page 10
daily nebraskan
Wednesday, november 29, 1978
sports
Husker victory sends Gophers back to burrows
By Jim Kay and L. Kent Wolgamott
The sign on the Minnesota locker room
wall was ominous.
"WANTED," it read. "NEBRASKA
CORNHUSKERS. Tuesday, Nov. 28. No.
22 and No. 54. REVENGE AT LINCOLN!"
The Golden Gophers of Minnesota were
in town Tuesday to try and avenge a 63-49
loss from a year ago at the hands of Joe
Cipriano's UNL basketball team. That was
when No. 54, Carl McPipe, and No. 22,
Brian Banks, of Nebraska led UNL to vic
tory in Minneapolis.
But a poised and controlled Nebraska
team spoiled any hopes of Minnesota re
venge last night with a 5848 win at the
Bob Devaney Sports Center before 12,334
fans.
Inspired by the play of injured team
mate Carl McPipe, who had 14 points and
eight rebounds, and led by the second half
play of Brian Banks and Bob Moore, the
Huskers capitalized on 21 Minnesota turn
overs and stole the ball 12 times in their
defensively oriented victory.
"Just him being out there really helped
the team," Banks said of McPipe. "He ain't
never played with a lot of pain. He had to
do it.
"He better had done it or there goes our
friendship. I was pretty proud of him.
"Carl really intimidated them. He's so
big and strong, he really throws people
out of there."
McPipe, whose injured right hand was
bleeding after the game, replied to his
teammates comments saying:
"For this team, the way they're
hustling, if I'd had a broken leg I'd try to
get a wheelchair and wheel down the floor.
"It was hurting but there wasn't time to
think about it hurting.
"They say it would be a different story,
well they know, I'm just glad it wasn't
different. . ."
Cipriano credited the win to the
Huskers' defense and patience on offense.
He said the team used three different of
fenses before cracking the Minnesota
match up zone late in the first half.
Cipriano also praised the play of Banks,
who led the Huskers in scoring with 15 and
had five steals.
"Brian Banks is back to normal," Cip
riano said. "I'm glad to see him playing
extremely well.
"Key steals by Brian made the differ
ence. They really helped us."
Cipriano said he felt defensive pres
sure would bother the young Minnesota
team, but said the Huskers did not "get
up and after them in the first half."
However, Cipriano said Minnesota was a
good team.
"We caught them at a good time,
they're going to be an excellent basketball
team. I'm glad we're playing them now not
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in January or February."
Gopher coach Jim Dutcher lamented
the fact his team could not hold on to the
ball better following the game.
"We had enough turnovers for a sea
son," Dutcher said. "Our play was awful.
There was no initiative. We just stood
around and looked at each other. Bright
spots? Who you gonna look at? Nobody
stands out."
Dutcher was also quick to credit the
Huskers.
"You really have to give them credit,''
he said. "They're a good defensive team
But their defense didn t bother us. We just
turned the ball over without a shot too
many times."
Minnesota stayed close until going into
a man-to-man defense part way through
the second half.
"I wanted some motion on defense,"
Dutcher said. "So we went to the man-toman.
There was too much standing around
on offense so I thought maybe this would
help on defense. But there was no leader
ship out there.
"When Kevin started missing, I knew the
game was over."
Kevin McHale was the Gophers' leading
scorer with 14 points and also the leading
rebounder with 10.
"The ball just didn't drop tonight,"
McHale said. "It was just one of those
evenings because we were taking shots that
normally fall.
"They executed well and we didn't
pressure them enough on defense. We're
still a young team, with two or three fresh
men. The turnovers are just a part of our
youth."
Senior Bob Moore said his quickness
made up the height disadvantage he had
playing at forward.
"I just try to beat them to the ball. Carl,
Andre Smith and Curt (Hedburg) were
doing the real heavy board work, I just
wanted to catch a few laying on the
ground."
He said his scoring came as part of the
flow of the game.
"I just take them as they come," Moore
said. "When it was there, 1 just went ahead
and took it."
Cipriano said the defensive effort com
pensated for Nebraska's poor shooting in
the game. The Huskers hit only .413
from the field and .421 from the free
throw line.
However, McPipe said his hand bothered
him when he shot free throws.
"I was setting the ball in the palm of
my hand and 1 should have been setting it
on my fingertips. By the time I figured it
out I didn't get any more free throws,"
said McPipe who missed all four of his free
throw attempts.
The Huskers will play another Big Ten
school, Purdue, at the Sports Center Sat
urday night.
Photos By Bob Pearson
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