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
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Nebraska's Bernard Day (right) moves past Iowa State's Tom Schafer last
Saturday at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.
to fiwo
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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.