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Big 12 to hold Football Championship again; conference revenue figures announced

riggertBig12Irving, Texas – At the conclusion of its annual spring business meetings, the Big 12 Conference has announced that it will reinstate its football championship game, beginning with the 2017 season.

“The addition of a football championship game allows for a 13th data point for our teams under consideration for the College Football Playoff,” said Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby. “Work will begin on developing scheduling models and host site options.”

The Big 12 last staged a championship game in 2010. Six of the 15 contests in league history were rematches of a regular season game. The regular-season winner prevailed in the title game rematch in four of those six occurrences. On five occasions, the lower-ranked team defeated a higher-ranked opponent.

Along with the championship game announcement, the Conference also announced its generated revenue for member distribution for fiscal year 2015-16, with each member institution slated to receive $30.4 million, an increase of 20 percent over the previous year. All 10 league members will receive a full share. In addition to distributed revenue from the Conference, Big 12 schools also retain revenue from third-tier media rights deals. Since 2012, distributed revenue has increased over $117 million.

— Big 12 Press Release —

Huskers get blanked by Oklahoma State in NCAA Tournament opener

riggertNebraskaClemson, S.C. – Making its 14th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and the second in three seasons, the Nebraska baseball team (37-21) dropped its opening game of the tournament to the #18 Oklahoma State Cowboys (37-20) by a score of 6-0 on Friday afternoon at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

NU’s offense had the task of facing Big 12 Pitcher of the Year Thomas Hatch, and the Huskers were unable to score a run off the sophomore right hander. Hatch scattered six hits over 7.0 shutout innings and struck out 10. It’s the first time an opposing pitcher has record 10 or more strikeouts since March 29, 2014, when UNLV’s John Ricky also struck out 10 Huskers. On the day Hatch went over 100 strikeouts on the season, becoming the 13th player in OSU history to reach the mark.

Making his NCAA Tournament debut, freshman Matt Waldron lasted a season-low 3.2 innings, he had gone at least 5.0 innings in previous 10 starts of the year. The Cowboys scored five runs off Waldron on eight hits and two walks, while the right hander notched four strikeouts. Waldron entered the game with a streak of 24.1 straight innings without allowing an earned run, but saw that come to an end in the first inning.

Sophomore Garett King tossed 3.1 innings of one-run relief behind Waldron and struck out six, but NU’s offense was unable to get back in the game. Freshman Robbie Palkert also tossed an inning of perfect relief.

NU’s pitchers recorded 11 strikeouts on the day, but did allow 13 hits. Hatch and reliever Trey Cobb combined for 12 strikeouts, while allowing six hits.

Sophomore Jake Meyers was 2-for-3 at the plate and was on base three times, while fellow sophomore Scott Schreiber was 2-for-3 with a pair of singles after missing NU’s last four games.

OSU designated hitter Conor Costello put on a show at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs. J.R. Davis and Jon Littell also produced a three-hit day.

After Hatch stranded a pair of Huskers to start the game, the Cowboys jumped out an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first, but it could have been worse for the Huskers. A leadoff single, hit-by-pitch and another bloop single loaded the bases with no outs. The Cowboys’ No. 4 and 5 hitters delivered back-to-back RBI singles, getting OSU the early lead. With the bases still loaded and no out, Waldron got out of the jam by striking out consecutive batters looking before getting an inning-ending 6-3 groundout.

Nebraska got the tying runs on base in the second with singles from Jesse Wilkening and Luis Alvarado, but Hatch stranded both by getting a groundball off the bat of Ryan Boldt.

Following a rocky first inning, Waldron bounced back with a 1-2-3 second inning, but then the Cowboys struck again in the third. With a runner on and one down, Costello belted a 2-1 offering into the left-field seats, increasing OSU’s lead to 4-0. The Cowboys had a pair of runners on later in the inning, but Waldron stranded both with his third strikeout of the game.

After Nebraska couldn’t take advantage of a leadoff single from Schreiber in the top of the fourth, OSU tacked on a run in the bottom of the frame. Waldron got the second out of the frame and with two on the Huskers went to King. Costello welcomed him with a RBI single, his fourth RBI of the game, and OSU took a 5-0 lead. King struck out Dustin Williams to end the inning.

The Huskers mounted a scoring threat in the sixth when they had the bases loaded with one down, but Hatch dug in. After a single by Meyers, a walk to Ben Miller and a single by Schreiber loaded the bases, Hatch left them loaded with consecutive strikeouts of Wilkening and Jake Placzek, Hatch’s seventh and eighth of the game.

OSU added an insurance run in the seventh to take a 6-0 lead and the Huskers failed to get another hit after Schreiber’s single in the sixth.

With the loss the Huskers fall to the loser’s bracket and will play the loser of tonight’s game between Clemson and Western Carolina. The Huskers will play in an elimination game Saturday at 11 a.m.

— NU Athletics —

The MIAA to sponsor women’s bowling

riggertMIAAKansas City, Mo. — The MIAA took action today to sponsor women’s bowling as an NCAA championship sport. The league’s first women’s bowling champion will be crowned at its inaugural conference tournament to be held March 25-26, 2017 at the KC Bowl in Kansas City, Kansas.

“The MIAA is excited to sponsor this opportunity for women’s collegiate student-athletes that have a passion for bowling.” Commissioner Dr. Bob Boerigter said. “Our Members and Associate Members who provide this sport are committed to both student academic success and they also seek to provide a quality competitive athletics experience for their student-athletes. All believe the MIAA bowling championship will provide that opportunity.”

Drury University of Springfield, MO, Elmhurst College of Elmhurst, Ill., Maryville University of St. Louis, Mo., McKendree University of McKendree, Ill. and Nebraska Wesleyan University of Lincoln, Neb. were all accepted into the MIAA as Associate Members.

They will join current MIAA members the University of Central Missouri and Lincoln University in the 7-team MIAA Bowling league.

In addition to the conference tournament, the schools have agreed to a schedule of regular season common events that will provide the framework to seed the conference championship. Student-athletes on each team will be eligible for weekly player-of –the-week honors as well as post-season all-conference athletic and academic awards.

— MIAA Press Release —

Northwest’s Tjeerdsma, Miles nominated for the 2017 College Football Hall of Fame

Northwest2013riggertIRVING, Texas – Former Northwest Missouri State University head football coach and current Director of Athletics Mel Tjeerdsma and All-American Tony Miles have been nominated for the 2017 College Football Hall of Fame. The National Football Foundation (NFF) and the College Football Hall of Fame released the 2017 ballot which includes 75 players and six coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision and 95 players and 29 coaches from the divisional ranks.

Tony Miles was a two-time First Team All-American who led Bearcats to back-to-back Division II National Championships (1998-99) and four-consecutive MIAA titles. He set conference and school records for career receiving yards (3,890), receptions (235) and TDs (37).

Mel Tjeerdsma, who coached at Austin College (Texas) from 1984-93 and at Northwest from 1994-2010, led the Bearcats to seven Division II national championship games, winning in 1998, 1999, 2009. He was a four-time AFCA Coach of the Year who boasts most wins (183) in Northwest history. He led teams to 15 MIAA conference titles and 15 playoff appearances.

The ballot was emailed this week to the more than 12,000 NFF members and current Hall of Famers whose votes will be tabulated and submitted to the NFF’s Honors Courts, which deliberate and select the class. The FBS Honors Court, chaired by NFF Board Member and College Football Hall of Famer Archie Griffin from Ohio State, and the Divisional Honors Court, chaired by former Marshall head coach, longtime athletics director and NFF Board Member Jack Lengyel, include an elite and geographically diverse pool of athletic administrators, Hall of Famers and members of the media.

The announcement of the 2017 Class will be made Friday, Jan. 6, 2017, in Tampa, Fla. The city is serving as the host for the CFP National Championship, which will be played Jan. 9 at Raymond James Stadium. Some of the inductees will be on site at the press conference to represent the class and share their thoughts on the announcement. The Jan. 6 announcement will be televised live, and specific viewing information will be available as the date draws near. Inductees will also participate in the pregame festivities and the coin toss on Jan. 9.

The 2017 class will be inducted at the 60th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Dec. 5, 2017, at the landmark Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. The inductees will be permanently enshrined at the new College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta later that December and honored on the field during the 13th Annual National Hall of Fame Salute during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.

The criteria for Hall of Fame consideration includes:

First and foremost, a player must have received First-Team All-America recognition by a selector organization that is recognized by the NCAA and utilized to comprise their consensus All-America teams.
A player becomes eligible for consideration by the Foundation’s Honors Courts 10 full seasons after his final year of intercollegiate football played.
While each nominee’s football achievements in college are of prime consideration, his post-football record as a citizen is also weighed. He must have proven himself worthy as a citizen, carrying the ideals of football forward into his relations with his community and his fellow man, with love of his country. Consideration may also be given for academic honors and whether or not the candidate earned a college degree.
Players must have played their last year of intercollegiate football within the last 50 years.* For example, to be eligible for the 2017 ballot, the player must have played his last year in 1967 or thereafter. In addition, players who are playing professionally and coaches who are coaching on the professional level are not eligible until after they retire.
A coach becomes eligible three full seasons after retirement or immediately following retirement provided he is at least 70 years of age. Active coaches become eligible at 75 years of age. He must have been a head coach for a minimum of 10 years and coached at least 100 games with a .600 winning percentage.

*Players who do not comply with the 50-year rule may still be eligible for consideration by the Football Bowl Subdivision and Divisional Veterans Committee.

Once nominated for consideration, all player candidates are submitted to one of eight District Screening Committees, depending on their school’s geographic location, which conducts a vote to determine who will appear on the ballot and represent their respective districts. Each year, approximately 15 candidates, who are not selected for the Hall of Fame, will be named automatic holdovers and will bypass the district screening process and automatically appear on the ballot the following year. Additionally, the Veterans Committee may make recommendations to the Honors Court for exceptions that allow for the induction of players who played more than 50 years ago.

Of the 5.12 million individuals who have played college football since Princeton first battled Rutgers on Nov. 6, 1869, only 977 players, including the 2016 class, have earned induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, or less than two ten-thousandths (.0002) of one percent of those who have played the game during the past 147 years. From the coaching ranks, 211 individuals have achieved Hall of Fame distinction.

— Northwest Athletics —

Mizzou’s football opener at West Virginia will kick off at 11 AM

riggertMissouriCOLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Football’s season-opening game at West Virginia on Sept. 3 will air on Fox Sports 1 at 11 a.m. (CT), as announced Wednesday as part of the Big 12 Conference’s television package. It will be Mizzou’s first morning kick for a road game since 2014 at Toledo and Mizzou’s seventh morning road kick since joining the SEC. Mizzou is 5-1 in the previous six games. The contest at West Virginia will be the first game for first-year Mizzou head coach Barry Odom.

The season opener will mark the sixth all-time meeting between Mizzou and West Virginia, with Mizzou holding a 3-2 edge in the previous five games. The last meeting was in 1998 as Mizzou defeated West Virginia, 34-31, in the Insight.com Bowl. Before that, West Virginia swept a home-and-home set in 1993 and 1994. The two teams also met in the 1920s with Mizzou claiming both meetings as part of a home-and-home in 1926 and 1927.

Fans looking to purchase season tickets for the 2016 Mizzou Football season can fill out the season ticket request list at MUTigers.com or call the Mizzou ticket office at 1-800-CAT-PAWS (884-PAWS in Mid-Missouri). Single-game SEC tickets will go on sale for Tiger Scholarship Fund (TSF) donors beginning the week of August 1. TSF members will receive an email showing when their donor level will open up for sales. Donate Now to become a TSF Member and gain access to this early sale. Single-game SEC tickets will go on sale online for the general public (based on availability) beginning Thursday, August 11 at 6 p.m. CT.

— Mizzou Athletics —

Missouri-Arkansas rivalry game set for Friday after Thanksgiving

riggertMissouriCOLUMBIA, Mo. – The annual Battle Line Rivalry presented by Shelter Insurance® between Mizzou Football and Arkansas has been set for Friday, Nov. 25, with a 1:30 p.m. CT kickoff on CBS, as announced Wednesday. The 2016 season will mark the third consecutive year that CBS has broadcast the game on the Friday following Thanksgiving. The game was originally scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 26, before being picked up by CBS.

This year will mark the third installment of the annual rivalry between the border foes. Mizzou won the initial meeting in the rivalry in 2014, clinching a second consecutive SEC East Division title with a 21-14 win. Arkansas won last year’s meeting in Fayetteville, 28-3.

Mizzou and Arkansas have met seven times over the years and twice since Mizzou joined the SEC in 2012. Mizzou owns a 4-3 advantage over the Razorbacks in history. Two of the seven games in the series have come in bowl games – Mizzou lost the 2003 Independence Bowl, 27-14, while Mizzou defeated Arkansas in the 2008 Cotton Bowl, 38-7, thanks to a Cotton Bowl-record 281 rushing yards and four TDs by RB Tony Temple.

— Mizzou Athletics —

First three K-State football game times announced

riggertKansasStateMANHATTAN, Kan. – Highlighted by a primetime televised Friday night season opener at Stanford and an afternoon home opener, game times and television designations for Kansas State’s first three football games were announced by the Big 12 Conference and its television partners Wednesday afternoon.

The Wildcats and Cardinal kick off the 2016 college football season at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, California, on Friday, September 2, at 8 p.m. (CT), in a game televised by FS1. It marks the first time since 2007 that K-State opens the season on the road and the second time in the last four years the Wildcats will open their season on a Friday night.

Following an off weekend on September 10, in which Bill Snyder Family Stadium will host the Wildcat Kickoff music festival featuring Zac Brown Band and Train, Kansas State begins its home slate on September 17, with a matchup against Florida Atlantic at 1:30 p.m., on FSN. The afternoon tilt is the first for a home opener since the Wildcats topped UCLA, 31-22, in 2010.

K-State wraps up its non-conference slate on September 24, with a 6:10 p.m., contest against Missouri State, which will be shown world-wide on K-StateHD.TV. Programming on K-StateHD.TV will begin at 5:10 p.m., with its K-State Gameday show featuring Brian Smoller. For ordering information, log on to www.k-statehd.tv and click on the “Subscribe Now” button.

All remaining Big 12 television selections will be announced on a 12-day or six-day basis throughout the season.

— K-State Athletics —

KU announces times for football games with Rhode Island, Ohio and Texas Tech

riggertKULAWRENCE, Kan. – The Big 12 Conference released the television broadcast assignments for the first three weeks of the 2016 college football season and specialty date games, with Kansas being tabbed for television in each of its first two games, along with its conference opener.

The Jayhawks play at American Athletic Conference member Memphis the third week of the 2016 college football season and that game time and broadcast designation will come from the AAC.

Kansas, under the direction of second-year head coach David Beaty, will open the 2016 football season with a home game versus Rhode Island on Saturday, Sept. 3. The KU-Rhody game will be played at 6 p.m., with a live broadcast on the Jayhawk Network in the state of Kansas and the Kansas City metro area and is available outside of the state lines to a national audience on ESPN3. More information on the Jayhawk Network (JTV) and its affiliates is available at KUAthletics.com/TV.

The Jayhawks will host Ohio in their second contest of the season on Saturday, Sept. 10. KU-Ohio will be broadcast live on FOX Sports Net (FSN), with a 1:30 p.m., kickoff.

Following a trip to Memphis for its third game of the 2016 season, Kansas will open Big 12 Conference play at Texas Tech on Thursday, Sept. 29. The game will begin at 7:30 p.m., and will be broadcast on FOX Sports 1. The Thursday night game will mark the first time the Jayhawks have played on a Thursday since they hosted Kansas State on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2010.

Kansas made three appearances on Fox Sports Net in 2015 and two on JTV. KU was featured on FOX Sports 1 in six of its 2015 games and kicked off one time on the Big Ten Network.

Kansas will also host TCU (Oct. 8), Oklahoma State (Oct. 22/Homecoming, K-Club Weekend), Iowa State (Nov. 12) and Texas (Nov. 19) at Memorial Stadium during the 2016 campaign.

— KU Athletics —

Kansas announces 2016-2017 non-conference men’s basketball schedule

riggertKULAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas men’s basketball annually plays one of the toughest schedules in the nation and the 2016-17 slate is no exception as 10 of KU’s 12 non-conference opponents advanced to postseason play in 2015-16.

Four of KU’s 2016-17 non-league foes – Indiana, Duke, Kentucky and UNC Asheville – competed in the 2016 NCAA Championship. CBE Hall of Fame Classic opponents UAB, Georgia and George Washington, along with Davidson and Long Beach State, participated in the NIT, and Siena in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI). George Washington won the 2016 NIT. Including the always-rugged Big 12 schedule, Kansas will have 22 games against teams which played in the postseason in 2015-16.

For the last seven seasons Kansas has ranked no lower than fifth nationally in the final Ratings Percentage Index (RPI), which is one of the tools the NCAA Men’s Basketball Committee uses in selecting the NCAA Championship field. Three of those times – 2010, 2011 and 2016 – the Jayhawks were ranked No. 1. KU’s strength of schedule has ranked in the top 10 in eight of head coach Bill Self’s 13 seasons, including fifth in 2015-16. In that span, KU has had the nation’s toughest schedule three times: 2004-05, 2013-14 and 2014-15.

“With this schedule, once again we will rank at the top of the toughest schedules in the nation,” Self said. “We’ll get our share of frequent flyer miles right off the bat playing Indiana in Honolulu and Duke in New York City. We’re playing 10 of our 12 non-league games against teams which went to the postseason last year, including four NCAA teams. This schedule, like in the past, will help us prepare for the always tough Big 12 season.”

Following two home exhibition games against Washburn (Nov. 1) and Emporia State (Nov. 7), Kansas will hit the road, air actually, for a pair of games about as far apart as possible. The Jayhawks will compete for the first time in the Armed Forces Classic against Indiana on Nov. 11 in Honolulu; they’ll then fly to New York City to play Duke in historic Madison Square Garden in the sixth Champions Classic Nov. 15.

Kansas returns to the friendly confines of Allen Fieldhouse to host Siena in one of two CBE Hall of Fame Host Games on Nov. 18. The second follows the Kansas City event when the Jayhawks host UNC Asheville Nov. 25. Sandwiched in between is the CBE Hall of Fame Classic at Sprint Center, where KU will play Nov. 21-22 against either UAB, Georgia or George Washington. This is the third time Kansas will compete in the CBE Hall of Fame Classic; the Jayhawks won the 2012 event and finished runner-up in 2008.

The Nov. 25 UNC Asheville game begins a six-game homestand. KU will play Long Beach State on Nov. 29, then former KU great Jerod Haase will bring Stanford to Allen Fieldhouse on Dec. 3. Haase will be in his first season as head coach at Stanford after a successful run at UAB.

On Dec. 6, UMKC will make its first trip to Allen Fieldhouse since the 2010-11 season, then former conference foe Nebraska will return to Lawrence on Dec. 6. This will be the 242nd game between Kansas and Nebraska, and the first meeting since Feb. 5, 2011.

Kansas will complete its homestand when it hosts Davidson in the Jayhawk Shootout at Sprint Center on Dec. 17. The shootout is part of the KU home ticket package.

KU will close out the calendar year non-conference slate when it travels to UNLV on Dec. 22. Kansas is making its first trip to Las Vegas since 2010 when it won the Las Vegas Invitational. Kansas will close out its non-conference portion of the season at Kentucky Jan. 28 in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge. The two teams have played seven times in the Self era with KU holding a 4-3 series edge in those contests.

Kansas returns three starters and eight letterwinners from a 33-5 team that won the school’s 12th-straight, 16th Big 12 and NCAA-leading 59th overall conference regular-season title with a 15-3 league record. The 2015-16 Jayhawks won the 2015 Maui Invitational and the 2016 Big 12 Championship, and entered the 2016 NCAA Championship as a No. 1 seed, advancing to the Elite Eight. Seniors Frank Mason III and Landen Lucas, along with junior Devonte’ Graham, are KU’s returning starters with Mason and Graham in the backcourt and Lucas in the frontcourt. Junior guard Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk and sophomore forward Carlton Bragg Jr. return after also playing significant minutes in 2015-16. Additionally, KU welcomes one of the top-ranked recruiting classes that consists of guard Josh Jackson, center Udoka Azubuike and forward Mitch Lightfoot. Jackson was the No. 1 recruit in the class of 2016.

The Big 12 league schedule will be released in August. Season ticket sales for KU’s 18 home games, the 17 in Allen Fieldhouse and the Dec. 17 game against Davidson in Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri, are on sale at KUAthletics.com. To order season tickets, fans must be active members of the Williams Education Fund, which can be done by making a minimum gift pledge of $100. For current men’s basketball season ticket holders, applications were mailed in late May. Men’s basketball season tickets are limited and allocated according to Williams Education Fund policy and subject to availability. For more information, one can contact the Williams Education Fund at WilliamsFund.com or 785-864-3946.

SCOUTING THE COMPETITION

Washburn, exhibition (Nov. 1, Lawrence)

Under 37-year head coach Bob Chipman, Washburn is coming off a 13-15 season in 2015-16, which included an 11-11 MIAA (NCAA Division II) record where the Ichabods tied for fifth. This 40-game series dates back to 1906 and Kansas leads 37-3, including 6-0 in exhibition battles. KU has won 11 consecutive against the Ichabods with the last Washburn victory in 1944.

Emporia State, exhibition (Nov. 7, Lawrence)

Emporia State went 13-16 overall and 10-12 in the MIAA (NCAA Division II) and placed 10th in 2015-16. The Hornets are coached by former Colorado standout Shaun Vandiver who will enter his sixth season at ESU in 2016-17. This 23-game series dates back to 1904 and Kansas leads 20-3, including 7-0 in exhibition contests. Kansas has won 10 straight against Emporia State with the last ESU win being in 1947.

Indiana, Armed Forces Classic (Nov. 11, Honolulu)

Under eighth-year head coach Tom Crean, the 2016 Big Ten Coach of the Year, Indiana went 29-8 last season, won the Big Ten regular-season title with a 15-3 league record and finished ranked 14th by Associated Press. The Hoosiers lead the overall series with Kansas 7-6 but the Jayhawks have won six of the last seven meetings. KU and IU last met in 1995 in Kansas City with the Jayhawks claiming a 91-83 victory on Dec. 16. This series dates back to 1940 with the first two meetings, both IU wins, in the NCAA title game in 1940 and 1953.

Duke, Champions Classic (Nov. 15, New York)

Preseason No. 1 by many for 2016-17, Duke went 25-11 last year and placed tied for fifth in the ACC with an 11-7 record. Under Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski, the Blue Devils advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 2016 NCAA Championship and finished ranked No. 19. Duke leads the series with Kansas 7-3 but the Jayhawks have won two of the last three meetings, including a 94-83 win in the 2013 Champions Classic in Chicago. This series dates back to 1985.

Siena, CBE Hall of Fame Classic Host Game (Nov. 18, Lawrence)

Under head coach Jimmy Patsos, who will enter his fourth season at Siena, the Saints went 21-13 in 2015-16 overall and lost in the opening round of the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) to Morehead State (84-80). Siena went 13-7 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) last season, placing third. Kansas won the only meeting with Siena, 91-84, on Jan. 6, 2009, in Allen Fieldhouse.

UAB, potential CBE Hall of Fame Classic opponent (Nov. 21 or 22, Kansas City)

UAB welcomes first-year head coach Rob Ehsan who replaced former KU guard Jerod Haase who went to Stanford. The Blazers were 26-7 last season and won the Conference USA regular-season title with a 16-2 record. UAB fell to BYU, 97-79, in the first round of the 2016 NIT. Kansas leads the series with UAB 2-1. UAB won the first meeting, 50-46, on Nov. 25, 1984, in the title game of the Great Alaska Shootout in Anchorage. Kansas won the next two: 109-83 on Nov. 15, 1989 in the Preseason NIT and 100-74 on March 26, 2004 in the NCAA Championship in St. Louis.

Georgia, potential CBE Hall of Fame Classic opponent (Nov. 21 or 22, Kansas City)

Georgia head coach Mark Fox enters his eighth season at UGA. The Bulldogs went 20-14 last season and tied for sixth in the SEC with a 10-8 record. Georgia went 1-1 in the NIT defeating Belmont, 93-84, before falling at St. Mary’s, 77-65. Kansas has won all three meetings with Georgia in a series which dates back to 1992 with a 76-65 win in Allen Fieldhouse. The next two battles were neutral-site contests with KU winning 89-79 on Dec. 18, 1993, in Atlanta and 88-78 on Nov. 25, 1999, in the opening round of the Great Alaska Shootout in Anchorage.

George Washington, potential CBE Hall of Fame Classic opponent (Nov. 21 or 22, Kansas City)

George Washington won the 2016 NIT defeating Valparaiso, 76-60, in the title game at Madison Square Garden. GW posted a 28-10 record in 2015-16 and finished fifth in the Atlantic 10 Conference with an 11-7 mark. Colonials head coach Mike Lonergan completed his fifth season at GW in 2015-16. Kansas has won all three meetings with George Washington. The Jayhawks defeated the Colonials, 76-70, in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 22, 1984, and 94-71 the following year, Dec. 23, 1985, in Allen Fieldhouse. KU also defeated GW, 85-56, on Dec. 11, 1996, in Allen Fieldhouse.

UNC Asheville, CBE Hall of Fame Classic Host Game (Nov. 25, Lawrence)

UNC Asheville and Kansas have something in common in they both lost to eventual NCAA Champion Villanova in the 2016 NCAA Championship. The Bulldogs were 22-12 overall last season and tied for third in the Big South Conference with a 12-6 league record. UNC Ashville won the Big South Championship and entered its fourth-ever NCAA Championship a No. 15 seed. UNC Asheville fell to the second-seeded Wildcats, 86-56, in the two teams’ first game of the tourney in Brooklyn. Head coach Nick McDevitt enters his fourth season guiding the Bulldogs. Kansas is 3-0 against UNC Ashville in a series which dates back to 1994. All three meetings have been in Allen Fieldhouse with the Jayhawks winning 90-44 on Jan. 5, 1994, 105-73 on Dec. 15, 1996, and 102-50 on Jan. 2, 2003.

Long Beach State (Nov. 29, Lawrence)

Long Beach State went 20-15 last season and placed third in the Big West Conference with a 12-4 league record. Having lost in the Big West title game, LBSU competed in the 2016 NIT losing to Washington, 107-102, in the event’s opening round. The 49ers are coached by Dan Monson who enters his 10th season at LBSU. Kansas leads the four-game series with Long Beach State, 3-1. KU won the first two meetings, 69-52 on Dec. 1, 1970, in Allen Fieldhouse and 66-60 on Dec. 7, 1991, in Long Beach, California. The 49ers defeated KU, 64-49, on Jan. 25, 1993, in Allen Fieldhouse and Kansas won the last meeting, 88-80, on Dec. 6, 2011, also in Allen Fieldhouse.

Stanford (Dec. 3, Lawrence)

Stanford first-year head coach Jerod Haase will face his alma mater in Allen Fieldhouse on Dec. 3. Haase’ 1,264 points rank 32nd on the KU all-time scoring list and he also ranks on the Kansas career lists in 3-point field goals made (11th at 156), 3-pointers attempted (seventh at 461), assists (18th at 343) and steals (11th at 174). Last year the Cardinal went 15-15 overall and finished ninth in the Pac-12 with an 8-10 record. Kansas leads the series with Stanford, 8-3, but the Cardinal have won the last two meetings: 60-57 on March 23, 2014, in the NCAA Championship in St. Louis and 64-58 on Dec. 6, 2003, in the Wooden Classic in Anaheim, California. This series dates back to 1932 and KU is 4-0 versus Stanford in games played in Lawrence.

UMKC (Dec. 6, Lawrence)

UMKC fourth-year head coach Kareem Richardson hopes to improve the Kangaroos from their 12-19 record in 2015-16. The Roos were 4-10 in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) which tied for sixth in the league race. Kansas has won all six games against UMKC in a series which dates back to 1992. The Jayhawks are 4-0 versus the Kangaroos in Allen Fieldhouse with the last meeting being a KU 99-52 victory on Jan. 5, 2011, in Lawrence.

Nebraska (Dec. 10, Lawrence)

These two former conference foes are meeting for the first time since Nebraska left the Big 12 following the 2010-11 season. Husker head coach Tim Miles enters his fifth season and the Huskers are coming off a 16-18 season where they finished 11th in the Big Ten Conference with a 6-12 record. Former Kansas guard Andrew White III will be making a return visit to Allen Fieldhouse. White was a two-year letterwinner for KU in 2012-13 and 2013-14. Kansas leads the overall series with Nebraska, 170-71, and has won the last 17 meetings, from March 5, 1999, to Feb. 5, 2011, and 26 of the last 27 matchups dating back to the 1998-99 season. KU is 88-23 versus NU in games played in Lawrence, including 51-7 in Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks have won the last 12 home meetings with the Huskers.

Davidson, Jayhawk Shootout (Dec. 17, Kansas City)

Under 27-year head coach Bob McKillop, Davidson is coming off a 20-13 season where it placed sixth in the Atlantic 10 Conference with a 10-8 record. The Wildcats advanced to the NIT losing at Florida State, 84-74, in the event’s opening round. This two-game series (1-1) has had drama. Kansas defeated Cinderella Davidson, 59-57, in the NCAA Championship Elite Eight in Detroit, Michigan, on March 30, 2008. The Jayhawks would go on to win the 2008 NCAA National Championship in San Antonio. Davidson returned the favor with an 80-74 win on Dec. 19, 2011, in the Kansas City Shootout at Sprint Center. Later that season, KU would advance to the 2012 NCAA Championship game in New Orleans.

UNLV (Dec. 22, Las Vegas)

Marvin Menzies begins his first season at UNLV heading to Las Vegas after nine seasons at New Mexico State. Menzies inherits a team that finished 18-15 overall and tied for sixth in the Mountain West Conference with an 8-10 league record. Kansas is 5-0 against UNLV and this will be the first meeting between the two schools in Las Vegas. The series dates back to 1989 when KU defeated UNLV, 91-77, in the semifinals of the Preseason NIT in New York City. Kansas went on to win the event defeating St. John’s two days later. The next meeting was also part of a KU Preseason NIT title on Nov. 21, 1997, in Allen Fieldhouse, a KU 92-68 victory. Kansas defeated UNLV, 75-56, on March 22, 2008, in Omaha, Nebraska, en route to the 2008 NCAA National Championship. The last meeting was a Kansas 76-61 win in Allen Fieldhouse on Jan. 4, 2015.

Kentucky, SEC/Big 12 Challenge (Jan. 28, Lexington, Kentucky)

Under Hall of Fame coach John Calipari, Kentucky is coming off a 27-9 season where it tied Texas A&M for the SEC title with a 13-5 record. The Wildcats advanced to the second round of the NCAA Championship falling to Indiana, 73-67. The upcoming SEC/Big 12 Challenge will mark the eighth meeting between the two schools in the Kansas head coach Bill Self era at KU. The Jayhawks hold a 4-3 advantage in that span and Kentucky leads the overall series with Kansas, 22-7. Last season, with ESPN College Gameday originating from Lawrence, No. 4 Kansas defeated No. 20 Kentucky, 90-84 in overtime, at Allen Fieldhouse on Jan. 30 in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge.

Kansas Men’s Basketball 2016-17 Non-Conference Schedule

Nov. 1 – Washburn (exhibition)
Nov. 7 – Emporia State (exhibition)
Nov. 11 – vs. Indiana (Armed Forces Classic, Honolulu)
Nov. 15 – vs. Duke (Champions Classic, New York City)
Nov. 18 – Siena (CBE Hall of Fame Classic Home Game)
Nov. 21 – UAB/Georgia/George Washington (CBE Hall of Fame Classic, Kansas City)
Nov. 22 – UAB/Georgia/George Washington (CBE Hall of Fame Classic, Kansas City)
Nov. 25 – UNC Asheville (CBE Hall of Fame Classic Home Game)
Nov. 29 – Long Beach State
Dec. 3 – Stanford
Dec. 6 – UMKC
Dec. 10 – Nebraska
Dec. 17 – Davidson (Jayhawk Shootout, Kansas City)
Dec. 22 – at UNLV
Jan. 28 – at Kentucky

— KU Athletics —

Nebraska earns at-large bid to NCAA Baseball Tournament

riggertNebraskaLincoln – For the second time in three years the Nebraska baseball team earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Huskers, who are 37-20 on the year, earned an at-large invitation during the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship Selection Show Monday morning on ESPNU and will play in the Clemson Regional.

Nebraska is the #3 seed and will play #2 seed Oklahoma State on Friday at 11 a.m. (CT) on ESPNU.

The Clemson Tigers are the #1 seed and will face #4 seed Western Carolina at 6 p.m. (CT) on ESPN3.

Nebraska will be making its 14th NCAA Regional appearance.

— NU Athletics —

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