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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 13, 1996)
Strickland shines By Peter Mabhoefer Staff Reporter I - DALLAS — Erick Strickland lived the climax scene of his per sonal version of “Hoop Dreams” Nov. 2 at Reunion Arena. The farmer Nebraska basketball player, from Bellevue, made his National Basketball Association debut with 2 minutes, 51 seconds to play in Dallas’ 107-94 loss to Sacramento. After sitting for the first seven quarters of his NBA career, Strickland finally got the nod from Dallas Coach Jim Cleamons. His first assignment: Guard Dream Teamer Mitch Richmond. “I wasn’t thinking about Mitch Richmond,” Strickland said after the game. “I was just thinking that I have to Stop this guy. Mitch Rich mond to me now is just another guard.” Kicnmonu missea oom oi ms shots against Strickland, who wears No. 20 fw the Mavericks. Strickland, meanwhile, made the most of his playing time in the Mav ericks’ home opener. He finished with four points, (me steal, one re bound, one turnover, and two per sonal fouls. In Strickland’s three short min utes, he sewed as many or more points as six Mavericks, each of whom had played 15 minutes w more. “I don’t mind sitting on the bench,” said Strickland, the fifth guard on the Dallas roster. “I’ve got to pay my dues.” Strickland, NU's career steals leader and No. 6 all-time scorer, spends the majority of his time on the bench fw the first time since his sophomore year of high school at Bellevue West. But his work ethic hasn’t changed. He was the last (me to leave the flow during the pre-game warm ups. During the game, he sat on the bench and watched as veter ans Jason Kidd and Derek Harper gave him pointers. “He’s a great defensive player,” said second-year Dallas guard Tony Dumas, who played against Strickland in college while at Mis souri-Kansas City. “Even in college, he shut me down a couple of times. “Erick is playing real well.” Strickland’s tenacious defense is a major reason he stuck with the Mavericks after being passed over M I wasn't thinking about Mitch Richmond. I was just thinking that 1 have to stop this guy. Mitch Richmond to me now is just another guard.” Ebick Strickland Dallas Maverick guard in the draft last spring. Dallas cut Jimmy King, who had a guaranteed contract, to make room for Strickland on its roster. Strickland’s first professional points came when he was fouled by Richmond while shooting a jumper. Both free throws swished through the net. “I just said to myself, These are good,’” Strickland said. “I didn’t even hesitate. There was no ques tion in my mind.” Nebraska Coach Danny Nee said Strickland’s success in Dallas is one of the best things to happen to the NUprpgramin several years. “The coaching staff and I are really excited for Erick,” Nee said. “The staff knew he had a chance. Once he concentrated on b&sketbdll, you could see his physical skills re ally coming through.” Strickland has been playing point guard for Dallas, a position different than the shooting guard he played at Nebraska. Strickland is such a surprise to the Dallas organization that he is not mentioned anywhere in the team’s media guide. But many Maverick fans won quickly impressed with the team’s only rookie. “I don’t know who this kid is or where he’s from,” season-ticket holder Jose Hernandez said during Dallas' season opener, “but he sure can play.” Dallas played Tuesday night at home against Indiana and will next play Thursday night against Minne sota in Minneapolis. to tumble I ."VS" r‘ 8y Gbegg Madsen Staff Reporter If good things come to those who wait, the Nebraska men’s gymnastics team should have an outstanding 1997 season. . V .C - Last season, Nebraska Coach Francis Allen was confident his team could win the national championship. But injuries kept the Comhuskers from earning the chance. For the first time in IS years, NU failed to qualify for the NCAA Championships. Now, more than two months before the season, Allen said, the Huskers are tired of waiting for the chance to erase last season. • “I wish we had a meet already,” Allen said. “I wish we had sane direc tion to shoa fa, but it seems like the team has a lot of direction flam within. So it looks like we’re pretty much on track." Allen said that internal drive could be the key to the team’s success this season—that and remaining healthy. Junior all-arounder Jim Koziol, who fought back problems throughout the 1996 seasoi, had surgery in June to repair a ton right bicep muscle. Doctors are still unsure if the Millard South graduate will be able to compete this season. Sitting out of practice has been dis couraging, Koziol said, but the rest of the team is responding well. “I just think they’re stepping op,” Koziol said. “Maybe it’s just knowing that they might have to fill a void.” That Huskers’ lack of depth will be offset by experience, senior Ryan McEwen said. “The coaches do a good job of keeping us focused,” McEwen said. “They tell us what to do week in and week out.” > Regardless of injury problems, the team members know what will have to be done to reach the NCAA Champi onships, McEwen said. “Really, the whole team knows the job at hand,” he said. “We know the past traditions of all the Nebraska olympians. It’s just a matter of staying focused.” The team will hold its intrasquad meet on Dec. 8 and open the season Jan. 17 and 18 at the Rocky Mountain Open at the Air Force Academy. Minor pains cannot slow Huskers FOOTBALL from page 7 Some of them are getting better, and some of them are not. “Overall, at this stage of the sea son it’s not too bad, and it could be a lot worse. We’ve held up reasonably well." Nebraska did receive a dose of bad news this week when Osborne said No. 2 rush end Chad Kelsay will not play against Iowa State on Saturday because of a bruised knee. Osborne is hopeful that Kelsay, a sophomore from Alton, will return against Colorado on Nov. 29. Sopho more Travis Ibline will fill the spot of Kelsay, who backs up Jared Ibmich. Comerback Mike Fullman, who has missed the last two games with an ankle injury, might play Saturday. Split end Kenny Cheatham has a hamstring in jury and is also questionable for Sat urday after missing practice Ibesday. Defensive tackle Jason Peter (bro ken left found)), Green (turf toe), tight end Tim Carpenter (knee) and quarter back Scott Frost (bruised shoulder) have all played with nagging injuries. Frost, who injured his knee on foe third {day ofNebraska’s 51-7 win over Missouri last Saturday—but remained in foe game—hurt his right arm early in foe season. Jack Nickolite, head football trainer and associate director of athletic medi cine, said Frost has a minor bruise on his left shoulder. “It’s just a little pain, but it’s not a bad injury,” Frost said. “I haven’t hurt it any worse, so I just have to put up with it.” Peter has played the last three games with his thumb in a cast. Saturday’s game in Ames will be the final time he has to wear the cast on his left hand. Green has been battling a toe prob lem since Oct. 5. The sophomore I back also required stitches above his eye Monday because of a minor car accident. Carpenter, who had surgery to re pair a torn knee ligament in the spring, bruised his healthy knee against Mis souri, but he should be near 100 per cent by Saturday. big 12 bowl picture still unclear BIG 12 from page 7 how the bowls have worked out,” Texas A&M Coach R.C. Slocum said. “So many teams that have taken bowls for granted are having to fight for them now.” To be eligibly for a bowl game, a team must have six wins over a Divi sion I-A opponent and a winning per centage above .500. “The bowls are up for grabs right now,” Texas Tech Coach Spike Dykes said. “Shoot, just about anybody could get <me right now.” Eight Big 12 teams still have a chance to play in a bowl, but itrs pos sible that as few as four could make it, which would open additional bowl spots for non-Big 12 teams. “We're not even talking about a bowl right now,” said Texas Coach John Mackovic, whose Longhorns (5 4 overall and 4-2 in the Big 12) cur rently lead the South Divisionbut still must win one game to qualify for a bowl. “We’ve still got some games we’ve got to win first.” Three teams have already Qualified : Nebraska (8-1), Colorado (8-1) and Kansas State (8-1), all from the North division. The Bowl Alliance takes the Big 12’s top team; the Cotton Bowl takes the second team; and the Holi day Bowl takes the third-place team. Several key games in the next three weekswill (day a large part in deter mining the bowl lineup. Round (me is in Boulder Saturday, when Kansas State plays Colorado. Round two is Nov. 29, when Nebraska plays host to the Buffaloes. Round three is the Big 12 Champi onship, Dec. 7 in St. Louis, where the. league’s Bowl Alliance participant will likely be decided. Nebraska and Colorado still con trol their own destinies, and each have a realistic shot at the Bowl Alliance’s top draw, the Sugar Bowl, likely against the winner of the Nov. 30 Florida Florida State game. “You want to have a chance to de cide where you go at the end ofthe said. “It gives you a chance to reach as high as you want to.” Five Big 12 teams remain on the bubble: Texas, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Kansas and Baylor. They are most likely vying for the Alamo Bowl, the Aloha Bowl and the Copper Bowl, which represent the league’s fourth, * fifth and sixth spots. Texas can secure a bowl spot with a victory over Kansas on Saturday or a win over Texas A&M on Nov. 29. Texas Tech (54 and 4-3) needs one more win with games remaining against Southwestern Louisiana and Oklahoma. A&M (5-5 and 3-3), Kansas (4-5 and 24) and Baylor (4-5 and 1-5) face significantly tougher roads. Each must win its last two games of the year to make a bowl. | At Northwestern College of Chiropractic, we feel l strongly about the quality of education we provide to our 600 students and their preparedness for . ^ satisfying careers. 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