The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, March 22, 1974, Page page 10, Image 10
H . ; --" ' ! ; I I mMaiiai mi iii wii:raMaiiiflia 1 l 3 ;r Early bird chases prediction worm At least once each year, sportswriters are met head-on by a temptation to make predictions. ! have encountered such a temptation, and have succumbed to it. In this case, predictions are for the Big 8 basketball race next year. It may seem early, with the postseason tournaments not yet finished, but there are reasons. For example, if the guesses are part!cuUrly poor, nobody should remember a year from now. Likewise, if I do we!!, I can claim to bo the first to have made predictions. There are several factors which make predicting now dangerous. Teams may add key player to their rosters through spring recruiting. Also, players who would be expected to return might not because cf injury, illness, scholastics, or for any number of reasons. The predicted finish: 1 . The University of Kansas (KU)-The strong point of this year's championship Jayhawk team was balance. The team had five players with average game scoring in double figures. What's bad for the rest of the league is that all five players are returning next year. Starters returning are forwards Norm Cook and Roger Morningstar, center Danny Knight and guard Dale Greenlee. The fifth player is Rick Suttle, who led the Jayhawks in conference scoring but did not start a game. 2. (tie) UN L The Huskers top KU by returning their six leading scorers, and they probably will be led e-jain fey All-Big 8 guard Jerry Fort. Experience pined this season should have been cf immeasurable value to the freshman laden team. The younger players should play an even bigger role next season. dermis onnen 'OSS OGK fCVIOVJ 2. (tie) University of Oklahoma The Sooners always will be near the top as long as they have Ail-Big 8 player Alvan Adams at center. This season, he led the conference in scoring and finished third in rebounding as a sophomore. His presence should make up for the loss of two starters. 4. Kansas State University-The Wildcats lose four starters, including All-Big 8 player Lon Kruger, so one might expect them to drop completely out of the picture. However, their rich basketball tradition and exceptional returning substitutes should keep them in the first division. Cyclones return high scoring guard Harcle Ivy end fine frontliners Larry Loots and Craig DeLoss, but they must coma up with two other capable starters if they expect to finish any higher In the standings. S. Oklahoma State University Scoring leader Kevin Fitzgerald h the only starter leaving, and guards ICC. Kincaide and Ronnie Daniel should ba able to pick up tfrs scoring slsdk. But the overall quality In the team is fust net there, making It bard for the Cowboys to record a better finish, m msttsr tew much experience they have. 7. University of Colorado Three sport performer David Logan is th only quality player returning. 8. University of Missouri-Ail-Big 8 forward Al Eberhard did just about everything for the Tigers this year except run the scoreboard, but the team finished only seventh after winning the Big 8 tournament Eberhard is gone next year, which indicates what kind of a year Missouri is in for. Fort heads my picks for. the Ail-Big 8 team next year. Joining him at the guard position is ISlTs Ivy. My pick at center is Adams, with KU's Knight and Suttle at the forward positions. Both Jayhawks have played center this year, but are just too good to leave off the team. j Have a good vacation """" ' ' ' "' iinirrrmrm "numiiiiimn h iy iniiiiftnirui , i n mmw w wnwrnmpmi Mnmi i'n vinimfWHBiiniiiHwiiii iiniiw mnniimiiii i m HMcJkr' 0rse ?tJ.ty 4 .-v ,cv"r"v'r -V I- ''-t,. ... . v. jl 4 1 '... i Gymnasts anticipate 2nd place title fight By Larry Stonkal During most of this season, the only thing that UNL gymnastics Coach Francis Allen talked about was his underclassmen. But Allen had special praise this week for his seniors, who close their careers today and Saturday at the Big 8 gymnastics tournament in Norman, OWa. "I've been real pleased with the seniors we've got," said Allen. "Barry Cross, Bob Bowden, Hal Traver and Alan Everett have supplied a lot of leadership for the team." - "The younger guys were better et the first of the ytar ' ha added, "but they the seniors) just kept working. Tbsy'ra resJfy dedicated, and I'm proud to have them." ' ' ' Defending NCAA and conference champion iowa State University wi'l again dominate the Big 8 meet as they have the past five years, Allen said. The Cyclones boast two of the nation's top all-around performers in senior Doug Fitzjarrell and Junior Mark Graham. The team leads the conference rankings in all but one event. it's that kind of depth, with four of the top eight men in the conference in each event, that promoted Allen to label the Cyclones probably the best team ha's seen in collegiate jjymnsstics. The Huskers and the University of Oklahoma are expected to battle for second place in the tournament. Earlier in the season, the Sooners won a 161.85 to 157.8 dual meet ever UNL in Norman, in which Allen criticized the officiating. Alien thinks that situation may reverse itself at the tournament. "At the conference meet, each school bring one Judge, and they get two at large who have been voted on by the coaches, so there is no partiality." he said. ' ' Individu< on whom the Husker hopes rest are freshman Duarw West, who is rated second in the conference on hig? bar; sophomore Pete Studcnskl, ranked second on rings; Steve Dickey, number three on pommel horse; Jim Ungsr and Eworett, who art rated sixth end seventh respectively In the floor exercise. ! Other Huskers with an opportunity to place are Tracer on the pommel horse, Cross on the parallel bar and fresbmsn Gary Jeurink in vaulting, Alien said. "Wa Ehrsisld haws a In of man in h f!nlt." h "In fact, I wish the meet had been Monday. We've really bs&n ready and have wor ked real hard." ' - '. 'i 1 f fir" The Hwker base-tell team continues its swing through Texas with a doublchcader against Hardin-Simmons College today and another against Abilene Christian College Saturday. In a gams with Southern Methodist University Wednesday, the Huskers carried a 0-8 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning before a 2-run home run by -Rusty Bourquein gave SMU the win. The 109 loa dtoppd Utll't record to 0-3. The U.'L tennis team wiil bo looking for lU first victory when the Husksrs travel to Crete for a match with foutii Dakota Stata University today. In last weekend's opening match, the HusKsrs dropped a 0 dc'ilon to Northwest Missouri Stata University. UfL &!so mtsftj Desna In Crcia aturdsy. 10 diily ncbrssksn frSdsy, msrch 22, 1874 I t, .B .,i, .. 6 ...It ...A ;H 4 -4f .-A, -ffi. Jf - -. -A .7 -4k. .4. 4k-., Hv. fc -A . -ft.. 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