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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 20, 1996)
B __ D.C. guard signs Tuesday to become Nebraska’s fourth all-star recruit. By Shannon Heffelfinger StaffReporter The Nebraska women’s basketball team has secured one of the best recruiting classes in Coach Angela Beck’s 11-year NU career, she said Tuesday. “The talent level in this class is one of the best we’ve ever had,” Beck said. “We really ful filled our needs.” Recruiting a quick point guard and two strong interior players were top priorities for Nebraska during the fall signing period, which ends today. NU accomplished that, inking four — and possibly soon to be five — high school stars.' As of Tuesday afternoon, Beck had signed 5 foot-9 swing player Amanda Went, 6-4 center Lisa Bryan, 6-2 post-player Amanda Cleveland and Karlita Washington, a 5-9 guard from Wash ington, D.C. Washington’s commitment became official on Tuesday, and Beck expects to receive one more letter of intent before this afternoon. The newly-signed recruits will join the program nexl fall. “We were very fortunate to get them,” Beck said. “Amanda Went is the best point guard to fill our needs, and our inside attack will really be bolstered by adding Lisa Bryan and Amanda Cleveland.” Went, the Huskers’ lone in-state recruit, plays at Columbus High School and averaged 17.5 points and shot 43 percent from 3-point range while earning first-team Class A all-state hon ors last year. * Cleveland and Bryan will add depth tc Nebraska’s frontcourt, which will need to fill a U-“ ^ This is one of the great recruiting classes we’ve had.” Angela Beck NU women’s basketball coach big hole next fall with the loss of senior Tina McClain. Cleveland was the Huskers’ first official re cruit, signing last Wednesday, the first day of the early signing period. From Lancaster, Texas, she was a preseason Street and Smith’s honor able mention All-American and drew interest from more than 120 Division-I programs. Bryan, who Beck called a finesse post-player, will join the Huskers from Roanoke, Va. Bryan averaged six points and six rebounds per game as a junior last season. Washington, Nebraska’s fourth recruit, will most likely play the three-spot, Beck said. Wash ington scored 21 points per game last season and averaged 20 points per game as a sopho more. “We’re just going after the best players in the country,” Beck said. “There wasn’t anyone in the state this year who could compare to some of them. This is one of the great recruiting classes we’ve had. “I was really concerned about getting a good class going into the Big 12. If they can assist us like the (Kies we have right now, we’ll be good. I think there are some outstanding years ahead for Nebraska.” Buskers ready for Longhorns Florence and Belcher to start in their first college game. By Trevor Parks Senior Reporter With two new faces in the starting lineup Saturday against Texas, the Nebraska basketball team needs to grow up in hurry. But ac cording to Coach Danny Nee, t h e Comhuskers, who open the 1 996-97 campaign against the N 16th-ranked ^ee Longhorns Saturday at 3 p.m., have already developed rapidly since their first practice on Oct. 15. Nee, whose teams are 8-2 in sea son openers heading into his 11th year at NU, said the Comhuskeft held a re treat at his home Sunday, and the play ers threw “last year’s laundry on the tnhlf* ” “What I got out of it was that this group is very together, very focused,” Nee said, “and believes they know what it takes to win. I don’t think they completely understand that yet, but if they are willing to listen and learn and keep progressing, I think we have a chance at having a good season. “I believe we can put this team to gether, and the whole will be better than die parts.” Two of the newest parts to the whole are sophomore Larry Florence and true freshman Cookie Belcher. * Both have earned starting spots for the first time in a regular-season collegiate game. Belcher, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound guard from Mexico, Mo., scored a team-high 38 points in Nebraska’s two exhibition victories. He also averaged a team-high 33.5 minutes per game, made 14 of 24 shots from the field and was 5 of 6 behind the 3-point arc, including a 22-foot game winner against Marathon Oil in NU’s second exhibition game. “It’s my first real game to start off Scorr Bruhn/DN VENSON HAMILTON, a Nebraska sophomye, attempts a shot last Thursday against Marathon Oil. Hamilton grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds in NU*s 82-81 win. the season, and I’m real excited about it,” Belcher said, “and I think the team is excited about it, too. We’re ready to have some fun this year.” Nee said Belcher has made drastic improvements since preseason drills began five weeks ago. “What I’m most impressed with is his strength, his rebounding and his ability to learn,” Nee said. “He doesn’t make the same mistake over and over again. “He has a toughness about him that I really like, and it’s unlike a freshman. He doesn't semi to be nervous at all.” Nebraska will be without forward Andy Markowski on Saturday. The 6 foot-8 sophomore underwent arthroscopic knee surgery Nov. 13 and will not play for at least two weeks, Nee said. ; Without Markowski, Florence will play an increased role. - After sitting out last season because of failing to meet academic require ments, Florence missed Nebraska’! first exhibition game against Pella Win dows with a knee injury. The 6-foot-5 225-pound forward scored 11 point! in 17 minutes against Marathon Oil. Against the Longhorns, he earns the task of guarding preseason John Wooden Award candidate Reggie Free man, a preseason first-team All-Big 12 selection. Freeman, a 6-foot-6 senior averaged 22.4 points per game last sea son. Depth is a concern, said Belchei who joins Florence, Bernard Gamer Mikki Moore and Tyronn Lue in Nebraska’s lineup, but playing wifi only eight healthy players will toe tc suffice. “We don’t toe much of a bench,’ Belcher said, “but what we have we car work with.” Coaches expect Huskers, Buffs to wage battle -r---1 By Vince D’Adamo ’ Staff Reporter The Nebraska and Colorado foot ball teams have traveled nearly identi cal paths this season. Both Big 12 North Division powers enter bye weeks with records of 9-1 overall and 7-0 in the con ference. The No. 5. Cornhuskers and No. 6 Buf faloes each * ° _s 1 Neuheisel nonconference games in September, CU 20-13 to Michigan on Sept. 14, and NU19-0 to Arizona State one week later. On Nov. 29, the Buskers and Buffs will play for the right to represent the North Division in die first-ever confer ence championship game, Dec. 7 in St. Louis. . •«.’ And despite Nebraska’s recent dominance over Colorado and the rest of the conference—Nebraska has wan 29-straight league games—most Big 12 coaches are looking forward to the upcoming showdown. History has not been kind to the Buffaloes in CU-NU clashes. The ! Huskers have won four straight and six of the past eight matchups, primarily 1 in convincing fashion. Since 1992, Nebraska has beaten Colorado by scores of 52-7,21-17,24 7, and 44-21. The last time the Buffs beat the Huskers was 1990, a 27-12 win in Lincoln. Colorado won a share of the national championship that sea son. In Rick Neuheisel’s brief two-year tenure at the CU helm, the Buffs have yet to lose a road game. He knows that dubious feat will be challenged. “We’re playing a great team in Ne braska,” Neuheisel said. Iowa State, the latest Husker vic tim, lost to CU 49-42 in Boulder one week before Nebraska routed ISU 49 14 last Saturday in Ames. “They’re both magnificent football teams,” Cy clone Coach Dan McCarney said. North Division “Both are capable of taking it all the way.” McCamey said he wouldn’t be sur prised by any outcome. “Colorado can line up and play with anyone, including Nebraska,” McCaraey said. Missouri Coach Larry Smith said the key matchup will be NU’s defense against CU’s high-octane offense, which leads die Big 12 and ranks sixth nationally, averaging 488.3 yards per game. Buffalo quarterback Koy Detmer is the nation’s No. 5 passer with an efficiency rating of 155.2 and 22 touchdown passes. Nebraska's Blackshirts rank in the nation's top eight in rushing defense, scoring defense, pass-efficiency de fense and total defense. “There’s no question Nebraska’s defense and special teams are outstand ing,” Smith said. “The question is whether Detmer will have time to throw.” Kansas State Coach Bill Snyder, whose team lost 39-3 to Nebraska and 12-0 to Colorado—KSU’s only two losses this season — said he couldn't pick a winner. “But the odds-on favorite would certainly be Nebraska,” Snyder said.
