Nebraskan
Friday, March 4,1994
Sports
Huskers’ faith to be obstacle for Missouri
Probable Starters
Nebraska vs. Missouri
Columbia, Mo. Saturday 3:10 pm
TV: Raycom, Channels 3,10/11 Radio: 1400 KLIN
Nebraska (17-8/7-6)
Missouri (23-2/13-0)
ON graphic
By Derek Samson
Senior Reporter
Nebraska is the only obstacle stand
ing between Missouri and its comple
tion of the first unbeaten Big Eight
season since Kansas accomplished the
feat in 1971.
The Comhuskers are the only thing
standing in the way of Missouri’s nine
seniors as they look to close out their
last home game at Columbia, Mo., in
grand style.
But the Huskers don’t plan to stand
still and take it from the Tigers when
the teams meet Saturday at 3:10 p.m.
“We’re going down there, and we’ll
give them a run for the money. ” Husk
er guard Jamar Johnson said. “We
have nothing to lose and they do. They
like to play our style of basketball. We
have to keep the intensity up, and it’ll
be a good game down there.”
Missouri has won 17 straight games
over Big Eight opponents, and it in
-M
We’re going down there, and we’ll give them a run
for the money.
— Johnson
NU men's basketball guard
creased its record to 23-2 overall and
13-0 in the Big Eight with a win at
Kansas State Wednesday.
Coach Danny Nee said he knew
what to expect from the sixth-ranked
Tigers.
“We have to meet their physical
play,” he said. “They come out and
play so hard and so physical. They
don’t play emotional; they just play
steady.”
Steady is a key word to Missouri’s
success, as it has won by an average
margin of 11.4 points over its Big
Eight opponents.
9 9
“Togo through and be (13-0) is just
remarkable,” Nee said. “You’re al
ways going to have your close games
and scares, but they definitely have
not just backed into that (record). We
certainly have nothing to lose. Our
players like going in as the role of
spoilers.”
Nebraska has definitely bounced
back from its shooting slump. The
Huskers shot 39 percent during a four
game losing streak in late January and
early February.
See TIGERS on 8
‘Big Six was
a possibility
not long ago
By Mitch Sherman
Staff Reporter
Less than one year ago, it looked as
if the Big Eight might soon be losing
two schools instead of gaining four.
Both Colorado and Missouri had
entertained thoughts of bolting from
»• ,he Bi8 Ei8ht in
alii Eiflht the Past year. Col
oraao naa looked
into the Pac 10,
and Missouri pon
dered lobbying the
Big 10 to become
its 12th school.
Now, after the
addition of four
SWWMfer*lfce schools—Baylor.
Texas, Texas
Tech and Texas A&M — the Buffa
loes and Tigers arc content to stay
right where they are.
“Everyone here is pretty pleased
with the expansion,” Colorado assis
tant athletic director Dave Plati said.
Not everyone at Colorado was
pleased with the Big Eight last year
when the Buffaloes considered join
ing the Pac 10, Plati said.
“We have always been kind of a
little sister to the Big Eight,” he said.
“We looked at the Pac 10, but there
were no official invitations extended
to us. There were some calls made and
the Pac 10 was a consideration here,
but we never totally investigated it.”
Missouri Chancellor Charles
Kieslcr said the addition of the four
schools “will broaden the reach of the
Big Eight member schools into new
areas of the country.”
"The traditional strength of these
institutions will enhance the market
ing position of the conference,” he
said. “It’s no secret that I was deeply
concerned that the Big Eight Confer
ence was charging into expansion
without doing its homework.
“1 felt strongly that an arrange
ment as complicated as this deserved
to be examined as carefully as possi
ble.”
Kicsler said Missouri supported
See EXPAND on 8
Nebraska senior All-American Frank Velazquez, right, will lead the Comhusker
Championships in Ames, Iowa, on Saturday.
Jay Calderon/DN
wrestling team into the Big Eight Wrestling
Wrestlers taking Big Eight meet seriously
oy i mi reaiaun
sinior Riportor__
The Big Eight wrestling tourna
ment — normally just a warm-up
for the NCAA Tournament —
means something to the Nebraska
wrestling team this year.
In fact, it means a lot.
After last season’s victory over
Iowa State by a hal f point to win the
Big Eight title, Comhusker coach
Tim Neumann is focusing more on
the Big Eight meet.
“We’veemphasized it more than
last year,” he said. “In the past,
we’ve really downplayed this tour
nament.”
The seventh-ranked Huskers fin
ished the regular season with a 12
6 dual record.
But that doesn't mean anything
now, Neumann said.
“I said at the beginning of the
year that if we were ranked in the
top six after our dual season. I’d be
pleased,” he said. “It’s a brand-new
season now, and dual meet success
doesn’t matter now.”
One team Nebraska didn’t have
much success against in the dual
season was Oklahoma State.
Neumann said the Cowboys —
who have three top-ranked wres
tlers, Nick Purler, Alan Fried and
-
It’s a brand-new
season now, and
dual meet success
doesn't matter now.
— Neumann
NU wrestling coach
--tf -
Pat Smith — had to be considered
the favorite to win the Big Eight
title after coming off probation,
which kept them out of last year’s
tournament.
“They are definitely the team to
beat,” he said. “There probably
won’t be too wide of a spread going
into the finals, but I’m sure they’re
anticipating Purler, Fried and Smith
to be in the finals.
“As young as we are, 1 can’t say
I’m sure we can definitely count on
three guys in the finals.’*
But Neumann said he would rely
on seniors Scott Gonyo and Frank
Velazquez, the defending Big Eight
champion at 134 pounds, to lead
the Huskers.
Gonyo, ranked sixth at 118 with
See WRESTLING on 8
Beck: Huskers capable of playing great in tournament
uy Derek Samson
Senior Reporter
After finishing the season with a 7-7 confer
ence record and earning the fourth seed in this
weekend’s Big Eight tournament, the Nebraska
women’s basketball team had t-shirts printed
up with the slogan: “Good is not enough when
you dream of being great.”
Coach Angela Beck said tnat motto is me
attitude the 16-12 Huskers are taking into the
tournament in Salina, Kan.
“We’ve played good up to this point, but now
it’s time to turn it upa notch,” she said. “In order
to win the Big Eight tournament, we re going to
Beck
nave to play great. I think
we’re capable of that.”
Nebraska opens with
Oklahoma at noon Satur
day. The Huskcrs split their
two matchups with the
Sooners during the regular
season. If they win, they
play Sunday at 2 p.m.
“I respect Oklahoma be
cause they have a great
oauciuD, tiCCK saio. i ney nave a mgn-pow
ered offense. Last year, we went to the finals and
they lost in the first round, so we’re going to
keep that in the back of our minds.”
Nebraska, which has won seven of its last 10
games, is heading into the tournament clicking
on all cylinders.
“I have to say that we’re playing pretty well
right now,” Beck said. “(Kate) Galligan has a
lot more confidence than she ever has, and she’s
been playing as good as I’ve seen all year. I feel
very good about the fact that our younger play
ers are playing better than they have all season.”
In last year’s tournament, the Huskers de
feated Iowa State and Oklahoma State in the
first two rounds and lost 64-60 to Kansas in the
finals.
“You would love to have the opportunity to
be in the finals again,” Beck said. “Nafeesah
Brown really played big in last year’s tourna
ment and Meggan (Yedsena) also played good.
I know we’ll have the seniors ready toplaydown
there.”
Beck said Colorado and Kansas were clear
favorites. However, she said, anything could
happen.
“I’m sure there will be some surprises down
there,” she said. “There always is.