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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (March 15, 1993)
Sports ■ •> • ■ * . • ♦ > »; - •• ■ • , . » , • *•'•*• ,.u t \ iv i . . _ . , ... Nebraska seeks first tourney win By Jeff Singer Senior Reporter It will be a sort of homecom ing for Nebraska men’s basketball coach Danny Nee in this week’s NCAA Tournament. The Comhuskers will be making their third-straight trip to the NCAA tourney, this year play ing New Mexico State m Nee’s home state of New York at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, N.Y. The first-round game will be on Friday and the time of tipoff will be determined by CBS early this week. Nebraska received a No. 10 seed in the East Regional, which is a good placing for the Huskers, according to Nee. ' “Nothing beats getting invited to the NCAA,” Nee said at a gathering of players, coaches and boosters at the Legionnaire Club Sunday. “We’re very happy, very excited, third year going in — it just doesn’t get any better than this; this is what it’s all about.” _ iNeoraska win oe tne underdog tor the first time ever, with the Big West regular-season champion Aggies re ceiving the No. 7 seed. In the Huskers’ other three NCAA tourney appearances, including last season s first-round loss to Connecti cut, they have compiled a 0-3 NCAA tourney record as the favorite each time. - Nebraska guard Jamar Johnson said the 20-10 Huskers arc going to be trying for their first NCAA tourney win against a difficult foe. “We’re happy to be in the NCAA Tournament, but once again we drew a tough team,” Johnson said. “We can’t underestimate New Mexico Slate.” The Huskers’ bracket in Syracuse includes Great Midwest Conference champion Cincinnati (No. 2 seed), Atlantic 10 Conference champ Mas sachusetts (No. 3) and Atlantic Coast Conference power Virginia (No. 6). Nebraska joined si x other B ig Eight teams being invited to the NCAA tourney, with only Oklahoma and Colorado not going. “It’sa once in a lifetime shot,” Nee said. “It’s just very exciting to know that you’re going to be part of it.” Robin Trimarchi/DN Nebraska’s Amos Gregory drives by Kansas State’s Aaron Collier in Friday’s 47-45 Cornhusker loss to the Wildcats at the Big Eight Tournament. .... r 1 ■' 1 ' r J Last-second shot sinks Nil’s hopes By Jeff Singer Senior Reporter__ KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas State did it to Nebraska again. The Comhuskers, who entered the 1993 men’s basketball Big Eight Tour nament with a 0-5 career record against the Wildcats in tourney play, had lost by a total of 11 points in their losses. And Nebraska again lost a thriller to Kansas State, this time 47-45 to the Wildcats Friday on a last second shot by Askia Jones that ended the Husk ers’ hopes of breaking their jinx against the Wildcats. “As far as I’m concerned, this is the worst game we’ve played in the whole Big Eight,” Nebraska guard Eric Piatkowski said. “It’s embarrass ing to have this happen at this time of the year. “There’s no excuse for having a pitiful performance like this,” he said. The loss dropped the fourth-seeded Huskers’ overall record to 20-10 in front of a sold-out Kemper Arena crowd of 16,936. Nebraska, which averaged ol.s points per game before Friday, was held to a season-low 45 points in a game that matched Kansas State’s defensive-minded tempo. The Huskers were held scoreless for almost four minutes after tip-off, and could only manage 20 points by halftime, with All-Big Eight player Piatkowski having scored no points in the first half. Nebraska overcame its 23-20 half time deficit to the Wildcats, and took a 37-32 lead midway through the sec ond half after an Andre Woolridge layup that gave the Huskers their big gest lead of the game. But clutch Kansas State shooting and a wild skirmish at the end of the game, which resulted in Jones’ last second rebound and basket, gave the Wildcats the two-point victory and advanced them into the tourney’s semifinals. Nebraska coach Danny Nee said it was easy to see why his team came up short on Friday. “I think we were ready to play, but wejustdidn’tperform at the level that See TOURNEY oa 8 JNU to take on San Diego in first NCAA home game By Btau Finley Staff Reporter The wail is over for the Nebraska women’s basketball team. Nebraska earned the sixth seed in the West Regional Sunday and will host a first-round home game against San Diego at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. The NCAA Tournament home game will be Nebraska’s first in school history. Comhusker coach Angela Beck, who gathered with her team at South Stadium to watch the tournament se lection show, said she was thrilled with her team’s seed in the 48-team tourney. “Obviously, we’re ecstatic,” Beck said. “This is really exactly what we wanted to have happen.” Nebraska made one other tourna ment appearance in 1987. The Husk ers lost a first-round game at Southern California that year. San Diego, 16-11, was the tourna ment champion of the West Coast Athletic Conference. The Toreros compiled aa 8-6 regular-season con ference record and beat Santa Clara in the tournament final to earn an auto matic berth. Beck said although she didn ’ t know much about San Diego, her team would . ■^4S«ss^csrsatf be ready Wednesday. “I don’t think they are going to be intimidated by a San Diego,,r Beck said. Nebraska could continue its Cali forma connection with a win against San Diego, as they would have to travel to Los Angeles to play South ern California. USC is the third seed in the West Regional. « Beck said she thought her team got a favorable dray*, and-the Buskers could make a game With the Women Of Troy interesting “USC is a beatable situationBeck said. “Our players are prepared to play anybody that we could.” The tournament proves to be a showcase for the Big bight. Colorado (seeded No. 4 in the West), Kansas (No. 8 in the Midwest) and Oklahoma State (No. 10 in the Midwest) will join the Huskcrs in the tourney field. Beck said she was satisfied with the recognition given to the confer ence. “That’s a great draw," Beck said. “The Big Eight got some respect this year." Despite the celebration, 1993 Big Eight Player of the Year Karen Jennings said she was already think ing about the work that was ahead of the Huskers. “I wasn ’ tas elated as everyone else was because I know that now is when the work really begins,” Jennings said. “Just getting in isn’t good enough for me.” Baseball roster full for NU over break By Jtff Grtoach Staff Reporter _ - The Nebraska baseball team started its spring break a week early, but die Comhu&kers won’t be get ting much relaxation on their spring trip. The Huskers will be playing 10 games in 11 days, starting with the Pepsi/Johnny Quick Classic today through Saturday in Fresno, Calif. Arizona, ranked No. 2 by Base ball America, heads the field along with No. 19 Clemson and No. 20 Fresno State. Nebraska was ranked No. 32 by Collegiate Baseball and St. John’s was No. 33 in the pre season. Kansas State, Southwest Mis souri State and Texas Tech round out the tourney field. Despite struggling through its first five games, Nebraska has high hopes for the tournament. “We have some great expecta tions for this tournament,’’ Coach John Sanders said. “We are looking at this as a real challenge and a test of how good we are.” Sanders said he was looking for improved play from the 4-1 Husk ers during the trip. * wI'd like to see us go out and play well,” Sanders said. “If we do . that, die wins will come.” If die Huskers win consistently on the trip, Sanders said they could “We haveachance to get in the polls on a solid basis by beating some ranked teams,” Sanders said. “We feel confident that we can win the whole thing.” Husker outfielder Marc Sagmoen said strong pitching sepa rated the teams they would face on the trip from other teams Nebraska played in the early season. “They’re all going to have guys that throw really hard with good control,” Sagmoen said. “If we adjust, we will be in good shape. They are all beatable.” After the tournament, Nebraska will travel to Palo Alto, Calif., to play one game at No. 12 Stanford on March 21. The Huskers then go to Albu querque, N.M., to play a double header against New Mexico on March 23, and a single game against the Lobos on March 24.