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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 8, 1995)
Buffs coach impressed by Nee’s Big Eight success By Derek Samson Senior Reporter ' Nebraska coach Danny Nee warned Colo rado coach Joe Harrington about a few things when Harrington took over the Buffaloes’ basketball program in 1990. If Harrington’s first four and a half years in the Big Eight mean anything, Nee’s advice was right. Harrington r who has posted a 62-71 record at Colorado, hopes that Nee’s prediction doesn’t prove true again tonight when Colorado and Nebraska meet in Boulder. “My first year here, Danny told me how tough it is to compete in the Big Eight,” Harrington said. “He was right. He leveled with me and said it was tough to build a program against competition like the Big Eight’s.” Nee also warned Harrington about other problems he encountered when he took over as Nebraska’s coach in 1986. “Danny told me he knew what it was like trying to build a basketball program at a foot ball school,” Harrington said. “He said it wasn’t easy. He had to go through that at Nebraska, and I knew I would have to at Colorado. Danny has done it at Nebraska. I’m still working on it.” Nee went 61-64 in his first four seasons, with no NCAA Tournament appearances. In Nee’s last four years, the Huskers have posted an 85-3 9 record with four straight NCAA Tournament appearances. Harrington said he was impressed by those numbers. “What Danny Nee has done at Nebraska is just phenomenal,” he said. “He has built a tradition there, and every time I tune into a Nebraska game, their place is packed. It’s a big-time college basketball atmosphere. “What more can an athletic director ask from a man. He has filled the arena, made the NCAA Tournament almost every year he’s been there and instilled a tradition where there really was none. I respect what Danny has done.” But this year, both teams have started the Big Eight season at the bottom. The Buffaloes beat Iowa State in their con ference opener, but have dropped their last six Big Eight games to remain in the conference cellar at 1-6. Nebraska’s 71-59 win Sunday over Okla homa snapped a three-game losing streak and improved the Huskers to 15-6 overall, but only 24 in the Big Eight. Harrington said if Nebraska fans consid ered a 15-6 mark disappointing, then they had become spoiled by the Huskers’ recent suc cess. “I don’t think Nebraska is struggling one bit,” he said. “I think their players are improv ing, and Sunday they looked like they’re put ting everything together. People expect way too much from Danny if they consider Ne braska struggling. Sure, Nebraska isn’t where Kansas is, but Danny has got them to a new level. Harrington said he hoped the 10-8 Buffa loes would show improvement against Ne braska, especially since they would be at home for the first time since Jan. 28. “It’s going to be real nice to be back home, playing in front of our fans,” Harrington said. “I just hope we play well. We haven’t put together a full game for a while, and that’s what I hope we do Wednesday. We can’t keep playing one-half and expect to win.” 144 N 44th, Suite 100 477-4422 coupon expires March 31st 1995 B Karen Meyer Tim Newman Licensed Massage Therapists Specializing in: &n syff •neuromuscular Li I I .nrami^nnr one hour visit with this ad •pregnancy (new clients only) •Swedish gift certificates •sports available |m ass age wellness clinic 1350 North 48th • Suite C • Lincoln, NE • 466-8844 ^.FREE U-Lock y with coupon. ■ Offer expires 3.14.95 5^^ We Love You. We want your bikes to I De sate too. I [2706_Randolgh__ 438^1477] Now that you have your computer account you can discover how to tap into the resources available to you on the internet. These classes are free and no reservations are required. Seats are available on a first come, first served basis. Call 472-0515 if you have any questions. Intro to E-Mail Friday, February 10 Advanced E-Mail Thursday, February 9 Gopher Thursday, February 9 Electronic News Wednesday, February 8 Friday, February 10 Finger/Talk Friday, February 10 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. Bancroft Hall, 239 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. Bancroft Hall, 239 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. Bancroft Hall, 239 10:30 - T2:00 a.m. Bancroft HaH, 239 12:30 - 2:00 p.m. Bancroft HaH, 239 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. Bancroft HaH, 239 Griesch Continued from Page 7 and eventually took a long bus ride out of Mexico for good. He returned to Nebraska this year to get his degree and to coach. After all the game had put him through, Harrison still wanted to be close to it. He liked coaching and going to the ballpark everyday. Harrison was getting used to a stable life in Lincoln when Braves scout Brian Kohlsch^en offered him a job. Harrison weighed his options. He was happy as a student and a coach. He liked helping other players chase their dreams. He was in control of his life again. If he played, he would put his life in the hands of a massive, impersonal business organization. He would be property. But his dream would be alive. He signed his life away to the game. Harrison was getting his chance because a group of more talented, higher-paid players who had realized their dreams forgot what the game was about. Major-leaguers decided money was more important than the game. They refused to play unless their bank accounts were full and their agents were happy. Now the president is trying to make owners and players settle the strike. President Clinton wants to make them play the game again. If the strike is settled, Harrison’s chance at playing in the big leagues may be gone. He wants to play. He is not alone. Other guys with near-major league talent want to pursue their dreams. Their dreams are part of the American dream. Don’t do it, Mr. President. Don’t force them to play again. It is in the best interest of baseball and America if the president doesn’t intervene. The game won’t really return until they want to play again. Without their game, the current major-leaguers won’t be happy. They will eventually love the game for The Game again. The owners will lose millions and their business sense will force them to fold and settle. The owners will fall back in love with the game. The replace ment players’ dreams will have come true. America’s game will return filled with players who love it. Let the strike continue. Forget talent levels, big names and big contracts. I want to see players who love the game. Players willing to give their lives to it. Let guys like Phil Harrison play. The game will be stronger. Mr. Clinton, let the strike continue. Give Phil Harrison and other dreamers a chance to throw strikes in the majors. Griesch is a senior news-editorial major and Dally Nebraskan senior reporter and col umnist. Tyronn Gontinued from Page 7 ers. His mother is also required to sign the letter of intent. If Lue signs during the spring period in April, he will become the third member of Nebraska’s 1995 recruiting class, joining guard Alvin Mitchell of Omaha Burke and forward Bernard Gamer of Western Nebraska Community College. Lue said he chose Nebraska over Arkansas, Missouri, Okla homa, Kansas State, Texas Tech and Wichita State. He said Ne braska was the only school he had visited thus far, and he does not plan to visit anywhere else. “I want to go to Nebraska because I like the way they play,” said Lue, who scored 37 points and dished out 15 assists in three quarters on Tuesday. “They play up and down, just . like we do here. I also liked the fact that it was close to home so my mom could come see me play.” FOBOeT ABOUT THe BlficS &i. Flowers are passe. Sweeten your relationship with a Valentine gift from Colby Ridge. WE DELIVER on Valentine's Day. POLBY RIDGE ( POPCORN « ICE CREAM » YOGURT ) Mml Phone orders: 476-7800 48th & Pioneers 55th&Holdrege 1417 “N" St 233 North 48th ll26SouthSt. 70th&“0” 33rd&Hwy2 Petar Continued from Page 7 to be a skinny guy all year around.” Malesev said he was trying to fol low in the footsteps of Kansas State’s Percell Gaskins. Gaskins, a linebacker on the Wild cat football team and a high jumper for the Wildcats, won the NCAA high jump championship two years ago. » Two years ago, Malesev wasn’t concentrating too hard on track and field. His homeland of Yugoslavia was being tom apart by war, and it was hard for him to think of a track and field career. “It was hard my freshman and my sophomore years,” Malesev said. “Now I have matured and the situa tion has kind of calmed down. *‘It is a bad situation for the" coun try, and I’m looking forward to start ing a new life in the U.S.” Malesev, a three-time AllrAmeri can in the high jump, said he could never go back to his former country without repercussions. “I have been drafted since I have been here,” Malesev said. “Once I go back, it would be impossible to get here again. “It would be really hard for me to go back after four or five years in the U.S. and adjust to the society.” Although Malesev has trouble in his home country, he hasn’t lost his view on life. “My ultimate goal is to get on the (Daily Nebraskan) quotations of the week list,” he joked. y Colorado Continued from Page 7 figures in scoring. “I thought Mikki Moore and Chris Sallee had career nights (against Oklahoma),” Nee said. “They played solid. They played smart. They played with emotion. They hit the offensive boards and the defensive. When we have that balance, then we become a good basketball team.” An important factor leading to balance, Nee said, comes from the bench players. Tom Wald, Nebraska’s third-leading scorer,.along with Ja son Glock, Sallee and freshman Chester Surles need to play well for Nebraska to win on the road in the upcoming weeks. The Husker bench accounted for 28 points in Sunday’s win over the Sooners. In five previous Big Eight games, the bench players were aver aging only 16 points per game. “The key to the Oklahoma game,” Nee said, “was the contribution of the bench. I expect the five players who start the game to do X-amount of success. We have to have Glock. We have to have Surles. We have to have Sallee. And we have to have Tom Wald contribute. We need that.” The Huskers play four of their next five games away from die Bob Devaney Sprats Center. Three of the L_ i Starters for tonight’s 8:05 (CST) game against Colorado. Nebraska (15-6/2-4) Ht ppg rpg G Jaron Boone 6-6 15.6 3.6 G Erick Strickland 6-3 16.6 5.4 F Melvin Brooks 6-8 8.0 5.2 F Terrance Badgett 6-6 7.2 6.2 C Mikki Moore 6-11 6.2 5.0 Colorado (10-8/1-6) G Donnie Boyce 6-5 16.5 3.5 G Keith Higgins 6-4 21.0 5.0 F Ted Kritza 6-7 11.5 5.5 F SandeGolgart 6-6 10.0 7.0 C Greg Jensen 6-7 12.5 9.5 four road games are against nation ally ranked teams. Nee said he didn’t mind playing away from home at this point of the season, but the players, he said, must realize the task at hand. “We have to be ready to play,” Nee said. “If the arena is full with 10,000 or there’s three buffaloes sit ting at halfcourt with two sheep and they’re grazing, and they are skiing in the rafters, I don’t care. We have to play the road game, and it’s going to be a hard place to play. It’s a Big Eight game.”
