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Author: Dave Riggert

Royals drop finale to White Sox 6-3

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Lucas Giolito has mastered the Kansas City Royals, a trend that continued Sunday.

The rest of the major leagues? The Chicago White Sox hope the 6-foot-6 right-hander is ready to dominate there, too.

Giolito took a no-hit bid into the seventh inning in his first start of the season, and the White Sox beat the Royals 6-3 on Sunday to avoid a three-game sweep in the season-opening series.

“It feels good to start off on a good note,” Giolito said. “Throughout my whole career, I’ve always had my not as good starts earlier in the year, and I wanted to change that this year.”

Giolito (1-0) walked Whit Merrifield on four pitches to begin the game, but then retired 19 straight before Alex Gordon’s single with one out in the seventh. Gordon fouled off four consecutive pitches before lining a curveball into center field.

“Besides that curveball, he was pretty much on all day,” Gordon said. “Like I say, give him credit. It was a good at-bat, but he had a great game.”

Giolito couldn’t finish the inning. Ryan O’Hearn drove in Gordon with a double into the right field corner, and Lucas Duda chased Giolito with an RBI single. Giolito was charged with two runs in 6 2/3 innings, allowing three hits and a walk with eight strikeouts. He threw 99 pitches.

Giolito was 10-13 with a 6.13 ERA in 2018 and led the AL in walks (90) and the majors in earned runs allowed (118). In seven starts against the Royals in his career, Giolito is 4-0 with a 2.40 ERA. In 14 starts against the other AL Central teams, Giolito has a 5.62 ERA.

“He was attacking the strike zone,” White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. “Breaking ball was working well, he was commanding his fastball, probably tired a little bit there at the end, but really did a really nice job.”

Ryan Burr got the final out of the seventh to end the threat.

Yonder Alonso preserved the no-hitter with a diving stop in the sixth, and he and Jose Abreu homered on consecutive pitches in the fourth off starter Jorge Lopez (0-1).

Alex Colome pitched a perfect ninth for his first save.

Alonso had two hits and three RBI. Four other White Sox had two hits in the game, including Abreu.

Alonso also robbed Billy Hamilton of a hit by diving down the first base line to snag a line drive in the sixth.

Lopez and reliever Tim Hill combined to walk three straight during the sixth inning, resulting in two runs. Lopez allowed four runs in five-plus innings.

Royals right-handers Kyle Zimmer and Chris Ellis made their major league debuts. Zimmer threw a scoreless eighth inning, surrendering a single and striking out two.

The fifth overall pick in the 2012 draft, Zimmer spent six seasons in the minor leagues and spent last year way from the organization while working on his mechanics at the Driveline baseball facility in Seattle.

“This is just the first of hopefully many outings. Hopefully the first of many zeros,” Zimmer said.

“We’re just scratching the surface,” Yost said. “This is nothing. He’s got the ability to put together a nice run this year and establish himself as a major leaguer. That’s what he’s got to do now.”

Ellis matched Zimmer with a scoreless ninth, giving up two singles and a walk in the inning after retiring the first two batters he faced.

TRAINER’S ROOM

White Sox: OF Jon Jay (right hip strain) will have his hip reevaluated when the team gets back to Chicago later this week, and RHP Ian Hamilton is throwing as he continues to work his way back from right shoulder inflammation. Renteria said both players, who have been on the 10-day injured list since March 25, are improving each day.

UP NEXT

White Sox: Ivan Nova makes his first start Monday as a member of the White Sox as Chicago travels to Cleveland for a two-game series.

Royals: Brad Keller will make his second start of the season Tuesday against the Twins. Keller has pitched 41 consecutive innings without allowing a home run, dating to Aug. 31. It’s the longest active streak in the AL and the second-longest streak in the majors.

— Associated Press —

Northwest baseball outslugged Washburn in series opener 14-9

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MARYVILLE, Missouri – The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team used a 17-hit attack to score a 14-9 win over the Washburn Ichabods at the Bearcat Baseball Field on Sunday afternoon.

All nine batters recorded at least one hit and scored a run as the Bearcats took a lead, saw the Ichabods come back only to have the home squad put it away late with eight runs in its final two at bats.

Washburn took a 2-0 lead in the second but Bearcat starter Max Spitzmiller avoided more damage by cutting down a runner at the plate on a comebacker.

The Bearcat offense started churning in the third. Logan Rycraft started the inning by being hit by a pitch. As the lineup rolled over, Peter Carlson singled to left to put runners on the corners. Calvin Rudolph drew a walk to load the bases. Connor Quick singled to left to clear the bases. The Washburn left fielder charged the ball and had it roll under his glove allowing Rudolph to score from first. Alixon Herrera followed with an RBI single to score Quick and give Northwest a 4-2 lead.

Spitzmiller allowed only one hit in the third, fourth and fifth innings as he put up zeroes on the scoreboard.

Washburn struck for three runs in the sixth to chase Spitzmiller. Spitzmiller went 5 1/3 innings and gave up six hits and five earned runs with one strikeout. Gibson Brown came on in the sixth to extinguish the Ichabods by striking out both batters, but Washburn had taken a 5-4 lead.

Derek Hussey’s one-out single and a walk by Rycraft put two runners on for Rudolph. Rudulph roped a two-out two-RBI double to left giving the Bearcats a 6-5 lead.

Washburn got to Brown in the seventh for four runs, including a three-run bomb to left-center by Michael Oyervides.

But the Bearcats refused to go quietly and rattled the bats again in the seventh for four-spot of their own. Matt Gastner singled to start the rally and Jay Hrdlicka followed with a walk. Mondesi Gutierrez came through with his first home run of the season and fourth homer as a Bearcat. Gutierrez’s three-run bomb tied the game at 9-9. Hussey kept the hits coming with a hotshot to third. Hussey stole second and advanced to third on a single from Rycraft. Carlson then laid down a squeeze bunt that scored Hussey and gave the Bearcats a 10-9 lead.

Aaron Easley worked a 1-2-3 eighth inning with a strikeout for the Bearcats.

Northwest added four insurance runs in the eighth. Quick and Herrera tallied back-to-back doubles to start the eighth. Gastner knocked in Herrera with a single to make to 12-9. Hrdlicka singled to put runners on first and second. Hussey singled up the middle with one out to score Gastner for the third run of the inning. Rycraft ripped an RBI-single to left to complete Hrdlicka’s path around the bases and give Northwest a 14-9 lead.

Trevor Dudar worked the ninth and allowed a hit to go along with a strikeout to finish off the Bearcat victory.

Northwest and Washburn will close the three-game series with a doubleheader Monday beginning at noon.

NOTES: Connor Quick and Derek Hussey notched three hits … Quick has 13 multi-hit games, including a trio of three-hit games … Hussey has 12 multi-hit contests … this was Hussey’s sixth three-hit game … Gutierrez tallied a team-high three RBI … Herrera extended his hitting streak to eight games … eight different starters recorded at least one RBI … Gibson earned the win and moved to 3-1 on the season.

— Northwest Athletics —

Cardinals lose on a walk-off at Milwaukee Sunday

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MILWAUKEE (AP) — Christian Yelich led the way for the Milwaukee Brewers, from his first swing to the very last one for the game.

So it was a pretty typical day for the reigning NL MVP.

Yelich hit his fourth homer in the first inning and a two-run double in the ninth, lifting the Brewers to a dramatic 5-4 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday.

“What we’re witnessing is greatness,” Milwaukee slugger Ryan Braun said. “It’s absolutely incredible.”

Ben Gamel led off the ninth with a pinch-hit double and advanced on Lorenzo Cain’s infield single off reliever Jordan Hicks’ glove. Yelich then hit a liner into the gap in left-center, driving in Gamel and Cain.

“We were just trying to find a way to push one across and tie the game,” Yelich said. “(Hicks) has great stuff. One snuck in the line, and Lo’s deflected off his glove and we were able to pull it off.”

Yelich tipped his cap to Gamel.

“It’s really hard to pinch-hit against a guy who throws that hard and has that good of stuff,” Yelich said. “(Gamel) was able to battle and sneak one in there. He got the whole thing started for us.”

Yelich tossed his helmet in the air in celebration as Cain slid face first across the plate, giving Milwaukee three wins its opening four-game set against rival St. Louis. Yelich’s teammates rushed the field and doused the reigning NL MVP with Gatorade in a raucous celebration at second.

The 27-year-old Yelich hit .326 with 36 homers and 110 RBI last year, leading the Brewers to the NL Central title. He is 6 for 12 with six walks and eight RBI so far this season.

“I’ve never seen anyone this good at baseball for this long,” Braun said. “I mean, maybe (Barry) Bonds in his prime. As great as (Mike) Trout is. I’ve seen (Albert) Pujols. I’ve never seen anyone this good for this long.”

Yelich began his day with a long drive into the second deck in right against Michael Wacha, tying the major league record for homers in consecutive games to start a season. He also became the first player to win the MVP award and then homer in his first four games of the next season.

“Candidly, I can’t recall a series like that,” Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said. “I’ve had some guys that are smoking hot against us, but I’ve never seen that kind of damage over four days.”

Paul Goldschmidt, Matt Carpenter and Paul DeJong homered for St. Louis, but Hicks (0-1) blew his first save opportunity of the season. Wacha struck out seven while pitching six innings of one-run ball.

The Cardinals got a scare in the ninth when Kolten Wong dove to steal second and got hit right below the left ear by Yasmani Grandal’s throw. Second baseman Mike Moustakas quickly signaled to the Cardinals’ dugout for help. Wong eventually got up and remained in the game.

Milwaukee right-hander Corbin Burnes struck out 12 in five innings in his first major league start. But Burnes was hurt by the long ball.

DeJong connected for a two-run drive in the fourth, and Carpenter and Goldschmidt added consecutive homers in the fifth. Goldschmidt also went deep three times Friday night.

The Brewers got two back in the seventh. With two out and a runner on first, left-hander Andrew Miller came in to face Yelich and walked him. Ryan Braun and Travis Shaw then hit RBI singles before Miller struck out Jesus Aguilar swinging to end the threat.

Jacob Barnes (1-0) worked the ninth for the win.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Brewers: RHP Jeremy Jeffress (right shoulder weakness) pitched an inning in Arizona on Saturday and is scheduled to go again on Tuesday. If the rehab goes as planned, he’ll pitch at Triple-A San Antonio on Friday. “We’re ready to get him into games,” manager Craig Counsell said.

QUOTABLE

“He’s a good hitter,” Miller said of Yelich, who homered off him Friday night. “You can’t go to one spot. There’s no hole you can sit there and just go after and try to execute in one spot. You got to mix and match. It’s a game of chess and he got me.”

GOLDSCHMIDT SETS CARDS RECORD

Goldschmidt’s four homers are the most ever by a Cardinal in a series against the Brewers. Pujols (three times), Scott Rolen and Fernando Tatis hit three homers in a single series against Milwaukee.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP Adam Wainwright makes his first start of the season at Pittsburgh on Monday. His 13 career wins over the Pirates trails only Johnny Cueto of the San Francisco Giants (20).

Brewers: RHP Zach Davies makes his first start in Cincinnati on Monday. He’s looking to bounce back after he was hampered by injuries last season.

— Associated Press —

MWSU tennis loses at Northeastern State 7-0

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TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Missouri Western women’s tennis team (8-10, 0-5 MIAA) faced off against Northeastern State (6-6, 4-1 MIAA) on Sunday, losing to the RiverHawks by a score of 7-0 on the road.

Joanna Abreu Roman and Karolina Ström started the day off well for the Griffons, as the team’s top doubles pair gave Missouri Western a 6-2 victory on the number one courts. The win improves their record to 14-4 in duals doubles this season, with 11 of those wins coming on the number one courts.

Northeastern State would go on win the final two doubles matches. Bojana Vuksan and Federica Salmaso fell in a competitive 7-6 defeat, giving the RiverHawks the doubles advantage.

Northeastern State also managed to sweep the singles. Abreu Roman and Salmaso both played their way to a third set, but eventually lost their matchups. After splitting the first two sets in her match on the number three court, Abreu Roman lost in a narrow 10-8 third set.

Missouri Western Tennis will return home for the first of three-straight home duals, beginning with a non-conference matchup with Rockhurst (7-7) on April 2.

MWSU VS. NSU
SINGLES
#32 Tatjana Stoll (NSU) def. #69 Karolina Ström (MWSU) 6-1, 6-1
#29 Mayra Jovic (NSU) def. Mireia Birosta (MWSU) 6-1, 6-0
Betka Gombarova (NSU) def. Joanna Abreu Roman (MWSU) 6-1, 3-6, 10-8
Kristela Vidnere (NSU) def. Ciarra Gilmore (MWSU) 6-3, 6-2
Karla Tomaic (NSU) def. Federica Salmaso (MWSU) 6-4, 1-6, 10-2
Melissa Vera (NSU) def. Bojana Vuksan (MWSU) 6-0, 6-3

DOUBLES
Abreu Roman/Strom (MWSU) def. #26 Jovic/Stoll (NSU) 6-2
Vidnere/Gombarova (NSU) def. Alvarado Maldonado/Dunn (MWSU) 6-1
Vera/Warnock (NSU) def. Salmaso/Vuksan (MWSU) 7-6 (2-0)

— MWSU Athletics —

Griffons blow 3-0 8th inning lead, lose to Central Oklahoma 5-3

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ST. JOSEPH – Central Oklahoma (17-10, 10-6) scored all of its runs in the final two innings to cover up a gem thrown by Missouri Western baseball (12-12, 9-7) starter Jacob Purl.

Purl exited in the eighth after striking out 12, walking none and allowing just one hit. UCO responded with three runs in the eighth and broke a 3-3 tie with two in the ninth to break a fourth-place tie with MWSU in the MIAA standings.

NOTABLES

  • Purl’s 12 strikeouts were a career-high for the senior transfer and his zero walks were a season-low
  • UCO’s first hit off Purl didn’t come until the sixth, a double down the right field line
  • The Griffons scored two in the first off a Casey Danley home run and a Wyatt Meyer single that included an error by the UCO centerfielder that allowed Andrew Curry to score from first and Meyer to get to second
  • Meyer drove in a run in the third with a double to left center
  • UCO pitching held the Griffons without a hit the rest of the game after Meyer’s double
  • Broncho starter Dylan Hall and the rest of the UCO pitching staff did its best to match Purl’s gem. Hall struck out eight and the next three UCO pitchers combined to strike out four more Griffon batters
  • UCO got the ninth inning rally going on a controversial call at first. The umpire ruled Dusty Stroup’s throw from third base pulled Andrew Curry off the bag on a very close play that put UCO’s Kace Massner on to lead off the ninth.
  • Three batters later, Massner scored what proved to be the winning run on a pinch-hit triple

UP NEXT

  • Game two of the series is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m.

— MWSU Athletics —

Royals beat White Sox 8-6 for a 2-0 start

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — If the Kansas City Royals are going to have success in 2019, they’ll need to rely on their speed. That was very evident Saturday in an 8-6 win over the Chicago White Sox on a wet, cold and windy afternoon at Kauffman Stadium.

Jorge Soler had three hits and three RBI and Alex Gordon scored three runs despite not getting a hit. Billy Hamilton got three hits and scored twice for the Royals, 2-0 for the first time since their World Series-winning season in 2015.

The first pitch was delayed 30 minutes because of rain. When the game began, it was 38 degrees and felt like 28, whipped by 18 mph winds.

The Royals had two big innings when they scored seven of their eight runs, and speed played a role in all of them. Nowhere was it more evident than a three-run fourth when Hamilton advanced from first base on a flyout to right field.

“We were screaming for him to tag,” Kansas City manager Ned Yost said. “That’s the type of baseball we like to play. We like to push it. He’s got that phenomenal speed to be able to do it.”

For Hamilton, it was no big deal.

“I take pride in my baserunning,” he said. “It’s easier to score from second base than it is from first base. I kind of know the guys who are playing. I knew if he would have thrown me out I wouldn’t have been mad. You have to take the chance.

The speed on the basepaths seemed to rattle White Sox starter Reynaldo Lopez (0-1). He gave up four runs on six hits through four-plus innings.

“If they get on base, they can be a disruption, a distraction for you because you have to keep checking on them just to make sure they don’t take a big lead and take off earlier,” Lopez said. “I don’t think that they ran a lot against me, but it’s just part of the game.”

Chicago manager Rick Renteria said Lopez struggled to stay on track.

“He was pulling pitches quite a bit early and wasn’t able to get back to front,” he said. “He wasn’t able to do it as well as we wanted him to. He was not having a good feel for the baseball this afternoon.”

“It was a little bit cool for him, as it was for both sides. I think he was pulling a lot more pitches than we’re used to. He tried to make an adjustment but just wasn’t able to,” he said.

Jakob Junis (1-0) gave up three runs — all in the sixth on Jose Abreu’s homer — over 5 2/3 innings. He allowed six hits, walked one and struck out six.

It was the second straight strong starting effort for the Royals. Brad Keller threw seven shutout innings in the season-opener Thursday.

Ian Kennedy pitched the ninth for the first save of his career. He gave up two quick singles, but then retired the next three batters.

“Nerves go away quickly when you get first and second,” he said. “That’s when you know you can’t give up any more singles. You try to put it to a stop.”

The Royals made it 4-0 in the fifth when Gordon walked and scored on a double by Soler, chasing Lopez.

Yolmer Sanchez and Yoan Moncada singled in the White Sox sixth and Abreu homered.

The Royals came back with four runs in the bottom half. Whit Merrifield hit a two-run single, extending his hitting streak to 22 games back to last season, Gordon walked and Soler drove in both runners with his second double.

Moncada homered in a three-run seventh.

Prized White Sox rookie Eloy Jimenez got his first two big league hits after going 0 for 3 in his debut Thursday.

UP NEXT

White Sox: RHP Lucas Giolito will make his season debut for the White Sox as they conclude the season-opening series.

Royals: RHP Jorge Lopez will get the start for the Royals.

— Associated Press —

Cardinals lose at Milwaukee Saturday 4-2

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MILWAUKEE (AP) — Christian Yelich and Josh Hader, breakout stars during Milwaukee’s surprising run to the NL Championship Series last year, are managing to look even better in 2019.

Yelich became the first MVP to homer in the first three games of the following season, Hader closed things out with an immaculate inning and the Brewers beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-2 on Saturday night.

After a making a sliding catch in right field for the first out of the game, Yelich got Milwaukee on the board in his first at-bat, sending a hanging slider from Dakota Hudson (0-1) to left for a 1-0 lead.

“He’s swinging the bat really good,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “Two opposite-field homers in the last two days.”

Travis Shaw and Mike Moustakas went deep in the third for Milwaukee, spoiling Hudson’s first career major league start after 26 relief appearances as a rookie last season.

“Those guys are really strong,” Hudson said. “A lot of veteran hitters over there. They knew what they could do and they took the ball the backside. It wasn’t like they were hitting a ton of mistakes. They knew what they wanted and executed and put a good swing on it.”

The right-hander was charged with four runs — three earned — seven hits and two walks while striking out six over 4 1/3 innings.

“He competed really well, he went after it,” Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said. “I really appreciate the way he dealt with adversity. He went right back at it. So, it’s a really good trait. Dakota’s going to be more than fine.”

Milwaukee right-hander Brandon Woodruff (1-0) held St. Louis to two runs and struck out five over five innings. The Brewers’ bullpen took over from there with four scoreless innings, capped by Hader’s perfect ninth — nine pitches, all fastballs, for three strikeouts.

Center fielder Tyler O’Neill was the only player to make contact. He fouled off Hader’s first offering before coming up empty on the next two pitches. Hader drew three straight swings and misses from Dexter Fowler and two more after pinch-hitter Yario Munoz looked at strike one.

“It’s as good an inning as you can have,” Counsell said. “You can’t have a better inning than that. He’s had a great start to the season.”

Including his two-inning, four-strikeout performance on opening day, Hader has thrown 30 pitches, all of them fastballs.

“The way we look at it is, why change something or why try to fix something that’s not broken?” Hader said. “We were just trying to attack the zone and continue to read the swings and what we see. That was one of the big things, continuing to attack with our strengths.”

YELICH CHASING HISTORY

Yelich is the 35th MLB player and first Brewer to homer in three straight games to start a season.

The major league record for a home run streak to start a year is four games. Five players have accomplished that feat: Willie Mays (1971), Mark McGwire (1998), Nelson Cruz (2011), Chris Davis (2013) and Trevor Story (2016).

WONG STAYS HOT

Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong recorded his second multihit game Saturday, going 2 for 3 with a double. Through three games, Wong is 6 for 10 with a walk, two home runs and four RBI.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: OF Harrison Bader got a day off after going 2 for 8 with a home run through the first two games of the season. With Bader out, Tyler O’Neill made his first start of the season.

Brewers: OF Ryan Braun was left out of the starting lineup but appeared as a pinch-hitter, flying out to left in the sixth.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP Michael Wacha is 5-0 with a 4.19 ERA in 11 appearances (10 starts) against Milwaukee, including a 2-0 mark and 3.80 ERA in five appearances (four starts) at Miller Park.

Brewers: RHP Corbin Burnes makes his first major league start Sunday in the series finale. Burns opened eyes as a rookie last season, going 7-0 with a 2.61 ERA in 30 relief appearances then allowing just a pair of runs over nine postseason innings.

— Associated Press —

Bearcats defeat Point Loma to win Division II National Championship

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) — Joey Witthus scored 24 points and Northwest Missouri State capped an undefeated season with a 64-58 victory over Point Loma (Calif.) on Saturday for its second Division II championship in three seasons.

Northwest Missouri State (38-0) became just the fifth team in Division II history to go undefeated with a national title, most recently by Findlay in 2009. The Bearcats also tied last season’s champion Ferris State (38-1) for the most wins in Division II history.

Sophomore forward Ryan Hawkins had nine points, 12 rebounds and four steals for the Bearcats. Freshmen guard Trevor Hudgins, who scored 27 in the semifinals, added 12 points with six assists and classmate Diego Bernard scored 14.

“To go undefeated, starting two freshman and a sophomore, is unreal,” Northwest coach Ben McCollum said. The Bearcats lost four veteran leaders from its 2017 championship and 2018 NCAA tournament teams.

Northwest closed the first half on a 7-0 run, capped by Hawkins’ transition 3-pointer just before the buzzer, for a four-point lead. Witthus had 12 points in the first half, and gave the Bearcats a 56-46 lead with 6:43 remaining by banking in a 3-pointer from the logo just before the shot clock expired.

Division II player of the year Daulton Hommes, who led the Pacific West Conference in scoring at 21.7 points per game, scored 26 points for Point Loma (31-5). Preston Beverly added 15 points with nine rebounds.

It was Point Loma’s first title game in just its second NCAA tournament appearance.

— Associated Press —

Nebraska hires Hoiberg to lead men’s basketball program

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LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Fred Hoiberg, the former NBA player who coached Iowa State and the Chicago Bulls, was hired Saturday to coach a Nebraska team that had big hopes this season but finished with a 19-17 record and out of the NCAA Tournament yet again.

Hoiberg has strong ties to the school, which announced his hiring four days after seventh-year coach Tim Miles was fired.

Hoiberg, dismissed by the Bulls in in December, agreed to a seven-year contract paying a total of $25 million.

The 46-year-old Hoiberg was born in Lincoln and maternal grandfather Jerry Bush was the Cornhuskers coach from 1954 to 1963. His paternal grandfather was a professor at Nebraska and his parents are graduates of the school.

“I can’t express how excited I am to be back on the sidelines and to be coaching at a university that means a lot to my family and me,” Hoiberg said. “Nebraska has always felt like a second home.”

Hoiberg went 115-155 from 2010-15 with the Bulls. Before that, he had a successful five-year run as Iowa State’s coach with an up-tempo, spread-the-floor offense. He went 115-56 and led the Cyclones to four straight NCAA Tournaments and two Big 12 tournament titles.

“When you look at him, you see an individual who has had success as a player and a coach,” athletic director Bill Moos said. “Fred’s background will sell itself on the recruiting trail, and help us bring in the type of student-athletes needed to compete at the highest level. His style of play not only will be appealing to prospective recruits but will also provide our great fans an entertaining brand of basketball.”

Hoiberg takes over a program that has never been able to win consistently. Nebraska’s most recent regular-season conference championship came in 1950. The Huskers remain the only Power Five conference program to have never won an NCAA Tournament game.

As a star player for Iowa State, Hoiberg became known as “The Mayor” because of his popularity in Ames. He competed twice a year against the Huskers from 1991-95 — when Nebraska enjoyed its most sustained success, with four straight NCAA appearances. In the 25 years since, the Huskers have gone to the tournament just twice (1998, 2014).

Nebraska had reason to be encouraged this season. The Huskers started 13-4 and were in The Associated Press Top 25 for the first time since 2014. Then the Huskers lost 11 of the next 13 and finished 13th in the Big Ten, the fifth time in seven years they’ve been 10th or worse. A brief run in the Big Ten Tournament wasn’t enough to earn an NCAA bid.

The Huskers will lose seniors James Palmer Jr., Glynn Watson Jr. and Isaac Copeland, and junior Isaiah Roby has said he didn’t know if he would return if there were a coaching change.

Hoiberg had said shortly after his dismissal by the Bulls that he wanted to coach again, but the speculation was that it would be in the NBA.

Nebraska has had a history of hiring hot mid-major coaches — Danny Nee in 1986, Barry Collier in 2000, Doc Sadler in 2006 and Miles in 2012.

The school built a new practice facility in 2011 and a new arena in 2013. With the infrastructure in place, Moos and the university administration were looking to make a splash hire.

“I had the opportunity to coach (an exhibition) at Pinnacle Bank Arena with the Bulls, and I have seen first-hand that the facilities are as nice as any in the country,” Hoiberg said. “When you couple that with a loyal and passionate fan base, you can see there is great potential for the future of Nebraska basketball.”

— Associated Press —

Sophomore guard Charlie Moore to transfer from Kansas

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LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas men’s basketball coach Bill Self confirmed Saturday that redshirt-sophomore guard Charlie Moore will transfer from the KU team.

“Charlie notified me yesterday (Friday) that he wanted to transfer and be closer to his family,” Self said of Moore who is from Chicago. “We appreciate Charlie’s time here at KU and wish him the absolute best moving forward.”

A transfer from California after the 2016-17 season, Moore sat out 2017-18 due to transfer rules and practiced with Jayhawks as they made a run to the 2018 Final Four.

In 2018-19, Moore played in 35 games with one start, against New Mexico State on Dec. 8. He averaged 13.1 minutes, 2.9 points and 1.3 assists per contest. He scored a season-high 18 points against South Dakota on Dec. 18, making six 3-pointers with four assists and two steals for the game.

— KU Athletics —

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