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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 11, 1977)
psg-3 14 friday, february 11, 1977 daily nebraskan Huskers test I igers' claws By Jim Hunt Senior forward Kim Anderson will lead the University of Missouri's (MU) high powered olTcnse against UNL's stingy de-, fense Saturday when the Tigers battle the Huskers. Tipoff ii scheduled for 7:35 p.m. at the UNL Sports Complex. A sellout crowd of 15,000 is expected for the game which would be the largest crowd ever to see a college basketball game in Nebraska. Anderson kept the Tigers atop the Big 8 Conference race by scoring 38 points in MU's 87-79 victory over the University of Kansas Wednesday. The Tigers, 1 84 on the season and 8-2 in Big 8 play, lead the Big 8 in. offense, averaging 77.2 points a game. However, Anderson, who is averaging 18.3 points a game, is not the only scorer the Tigers have. Senior guard Scott Sims is averaging 16 points a game this season. Tiger starters Also starting for the Tigers are freshman fqrward Clay Johnson, averaging almost 13 points a game, senior forward Jim Kennedy, averaging 12 points a game and freshman guard Larry Drew, ''Missouri is the most balanced team in the league and that is why they continue to hold on to the number one spot in the Big 8," said Joe Cipriano, Husker head coach. "Anderson, Kennedy and Johnson are a very formidable team and Sims is a good back court worker," he said. "For us to win, we've got to force Mis souri out of their powerful offense and hope that the home court works to our advantage." The Huskers will try to bounce back after suffering a 67-62 loss to Kansas State University Wednesday, Leading defense The Huskers will try to siow down the Tiger offense with a defense that has led the Big 8 all season. The Huskers are al lowing 59,1 points a game in the Big 8. "No team is going to score many points against their defense, especially in Lincoln," Tiger coach Norm Stewart said, "You can't afford to waste many opportunities against a team like Nebraska, because if they get control of the game, you simply don't come down the court with the ball that often." The Huskers,. led by the sophomore tandum of Brian Banks and Carl McPipe, will try to avenge a 76-63 loss to the Tigers earlier this season. The Tigers, who have been in and out of the wire services top-20 polls several times this season, lead the series over the Huskers, 78-64. spores Deporting UNL cogers roil ecvon expenen 1 UNL gymnasts to host KU The UNL men's gymnastics team will host the University of Kansas (KU) Saturday in Big 8 Conference action at the UNL Sports Complex. KU generally is not regarded as a Big 8 gymnastics power, according to Jon Blocker, UNL assistant coach. "I don't think well have much problem with Kansas," Blocker said, "but they do have some good individuals." .. Blocker said he and head coach Francis Allen did riot worry about injuries in easier meets because of the gymnasts' consistency. "We've been working them pretty hard" Blocker said. "And they're training hard enough to become consistent and avoid getting hurt. We're not worried about injuries." The parallel bars and pommel horse events are two areas the Huskers are look ing to solidify prior to a meet with the University of Oklahoma and Louisiana State University Feb. 19. We're putting Gary Jeurink and Ric Heineman through double workouts on the P-bars," Blocker said, "and the pommel horse is really coming along with Steve Todd, Mike Cosgrove and Jim Grant." Grant, a Lincoln native, competed for two years for Iowa State University before transferring to UNL. He became eligible this semester and will compete Saturday against KU. Blocker said the coaches still may experiment with the line-up before the Big 8 meet in Lawrence, Kan., March 18 and 19. "Depending on the meet situation well move some people around to score the most points," Blocker said. "For instance, in the KU meet Jody Raymond won't compete in the all-around and one of the pommel horse performers will. And we'll place just five gymnasts in each event instead of six so they'll have to really hit on their routines. We'll see if this will help us or hurt us," he said. UNL is expecting a cW meet at the Big 8 championship in k. di, Blocker said. "It will be close between Oklahoma, Iowa State, and ourselves," Blocker said. "The compulsories down there will be big for us. We'll take advantage of them." By Rob Barney When Nebraska's basketball team plays the University of Missouri Saturday night at the UNL Sports Complex, it will mark the last regular season home appearance for three Huskers. Forward Bob Siegcl, forward-ccr.ier Rickey Harris and guard Allen Holder could be playing in front of the home crowd for the last time unless the Huskers finish in the top four in the final Big 8 Conference standings. If the Huskers finish in the top four, they will host a second division conference team in the first round of the Big 8 play offs Feb. 26. Siegel came to UNL after an outstand ing high school career at Fairbury High School. He has playcd during all four years here, and last season he averaged 10.4 points a game and had close to six re bounds a game. The Huskers finished .19-8 last season, the third best record ever compiled by a Husker team. Disappointing but fine "Last season was a gratifying one," Siegcl said. "We had a fine season and got something going. "It was a disappointing season in that we didn't get invited to a post season tournament. But nobody can take away the fact that we had a fine season." Something else nobody can take away from Siegel is the fact he got to play for four years, he said. "I've gotten to play for four years and that's something that most people can't say. " "1 really haven't thought about what I'm going to do after graduation yet. Bas ketball's been with me a long time and I'm sure I'll miss it but there is always some thing that comes along and fills that void." Allen Holder has spent two years with the Huskers. He came to UNL from Las Vegas, Nev. via Seminole Junior Col lege in Oklahoma. A steady winner "1 came to Nebraska because I liked the town, the people and the school," he said. "The basketball program was making a steady winner." Holder said he thought he may have made the wrong decision to come to UNL going into last season. "I didn't think we could win with the style of play the coaches wanted, I started to lose my confidence. But then when we started to win I changed my mind and my confidence started to come back," Last season, Holder averaged 5.7 points a game. This season, he is averaging just over nine points a game, the fourth best average on the team, "f would like more press for what 1 do," Holder said. "But I don't mind what I'm doing. I think there is a lot more pres sure on defense. Last season Holder played forward, but he said he has liked the switch to guard this year, ' "I like guard better than forward. I'm too short to play forward," he said. Pro ball chances "I think my chances to play pro ball would be at guard. If I get the opportunity to play I'll give it a try, but the scouts look for the high scorers That's why I wish I could get more press for my defensive play," Holder said he has one more wish be fore his playing days are over, "Since I've been here we haven't beaten Missouri. I want to beat Missouri and have a good game in front of the fans." Rickey Harris, the Huskers' other sen ior, has been plagued by injuries during his four years at UNL. "When the season started it seemed like 1 always got sick or injured," he said. "I would fall behind and have to work that much harder to get back into shape. "My knees have been bothering me this season and I can't do the things I really want to do." v Harris, a high school standout at Manual High School in Denver, played for current Husker assistant coach Lonnie Porter as a junior. "Porter was a big influence on me coming to Nebraska," Harris said. Harris said his best year was as a fresh man. He averaged 5.2 points a game that season, including a career high 22 points against Northeast Missouri State. After graduation from UNL, Harris, a criminal justice major, plans to' either go back to Denver or go to Washington, D C., to work in criminal justice. Former trackman, Malito: Huskers vastly improved By Kevin Schnepf The Husker track team is vastly im proved over last year, said former UNL track team member, Chuck Malito. "This year's team has improved very I xh," Malito said. "I was the only senior last year so they have a lot of returning lettermen this year. Hopefully, this year we can get out of the (Big 8) cellar." Malito, who was redshirted as split end for the football squad, cannot compete for UNL this year because his four year running allowance was completed last year. "I hadn't missed being on the team until the track meet against Kansas," he said. "I was impressed with the fans that showed up to support the team." - Nearly 3,000 fans attended the dual meet against Kansas two weeks ago at the Sports Center. The Hukers will host the Husker Invita tional at 1 '30 p.m. Saturday. Rutgers Uni versity and Georgetown University will compete only in the distance medley relay and the two-mile relay. Kearney State College, Doane College and Nebraska Wedeyan University will also compete Saturday. Run independently Malito, who was the 1974 Big 8 champ ion in the 440-yard run, said he may run independently in outdoor meets, but said coaching is his main goal. "Right now, Fm talking with agents about the pro football draft," he said. "Ill give pro ball a try but my main goal is to coach someday." Malito said Husker freshman Scott rochlir.g probably wi3 break the UNL in door record for the 600-yard run either this year or during his remaining three years. Poehling qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships in 600-yard run, along with five other Huskers in three events. Poehling qualified with a time of 1 :09.8 in last week's meet, while Jeff Lee and Matt Reckmeyer qualified. Lee qualified in the high hurdles with a time of 7.1 seconds, Reckmeyer ran a 2:10.4 in the 1,000-yard run to qualify. The mile relay consisted of Ray Mahoney, Pat McKenzie, Ron Hoagland and Poehling qualified with a time 3:14.9. The NCAA Indoor Championships will be in Detroit March 1 1 and 12. Qualifying times important Assistant track coach John Korky said Saturday's meet is critical for UNL quali fying times. "There will be no team score in this meet," he said. "It is critical that our dis tance medley and two-mile relays qualify this week since the nationals are only three weeks away. The distance medley placed fifth in Detroit and the two-mile relay had the third best time in the nation last year," he said. "Hopefully, both of these relays will qualify." , Korky said all teams, except Kearney State University, will compete in the dis tance medley and two-mile relays. Doane, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Kearney State and UNL will compete in the remain ing events. Korky said the Husker squad has done well this year. ' "We're getting better every week," he said. "We hope to continue our winning ways." In last week's triangular victory over the Air Force Academy and Drake University, two UNL Sports Center records were bro ken by Huskers. Sophomore Neville Murray broke his own record in the triple jump with a leap of 49 ft. 9 and one-half in. Junior Harold Stelzer ran the two-mile run in 9:00.1, which is the fourth fastest time in Husker indoor track history. UNL will host the Big 8 Indoor Cham pionships Feb. 25 through 26 at the Sports Center. Tickets are new available for the meet at the South Stadium Ticket Office. Tickets for Friday's session, which be gins at 7:30 pjn., cost Z for general ad mission, since there will be no reserved seating on Friday. On Saturday, with activities beginning at 1 :30 p.m., tickets will cost $4 for re served seats and $2 for a limited number of general admission tickets. Helen Ruth Wagner, ticket manager, said all orders should be placed before Feb. 14, although requests will be taken after that date. 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