On weekday mornings, Nevada Sports Net delivers a recap of three significant headlines of the day in its Morning Download. Here are today’s highlights.
Former Nevada Wolf Pack football player Nate Burleson is set to join CBS Sports and TNT Sports for coverage of the NCAA Tournament this March. Burleson, who has gained prominence as a co-host of CBS Mornings and a studio analyst on The NFL Today, will take on the role of NCAA Tournament studio host from New York starting with the first round and continuing through the regional finals. He will join fellow hosts Adam Zucker and Adam Lefoke in this capacity. Burleson takes over for veteran host Ernie Johnson from TNT Sports, who will step back for the initial weeks but will still oversee the Final Four in Indianapolis. A notable figure in sports media, Burleson has been with CBS Sports since May 2017 and is a three-time Sports Emmy Award winner. He played for Nevada from 2000 to 2002 before enjoying an 11-year career in the NFL. His family also has a rich basketball background, as both of his brothers have played at collegiate levels, while another brother serves as an assistant coach in the NBA. During a recent segment on CBS Mornings, Burleson expressed that basketball has always been his first love.
In another exciting development, local 14-year-old Aisena Allen has qualified for the prestigious Nastia Liukin Cup, a notable competition for top Level 10 junior and senior gymnasts in the U.S. Named after Olympic champion Nastia Liukin, this event showcases elite gymnastics talent and often runs concurrently with major elite occasions, providing athletes with invaluable national exposure. Gymnasts must secure their qualifying spots through specific meets throughout the season, where the top all-around scorer in both junior and senior categories earn invitations. The Liukin Cup will take place on March 7 at Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson, Nevada, marking a significant milestone in Allen’s budding gymnastics career.
Meanwhile, the weather has caused some disruptions for Nevada’s baseball, tennis, and golf teams. The Wolf Pack baseball squad’s home opener against Utah Valley has been postponed due to snow and will now be played as a doubleheader on Saturday, followed by a single game on Sunday, with both games set to start at 11 a.m. The women’s tennis match originally scheduled for today against Santa Clara has been moved to Monday, while the men’s golf team faced challenges in La Quinta, California, as their tournament was shortened to 36 holes due to windy conditions. Nevada finished in a tie for 22nd place out of 24 teams at 43-over par, with Monte Chumchaivate tying for 13th as an individual competitor.
These stories highlight the accomplishments of local athletes as well as the challenges posed by unpredictable weather conditions, showcasing the resilient spirit of Nevada’s sports community.