![[JAPAN SPORTS NOTEBOOK] Nebraska’s Keisei Tominaga Raises Profile with Strong Performances Early in the Season [JAPAN SPORTS NOTEBOOK] Nebraska’s Keisei Tominaga Raises Profile with Strong Performances Early in the Season](https://japan-forward.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/japan-sports-notebook-nebraskas-keisei-tominaga-raises-profile-with-strong-performances-early-in-the-season-1000x600.jpg)
![[JAPAN SPORTS NOTEBOOK] Nebraska’s Keisei Tominaga Raises Profile with Strong Performances Early in the Season [JAPAN SPORTS NOTEBOOK] Nebraska’s Keisei Tominaga Raises Profile with Strong Performances Early in the Season](https://japan-forward.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/japan-sports-notebook-nebraskas-keisei-tominaga-raises-profile-with-strong-performances-early-in-the-season-1000x600.jpg)
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Keisei Tominaga offered looks of his strong offending abilities as a member of the Japan males’s 3×3 group at the Tokyo Olympics.
Halfcourt video games are dipped into a slower rate than the conventional full-court contests. But still, Tominaga installed strong numbers in the inaugural Olympics 3×3 competition, balancing 6.9 points and providing his group a trigger with outdoors shots.
Now in his very first season at the University of Nebraska after 2 vibrant seasons at Ranger (Texas) College, a two-year school, the 6-foot-2 (188-cm) Tominaga is delighting in a strong start as an essential backup gamer.
Tominaga scored in double figures in 4 of the Cornhuskers’ previous 5 video games prior to their December 4 roadway video game versus Big Ten Conference competitor Indiana.
He’s balancing 8.3 points and leads the group in 3-pointers made (14) through 8 video games.
While betting Ranger College, Tominaga’s respected 3-point shooting stood out of Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg, a previous NBA gamer. Tominaga balanced 16.3 points in 2020-21 at Ranger College. He scored 16.8 points per video game in the 2019-20 project.
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Keisei Tominaga has actually been a constant 3-point shooter for the University of Nebraska in his very first season at the Big Ten Conference school. (SHOUN A. HILL/AP)
Hoiberg has actually called Tominaga an essential hire for the Cornhuskers and showed self-confidence in the Aichi Prefecture native.
That self-confidence has actually resulted in constant playing time.
Tominaga scored a season-high 23 points, consisting of 5 of 6 from long variety, in the Cornhuskers’ 83-70 win over South Dakota on November 27.
Hoiberg applauded Tominaga for being devoted to his craft.
“He is just a guy that puts so much time and effort and work into it,” Hoiberg informed press reporters in a postgame press conference. “I have actually not stated much to him even if of how excellent of a shooter he is. Sometimes humanity as a shooter is to attempt to get a little closer to the rim and to direct it in.
“I think we have a couple guys that were doing that. Just really trying to get him back out and shoot with confidence and trust the stroke. It is a thing of beauty. It is what has gotten him to this point. It was just a matter of time before he took the lid off and it was the perfect timing for us. It was great to see him get going like he did.”
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Keisei Tominaga protects a Western Illinois gamer on November 9 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (SHOUN A. HILL/AP)
After the video game, Hoiberg, who’s in his 3rd season at Nebraska, likewise Tominaga is an unique gamer.
“He’s not just a shooter,” Hoiberg stated, according to 247sports.com. “I said that when we got him, when he signed with us, you saw other elements to his game. He’s got a great IQ. He curls when he’s getting chased into the paint where he made a couple really nice plays at the rim, and really nice drop-off passes to Derrick [Walker].”
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Nebraska’s Keisei Tominaga assaults the basket versus South Dakota on November 27. (NEBRASKA SPORTS)
And how would Hoiberg evaluate Tominaga’s protective effect for the Cornhuskers?
“Defensively, he’s always going to give you an honest effort. He’s going to go out there and battle,” the Nebraska coach stated. “My very first coach in the NBA was Larry Brown, and he said if you try and give an effort defensively, that’s 90 percent of it. And that’s Keisei. He’s going to go out there and battle every position.”
Tominaga, who balanced 39.8 points per video game for Aichi’s Sakuragaoka Gakuen High School at the 2018 All-Japan High School Championship, is identified to keep enhancing.
“It’s a higher level. I have to get more physically tough and energetic,” he informed press reporters after the South Dakota video game about dipping into the NCAA Division I level. “I just have to continue to get better.”
Asked about his excellent efficiency as an outdoors shooter because video game, he reacted with these remarks: “I just keep shooting in practice and stuff. It felt good today.”
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Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Keisei Tominaga in action versus South Dakota. (NEBRASKA SPORTS)
Tominaga has fun with energy and interest and reveals enjoyment after he or among his colleagues makes a huge play.
Clearly, the world’s leading league has actually affected him.
Or as he put it: “When I was young, I watched the NBA and I learned how to celebrate.”
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Keisei Tominaga commemorates after making a 3-point basket versus South Dakota.
(STEVEN BRANSCOMBE/USA TODAY SPORTS)
Youthful spirit assists, too.
In Nebraska’s quadruple-overtime, 104-100 roadway loss to North Carolina State on Wednesday, December 1, Tominaga played 44 of 56 minutes. He had a 16-point efficiency.
Due to changed NCAA transfer guidelines released throughout the worldwide pandemic, Tominaga gone into Nebraska as a sophomore in spite of having actually played 2 complete seasons for Ranger College.
This implies Keisei Tominaga will get an additional year of eligibility (he’ll have 2 more after the existing project), additional time to sharpen his abilities at the Division I level in pursuit of a professional profession.
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Japan guard Yudai Nishida drives to the basket versus China on November 27 in a FIBA World Cup qualifier in Sendai.
Japan Drops Pair of World Cup Qualifiers to China
Japan males’s basketball coach Tom Hovasse’s stint in charge started with back-to-back beats to China on November 27 and 28.
China opened the weekend series with a 78-63 success at Xebio Arena in Sendai. Qi Zhao and Ailun Guo paced the victors with 24 points each.
Backup Yudai Nishida, a 22-year-old forward for the B. League’s SeaHorses Mikawa, had 11 points in 19-plus minutes to lead Japan. Naturalized Japanese resident Luke Evans included 10 points.
The Akatsuki Five had a bad shooting video game in the opener, making 21 of 65 shots (32.3%). China outrebounded the hosts 53-34.
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Japan forward Luke Evans shoots a layup versus China on November 27.
China liquidated the weekend with a 106-73 success. Rui Zhao had a game-high 27 points for the visitors in the rematch. Zhao sank 6 3-pointers. His group linked on 14 of 24 from beyond the arc.
Dynamic guard Ryo Terashima, who bets the B. League’s Hiroshima Dragonflies, scored a team-high 16 points. Evans (B2’s Fighting Eagles Nagoya) notched a double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds) in the loss.
There are discovering curves for each group under a brand-new coach, and Hovasse thinks the Akatsuki Five took a little action in the best instructions in spite of the beats to China.
“I felt like we started seeing little bits and pieces of what we can do and I really like how we finished the [first] game,” he informed a press conference on November 28. “The players really worked hard all the way until the end, which for me is a positive.”
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Japan coach Luke Hovasse motivates his gamers throughout a break in the action versus China on November 27.
Elaborating on that point a bit more, he included: “I think some of the younger players have stepped up and I like their hunger. Nishida has been playing great and he’s just got that ‘You tell me what to do, I’m going to do it’ type of attitude which is fantastic.”
Hovasse continued: “Terashima had a great game as well. I like his energy. He’s a positive player.”
Japan will resume its World Cup certifying project on February 25 versus host Taiwan.
RELATED: Sports Talk ー Tom Hovasse Raises the Stakes for Japanese Basketball
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Hiroshima Carp outfielder Seiya Suzuki, seen in an August video game, has actually been among NPB’s finest protective gamers for numerous years.
Baseball
NPB’s Golden Glove Winners Announced
For the 50th time, Nippon Professional Baseball revealed its Golden Glove Award winners this previous week, acknowledging protective quality at each position for a season.
Nine gamers from the Central League and 9 more from the Pacific League were picked as 2021’s Golden Glove Award winners, it was revealed on Thursday, December 2.
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Hanshin Tigers outfielder Koji Chikakmoto made his very first Golden Glove Award in 2021.
The Central League’s winners are:
Pitcher – Yuya Yanagi (Chunichi Dragons, very first)
Catcher – Yuhei Nakamura (Tokyo Yakult Swallows, very first)
First base – Dayan Viciedo (Dragons, 2nd total award)
Second base – Ryosuke Kikuchi (Hiroshima Carp, ninth)
Third base – Kazuma Okamoto (Yomiuri Giants, very first)
Shortstop – Hayato Sakamoto (Giants, 5th)
Outfield – Yohei Oshima (Dragons, ninth)
Outfield – Seiya Suzuki (Carp, 5th)
Outfield – Koji Chikamoto (Hanshin Tigers, very first)
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Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks catcher Takuya Kai is a five-time recipient of the Golden Glove Award.
The Pacific League winners are:
Pitcher – Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Orix Buffaloes, very first)
Catcher – Takuya Kai (Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, 5th)
First base – Akira Nakamura (Hawks, 2nd)
Second base – Shogo Nakamura (Chiba Lotte Marines, 2nd)
Third base – Yuma Mune (Buffaloes, very first)
Shortstop – Sosuke Genda (Saitama Seibu Lions, 4th)
Outfield – Takashi Ogino (Marines, 2nd)
Outfield – Yuki Yanagita (Hawks, 6th)
Outfield – Ryosuke Tatsumi (Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, very first)
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Masahiro Tanaka
Eagles’ Tanaka Returning to Team in 2022
Masahiro Tanaka, who rejoined the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles last season after a seven-year stint with the New York Yankees, will be back with the Tohoku-based club in 2022, it was revealed on Friday, December 3.
Tanaka, 33, went 4-9 with a 3.01 age in 23 starts this previous season.
He signed a two-year agreement with the Eagles with an opt-out choice after the very first year, which would have provided him take advantage of to make a relocation back to the majors.
For now, Tanaka is sitting tight.
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Samurai Japan supervisor Hideki Kuriyama makes a guts present at his initial press conference on December 2.
Kuriyama is Samurai Japan’s New Manager
Hideki Kuriyama, who directed the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters for the previous years, is back with a brand-new supervisory function simply a couple of weeks after he left NPB’s northern most group.
The 60-year-old is Samurai Japan’s brand-new supervisor, taking control of as the nationwide group’s dugout employer. An statement was made on Thursday, December 2.
Kuriyama changes Atsunori Inaba, who led Japan to a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Inaba is Nippon Ham’s brand-new basic supervisor.
“I feel a sense of responsibility from the bottom of my heart,” Kuriyama was estimated as stating by Kyodo News at a press conference. “I will give 100 percent so that Japan can win the 2023 World Baseball Classic.”
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Ryota Murata appears at a November 12 marketing occasion for his now-delayed battle with Genadiy Golovkin.
Boxing
Title Fights Postponed due to Omicron
The Gennadiy “GGG” Golovkin-Ryota Murata middleweight title battle on December 29 at Saitama Super Arena and the New Year’s Eve junior bantamweight bout in between Jerwin Ancajas and Kazuto Ioka in Tokyo’s Ota Ward have actually been held off up until TBD dates next year, promoters of both battles revealed today.
The spread of the Omicron variation of COVID-19 and Japan’s just recently enacted travel restriction on foreign non-residents were pointed out by organizers of the 2 marquee occasions.
Two-time world champ Golovkin (41-1-1, 36 knockouts), who comes from Kazakhstan, and 2012 London Olympic gold medalist Murata (16-2, 13 KOs), were both set to go back to the ring after long layoffs.
Golovkin, the IBF and IBO champ, has actually not combated in a year, while WBA victor Murata has actually trained for his very first battle considering that December 2019.
“I am deeply disappointed that this fight has been postponed but the health and safety of the public must always be the priority,” stated Golovkin. “I look forward to returning to the ring against Ryota as soon as possible.”
Tokyo-based Teiken Promotions, Inc. stated it is keeping track of the circumstance and intends to reschedule the battle.
“All concerned parties will sit down for discussions and keep a close eye on the infection situation, and look at a new date for the match,” checked out a declaration on Teiken’s site.
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Kazuto Ioka
The now-delayed December 31 title face-off in between Filipino IBF champ Ancajas (33-1-2, 22 KOs) and WBA belt holder Ioka (27-2, 15 KOs) puts both fighters’ intend on hold for an unidentified time period.
One of the occasion’s promoters, Manny Pacquioa’s MP Promotions, released a declaration about the post ponement.
“Team Ancajas was looking forward to this historic fight against Ioka but understands there are bigger concerns than boxing in Japan and the world with the situation caused by the emergence of the latest variant,” stated Sean Gibbons, president of MP Promotions. “We remain committed to making this fight happen as soon as possible in Japan.”
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Celtic’s Kyogo Furuhashi commemorates his objective versus Hearts on December 2.
Soccer
Furuhashi Continues Strong Play for Celtic
Kyogo Furuhashi notched his 8th objective of the Scottish Premiership season on Thursday, December 2.
The previous Vissel Kobe standout scored the only objective in the 33rd minute in Celtic’s 1-0 victory over Hearts at Celtic Park in Glasgow.
After the match, Hearts supervisor Robbie Neilson firmly insisted that Furuhashi was offside prior to he scored the objective.
Celtic supervisor Ange Postecoglou reacted to Neilson’s claims in a television interview with Sky Sports.
“It’s a goal, mate. I’ll let our performances speak for themselves,” Postecoglou stated. “If people think that the referee decided this game, well, that is their analysis.”
Samurai Blue to Meet Uzbekistan in January Friendly
In preparation for its 2022 World Cup Asian qualifiers early next year, the Japan males’s nationwide group has actually arranged a worldwide friendly versus Uzbekistan for January 21 at Saitama Stadium.
Japan is then arranged to play checking out Group B opponents China (January 27) and Saudi Arabia (February 1).
The effect of COVID-19 might change the abovementioned schedule, as we’ve seen with numerous other sporting occasions on the horizon.
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Sumo senior Magaki stands beside 5 Guinness World Record certificates from his famous profession on December 3.
(JAPAN SUMO ASSOCIATION)
Quote of the Week
“I would like to nurture apprentices in a way that they, too, can receive recognition by Guinness World Records.”
ーSumo senior Magaki, previously referred to as Hakuho, assesses having 5 of his profession records acknowledged by Guinness World Records, the Japan Sumo Association exposed on December 3. The records are most grand competition titles (45), many profession wins (1,187), many top-division wins (1,093), many top-division titles without a loss (16) and most grand competitions as a yokozuna (84).
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Author: Ed Odeven
Follow Ed on JAPAN Forward’s [Japan Sports Notebook] here on Sundays, in [Odds and Evens] here throughout the week, and Twitter @ed_odeven.