Coaches hope Big Eight
earns respect
By Mike Kluck
Staff Reporter
Although last year’s stellar season
will be difficult to match, Big Eight
basketball coaches hope the confer
ence can gain some more respect this
year.
Last year, the Big Eight had both
teams in the National Collegiate
Athletic Association championship
game and had five players picked in
the first round of the National Basket
ball Association draft.
And the conference coaches hope
to back up that year with a solid
performance this season.
“Last year, we had such a great
representation in the NCAA tourna
ment,” Kansas State coach Lon
Kruger said. “If we can come any
where close to matching that this
year, I think we can finally get over
the hump and people will give the Big
Eight respect.”
Kansas Slate made it to the semifi
nals of the NCAA tournament before
losing to Big Eight rival and eventual
champion Kansas 71-58. The Jay
hawks also defeated Oklahoma 73-69
to win the championship. Iowa State
and Missouri qualified for the NCAA
tournament, but lost in opening
rounds.
Oklahoma — The Sooners are
right where coach Billy Tubbs wants
them to be, at the No. 1 spot. Tubbs
who was the Big Eight coach of the
year has two starters returning, sec
ond team all-Big Eight players Stacey
King and Mookie Blaylock. King has
been voted the preseason Big Eight
player-of-the-year.
Missouri — Derrick Chicvous, the
Tigers’ all-time leading scorer and
first team all-Big Eight selection, has
departed. But Missouri has four start
ers returning: Nathan Bunlin, Mike
Sandbothe, Lee Coward and Byron
Irvin.
Kansas State — Kruger said he
was surprised that the Wildcats arc
picked to finish third in the confer
ence. He said after Oklahoma and
Missouri, the conference race is w ide
open. Kansas State has one starter,
second team all-Big Eight selection
Steve Henson, returning from its team
which finished 25-9,11 -3 and second
in the conference and made it to the
quarterfinals of the NCAA tourna
ment before losing to Kansas. The
Wildcats have lost All-Big Eight se
lection Mitch Richmond, Charles
Bledsoe, William Scott and Ron
Meyer, who have all used up their
eligibility.
Oklahoma Slate — The Cowboys
sport 10 new players this season, but
return three starters, including Rich
ard Dumas, a second-team all-Big
Eight selection last year. Dumas also
made this season’s preseason all-Big
Eight team.
The Cowboys are looking to im
prove on their 14-16 record and 4-10
sixth place conference finish. Cow
boy freshmen Thomas Jordan,
Johnny Pittman and Byron Houston
all received votes for conference
newcomer of the year.
Kansas — First-year coach Roy
Williams said he has checked to make
sure Danny Manning, last season’s
Big Eight player-of-thc-year, has
used up his eligibility.
Much to Williams’ chagrin, Man
ninghad. Here’s why Williams would
like to liave Manning back — he led
the Jayhawks to a 27-11 record, 9-5
conference record (third place) and a
national title.
The Jayhawks return throe starters:
Kevin Pritchard, Milt Newton and
■—
Jeff Gueldner.
Iowa Slate — Coach Johnny Orr
said for Iowa State to be successful,
senior Elmer Robinson will have to
have his best year. Robinson and
Terry Woods are the Cyclones two
reluming starters from last season’s
20-12 team, which finished fifth in the
conference at 6-8. Iowa State loses
first team all-Big Eight Jeff Grayer,
Gary Thompkins and Lafester
Rhodes, a conference honorable
mention selection last year.
Nebraska — Oklahoma State
coach Leonard Hamilton said Ne
braska will be the “sleeper” team of
the conference this season. The Husk
ers lost three starters from last year’s
team that 13-18 and tied for sixth in
the conference with a 4-10 record.
Colorado — The Buffaloes lose
Scott Wilke, a second team all-Big
Eight center, and Michael Lee. who
have used up their eligibility. Tor
rance Chapman and Kenny Nash will
sit out this season because of “admin
istrative suspension.”
-----1
Husker Heaven wishes
the Huskers the best of
Luck during their ‘88-‘89
basketball season
Daily Nebraskan Editor
Curt Wagner
Supplements Editor MSkc Reilley
Advertising Manager Bob Bates
Production Manager K Itty Polick v
General Manager Dan Shattll
Cover photo: Nebraska’s Pete Man
ning (right) stretches for a rebound
against Oklahoma’s Dave Sieger and
Terrence Mullins last season. Photo
by Doug Carroll.
Due to the size of the basketball
supplement, many stories were un
able to be published. They will appear
in the regular editions of the Daily
Nebraskan.
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