It’s a basketball doubleheader to open up play at the new Pinnacle Bank Arena. The Husker women’s basketball team makes its regular-season debut in its new home when they take on UCLA Nov. 8 at noon. The men’s team tips off at 8:05 p.m. against Florida Gulf Coast.
The NU women, ranked No. 17 in the preseason Associated Press Poll and No. 12 in the preseason USA Today Top 25, will face a Bruins team that entered the season at No. 25 in the USA Today rankings while receiving votes in the AP Poll.
Two-time All-American and two-time first-team All-Big Ten forward Jordan Hooper leads four returning starters from a Husker squad that advanced to the 2013 NCAA Sweet 16, while All-Pac-12 forward Atonye Nyingifa leads a new-look bunch of Bruins from a team that went to the second round of the Big Dance a year ago.
Season and single-game tickets for Nebraska’s first season in its new home for hoops are available at Huskers.com or by calling 1-800-8-BIG-RED.
The first regular-season game in the history of Pinnacle Bank Arena will be televised live statewide by Nebraska Educational Television with Jon Schuetz and Brenda VanLengen calling the action. A live video stream of the broadcast will be available to subscribers of BTN.com All-Access.
Men battle ‘Dunk City’ in PBA debut
Tipoff between the NU men and Florida Gulf Coast, nicknamed “Dunk City” during its run to the Sweet 16 in March, is set for 8:05 p.m. Fans are encouraged to be inside the arena by 7:45 p.m. to take part in the pregame celebration. For the men’s game, arena ticket windows and gates open 90 minutes prior to tipoff.
Friday’s national anthem will be sung by the duo Karmin (Amy Heidemann and Nick Noonan). The pop act released their Epic Records debut “Hello” earlier this year and their first hit single, “Brokenhearted,” was certified platinum. Their second single reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Dance/Club Play charts. They have also appeared on Saturday Night Live, Ellen, Good Morning America, Live! with Kelly, Dancing with the Stars, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and more. Heidemann is from Seward and has been featured on the cover of Rolling Stone for its “Women Who Rock” Issue.
Fans are encouraged to a part of Friday’s historic game as an ultra high-resolution 360-degree photo will be taken during pregame. The interactive photo – powered by Blakeway Worldwide Panoramas and www.panoramas.com – will allow fans to find and tag themselves, share with friends and much more. Click here for more information on Friday’s photo.
One of the nation’s top dunk teams, Acrodunk, will be performing at halftime of both games.
