 12-4 Big Ten mark.

Cady, a 6-2 junior from Seward, Neb., was joined on the second team by Courtney Moses (Purdue), Morgan Paige (Wisconsin), Samantha Logic (Iowa) and Micaella Riche (Minnesota).

Cady averaged 9.1 points and 7.9 rebounds per game as a sophomore. She has started 67 straight games alongside Hooper in the Husker lineup, and was voted Nebraska’s top defensive player a year ago.

The teams selected by College Sports Madness are not the official preseason All-Big Ten teams chosen by the conference coaches or media. Those will be announced as part of Big Ten Conference Women’s Basketball Media Day on Thursday, Oct. 31, in Chicago.

College Sports Madness Preseason All-Big Teams
Coach of the Year: Connie Yori, Nebraska
Player of the Year: Maggie Lucas, Penn State
Freshman of the Year: Nia Coffey, Northwestern

First Team
Maggie Lucas, Penn State (G)
Rachel Banham, Minnesota (G)
Klarissa Bell, Michigan State (G/F)
Jordan Hooper, Nebraska (F)
Jacki Gulczynski, Wisconsin (F)

Second Team
Courtney Moses, Purdue (G)
Morgan Paige, Wisconsin (G)
Samantha Logic, Iowa (G/F)
Micaella Riche, Minnesota (F)
Emily Cady, Nebraska (F)

Third Team
KK Houser, Purdue (G)
Karly Roser, Northwestern (G)
Amber Moore, Illinois (G/F)
Lauren Douglas, Northwestern (F)
Ashley Adams, Ohio State (C)

Fourth Team
Kiana Johnson, Michigan State (G)
Maggie Lyon, Northwestern (G)
Nicole Elmblad, Michigan (G/F)
Becca Mills, Michigan State (F)
Sasha Chaplin, Indiana (C)

Big Ten Football Players of the Week

Posted on October 14, 2013

Offensive Player of the Week

Jeremy Langford, Michigan State

Jr., RB, Wayne, Mich./John Glenn

· Accounted for four touchdowns, three rushing and one receiving, in Michigan State’s 42-28 victory over Indiana

· Recorded his first career 100-yard rushing game, totaling 109 yards on 23 carries, scoring on runs of two, five and 32 yards

· Scored on an 11-yard screen pass in the second quarter, adding to his career-best 120 all-purpose yardage in the game

· Wins his first Offensive Player of the Week accolade

· Last Michigan State Offensive Player of the Week: Le’Veon Bell (Nov. 26, 2012)

Defensive Player of the Week

C.J. Olaniyan, Penn State

Jr., DE, Warren, Mich./Warren Mott

· Recorded eight tackles, including a career best 2.5 sacks, two pass breakups and a forced fumble in Penn State’s quadruple-overtime win over nationally ranked Michigan

· Forced his first career fumble on a second-quarter sack, one of three Michigan turnovers

· Was part of the Penn State defensive effort that accounted for 11 tackles for loss and held the Wolverines to two field goals in four overtime periods

· Claims his first Defensive Player of the Week honor

· Last Penn State Defensive Player of the Week: Jordan Hill (Nov. 26, 2012)

Special Teams Player of the Week

Mike Sadler, Michigan State

Jr., P, Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Northern

· Posted a Big Ten record for all games of 59.3 yards per punt, totaling 237 yards on four attempts in Michigan State’s win over Indiana

· Recorded a season-long 69-yarder in the fourth quarter, while also booting punts of 44, 56 and 68 yards

· Placed one kick inside the 20, pinning Indiana at its own 10-yard line

· Wins his third Special Teams Player of the Week honor overall and first this season

· Last Michigan State Special Teams Player of the Week: Mike Sadler (Nov. 5, 2012)

Freshman of the Week

Christian Hackenberg, Penn State

QB, Palmyra, Va./Fork Union Military Academy

· Threw for 305 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for the game-tying score with 27 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter against nationally ranked Michigan

· Guided Penn State on an 80-yard touchdown drive with no timeouts and 50 seconds left in the fourth quarter, completing three passes for 79 yards and scoring on a one-yard run to force overtime

· Posted his third 300-yard passing game, leaving him three games shy of the program career record

· Wins his third Freshman of the Week accolade

· Last Penn State Freshman of the Week: Christian Hackenberg (Sept. 16, 2013)

2014 Big Ten Women’s and Men’s Basketball Tournaments All-Session Tickets on Sale Saturday, Oct. 12

Posted on October 9, 2013

INDIANAPOLIS – All-session tickets for the 2014 Big Ten Women’s and Men’s Basketball Tournaments will go on sale to the general public on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 10 a.m. EST. Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis is the site of the women’s tournament from March 6-9and the men’s tournament from March 13-16, featuring 22 games over eight days.

To purchase tickets within your university block, please contact your institution’s ticket office for on-campus sale dates. General admission tickets for the women’s event and balcony level tickets for the men’s tournament can be purchased at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse Ticket Office, Ticketmaster outlets, www.ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.

The women’s tournament will once again feature general admission seating, allowing fans to witness the action from the best available seats in Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Women’s tournament all-session tickets are available for $50 through January 31, which marks a 30-percent discount off the regular price of $70. 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.

Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament all-session tickets for the lower and club levels are available for $325 through Big Ten university ticket offices only. All-session tickets for the balcony level are available for $240 or $175 (depending on seat location) through Ticketmaster or the Bankers Life Fieldhouse Ticket Office only. Orders will be limited to eight all-session tickets.

In addition, the men’s tournament will continue to feature a special discounted rate of $50 for all-session tickets available only to students of Big Ten universities. All students must have a valid student ID for entry. Student section seating will be available in eight balcony sections and orders will be limited to one all-session ticket. Details on the student ticket program will be sent to the university ticket offices for distribution directly to students.

The Big Ten Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments will call Indianapolis and Bankers Life Fieldhouse home this March and again in 2016. The 2014 tournament marks the ninth time Indianapolis has hosted the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse and the Circle City’s 18^th Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament.

About the Big Ten Conference: The Big Ten Conference is an association of world-class universities whose member institutions share a common mission of research, graduate, professional and undergraduate teaching and public service. Founded in 1896, the Big Ten has sustained a comprehensive set of shared practices and policies that enforce the priority of academics in student-athletes’ lives and emphasize the values of integrity, fairness and competitiveness. The broad-based athletic programs of the 12 Big Ten institutions provide in excess of $141 million in direct financial aid to more than 8,200 student-athletes playing on more than 300 teams in 42 different sports. The Big Ten sponsors 26 official conference sports, 13 for men and 13 for women, and will add men’s and women’s lacrosse as the 27th and 28th official sports for the 2014-15 academic year. For more information, visit www.bigten.org.

Indiana Sports Corp’s mission is to create positive impact by hosting world-class sporting events that enhance vibrancy in the community, build civic pride, drive economic impact and media exposure, and encourage opportunities for youth. A not-for-profit organization, Indiana Sports Corp was founded in 1979 as the nation’s first sports commission. Our recent and upcoming schedule of events includes NCAA Men’s and Women’s Final Fours, Super Bowl XLVI in 2012, Big Ten Football Championship Games through 2015, Big Ten Basketball Tournaments, and much more. For more information, visit www.IndianaSportsCorp.org.

Rushing Offense, Defense Still Key in Big Ten

Posted on October 8, 2013October 8, 2013

With a full week of league play in the books, a familiar trend has emerged in the Big Ten.

Running the ball — and stopping others from doing likewise — will likely be huge for teams hoping to contend in the conference this season.

Five Big Ten teams rank in the top 25 nationally in rushing offense, the most of any conference in the country. The Big Ten is also first with six teams ranked in the top 20 in rushing defense, and four of them; Michigan State, Ohio State, Iowa and Michigan, are among the top 10.

By contrast, Indiana is the only league team in the top 30 in passing offense.

Big Ten Football Players of the Week

Posted on October 7, 2013

Offensive Co-Players of the Week

Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska

Jr., IB, Homewood, Ala./Homewood

• Rushed for a career-high 225 yards on just 20 carries, an 11.3 average, and two touchdowns in Nebraska’s win over Illinois

• Had three runs of 30 yards or more to finish with the most rushing yards by a Husker since Roy Helu’s program-record 307 yards in 2010

• Scored on Nebraska’s opening possession of each half, a two-yard run in the first quarter and a 43-yarder in the third, and finished the day with 240 all-purpose yards

• Wins his first career Offensive Player of the Week accolade and fourth weekly honor overall, claiming Special Teams Player of the Week in 2011 and 2012 and Freshman of the Week in 2011

• Last Nebraska Offensive Player of the Week: Taylor Martinez (Nov. 5, 2012)

Carlos Hyde, Ohio State

Sr., RB, Naples, Fla./Naples

• Finished with a career-high 168 rushing yards, scoring three second-half touchdowns, to help Ohio State to a come-from-behind win at nationally ranked Northwestern

• Scored on a four-yarder in the third quarter, a two-yarder early in the fourth and a seven-yard run to give the Buckeyes the game-winning score with 5:25 left in the game.

• Also recorded four catches for 38 yards for 206 yards of total offense, and was responsible for 15 first downs

• Records his second career Offensive Player of the Week honor

• Last Ohio State Offensive Player of the Week: Braxton Miller (Sept. 30, 2013)

Defensive Player of the Week

Darqueze Dennard, Michigan State

Sr., CB, Dry Beach, Ga./Twiggs County

• Finished with eight tackles and two interceptions, both career highs, in Michigan State’s road win at Iowa

• Recorded his first interception midway through the first quarter and his second at the 5:25 mark of the fourth quarter, helping the Spartans preserve the win

• Was part of the Michigan State defense that held the Hawkeyes to 264 total yards, 183 yards below their season average

• Claims his first Defensive Player of the Week honor

• Last Michigan State Defensive Player of the Week: Shilique Calhoun (Sept. 9, 2013)

Special Teams Player of the Week

Bradley Roby, Ohio State

Jr., CB, Suwanee, Ga./Peachtree Ridge

• Blocked a Northwestern punt in the end zone in the first quarter, then made the recovery for Ohio State’s only touchdown of the first half

• It is his second career blocked punt, third special teams touchdown and fourth score overall

• Also finished with two special teams tackles

• Wins his first Special Teams Player of the Week honor

• Last Ohio State Special Teams Player of the Week: Cameron Johnston (Sept. 30, 2013)

Freshman of the Week

Joey Bosa, Ohio State

DE, Fort Lauderdale, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas

• Finished with five tackles, including his first two career sacks, in Ohio State’s come-from-behind win at nationally ranked Northwestern

• Recovered a Wildcat fumble in the end zone as time expired, giving the Buckeyes the final score of the game

• His four solo tackles and two tackles for loss matched personal bests

• Wins his first Freshman of the Week honor

• Last Ohio State Freshman of the Week: Bri’onte Dunn (Nov. 5, 2012)

BIG TEN Statement on NCAA Modification of Penn State Sanctions

Posted on September 24, 2013

Park Ridge, Ill. – Earlier today the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) held a teleconference to announce a modification to the sanctions set forth in the Consent Decree that the NCAA entered into with Penn State on July 23, 2012.

The NCAA’s decision to modify the Consent Decree was based strongly on the recommendations of Senator George Mitchell who has been serving since August 2012 as the independent Athletics Integrity Monitor responsible for overseeing Penn State’s implementation of the reforms set forth in the Athletics Integrity Agreement (AIA). The AIA was entered into on August 29, 2012 by the NCAA, the Big Ten Conference and Penn State as one of the requirements of the Consent Decree.

As a party to the AIA, the Big Ten, through its Council of Presidents and Chancellors (COPC), met with Senator Mitchell on Tuesday, September 17, 2013 and received his report on Penn State’s progress in complying with the reform requirements of the AIA. Senator Mitchell’s briefing included a recommendation to modify the NCAA sanctions in the Consent Decree related to scholarships based on the significant progress that Penn State has made to date in its compliance and reform efforts. He made no other recommendations to modify any other sanctions at this time.

“On the basis of Senator Mitchell’s briefing, the COPC reached consensus to support his recommendation to the NCAA,” said COPC Chair and Iowa President, Sally Mason. “We support the NCAA’s announcement today acting on that recommendation.”