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by Dave Sittler
Basketball prospects at the University
of Nebraska did not look very bright at
the season's beginning. Now, after 14
games, things are just about as dim as
expected.
In trying to replace four starters from
last year's team, Joe Cipriano's Huskers
have posted a 6-8 record in the first half
of this season.
Cipriano says he feels the team has
progressed to about the level he had
planned at the start of the season.
"I thought we would be playing about
.500 ball up to now, and we would be if
it wasn't for that loss to Oklahoma
State," he said.
The team's 68-55 loss to Oklahoma
State on Jan. 1 3 was the low point of the
season as far as Cipriano is concerned.
"We just got our dobbers down in that
one and gave what I consider the worst
effort since I've been at Nebraska,"
Cipriano said.
Facing a rough non-conference
schedule, Cip's team has had as many ups
and downs as a roller coaster. The
Huskers whipped a highly regarded No.
Texas St. team here and pressed national
powers Kentucky and North Carolina on
their home courts. Then, however, they
lost what was predicted to be an easy win
at home against Oklahoma State.
"This team must play as a unit and not
let the opponent control the tempo of
the game," Cip said. "We have had some
good efforts toward this team unity, but
we must be more consistent to compete
successfully in the Big Eight."
One of the team's top efforts came in
its last game, a 74-67 win over Big Eight
power Oklahoma.
That win left the Huskers with a 1-1
conference record and a second place tie
with three other teams.
Leading the way in scoring have been
junior guard Lee Harris and freshman
Jerry Fort. Both are scoring 13.6 points
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per game.
Fort has been the biggest surprise of
the season, according to Cipriano. The
6-3 freshman from Chicago has taken
over a starting position and has turned in
a 27-point performance against Kansas in
the Big Eight Holiday Tournament.
Averaging only 62.7 points per game
last place in the conference - the
Cornhuskers have offset this by allowing
opponents only 66.0 points per contest -ranking
them second in the Big Eight.
Adding to Cipriano's woes was the loss
of Tom Gregory, senior guard, who was
declared scholastically ineligible for the
rest of the season.
Sophomore Kent Reckeway or
freshman Ricky Marsh will take Gregory's
place in the starting line-up, leaving
Cipriano without a senior in his first five.
Cipriano said he thinks the Oklahoma
win may have turned the team around
and may have given them much needed
confidence.
"It would probably be too much to
expect out of this young team to keep up
the type of play they demonstrated in the
Oklahoma game," he said. "But I was
awfully proud of them and I think we
have a much more exciting team than a
lot of people give us credit for."
Cipriano will have ample opportunity
to prove his assertions as the bulk of
conference games await the Cornhuskers.
Missouri, a pre-season choice for Big
Eight championship honors, visits the
Coliseum Saturday for a 12:30 p.m.
televised contest. Nebraska then travels to
Iowa State Tuesday.
Those two games could make or break
any conference title hopes the youthful
Huskers might have.
42
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