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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (March 5, 1986)
Wednesday, March 5, 1986 Daily Nebraskan Pago 5 ! 1 By Jeff Apel Senior Reporter A new experience will await the Nebraska and Kansas women's swing ing teams when they begin this year's Big Eight conference championships Thursday at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. Not only will this year's conference meet mark the first time that the men's and women's swimming programs will compete together, but it also will mark the first time since the history of the Big Eight conference that only four women's teams will compete. Oklahoma dropped its women's swim ming program this year after the Soon ers finished third in last year's confer ence meet. "Not having Oklahoma in the team race means that whoever has the most depth can control the conference meet," said Nebraska coach Ray Huppert. "Right now, Kansas has got the edge in depth, but we have got the edge in quality." Huppert said he knows Kansas hasn't forgotten that the Cornhuskers ended the Jayhawk's 10-year reign as the Big Eight conference champions last year. Kansas will give Nebraska a stiffer challenge than it has in each of their three previous meetings this season, he said. "I think Kansas will be better pre pared for us than they have been in the past because it's a whole new ball game," Huppert said. "Kansas has got some things going for them emotionally because they have the revenge factor involved." Huppert said the sprint events will decide the winner of this year's Big Eight crown. Both teams have some top-notch per formers who are going to score points in those events, he said. But the key for the meet, Huppert said, is again traced back to depth. Both teams have the strong swimmers who will score points, Huppert said. "But, when you have about 104 points in each event, the key becomes how many people you can get to finish in the top 12," he said. Kempf said the loss of the Sooners will change how Kansas approaches the Big Eight meet because having only four teams requires a complete change of strategy. In the past, the Jayhawks hoped that Oklahoma, Iowa State and Missouri could all place enough athletes in the top 12 spots of each event to neutralize the depth factor, Kempf said. But with the Sooners gone, depth becomes important. "It is something that really concerns me coming into this meet," Kempf said. "Nebraska's depth is great and they are a real class club, so we know what type of challenge we are going to be in for." Kempf said the fact that Kansas has beaten Nebraska once and lost twice could work both for and against the Jayhawks. Because the Huskers have defeated the Jayhawks the last two times, the teams have met, the Jayhawks could have some extra incentive. Still, since the Jayhawks defeated Nebraska in the Jayhawk Invitational, they might have some overconfidence, he said. "I hope our kids don't look at that meet in the wrong way," Kempf said. "We may have beaten Nebraska, but they are a much-improved team since then." Both Kempf and Huppert said that Iowa State and Missouri will play the spoiler role In the meet while they bat tle for third place in the Big Eight conference. The Cyclones and Tigers have both improved, Kempf said. "They are going to get people in where they are not supposed to," he said. "The depth factor once again becomes critical." Huppert said that although the Huskers have dominted the Tigers and Cyclones in their previous meets this season, he expects a tougher challenge from both teams this time around. Both teams can ruin things for either Kansas or Nebraska. "It's conceivable that we could win half of the 20 events, but that doesn't mean we will outscore our opponents," he said. "Both Iowa State and Missouri have some outstanding individuals who are going to figure into the race some how. With depth being the key factor, both of those teams are capable ol really hurting us and Kansas by placing individuals who aren't supposed to place in any event." Tickets for the three-day event are on sale at the Nebraska ticket office for $5 or $10. Starting times are 7 p.m. Wednesday for the one-meter diving competition and 11 p.m. for the preli minaries. Finals begin at 7 p.m. Thurs day through Saturday. Buffs use free throws to beat NU From staff reports Free throws foiled the Nebraska women's basketball team's attempt to upset No. 2 seeded Colorado in Big Eight tournament action Tuesday night in Boulder, Colo. The Buffaloes defeated the Cornhuskers 96-90. Colorado made 26 of 31 free throws compared to the Huskers 12 of 14. Nebraska coach Kelly Hill said the free throws made the difference in the game. "It's part of playing on the road," she said. "We were up by 1 1 midway through the half and at halftime they led by one." Behind the first half play of reserve Erin Carson the Buffs posted a 48-47 half-time lead. Carson scored 17 points in the first half. She finished with 22 points. In the second half Nebraska's Lisa Souillere came off the bench and put defensive pressure on Carson, Hill said. Colorado offset Carson's lack of scoring with forward Tracy Tripp. Tripp scored 19 of her 23 points in the second half. Souillere started the second half because Nebraska's Maurtice Ivy and Amy Stephens found themselves in foul trouble. Stephens picked up her fourth foul with 14:15 left in the game and Ivy picked up her fourth with 12:19 left. Hill said both players spent nearly 10 minutes on the bench in the second half. Despite limited playing time Ivy still led all scorers with a career high of 31 points. Stephens finished with 20 and Angie Miller finished with 16. Colorado was led by Tripp and Car son. Bridget Turner added 18 points and Gretchen DeWitt chipped in 14. K-State wins forfeited; Nebraska draws OSU KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Big Eight Interpretations Committee ruled Tuesday that Kansas State must forfeit its four conference vic tories for using Norris Coleman, the 24-year-old freshman who has been declared ineligible. Kansas State had beaten Colo rado twice and Oklahoma State and Nebraska once. The committee's action followed the Feb. 27 decision of the NCAA Administrative Committee, which said Coleman was ineligible to play for the Wildcats since he did not have a 2.00 grade point average fol lowing his graduation from high school in Jacksonville, Fla., in 1979.' In games not involving the Kan sas State forfeits, Missouri and Okla homa tied for fourth with 8-6 records in the regular season. By virtue of tournament procedures, a drawing was held for the fourth slot which went to Missouri. The Sooners are seeded fifth. Pairings for Friday's first-round games in the Big Eight post-season tournament are No. 4 Missouri vs. No. 5 Oklahoma at 12:10 p.m.; No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 8 Kansas State at 2:10. No. 2 Iowa State vs. No. 7 Colo rado at 6:10 and No. 3 Nebraska vs. No. 6 Oklahoma State at 8:10. The interpretations Committee is made up of Big Eight Commissioner Carl James and the chairman and vice chairman of the conference. This year Gerald Lage of Oklahoma State is the chairman and William Baughn of Colorado is the vice chairman. "We couldn't do anything till after the regular season was solved last night. We had a telephone con ference call in accordance with the rules," James said. Hyskeir baseball teaomi details aoaiimsS Giroffioin) By Jeff Apel Senior Reporter The wait is finally over for the Nebraska base ball team. After working out periodically since last Sep tember, the Cornhuskers will make their season debut Wednesday against Missouri Western. Game time is 2 p.m. at Buck Beitzer Meld. "Our players are starting to get anxious because they haven't played a game in so long," said Nebraska baseball coach John Sanders. "They know it is gr;me time." Sanders said he will try to accomplish several goals against the Griffons team, which is a member of the National Association of Intercol legiate Athletics. Nebraska will try to use as many people and as many combinations of people as possible in the two-game series, Sanders said. He said the Huskers use games against non Division I opponents to evaluate themselves. "It gives us a chance to take a look at our people in a game situation," he said. Nebraska also will try out several pitchers in hopes of finding both middle- and short-relief help. Although the starting rotation has been solid ified, Nebraska pitching coach Mike Evans said some questions remain. "We've got to find someone who can replace (former HuskerJ Bill McGuire, who did a super job for us last year as the stopper coming out of the bull pen," Evans said. "We've also got to find some middle-relief help, although we're hoping that position can be filled by both John Lepley and Rocky Johnson." This year's Cornhusker pitching staff shows a lot of similarities to the Nebraska staff that led the nation in earned-run average two years ago, Evans said. . . Both squads have a tremendous amount of depth, he said. "We've got seven pitchers back this year who were on that pitching staff two years ago," Evans said. With them, plus the new people, Evans said he felt confident about the staff. The Huskers will use 13 pitchers in the Mis souri Western series and this weekend's Kearney State series. Nebraska will try to establish rhythm, he said. "We've got a lot of talent on this year's team, particularly in terms of left-handed pitchers," he said. "What we need to do now is to get those people some experience in a game-type situa tion." Missouri Western coach Doug Minnis said the 1-0 Griffons will approach their series against Nebraska with caution. Since they are a non-division I school, Minnis said that he knows Missouri Western can't match up with Nebraska. For every good player the Griffons have, Nebraska has three, Minnis said, because Div ision I schools always get better players. Minnis said the Griffons can benefit from the series even if they lose to Nebraska. Playing Division I schools always helps in recruiting, he said, and helps Missouri Western during its NAIA season. "We appreciate the fact that Nebraska lets us play them," he said. "We look at this as a tre mendous challenge." Kearney State coach Guy Murray also said the Antelopes will approach their two-game series with Nebraska cautiously. After being bombed by Wichita State 22-4 and 12-4, Murray said, Kearney State must improve its defense to win against Nebraska. "In one game against Wichita State we made 10 errors. It was like a circus out there," Murray said. "We've shown that we can swing the bat a little bit, but we've just got to improve on our defense." Murray said first baseman Scott Wilson, third baseman Scott Cruickshank and catcher Todd Johnson are the top players for the 0-4 Antelopes. Wilson was ?.n NAIA All-American last season. Cruickshank and Johnson are considered to be top professional prospects, he said. "We've got some talent, so if Nebraska's pitcher is a little bit off and we're having an exceptional day at the plate, we could upset them," Murray said. 105 WMM Sin? ma pie o-alft to WW, ftl mm (Bail! i Any um .iastj days Mb Leungs HE CfSy Ifeba