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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (March 20, 1997)
Mike Kluck Coach needs new guidelines for NU success After the Nebraska basketball teams’ quick exit in the Big 12 Tour naments a couple of weeks ago, I decided to listen to the Sports Nightly Show — a local radio talk show — to see what people had to say about the Comhuskers’ pokseason possibilities. Throughout the course of the evening, people called in and com plained about the likelihood of an other trip to the National Invitation Tournament as well as complimented the Huskers on a suc cessful season. But then I was surprised by one of the callers — Nebraska Coach Danny Nee — who sounded sur prised at some of the fans’ reactions. At one point Nee said, “I don’t know what the people want any more.” Because I m a basketball fan and former high school coach I figured I would give Nee my criteria for what I would like to see in the Husker basketball program: 1. A team that cares for each other and its coach. Obviously, there have been times in the last couple of years this caring attitude hasn’t been there. If it had, there wouldn’t have been the over-publi cized walk-out incident last year, and three players wouldn’t have left last year’s squad. 2. A team that hates losing but is gracious in winning. Members of a Nebraska team should get upset when they lose. Yes, it’s a great ac complishment to [day Kansas close at Allen Fieldhouse, but it’s still a loss and a disappointment. 3. A team that is ready to play no matter what. No NU team should ever need an excuse for los ing to an inferior opponent. Once die whistle has blown, Nebraska should be ready to play whether the oppo nent is Kansas or Coppin State. 4. A team with high goals and expectations. Nebraska’s goal each season should be winning the Big 12 Conference title and making the NCAA Tbumament. I don’t believe NU should be in the Final Four or win the league every year, but there’s no problem with having a realistic goal. 5. A team that has no off-court problems, graduates its athletes and creates role models for the community. Enough said. This is where I want to see the program go. But again it’s what I want, and I want to know what you want from your basketball program. Mail your ideas to the Daily Ne braskan or send them to our e-mail —DN@unlinfo.unl.edu. I will pub lish your suggestions in the future and I hope not after another NTT title. Kluck is a journalism gradu ate student aad a Daily Nebras ka! senior reporiec I Russell highlights Huskers charge By Jay Saunders Staff Reporter It is time for the Nebraska women’s swimming and diving team to quit talking about the NCAA Championship meet and get into the pool. The Cornhuskers — fresh off their upset win over Texas in the Big 12 Conference Championships — are in Indianapolis for the NCAA Championships, which be gin today, hoping to make a state ment to the rest of the country. “We have been focused on this meet all season,” NU Coach Cal Bentz said. “We have gone through and put everything together so we can have the fastest meet of the year.” Putting everything together for four days did not leave the Husk ers with a feeling Uiat there is no improvement to be made. Bentz said as soon as the team arrived back in Lincoln, it went straight to work. “The yardage in practice was increased for a couple of days,” Bentz said. “Then we went through and cut back on the yardage and worked on race technique and re lay starts — the things that prep your team for fast competition.” , After the Big 12 meet — in which the Huskers entered ranked 16th in the nation and left ranked ninth — Bentz said the conference championship would be an eye opener for the rest of the country. “We felt we ought to have been ranked higher most of the season,” Please see SWIM on 11 Scott Bruhn/DN JULIA RUSSELL beltfs tie aatlsa’s fastest tlaie la the 200-yarS breaststroke aal is seceai la the 100-yari breast eatarlaitsAay's NCAA . CbaaiRleasblps. Huskefs nasn mavs NU has won five straight after taking two from UNO. Bt David Wilson Staff Reporter The Nebraska baseball team continued its winning ways Wednesday, sweeping a double header from Nebraska Omaha at Buck Beltzet Field. D e - spite being outhitbyUNO in the first game, the Cornhuskers pulled out a 13-6 victory before 225 fans. NU won game two 11-2. “We’re playing better base ball,” NU Coach John Sanders said. “We have to keep this going. We’re starting to pull together.” After losing 13 consecutive games, the Huskers (10-14) have won four straight—including two conference games against Mis souri last weekend. Nebraska will lode to extend its streak this afternoon when it plays host to South Dakota State in a doubleheader beginning at 1:30. UNO Coach Bob Gates, whose team fell to 5-6, said the Huskers played better than their record in dicated. “I think they’re coining back,” Gates said. “They’re swinging the bats.” But Nebraska won the second game backed by a strong pitching performance from right-handed starter Brandon Banuelos (1-1). “Brandon pitched well,” Sand ers said. “We need him to step up.” The junior threw six innings, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out six. Though the two runs he allowed were officially recorded as earned runs, they were both scored because of errors. NU jumped to a 5-0 lead in the \ first inning backed by RBI singles from Todd Sears, Kevin Harrington, Andrew Sabers and Bryan Schmidt. Junior Giffton Durham, who scored NU’s second run of the game, extended his hitting streak to 10 games with an infield single in die first inning. NU added another run in the third when Harrington drove a 3 2 pitch over the left-field fence, across Avery Avenue and into the weeds. The 350-foot blast was his fifth home run of the season. “I’ve been feeling good at the plate all year," Harrington said. The junior second baseman, who finished the nightcap going 3 for 4 with three RBIs, left the game in the sixth inning after twisting his left ankle sliding into second. Harrington’s injury, Sand ers said, is not serious. Nebraska repeated its first in ning feat in the fourth when it manufactured another five runs on four hits to take an 11-2 lead. Five right-handed pitchers fol lowed Banuelos allowing just one hit in the final three innings. Sanders said he hoped to give his staff some experience before the Rainbow Easter Tournament March 24-30 in Honolulu. “We would rather get an out on Please see UNO on 11 _ Mike Warrrn/DN HU SHORTSTOP Kali Harriaftaa thiiw* the ball fti tte first §am af Mft Mleheetfer with Hebraska-Oanha. Hantaftea left the secead •aaw wRh a i#raliel aakla. Thompson’s last chance is near home By Antone Oseka Staff Reporter Nebraska heavyweight Tolly Th ompson calls himself a wrestling junkie. He’s addicted to the high he gets after winning something as big as a national title. Two years ago, he had that high as a sophomore when he won the national champi onship, but two years has been a long wait for an other title. This weekend, only five miles from his hometown, Thompson will try to reach that high again. The senior from Janesville, Iowa, has come a long way for a final chance that comes at this year’s NCAA Championships in Ce dar Falls, Iowa. “The first one’s easy,” Thompson said. “The second one’s tough. You have to do what you did before. I want that feeling, knowing I’m a national champion.” Thompson’8 quest starts today at the NCAA Championships at 11 a.m. at the’UNI-Dome on the Northern Iowa campus in Cedar Falls. Nebraska qualified sox wrestlers for the championships, with Thompson the highest seed of the NU qualifiers. The Huskers also qualified 118 pounder Todd Beckerman, 126 pounder Jeramie Welder, 134-pounder Brad Canoyer, 138-pounder Jason Kraft and 177-pounder Charles McTbrry. Thompson is NU’s best chance for a national title. He’s seeded third and owns a record of 36-3. His only losses are to the two wres tlers seeded ahead of him. Thompson's last twice to Penn State's Kerry McCoy and once to Stephen Neal of Cal State Bakersfield. Thompson said, however, that he will win the national title. It's the only goal he's had all year. “I’Ve been straight on this for a year now,” Thompson said. “Every day I've thought about a national title 10 Please see NCAA on 11
