Daily Ncbraokan'
Friday, April C, 1C34
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In less than a week, the top high
school basketball players in the nation
will sign letters of intent that commit
them to a college. On one had, you'd
like to see some of the best athletes
come to Nebraska, but on the other
hand, you have to feel sorry for anyone
who signs himself up for four years of
Coach Moe Iba's program.
One word describes Nebraska' men's
basketball program: mediocre. It's des
tined to stay that. way until the athletic
department finds a coaching staff that
is not satisfied with 18-win seasons
against inferior competition and mid-dle-of-the-pack
finishes in the confer
ence standings.
Last year, the Huskers won 22 games
and made it to the semifinals of the
National Invitation Tournament. Not
great, considering the NIT doesn't even
begin selecting teams until the NCAA
already has taken the top ones, but at
least it gave fans hope that the NU
program was moving upward.
This year, Nebraska went 18-12, los
ing five conference games at home,
including a pathetic 41-39 perform
ance against Kansas State in the post
season tournament. And while the
national powerhouses were headed
for the NCAA tournament, the Hus
kers were once again headed for the
tournament of mediocre teams the
NIT.
Who do the coaches blame for the
disappointing season? The fans, of
course.
"If the people in Lincoln would get
off our asses, we could play good bas
ketball at home," Iba said following a
C1-D0 win at Missouri Feb. 11.
The Nebraska fans were insulted all
season by certain members of the coach
ing staff and team, but the fans, too,
had their say about the Husker pro
gram. Although the Bob Devaney
Sports Center was nearly sold out
before the season started, there were
at least 5,000 no-shows for many of the
games.
Many fans apparently are fed up
with the style of basketball that has
the same effect on a crowd as a bottle
of Sominex. Call it good defense or call
it smart basketball, but Nebraska's
slow-down style is boring. It sends fans
to the exits early and potential recruits
running to other schools.
It is time for a change. With players
like Dave Hoppen, Bill Jackman and
Curtis Moore in the lineup, the Hus
kers have plenty of potential for next
year. The question, however, is whether
or not that potential will be realized.
Considering Nebraska basketball his
tory, it seems questionable.
We wish the players well They de
serve that long-awaited NCAA bid more
than anyone. But we cannot encour
. age other top players to join them at
Nebraska until the athletic depart
ment makes some major changes
starting at the top in its basketball
program.
O .1 V
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U.S. retailers predict the future
I was allowed to sit in with the man
agement of our nation's No. 1 retailer. I
have a new insight into how you get to
be and stay "No. 1."
It requires anticipating the future,
preparing for it, rushing out to meet it.
. Paul
ir Harvey
TKA
Respond. . . yesterday
Letters
Tuesday, I received an invitation to a
champagne reception, given in honor
of all graduating seniors at UNL. It is
being sponsored by the Student Alum
ni Association and will be held at the
prestigious Cornhusker Hotel. Lo and
behold, I thought, a little pomp and
circumstance being cast my way!
Just when I was becoming impress
ed with SAA, I read the following
statement on the enclosed' response
card: "Please respond on or before
C , -Jrz. 1
Wednesday, April 4th,...". In the days of
the Old West, conniving bandits were
at least given until sundown to get out
of town. I can't even lick a stamp quick
enough to make it to this exclusive
affair! Are the instigators of this event
the same ones who so carefully chose
the contractors for the new Alumni
Center?
Jane Raglin
senior
broadcast journalism
Tomorrow, here. we come!
This next decade will span the last of
the 1980s and the first of the 1990s.
The average household in the United
States will decline from 2.7 persons to
2.4.
The average age of Americans will
rise from 30 years to 35 plus.
The fastest-growing groups will be
children under 6 and people over 80.
By 1990, there will be 8.9 million
children in single-parent households.
That means one in four children under
10 will live with but one parent.
More families though smaller
will require more goods and services.
The median incomes of these smaller
families, by 1990, will average $35,000.
Two-thirds will have incomes greater
than $25,000.
Working women will number 60 mil
lion by 1990 but . . .
More males will remain single and
live alone.
If you are selling a household pro
duct or service usually purchased by
the lady of the house, your future
advertising will have to appeal to men,
also.
The over-50 age group will be mov
ing into smaller homes.
If you are selling kitchen items, fur
niture make it smaller.
These smaller homes will purchase a
lot of mirrors to make them appear
larger.
Coming down the road is a new wave
of babies fewer per family but
more in total
Firstborns always trigger a dispro
portionately high rate of spending for
infants' and children's products.
This next surprised me:
The less affluent are more name
brand conscious.
Your retail store in a neighborhood
of modest means will want to stock
recognizable brand names.
Among the comparatively well-to-do
such names as Pucci, Gucci and
Cadillac are less significant.
By 1990 within six years 7.5
million Americans will live 80 or more
years. An increasing number are dem
onstrating that those can be produc
tive years.
For better or worse, tomorrow
here we come! With preparation and
accommodation, 1990 sounds like fun!
Los Angles Tises Syitdlccie -
Campus OuoteQ ' vi.
Has the media been fair in its treatment of the Paul Douglas
controversy?
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Bob Yager
freshman
civil engineering -
"I think they Ve been
fair. They've reported it
accurately. It may net be
pretty, but it wm accu
rate. I don't think the
press should , soften
tilings is?."
Jerry Lucaa ' '". -' -::
"I think they've been
fair about it. They have a
-responsibility to tell it
Ileitis." .. s .
Vaughn Gebers
senior -1"
life sciences
"I think the coverage
by the press makes it
difficult to have a fair
trial. But on the ether
hand, it's important for
the people to know what
our elected ofllcisls ere
dain. It's kind of a txo-
Susan Issenberg
freshman
undeclared
"No, I don't. I think
they (the press) Just
decided he did it with
out really giving him a
chance. It's just because
they always szy he di
it."
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