Too many cose osses'
Season frustrates Cipriano
By Scott Jones
Reviewing Nebraska's basketball season,
critics usually said the Huskers needed more
height, more offensive punch or simply more
talent.
But coach Joe Cipriano probably would have
settled for a dozen more points at the right
times. After winning their first four conference
games, the Huskers lost seven of their final 10
games, two by one point, at Colorado and Kansas
State, and two in overtime at home, against
Oklahoma and Kansas.
"It was a very frustrating year for us as far as
close games go," Cipriano said. "If we would
have won two or three of those close ones that
we lost, we would have been right in there for
some type of post-season tournament bid."
Huskers fourth
But Kansas, Kansas State and Missouri got the
bids instead of the Huskers, who were fourth in
the Big 8 at 7-7 and 14-12 overall for the second
consecutive year.
In addition to a tournament bid, a few points
in the right places might have silenced Cipriano's
perennial critics.
After 12 years at Nebraska, with a 165-101
record, Cipriano said he is used to criticism. "If
the mailman stopped at every barking dog he'd
never get the mail delivered," he said.
Cipriano said he hopes this year's junior
college and high school recruits can help stifle
any future howling.
The national signing date is April 9, and the
Huskers have six scholarships to offer. "We need
a strong rebounder," a "mobile forward" and a
good guard, Cipriano said.
Strong guards
He said the Huskers' "guard play is going to
be strong" next year, but career scoring leader
Jerry Fort and Steve Willis, seniors, will be
leaving only freshman Eric Coard for the
following year.
"We're looking at quite a few kids in Nebraska
but we haven't decided yet" he said. "We're
going to wait until we've seen all the kids play
(nationally) before we decide."
The fiew fieldhouse has helped recruiting,
Cipriano said, but noted that it is uncertain
whether the Huskers are going to begin next
year's schedule there.
Cipriano praised Bob Siegel, Coard, Willis and
Fort, who broke four records, for their
performances this year.
Siegel improved
"Bob Siegel was one of the most improved
players," especially defensively and in
rebounding, Cipriano said. "I, think you're going
to see him improve next year on his offense."
Cipriano said crowd favorite Ron Taylor will
have to follow Siegel's lead if he expects to play.
"If Ron Taylor expects to play for us next
year he's going to have to improve and the only
way he can do that is work hard this summer,"
he said.
Depending on how the other conference
schools recruit, Cipriano said Nebraska "will be
rated up there pretty high."
He said Missouri and Kansas State should be
strong based on returning players. Kansas State's
NCAA tournament victory over Pennsylvania last
Saturday was "a big win for our conference,"
Cipriano added.
He said Arizona State, an 83-62 victor over
Nebraska, could be the surprise team of the
tournament.
Netfers start spring season in
Big 8 cellar; weekend meet set
High academic grade-point
averages and last place finishes
in the Big 8 Conference have
characterized the Nebraska
tennis squad the past few
seasons, but third-year coach
Jim Porter says things will be
different this year.
Porter said the overall
grade-point average for his
players will drop from the 3.8
of last year's top six players to
about 3.6 this season, but that
the team has an excellent
chance of vacating the
conference cellar after three
consecutive seasons there.
Porter's optimism was not
dashed by a 7-2 loss to
Northwest Missouri State two
weeks ago.
"I was hoping to start off
with a win, but Northwest
Missouri has a real good team,"
he said. "There were some
close matches; we could have
made it closer."
Scored two
T
v. ft.
won his singles match and
freshman Jeff Schmahl and
junior Rich Cohen won in
doubles competition for
Nebraska's two points.
The team began practicing
outdoors Monday, which is
none too early, according to
Porter. The squad faces Doane
College and South Dakota
State in a triangular meet
Friday and Saturday at Crete.
"Doane has a fair team but I
don't think they're as strong as
they have been in the past.
South Dakota State has two
pretty good players," Porter
said.
South Dakota State beat
Nebraska 5-4 last season, but
the UNL team is much stronger
this year, Porter said. "We're
hoping to get two victories this
weekend," he said.
Doubles competition will be
Friday night and singles
matches- are scheduled for
Saturday morning and
afternoon.
So? rirnhlprn
Porter, despite his
optimism, did admit the team
has some problems. He cited a
lack of tournament experience,
not enough outdoor practice
and a rough Big 8 schedule as
major problems facing his
team.
"Outside of the Pacific
Coast and some of the better
Southern schools, I'd,say Big 8
tennis is comparable to any
other collegiate tennis in the
nation," Porter said.
The team will get their first
look at Big 8 play over spring
break when they participate in
the Oral Roberts Tournament
at Tulsa March 27 to 29.
Schools from the Big 8, Big 10
and Missouri Valley
conferences will compete,
Porter said.
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Photo by Stev Borner
Husker basketball coach Joe Cipriano
spores
Entries are due today at
4:30 p.m. for teams
participating in men's slow and
fast pitch softball,
Co-Recreation slow pitch
softball and women's slow
pitch softball.
Entry fee is $5 and all play
begins April 1.
Also due are entries for
women's tennis doubles and
Co-Rec paddleball and tennis.
For further information
contact the Recreation Office,
1740 Vine St., 472-3467.
The NU trap shooting club
will hold try-outs Saturday at
the Lincoln Gun Club, 4855 N.
48th St., at 1 p.m.
The team is preparing for
the Cornhusker trap shoot in
Norfolk on April 12. For
additional information call
Frank Hoppe, 467-1807.
m
UNL's golf and tennis team
will be on the road this
weekend, as the golfers travel
to Galveston, Tex., for the
Galveston Invitational. The
netmen journey to Crete to
meet Doane College today, and
South Dakota Saturday.
The first game of the UNL
baseball team's road trip to
Oral Roberts University was
postponed Wednesday because
of wet grounds.
Husker coach Joe Cipriano
announced next season's UNL
basketball schedule Wednesday
with 12 home games for the
new sports complex.
If construction on the
complex is completed as
planned, Illinois will be the
Huskers first opponent Nov.
28. Also on the schedule will
be Washington, which is
Cipriano's alma mater.
Cipriano called the
schedule, wluch also includes
Vanderbilt, Stanford,
Northwestern and South
Carolina, as the toughest one
since he came to Nebraska.
"The home schedule will be
a great way to open the new
coliseum," Cipriano said. "The
tough pre-scason games will
certainly prepare our players
for the Big 8 season."
Former star 'not just athlete'
C'
a
i I
Kemiit McMurray
A
By Becky Morgan
Kermit McMurray, UNL's assistant recreation
director, has not nicked up a basketball since
1968 when he ended a career that included
Ail-American honors as a junior college player.
There were too many other horizons to
encounter, McMurray said. "I didn't consider
myself just an athlete."
Athletics provided McMurray with what he
called the stepping stones to achieve his long
range goal of furthering his education.
If all goes well, McMurray will receive his
doctoral degree in education and administration
from UNL this spring.
Basketball second
"Basketball provided me with a challenge," he
said, "but It was always second to my education.
Basketball is what gave me the opportunity to
get a college education."
McMurray, 6 ft. 4 in., was an Ail-American
and all-conference selection at Crowley Junior
College in Kansas where he played center and
forward. He also was named the most
inspirational player of the year.
He transfered from Crowley to Colorado
University (CU) at Boulder. He chose CU because
of its academic program.
"I had a bone to pick " he said. "It had been
said that I didn't have the ability to do good
academic work. I was out to prove something."
McMurray received a full-ride scholarship at
CU and played basketball there, starting with the
1965 season. His career ended with his
graduation in 1968, with a master of arts degree
in recreation.
Knee condition
A knee condition caused by weakened
ligaments and calcium deposits prevented
McMurry from reaching his full potential.
Ironically, McMurray said, he had his best
games against Nebraska.
His decision not to pursue athletics but rather
to concentrate on academics was influenced by
his high school coach in Kansas City, Mo.
"He helped me put things in the proper
perspective," McMurray said.
Influence for better
His doctorate in education and
administration, according to McMurray, will
mean an opportunity to be at a decision-making
level-one that influences people's lives for the
better.
McMurray chose Nebraska because of what he
called its academic challenge and contributions.
He hopes to make several contributions of his
own upon receiving his Ph. D.
"I hope to maximize all the talents that I have
and be available to anybody who can use my
skills," he said.
page 16
dally nebraskan
friday, march 21, 1975
