page 14
friday, february 16, 1979
daily nebraskan
Huskers, Tigers at crossroads
By Jack Shockley
When Nebraska's and Missouri's basketball teams meet
Saturday night in the Bob Devaney Sports Center, it
will be a game that both teams can ill-afford to lose.
A couple of weeks ago, both schools were near the top
of the Big Eight standings, Missouri with a 5-2 conference
record and Nebraska at 5-3.
But the Tigers dropped three of their next four games,
plummeting to fourth place, while the Huskers have lost
three straight and are now tied for fifth place with Iowa
State.
What just two weeks ago would have been a match-up
of two of the conference's leaders now will be a game be
tween two teams struggling to finish in the upper-division
of Big Eight.
Teams finishing in the top four spots in the league's
final standings will be awarded home-court sites for first
round games in the Big Eight post-season tournament.
At the crossroads
With just three conference games left, both teams
badly need a win to stay in contention for the home
court berth in round one of the post-season tourney,
Nebraska coach Joe Cipriano said.
"We are at a crossroads in the season where we need to
make things happen for ourselves," Cipriano said. "Our
game Saturday will be a make or break game for both us
and Missouri."
Nebraska Assistant Coach Moe Iba put things in similar
perspective.
"Both teams realize the importance of the game, and
our players realize that it's exceptionally important for
us," he said.
A lack of offense has contributed to Nebraska's three
game tailspin. In their last three games, the Huskers have
managed just 46, 46 and 58 points, respectively . in losses
to Kansas State. Iowa State and Oklahoma.
Missing rebounds
But Iba sees a rebounding deficiency as the source of
the Huskers' problems.
"Our main problem all season has been rebounding.
We haven't been going after the ball and it's something
we're going to have to do something about (against
Missouri)," he said.
In their 79-58 loss to Oklahoma Wednesday, the
Huskers were out-rebounded, 41-22. The Sooners brought
down 14 offensive boards, compared to Nebraska's six,
and repeatedly had second and third shots at the basket.
Despite Nebraska's frustration in its recent games, Iba
said a sense of optimism still pervades the team.
"I think our people feel we still have the best team in
the conference," he said. "I think they all have the atti
tude that by playing well in our three remaining games,
we have a good chance for the home-court advantage in
the tournament."
Games even up
If Nebraska beats Missouri Saturday, and should the
two teams then tie for fourth, the Huskers would be
awarded the opening round home site by virtue of beating
the Tigers in two of three games.
The two teams have met twice already this season, and
have split, with Nebraska winning 58-56 in overtime in
the Holiday Tournament, and Missouri taking a 76-60
decision in Columbia.
In the event of a fourth-place tie between Missouri and
Nebraska, the outcome of Saturday's game could tip the
scales. Iba said.
"It's a situation where it's sure to be a hard-fought
contest." he said.
Tipoff is set for 7:35 p jti.
I o I i I
Photo by Ted Kirk
Andre Smith will lead Husker charge against Missouri .
Newest NU-OU shoot-out gymnastics, not football
By Sara iMartens
The coaches may disagree on the merits
of the teams, but they agree that the meet
between number one rated Nebraska and
number two Oklahoma will be a showcase
for some of the best gymnastics in the
country.
Four of the top five gymnasts in the
country will be performing when the teams
meet at 7:30 in the Bob Devaney Sports
Complex Track Friday.
Bart Connor and Mike Wilson from Ok
lahoma and Huskers Jim Hartung and
Larry Gerard currently are rated in the top
five.
"It will be an exciting meet. Anytime
you get Connor, Hartung and Gerard to
gether, you see some of the best the coun
try has to offer." Nebraska Coach Francis
Allen said.
Oklahoma Coach Paul Ziert agreed with
Allen, saying the meet should provide some
of the best gymnastics in the nation.
Style difference
Ziert said the major difference between
the two top teams is one of style.
lf
MJ "
"The thing we notice is that the Ne
braska team is much cruder in its execu
tion. It's for the more football, physically
orientated judge," he said.
"If the judge looks for technical, artistic
routine it's in our favor."
The meet will offer both sides, with the
outcome depending on the judge's taste,
Ziert said.
Allen, however, disagreed with Ziert.
"The only Oklahoma gymnast with any
resemblance of execution is Conner," Allen
said. "Ziert thinks his whole team has good
execution because Connor does."
"That's like me saying my team has big
ears just because Hartung has big ears," he
said.
Allen and Ziert also disagreed on how
important injuries will be in determining
the outcome of the meet.
Injured Okie
Mike Wilson, Oklahoma's number two
all arounder will only compete in the
pommel horse and parallel bars due to a
knee injury . Ziert said.
"It is impossible for me to imagine how
our team will do without Wilson." Ziert
said. "We have a number of young special
ists that should fill in well."
Allen said the loss of Wilson will have a
great effect on the meet.
"Oklahoma won't beat us without Wil
son unless something drastic happens,"
Allen said.
Ziert said the meet will be close, basing
his prediction on the results of the Jan. 27
triangular at Ames, Iowa, which included
NU,OU and Iowa State.
"Nebraska performed very well at Iowa
State. We had our worst meet ever and
were only .95 points behind them," he
added.
Ziert said Nebraska does have an advan
tage due to its experience and the home
team advantage.
The meet will not be held in the Sports
Complex Arena as usual because of the Ne
braska State High School Wrestling Tourn
ament. "We would rather have the main arena.
The lighting is different and the floor is
harder in the track." Allen said.
"We want to put on a show that will be
fun to attend so the fans will keep coming
back," he said. "The track will not help
create that atmosphere." he said.
Allen said the state meet also caused the
team to be locked out of the gym Thurs
day. "The namber one team in the country
was locked out of the gym. I hope for
some prime time next year for the sake of
good gymnastics and a good team," he
said.
Meet to 'tune-up' top teams
Photo by Mark Billingstey
UNL gy mnast Chuck Chmelka
By Kirk Wolgamott
A "tune-up" is how the coaches are des
cribing the men's triangualr track meet Sat
urday between Wichita State, Colorado
State and UNL.
According to Colorado State's head
coach Jerry Quiller, the meet will offer
some top competition which is vital to the
athletes trying to qualify for the NCAA
national meet this March.
"We are looking to qualify Donnie HilJ
in the 60-yard dash. He is undefeated this
season, but with his 6J time, he is still one
tenth of a second off the qualifing
standard." Quiiler said. "This meet should
offer some super teams that could help us
qualify."
Along with Hill, CSU aiso features Jon
Sinclair, who is undefeated in the two mile
run, Manuel Miranda in the mile run and
Elliot Drumright a two-miler who has been
highly praised by Quiller tlm season.
"We are going to try to run under 4 04
in the mile." QuiIJer said "Running in the
mountains with the different altitude
makes the times different and hard to pre
dict." Praise for Poehling
"At the beginning of the season, I
thought we were going to be able to handle
(NU's middle distance runner Scott) Poeh
ling, but now we have people hurt and it
looks like we can't get to him. He's a great
runner. I'd like to have a team of guys like
him." Quiller added.
Quiller said Hill should be able to run
with NU sprinter Randy Brooks.
"That should be a good race. Very
interesting to say the least." he said.
Wichita State also sports their share of
60-yar sprinters.
Norris Donnell who has been clocked at
6.2, Mike Patton who has been clocked at
6.3 and Alfred Mitchell has been timed at
6.4.
"That will be a good running event. All
the people are great and the competition
will be fierce." Wichita State coach Herm
Wilson said
"This is more or less a tune up meet tor
us he tore
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