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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 7, 1997)
Core players important, but bench can contribute BySamMcKewon Staff Reporter For the Nebraska men’s basketball team, the most important players may not be out on the floor, but on the bench. Despite returning a core of six players (junior guards Tyronn Lue and Troy Piatkowski, sophomore guard Cookie Belcher, junior forwards Larry Florence and Andy Markowski and junior center Venson Hamilton) from last season, NU still has questions - of depth at several positions - that will not be answered until the Nov. 16 sea son-opener against UNC-Greensboro. The Huskers will have to rely on freshmen Todd Smith, Brant Harriman, Rodney Wiliams and Chad Johnson to Fill the Huskers’ rotation. Smith is injured and not expected for the opener. Nebraska Coach Danny Nee said depth is one of the major focuses of early practice this season. “Depth is certainly a problem for us, but these things take care of them selves as die season goes on,” he said. “We have decent depth at the guards but we’re a little thin up front” NU does return a solid nucleus, which accounted for 69.2 percent of the scoring and 62.9 percent of rebounding last season.' The Huskers* success this season starts with All-American candidate Lue, who earned second All-Big 12 honors last season after averaging 18.8 points per game with 4.3 assists per contest. He was then selected to play on the USA 22 & Under World Championship Team this summer. Nee said Lue is NU’s leader on and W^B^fe%e«fpoint guard in the Big 12 and one of the best in the coun period,” Nee said. “He doesn’t need to statistically improve his num bers, so he’s more focused on making every member of this team better. He’s going to be a dominant force.” i Belcher also resumes his starting role at the two-guard position from last year. A member of Big 12^ all-rookie ; team last season, Belcher averaged 9.2 {points per game and 3.8 rebounds per "game. Belcher struggled from the free-throw line, however, making only 49.4 percent of his attempts last sea son. Nee said Belcher, who has been hampered by a hamstring injury, should be ready for the opener and a breakout season shooting die ball. “Cookie has worked a lot on his free-throw work and his three-point ; work,” he said. “He knows he needs to ^improve his outside shooting.” fV At small forward, Florence is again NUls designated defensive stop per this season and looks to be com pletely healthy after two seasons of chronic knee problems. Last year, Florence tallied 7.3 points per game and 3.8 rebounds pec game. M . -TT------— 1997-98 Nebraska Men’s Basketball Schedule Date Opponent Time Nov.5 • 7S5$ift • • . Nov. 10 Marathon Oil 7:05 p.m. :v=:;. . . ' ' . Nov. 19 Western Illinois 7:05 p.m. NawOrieans 7:05 p.m. Nov. 25 Colorado St 7:05 p.m. • Nqv.29; Te»s-San Antonio* - .; ^■ J>' Dec. 1 Tulsa 6:00 p.m. wmm, i• v= N.c.-WBmlngtoo • • •••&/• -B3&p;m< •. m Dec. 10 Creighton 735 p.m. . JOWL it .:••• • • Mwsotav.' 4* ■, ■ s$ % -. mmm& M=••••..:>••>•• Dec. 27 Virginia 930 p.m. «»;» andRoiifla *mnm*£* > Dec. 30 Final Round TBA Kerw8»i:.P^v::-4: ;>••:: i. ?<mmm * Mm - •:• r e -■■■■ Jan. 7 Oklahoma St 735 p.m. .<&& it-;..- Colorado 4 -4:.- $i*ii;.. ,<.. -taao&om:;. :$. Jan. 18 Oklahoma 1235 p.m. - MtyMN&v'' ; Jan. 24 Iowa SL 12:45 p.m. mem > -JCaasasSk- .v-^ ..-> Mm ^* », • , Feb. 1 Kansas 235 p.m. f#m ■ i&aouri v; mmmt'i: y Feb. 7 Kansas SL 12:45 p.m. i yummmu • Feb. 14 Baylor 130 p.m. Feb. 21 Colorado 730 p.m. > <m& - Feb. 28 Iowa St 630 p.m. • il fcfc (Lue)doesn ft need to statistically improve his numbers, so he s more focused on making every member of this team better. He s going to be a dominant force.” Danny Nee : I-., * $ . - Nebraska basketball coach ,s ’ , Healthy again, Florence is ready to become a more complete player this season, Nee said. “Larry worked as hard as anybody in the off-season,” he said. “We know he’s a good defensive player, and he’s really focused on cutting down on his errors.” Markowski and Hamilton man the power forward and center positions for NU. Nee likens Markowski, who aver aged 4.2 points per game and 3.9 rebounds per game last year, to former Husker Bruce Chubick with savvy court knowledge and strong offensive rebounding. With the graduation of Mikki Moore, Hamilton becomes the Huskers’ go-to player inside. Nee said Hamilton plays a big role in how much Nebraska achieves in the season. “He’s got to show up every night and play consistent,” Nee said. “I know he wants this.” Harriman and Johnson will serve as reserves in the post. Piatkowski serves as the team’s sixth man and could play at either for ward or guard. After playing in only eight of the Big 12 games last year, Nee said he will look to the junior for an outside shooting threat. “He’s got a great touch and he’s got a good a stroke as his brother did,” Nee said. Piatkowski’s brother Eric is a for mer Husker, who now plays with the Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA. NU is picked to finish fourth in the Big 12 Conference. Kansas is the conference’s prohib ited favorite, while Oklahoma and Texas Tech will receive Top 25 consid eration. J Nebraska has to take care of its home-court advantage to succeed in the Big 12 and put itself in position for the NCAA Tournament, which is the team’s top goal, Nee said “We’ve got some tough games in nonconference and the Big 12 isn’t easy,” Nee said. “We have to win our games at home and try and steal some on the road. You win all your games at home in conference and go .500 on the road, and you’re in the NCAA Tournament, usually.” */N THE COVER NEBRASKA FRESHMAN SWIMMER JOE BURGARD competed in the Big 12 Invitational Swim Meet earHmthto Mason! Many of the Husker winter sports have already begun competition or will start their seasons within the next two -MRS. -—* - Ryan Soderlin/DN JUNIOR FORWARD VENSON HAMILTON scores a layup against Pella Windows Howard Eatman. HamHtoir will have to pick up the rebounding for the Hmk«safterttelaKofMtfii|too«. | ... Nov yon can afford to have a computer for schod. Cmputer ^ Brenaissance 4S6 & Pentiam tmadles • Notebooks fn» $399 330 North 46th Street • 465-4040 *