Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 18, 1994)
Nebraskan Friday, February 18,1984 Sports NU must keep momentum going to beat Cowboys By Derek Samson Senior Reporter For Nebraska to have a chance of winning Saturday at Oklahoma State, Comhusker coach Danny Nee said the Comhuskersmust continue to play on the same level they have for the past four games. But staying on that plateau is much easier said than done, Nee said. Nee “I don’t know if we can shoot any better than we’re shooting,” he said. “I don’t know how long we can sustain thisoffensive firepower. Togo .500 in the toughest part of our season (the past four games) ... I think we’re playing our best basketball.” Against 16-7 Oklahoma State, Nebraska’s best may not be enough, Nee said. Nee said the Huskers, 14-7 and 4 5 in the Big Eight, would have more difficulty matching up with Oklaho ma State than with any other team. “I don’t see any weakness in Okla homa State,” Nee said. “I believe that -44 By far the toughest matchup that well have is Oklahoma State, and playing in Stillwater is very difficult. — Nee Nil men’s basketball coach -ft - they should be ranked way higher than what they are ranked, and I think they’ll prove that in the tournament.” The balance of the Cowboys’ in side and outside play will deal the Huskers the most problems. Nee said. “They are the toughest team for us to match up against.” Nee said. “They have the outside shot with (Randy) Rutherford and (Brooks) Thompson, two of the more prolific three-point shooters in the league. As far as a combination goes, they are as tough of a combination as far as experience and what they do. “Rutherford and Thompson could See HUSKERS on 8 Cowboy coach says teams match up well By Jeff Griesch Senior Editor Oklahoma State may fill the paint with “Big Country,” but Coach Eddie Sutton said both teams would have matchup problems when the Cowboys played host to Nebraska on Saturday. ‘ Sutton, in his 23rd year of coaching and fourth season with the Cowboys, said the smaller Cornhusker post players would nave trouble stop ping 7-foot, 290 pound center Sutton Bryant Reeves, but Reeves’ size advantage may hinder the Cowboys on defense. “They don’t match up with Reeves very well on the block, but we will be at a disadvantage because they don’t really play with a post on offense,” Sutton said. “They might not be all that big, but (Bruce) Chubick and (Terrance) Badgett can play, and if they can pull Reeves away from the basket, then we’re in trouble.” The Huskers and Cowboys match up evenly on the perimeter, Sutton said. In fact, he said, Nebraska may be more athletic than Oklahoma State. “They really have a group of won derful athletes,” Sutton said. “Athlet ically, with (Eric) Piatkowski, (Erick) Strickland, (Jaron) Boone and Jamar Johnson, they could have the most talented guards in the conference.” But Sutton said Oklahoma State’s guards, Brooks Thompson and Randy Rutherford, were playing well and would hold their own against Nebras ka. “With Randy and Brooks, I think we have one of the best guard combi nations in the conference, too,” Sutton See COWBOYS on 8 William Lauer/DN Nebraska’s Erick Strickland throws down a reverse slam while Iowa State’s Fred Hoiberg looks on durlna Nebraska’s 102-96 win on Saturday. Strickland and the Huskers will try to steal a victory from Oklahoma State in a 1 p.m. matchup in Stillwater, Okla.. this Saturday. The Huskers, 14-7 overall and 4-5 In the Bid Eight, have beaten Oklahoma State, 16-7 and 6-3, just once in the past eight matchups. Saturday's game will be televised live by Raycom on Channels 3 and 10/11. Beck says CU can be beaten By Derek Samson Senior Reporter On Sunday, more than any other time this season, Nebraska women's basketball coach Angela Beck is hoping everything will come together for her team against third-ranked Colorado. Nebraska, 15-11 and 6-6 in the Big Eight, could possibly earn itself a berth in the NCAA tournament with a win over the 19 3 Buffaloes, Beck said. “We’re ending up pretty strong,” she said. “Our team is pretty confident, and we’re playing our best basketball here lately. Obviously, I think a win over CU would be one to get us a bid for the NCAA.” On Wednesday, Nebraska rallied to beat the conference’s seventh-place team, Mis souri, but Beck said a lot more is at stake in Sunday’s 2 p.m. contest at the Devaney See COLORADO on 8 Northern Iowa is next for NU wrestlers By Tim Pearson Sanwr Rtporfr The Nebraska wrestling team is hoping to improve its grades Saturday. After scoring the first 25 points against Missouri Wednesday, the Comhuskers collapsed in the upper weights as they mgonfoi hung on for a 25-14 victory. “At this point in the sea son, we’re looking for 100 rcent out of them,” Ne 1% b '* 4 braska wrestling coach Tim Neumann said. We had 80 percent against Missouri.” The eighth-ranked Comhuskers, who im unarm proved to 11-6 after ri*um*n Wednesday’s dual win over Missouri, will complete their dual season against No. 13 Northern Iowa Saturday at 5 p.m. in the Bob Devaney Sports Center. The match will follow the finals of the state high school wres tling tournament. Neumann said the Panthers would offer his team a tough test before the Big Eight meet March 5 and the NCAA meet March 17-19. “It will be a dual just like Missouri,” he said. “They are really tough at five or six weights.” At two of those weights, the Panthers have two ranked wrestlers. At heavyweight, Justin Greenlee is ranked second in the nation, and Dave Malecek is ranked ninth at 177 pounds. Neumann said Husker freshman Ryan Tobin could give Malecek a run for his money at 177 pounds. Tobin lost to No. 12 Jason Sexton Wednes day in the win over Missouri. “Ryan Tobin wrestled a typical Ryan Tobin match,” Neumann said. “He made a couple freshman mistakes, but his heart and effort were superb.” Heavyweight Tolly Thompson, two wins shy of tying the Nebraska record for wins by a freshman, will get the job of facing Greenlee. Thompson, who is 33-10 on the season, is coming off a 12-5 loss to No. 10 Jeremey Lay. Neumann was also pleased with redshirt freshman Tom Manzella’s performance against Missouri. Manzella, who is 16-21 on the season, has wrestled at three weight classes this season — 167,177 and 190 pounds. Since team captain Chad Nelson went down for the season with a knee injury, Manzella has moved into his spot at 167 pounds. And he had the monumental task of facing Missouri’s Shaon Fry, the top-ranked wrestler in the country and the 1993 NCAA runner-up at 167 pounds. Fry raised his record to 30-3 on the season, but Neumann said Manzella put up a fight before losing 15-6. “Tommy Manzella showed some real heart with Fry,” he said. Saturday’s dual will be the last home dual for three Husker seniors. Frank Velazquez, ranked third in the coun try with a 21-2 record, will finish up his two years at Nebraska. This will also be the last home dual for seniors Scott Gonyo, a transfer from Drake, and Russ Vering, the starter at 190 pounds.