Friday, January 31, 1986 Page 6 Daily Nebraskan ressure defense will be key to victory, Iba says By Jeff Apel Senior Reporter Probable starters Colorado (8-10, 0-5) Player F Matt Bullard F Torin Williams C Randy Downs G Michael Lee G Mike Reid Nebraska (12-6, 2-3) F Bernard Day F John Matzke C Dave Hoppen G Brian Carr G Harvey Marshall Height 6-10 6-9 6-9 6-4 6-1 6-6 6-5 6-11 6-1 6-3 Nebraska will try to rebound from its worst basketball loss in nine years when the Corn huskers travel to Boulder, Colo., Saturday to face the Buffaloes. The Huskers, Coach Moe Iba said, must get their organization back to avoid a repeat of Wed nesday's 87-60 loss to the Sooners in Norman, Okla. That setback was Nebraska's worst since the 1975 Cornhuskers lost 72-44 to Kansas. . "The things we've got to do to be successful against Colorado is we've got to be sure we play pressure defense," Iba said. "And we've got to make sure we give them only one shot because they are an excellent rebounding team." Colorado boasts a front line that includes Torin Williams, 6-9 and Matt Bullard, 6-10, at the forward spots and Randy Downs, 6-9, at center. Players of that size could pose definite prob lems for the Huskers, Iba said. Height is a big concern for his team, he said. "Wit h a smaller team, we've got to try and do our best to neutralize it," he said. Colorado coach Tom Apke said the Buffaloes' success on offense depends largely on how well they use their height. When the Colorado offense succeeds, Apke said, it is because the Buffaloes have gotten the ball inside. "How we play on offense dictates how we play," Apke said. "If we come out against Nebraska and are able to get the ball inside by utilizing our height advantage we should be suc cessful. Otherwise, we could be in for a fairly long night." Apke said there are several areas that the 8-10 Buffaloes need to improve before they can be considered as contenders for the Big Eight title. The first, he said, is offensive execution. "At times this year we have been so tentative offensively that our shots wouldn't go in," Apke said. "We also have to improve our defense, which at times has really hurt us this year." Apke said he is concerned with facing Ne braska center Dave Hoppen and forward Bernard Day. Hoppen consistently scores, while Day's size presents a problem, he said. "Mid-sized athletes always give us problems," Apke said. "We don't match up against them well." Iba said he isn't pointing to any particular area where the 12-6 Cornhuskers need to improve to be successful against the Buffaloes. For Nebraska to win, he said, it will take a complete team effort. "This is a good organization, so we've got to just go out and put (the loss to Oklahoma) behind us," he said. Colorado center hopes to take strong outside shooting to NBA By Kristi Reetz Staff Reporter Randy Downs may not be well known, but by Feb. 2 Nebraska basketball fans should know his name. Downs, Colorado's senior center, was the Buf faloes' leading scorer last year, averaging 16.4 points a game. The Buffaloes play Nebraska Sat urday in Boulder, Colo. Downs attended Nogales High School in La Puente, Calif., where he earned four letters in basketball. He was recruited heavily by Pepper dine, but chose to attend Colorado instead. "I came to Coiorado because I knew I could play here and in the Big Eight Conference," Downs said. "I also thought I had a good chance to start." Downs, 6-9 and 225 pounds, said the strongest part of his game is his outside shooting. He thinks his defense needs work and that he should grab more rebounds. Downs would like to play in the NBA if he gets the opportunity. If not, he plans to play in Europe. "If I get drafted near the final rounds of the NBA," Downs said, "I would probably go to Europe to play. I really can't seriously think about playing professionally until after my senior season is over." Colorado has struggled this season, posting on 0-5 record in Big Eight play. The Buffs hope t o get , their first conference win Saturday night against Nebraska. "The toughest thing about playing Nebraska is controlling their quickness," Downs said. "They also have a good player in Bernard Day." Downs said he's expecting an exciting game. "I think this game will go down to the wire," Downs said. Nebraska should be tough, and hopefully we'll have a good crowd to make it interesting." Downs thinks Nebraska center Dave Hoppen is one of the best players in the conference. "Hoppen is a good shooter and rebounder. He needs a little work on his defense, though," Downs said. "We need to keeptHoppen outside so he's not open underneath. It'll be a tough game, but we need to win one bad." Coach expects tough meets o n wo m me wm t t K $ , J 9 , f, 1 ; v . , I T A 1 ? J i , C ...j ! ' ui . ( v ' M ' u ft '":: -Of r l- - l rr. i r. " r " '.. I ' J 1 i ;. ' - U L 1.', if ' Mark DavisDaily Nebraskan Nebraska's Bernard Day (right) moves past Iowa State's Tom Schafer last Saturday at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. to fiwo (LJ3 By Jim Ballard Staff Reporter The Nebraska men's swimming and diving team takes to the road this weekend, squaring off against Missouri today and Southern Illinois Saturday. The Huskers enter today's meet with a 5-3 dual record, their latest a 65-48 victory against .Iowa State. The Missouri Tigers are 2-3, witn victories against Bradley and Kansas. Missouri coach Joe Goldfarb said Nebraska and Missouri usually have a good meet. "We've had some really good meets against them, and in fact, we were the last Big Eight school to beat them in a dual," he said. The victory came two years ago, and, Goldfarb said, it's almost going to take a miracle for the Tigers to win this season. "Rob Bunscombe has just come back from knee surgery, and he's a tough breaststroker. Also, J.D. Estes will match up well against the Nebraska divers," he said. "Otherwise, they're ahead of us in all the other strokes, but there are some places where we can be competitive." Nebraska coach Cal Bentz didn't agree the meet will be a run-away. "They have a lot of kids that are very good," he said. "They beat Kansas last week, and they're the last team to beat us in the Big Eight. They always swim tough in their own pool, so we'll have to go in with the idea that we'll have to swim very competively." Goldfarb also said Nebraska is the team to beat in the Big Eight championships. "They shouldn't have any trouble winning the Big Eight again this year. Other teams have good individuals, but Nebraskajust has too many good people in too many spots," he said. On Saturday the Huskers will travel to Car bondale, 111., where they will meet the Salukis. "We travel pretty well, and we'll have to focus on our races and not on some of the adverse conditions. The trip from Columbia to Carbon dale is something that has to be done, and we'll have to be ready to compete," Bentz said. Southern Illinois is 5-1 on the year and is ranked No. 11. "Southern Illinois is very good," Bentz said. "They have two All-Americans in Andres Gil hammer and Gary Brinkman. With that tandem. it's going to be a really tough meet." Gilhammer is a native of Sweden and has been an Ail-American in the 1,650-meter freestyle the last three years. Brinkman is from South Africa and placed fourth in both the 1,650 and 500 freestyle in last year's NCAA Championships. "We're pretty pleased with how we've swam in duals so far," Southern Illinois coach Doug Ingram said. "We've also done really well in our invites." Last year, the Salukis handed Nebraska a 58-55 loss, and Ingram expects another tough match this time. "It should be a real fine meet, and last year's score indicates how close of a contest we can expect this year," he said. Ingram said his team has the edge in the distance races, but the rest of the strokes are evenly matched with the possible exception of the breast stroke and the backstroke. "By guess, I'd say we have a little more depth, and the key to the meet will be the relays," Ingram said. "We're really looking forward to this meet. It's a great opportunity to compete against a Big Eight school, especially the caliber of Nebraska." Injuries and illness hold track members back from the race The Nebraska track teams will compete against all odds when they meet Wisconsin Saturday in Madison, Wise. Both the men's and women's teams have been battling injuries and illness. Nebraska sophomore Keith Jones will not make the trip because of a strained leg. The women will compete without Laura Wight, Jill Noel and Trina Peterson. Carol Nunnally will be back competing in the distance races after foot surgery. Heidi Christenson will see action for the first time Saturday. She will compete in the Nebraska Open, and, assistant coach Jay Dirksen said, the coaches will be waiting to see her performance. Nebraska also will face the current NCAA cross-country champions in the distance events. "They are probably the two best teams in the (Big Ten) conference," Coach Gary Pepin said about Wisconsin. "The men are outstanding in the distance events and the women have balance in all events," Dirksen said. "I think that we will give up points in the distance events." "We really don't know much about the Wisconsin team other than they are good in the distance races," Dirksen said.