Wednesday Morning Sports – 3/27/2024

CNT Sports // Football & Volleyball // NRG CN

TROY DANNEN INTRODUCTORY PRESS CONFERENCE COMMENTS:

DANNEN – NIL IS NEBRASKA’S WAY TO STAY COMPETITIVE:

New athletic director for Nebraska Troy Dannen spoke with media members on Tuesday during his introductory press conference and was asked his relationship with the NIL Collective, and how it can aid the Huskers:

The Huskers 1890 Initiative is run by former player and Husker staffer Matt Davison to assist student-athletes in receiving NIL opportunities and funds.

DANNEN – RESPECT FOR RHULE’S TOUGHNESS:

Troy Dannen, the new athletic director for Husker Athletics, spoke highly of head football coach Matt Rhule during his introductory press conference on Tuesday afternoon. He referred back to his respect for Rhule in his previous stints:

Dannen added that Rhule has already begun to build a relationship with the new athletic director, including visits to watch the Husker Basketball teams in the NCAA Tournament.

DANNEN – UNFAMILIAR WITH MEMORIAL STADIUM RENOVATION:

New athletic director for Nebraska Athletics Troy Dannen was asked at his introductory press conference on Tuesday about his understanding of the $450 million renovation planned for Memorial Stadium:

The previous regime under Trev Alberts wanted to provide new fan experiences with the stadium renovation, including the seat reduction and improvements across the century old facility. 

MORE HUSKER BASKETBALL PLAYERS HEAD OUT TO PORTAL:

Another Husker Men’s Basketball player entered the transfer portal after the final game of the season for the Big Red last Friday night.

Blaise Keita entered the portal yesterday, as the big man became the third Husker to enter in the last two days joining Ramel Lloyd Jr. and Eli Rice.

Keita did not play this past season as he dealt with a nagging ankle injury that traces back to last year.

During the 2022-23 season, the 6-11 Keita played in 21 games. He averaged 2.0 points and 3.5 rebounds per game, though he was limited by an ankle injury suffered in non-conference play that year. Listed as a sophomore this past season, Keita arrived from Coffeyville Community College. 

Nebraska now has four of its 13 scholarship places open as it works into this offseason.

KEARNEY BASEBALL RESHUFFLES SCHEDULES; TRAVELS TO COLUMBUS TONIGHT:
Two consecutive snow days in Central Nebraska have adjusted the Kearney Baseball schedule for the busy week, but the Bearcats have found a game to play today. 

Kearney will travel to Columbus to make up the contest originally scheduled for Monday night. First pitch is set for 5 PM with KGFW’s pregame at 4:45. 

The Bearcats originally were scheduled to play Grand Island at home today followed by a home tilt with Lincoln East on Thursday. Those games have now been moved to a triangular at Memorial Field for Friday, with the Bearcats facing East at 11 AM and the Islanders at 3 PM. 

Check out KGFW and Central Nebraska Today for more updated schedules, postponements, and more. 

GPAC PLAYER OF THE YEAR REGGIE THOMAS ENTERS PORTAL:

Hastings College guard and 2024 GPAC Player of the Year Reggie Thomas has entered the transfer portal.

The Omaha native and Westside grad played two seasons for the Broncos. In the 2023-24 season, Thomas averaged more than 24 points per game leading Hastings to its first ever GPAC title.

Thomas will have two years of eligibility remaining after completing a transfer.

POPPEN STEPS DOWN AS HASTINGS COLLEGE HEAD SOCCER COACH:
After compiling a record of 34-16-8, Cole Poppen has decided to step down as the head coach of the men’s soccer program.  

During his time at Hastings College, Poppen guided the Broncos to two national tournament appearances, a Great Plains Athletic Conference regular season title and a conference tournament title. He coached three All-Americans, two GPAC Players of the Year and 21 All-Conference honorees in his three years.

Poppen will take a position with the Des Moines soccer club. Clements said a national search for a replacement coach will start immediately.

Buffalo County Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN BUFFALO COUNTY SPORTS:

TUESDAY:

High School Sports:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Girls Tennis: @ Holdrege – CANCELED
  • Girls Soccer: @ Columbus – POSTPONED to WEDNESDAY
  • Boys Soccer: v. Columbus @ Kearney High School – POSTPONED to WEDNESDAY
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Girls Tennis: v. Adams Central – 5 PM
  • Girls Soccer: @ Hastings – POSTPONED
  • Boys Soccer: @ Hastings – POSTPONED
• AMHERST:
  • Girls Soccer: @ Hastings – POSTPONED
  • Boys Soccer: @ Hastings – POSTPONED
• GIBBON:
  • Track & Field: @ Kenesaw Invite – POSTPONED
  • Girls Soccer: @ Hastings – POSTPONED
  • Boys Soccer: @ Hastings – POSTPONED
• SHELTON:
  • Track & Field: @ Kenesaw Invite – POSTPONED
• RAVENNA:
  • Boys Golf: v. Ravenna Quad (v. Arcadia/Loup City, v. Central Valley, v. Riverside) – POSTPONED

College Athletics:

• HASTINGS COLLEGE BRONCOS:
  • Softball: @ Doane – POSTPONED
  • Softball: @ Doane – POSTPONED

WEDNESDAY:

High School Sports:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Baseball: @ Columbus @ Pawnee Park – 5 PM
    • KGFW Pregame at 4:45 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Baseball: @ Columbus @ Pawnee Park – 5 PM
    • KGFW Pregame at 4:45 PM
• AMHERST:
  • N/a
• PLEASANTON:.
  • N/a
• GIBBON:
  • N/a
• SHELTON:
  • N/a
• ELM CREEK:
  • Boys Golf: @ Cambridge Invite – 10 AM
• RAVENNA:
  • N/a

College Athletics:

• UNK LOPERS:
  • N/a
• HASTINGS COLLEGE BRONCOS:
  • N/a
• NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS:
  • N/a

KGFW Sports Schedule:

• Kearney Baseball @ Columbus (4:45 PM – 7:45 PM)
• Sports Nightly (6:45 PM – 8 PM)