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daily nebraskan
tuesday, december 9, 1980
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Penn State called 'big, physical9
Buskers' height disadvantage
to be bonus for Nittany Lions
Photo by Mitch Hrdlicka
Nebraska's Jack Moore goes up for a shot in the
Huskers' 62-59 overtime loss to Wyoming.
By Tad Stryker
Nebraska will be at a height disadvantage again when
the undefeated Penn State Nittany Lions come to Lincoln
for a 7:35 game tonight at the Bob Devaney Sports
Center.
"They (Penn State) are big. physical and strong." said
Tom Baack, Nebraska assistant basketball coach. "They're
a good-shooting team, and they'll pose a lot of problems."
The Huskers, 0-3, are definite underdogs going into the
game, if Sports Illustrated predictions are to be believed.
The magazine ranks the Lions among the top 25 teams in
the nation.
Penn State was 18-10 last year and led the nation in
field-goal-percentage defense, and, like the Huskers. made
it to the National Invitational Tournament. The Lions
have set higher goals this year, according to the article.
"An NCAA berth would keep us right on schedule,"
PSU Coach Dick Harter is quoted as saying.
The Lions have the height to be a nationally-contending
team. According to Baack, their starting five measure
6-10,6-10,6-8,6-7 and 6-2 'I
"Penn State will be the best team we've played so far
this year," Baack said. He said the Lions are a better team
than the Creighton Bluejays.
"I think they have more talent (than Creighton)." he
said.
The Lions are not expected to be a quick team, but are
"hard-nosed and aggressive," Baack said.
"They're very well coached and disciplined," he said.
Defensively, the Huskers will be trying to pressure
Penn State into mistakes, Baack said. Like Creighton, the
Lions are a "patterned" team, and ball-handling is not
their strong suit .
"We've got to put a lot of pressure on them defensive
ly," Baack said. "We'll have to make them turn the ball
over."
In the Creighton game, the Huskers forced 18 turn
ovcers, but committed 12 themselves. Baack said
Nebraska will "have to play better under pressure" if they
are to win tonight.
Penn State is 3-0, having defeated Ursinus, Indiana
State and Southern Methodist.
Husker Andre Smith is not having any further
problems with his ankle, Baack said. Smith was expected
to play for only short periods against Creighton, but he
missed only 19 seconds of the game.
"Andre said his ankle is still sore, but it's doing just
fine," Baack said.
Basketball player sports baseball background
By Scott Ahlstrand
If Ray Collins' plans had gone the way he had original
ly intended, he'd be playing baseball for the Huskers now,
not basketball. The 6-3 junior from Chicago, 111. had felt
that he had more promise as a baseball player.
"I was always better at baseball." Collins said. "It al
ways came more naturally to me. and I thought it would
be my sport."
Although Collins continued playing baseball, he enter
ed organized basketball in the sixth grade. Collins quickly
blossomed at the sport, and started for the Mendel
Catholic High School team both his junior and senior
year. In his senior season. Collins led the Chicago Catholic
League in scoring with a 22 -point average, and also manag
ed to pull down 10 rebounds a game.
Upon completing his senior season. Collins played in
the prestigious Chicago Prep All-Star game and prepared
himself for college basketball.
Collins was recruited by live or six major colleges, but
when it came time for lum to make his choice, he went
with Nebraska.
"I really thought Nebraska had a good program,"
Collins said. "Their facilities were great, but what really
impressed me was the general atmosphere of the people
around here. Lveryone's really nice and that's import
ant." Changed role
Although Collins was used mainly as Nebraska's de
fensive stopper last year, usually playing against the
opposition's top scoring guard, he feels that his role has
changed on this year's squad.
"I saw myself as fitting into the role of the stopper last
year." Collins said. "But this year I think the team needs
more of an all-around contribution from me. We lost 1 1.5
points per game when Tim West left the team, and I think
the coaches are looking to me to pick up some of the
scoring load."
After two games this season. Collins is tied with guaid
Jack Moore for the team's top scoring average, with 13
points per game. But it is not just Collins' improving aver
age that pleases Coach Moe Iba.
"Ray is just a super player for us." Iba said. "He's a
fine shooter, he can handle the ball well, and he's prob
ably our best defensive player. He's a great kid. he's dedi
cated, he works hard and you never hear him complain."
Collins believes that much of his progress can be
attributed to the off-season work he did to prepare him
self for the season. Besides lifting weights all summer.
Collins took late-night runs around Whit tier Junior High
School.
4
"I try to do the best I possibly can." Collins said.
"When I was younger I was encouraged by both my father
ami my brother to give it all I've got. and I guess I've kind
ot kept that philosophy."
Exuberant on court
When Collins manages to find some fiee time in his
busy schedule, he likes to relax, listen to music, play back
gammon and take it easy. But Collins on-court behavior is
much more exuberant.
"I try to help lead the team both verbally and through
examples." Collins said. "I'm always talking and trying to
help the other guys out."
After practice. Collins spends much of his time hitting
the books. An accounting major, Collins, unlike many stu
dent athletes, doesn't believe that there is that great a
strain between scholastics and athletics.
"I don't think it's that big of a problem to play on a
team and find time to study," Collins said. "If you plan
your time right and don't goof off, you do OK."
A natural guard. Collins has found himself shifted be
tween guard and forward several times, but seems to favor
the latter.
"When I'm playing guard. I have to watch out tor those
real quick guys." Collins said. "But when I'm at forward, I
can make up for my lack of height with some quickness of
my own. '
Despite setbacks in the team's first three games. Collins
feels that the Huskers will rebound and come up with a
fine season.
"We're a pretty close group and we all have one thing
in common," Collins said. "We all like to win. and we'll
do anything we have to do to win."
C it
shorts
Nebraska's Randy Schleusener was named to the
Associated Press and United Press Internationa All
American teams announced last week. Jarvis Redwine was
named to the I 'PI team. Second-team honors were award
ed to Derrie Nel son by both wire services.
The UNL women's basketball team will host Kansas
State in the first game of a double -header tonight. The
5:15 women's game will be followed by the men's game,
with the Huskers facing Penn State.
The Husker gymnastics team will try to rebound this
weekend from Sunday's loss to the Japan National team.
Nebraska will participate in Saturday's Husky Classic in
Houston. Texas.
The Nebraska wrestling team will host Indiana State
this Saturday. The meet will be in the Bob Devaney
Sports Center.
Student tickets for the Sun Bowl game arc on sale at
the South Stadium ticket office through Wednesday. The
tickets are SI 2 each and students must present a valid I.D.
when purchasing the ticket.
' IT-
Ray C ollins
Photo by Mitch Mnffca