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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 26, 1988)
NelSaskan Friday, February 26,1988 Husker track teams picked to win it all By Kyle Schurman Staff Reporter Nebraska’s track teams are favored to win the Big Eight Championships this weekend at the Bob Devaney Sports Center, but the Com husker coaches said the Huskers will have to do more than look good on paper to capture the conference championships. The Nebraska women were a unanimous choice to win the meet in a Big Eight coaches’ poll. Kansas State and Missouri were picked second and third. The coaches picked the Nebraska men to win by just one point against Oklahoma. The Huskcrs received four first-place votes to Oklahoma’s three. Iowa State, which received the other first-place vote, was picked third, while Kansas State placed fourth. Although the Nebraska women have posted conference-best marks in 11 of 15 events this season and have won eight consecutive Big Eight championships, Huskcr coach Gary Pepin said Nebraska cannot take the meet lightly. “Our women’s team is probably the most dominant team we’ve had here,” Pepin said. “But we respect all the teams in the conference, and we know we have to win the championship on the track.” Nebraska assistant coach Mark Kostck said the Huskers will enter the meet with confi dence. “Our women are really, really strong,” Koslek said. “We’re looking at doing well at this meet and at nationals as well.” Kansas State track coach John Capriolti was quicker to praise the Huskers. “Nebraska has one of the best conference teams ever,” Capriolti said. “I don’t think the second- and third-place conference teams to gether could beat them.” Capriolti said Kansas, Missouri and Kansas State will battle for second place. “It’s going to be a heck of a meet for second place,” he said. “Honestly, though, I can’t sec anyone beating Nebraska.” Nebraska was also a heavy favoriu? in last year’s conference meet, but the Huskers beat Kansas State by only 14 points. Capriolti said things are different this year. “Nebraska is better than they were last year, and we’re not as healthy,” he said. “Gary (Pepin) has done a great job with them. We’re excited about coming up there, though; it’s a great place to run a meet.” The women’s Big Eight Indoor Champion ship has been at the Devancy Center for the last 11 seasons, while the men’s championship has been there for the last eight. Pepin said he is worried about his men’s chances in the meet. The Husker men won two of the last three Big Eight indoor champion ships and defeated second-place Oklahoma by 31 points last season. “We are quite concerned about our men’s team,” Pepin said. “(Oklahoma) looks like it has a lot of people who could win. We will have to hit on all cylinders to win the meet.” Iowa State men’s coach Bill Bergan, whose Cyclones won Big Eight titles in 1984 and 1986, said Nebraska and Oklahoma deserve to be the favorites. “Nebraska has good balance and Oklahoma has some really good athletes,” Bergan said. “We hope to be competitive. If everything goes as we hope, we could have a shot at it, but we’re more of a dark horse.” Capriotti said Iowa Slate is just as good as the Huskers and the Sooners. “It’s a three-way meet between Oklahoma, Iowa State and Nebraska,” Capriotti said. “Nebraska has very good depth, Oklahoma has three or four real good events where they’ll score a lot of points, and Iowa State could score 80 points in the middle distances.” Capriotti said the team that can take the most points away from its competitors’ strongest events will win the meet. He said Colorado, Kansas and Kansas State will be fighting for fourth. Kostek said the Husker men need a total team effort to win. “Seconds, thirds and fourths are going to be extremely important for us,” Kostek said. “The whole key to the men’s success is a tremendous team effort. We need to qualify a lot of people Friday, and claw and scratch to get points on Saturday.” The women’s pentathlon begins the meet today at 9 a.m. The women’s preliminary events begin at 2:25 p.m., and the men’s pre liminary events begin at 5 p.m. today. Saturday’s finals begin at 11 a.m. Comhusker outfielder wins battles with himself, pitchers By Steve Sipple Senior Reporter When Nebraska outfielder Ken Ramos steps to the plate, he makes each appearance a personal battle with the pitcher — a battle he often wins. Ramos, the Cornhuskers’ starting right fielder, hit safely in 28 games last season, a new school record. He , I also recorded a f / team-leading l 'wlL—1 .386 batting aver- Ramos age and six triples last season. Ramos credited his success to concentration. “Really, I block out everything but me and the pitcher,” said Ramos, who transferred from Otero (Colo.) Junior College last season. “I just try to concentrate on me and him. I try to tell myself that I’m better and that, no matter what he throws, I’m going to hit it.” Ramos’ philosophy proved suc cessful last season. Besides hitting in 28 straight games, Ramos also began a 24-game streak as a member of Nebraska’s starling lineup last sea son against Kansas State. Ramos recorded hits in Nebraska’s two Big Eight tourna ment games and then hit safely in the first 22 games of the Stan Musial Denvcr-Metro summer league, made up mainly of college players from Colorado. “I guess I had a pretty decent year all the way around,” Ramos said. Ramos, who was named presea son all-Big Eight by Baseball Amer ica Magazine, said blocking every thing but himself and the pitcher from his mind helps him relax. While set in his stance, Ramos often moves his fingers on the handle of the bat as if he were playing the flute. This is also for relaxation, he said. “I call it my pre-pilch rhythm,” he said. Nebraska coach John Sanders calls Ramos a dedicated hitter. “At this stage of his career, he has an outstanding chance to be a very, very good hitter in the Big Eight,” Sanders said. “He works very hard. He has good balance at the plate and is someone who understands the concepts of hitting. “He has a chance to have even a better year than last season.” Ramos said improving on last season will be difficult, but Sanders’ confidence in him is important. “He always tells me when he’s throwing batting practice, ‘If you don’t hit .40() this year, I don’t know what we’re going to do with you,”’ Ramos said. “He thinks I can do it. He expects bigger and belter things from me this year.” Ramos carries a .250 average into this weekend’s games against North ern Colorado and Colorado State at Fort Collins, Colo. In the Huskcrs’ three-game sweep of Wyoming last weekend, he recorded two hits in eight al-bats with four walks. Ramos also scored five runs. “I’m notswinging the bat real well right now,” he said. “I’m lunging at times. I’ve watched myself on film and I’m getting out in front (of pitches) a little loo fast.” Ramos, who was picked by the Chicago Cubs in the sixth round of the 1986 major league draft, said part of his early-scason problems stemmed from adjusting to Wyoming’s slower-throwing pitch ers. He said the Nebraska pitchers he faces daily in batting practice throw faster than the Cowboys’. Ramos said he will try to get un tracked this weekend before a pleth ora of family and friends. Ramos attended high school at Pueblo East in Colorado, and much of his family and several friends will make the three-hour journey to Fort Collins to sec him and the Huskcrs, he said. “I’ll be pretty psyched up,” he said. Nebraska will lace Northern Colorado at noon Saturday in a seven-inning game, which will be followed by a seven-inning contest against Colorado State. The Huskers will face Colorado State again in a doublcheader at noon Sunday. “We’ll go in there and play and get in as many players as possible, and just continue to climb the ladder,” Sanders said. Sanders said the Huskers have more depth now than last season. “That’s the flexibility our team has,” he said. “We can play with different lineups and go with differ ent people. That’s critical.” Sanders said freshmen Mate Bor gogno and Bobby Benjamin have provided quality depth in the Husk ers’ lineup. He said Borgogno, who can replace either shortstop Ken Sirak or second baseman Bruce Wobken, has good fielding abilities and outstanding batting. Benjamin, a left-fielder from Columbus, Ohio, pounded a 420-foot home run in his first collegiate at-bat and has driven in five runs and scored five runs himself this season. NU one win away from first Big 8 title Probable starters: Nebraska (20-5,10-3) Amy Stephens G Amy Bullock G Kim Hams C Ann Halsne F Maurticc Ivy F Iowa State (13-12, 5-8) Etta Bums G Tracy Horvath G Carmen Jaspers C Shelly Coyle F Lisa Treiner F By Mark Derowitsch Senior Reporter Two years ago, the Nebraska women’s basketball team was fight ing for a place in the upper half of the Big Eight standings. Now the Comhuskers are just one win away from capturing their first conference championship. Nebraska has achance to win the Big Eight title Saturday when it faces Iowa State at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. Tip off is scheduled for 5:08 p.m. or directly following the men’s game. Nebraska coach Angela Beck said a win would end years of frustration for the basketball program. “It’s a thrill,” Beck said. “Our players arc to be commended, and they are very, very excited right now. This is the ultimate for us. A Big Eight championship might not mean as much for other schools, but to take this program to where it is now from where it was two years ago, it’s su perb. “I feel that everything we’ve worked for comes down to this game,” she said. “But we have to get up for it.” Beck said the Huskers must play good defense to defeat Iowa State. “We’ll try to win by playing pres sure defense,” Beck said. “We con trol the game with defense. We have lo work hard and play tough defense and hope the offense responds.” Nebraska posted a 91-87 win against the Cyclones the last time the two teams met. Beck said the Huskers must stop Iowa Slate’s inside game better than they did the last time the two teams met. Nebraska defeated Iowa State 91-87 earlier this season. The Huskers arc coming off a 96 80 loss to Oklahoma State Wednes day night in Stillwater, Okla. Be cause Missouri lost to Colorado 101 - 88 Wednesday, the Huskersclinchcd a lie for the Big Eight title. “We’ve won the league title,” Beck said. “What we’re looking for is down the road. We working for the top seed in the conference tourna ment and an NCAA bid.” Beck said Nebraska’s play must be inspired to w rap up the champion ship. “I think the loss gives us a little better work attitude,” Beck said. “But we’ll need a better effort for us to get the league title. “Iowa Stale will not come in here and roll over and let us have the league title.” Nee forecasts gusting cyclones despite recent losses Probable Starters: Nebraska (13-14,4-7) Eric Johnson G Henry T. Buchanan G Pete Manning C Derrick Vick F Jeff Rckcweg F Iowa State (17-10,3-8) Mike Bom G Terry Woods G Lafester Rhodes C Jeff Grayer F Mark Baugh F By Tim Hartmann Senior Reporter After Iowa State defeated Ne braska 114-76 in January, Nebraska coach Danny Nee said the Cyclones were one of the nation’s lop teams. Iowa Stale then lost seven games in a row. But Nee said he still expects a strong challenge from Iowa State when the Cyclones face Nebraska Saturday at 3:08 p.m. at the Bob Dcvancy Sports Center The 38-point loss to Iowa State earlier this season was the worst defeat suffered by Nebraska, and the 114 points the Cyclones scored is the most the Cornhuskcrs have given up. Nee said Iowa State has a “potent offense.” “The thing with Iowa Slate is they have the ability on a given night to really put the points on the board,” Nee said. Iowa State enters the game with a 17-10 record overall and a 3-8 mark in the Big Eight after losing 83-66 to Kansas State Wednesday night. Iowa State coach Johnny Orr said the Cyclones had a letdown when the Big Eight season started because they had defeated highly ranked teams such as Purdue and Iowa. “Coming into the Big Eight, be lieve it or not, was sort of anti-cli mactic for us,” Orr said. Despite the recent problems, Orr said, he still thinks the Cyclones should make the NCAA tournament. II we Iinish strong, I think they II forget (the losing streak),” he said. “We won some great games. We just had a month in there where every thing went wrong for us.” Orr said he is impressed by Iowa State’s 17 victories this season. A “When we started out the season, we never dreamed we’d win this many games,” Orr said. Jcfl Grayer, a 6-foot-5 senior for ward who scored 37 points in the first meeting with Nebraska, leads Iowa Stale in scoring and rebounding with averages of 25 points and nine re bounds a game. Lafester Rhodes, a 6 fooi-8 senior center, is second on the team in scoring, averaging 22 points a game. Orr said Rhodes struggled during Iowa State’s losing streaJk but is play ing well now. “He just had trouble shooting and he seemed to get his touch back in that (Missouri) game,” he said. Iowa Statcdefcatcd Missouri 102 89 Feb. 17, avenging a 119-93 loss suffered earlier in the year. On said Nebraska will have the same incen tive to defeat Iowa Slate that the Cyclones had to defeat Missouri. “They had a bad game here,” On said. “They had a bad shooting night. I’m sure they’re waiting for us to come back, just like we were wailing for Missouri to come back.”