Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 5, 1997)
NU swimmers expect pressure By Jay Saunders Assignment Reporter In the last meet until winter break, both the Nebraska men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams will continue to face some of the 4 country’s highest ranked teams this weekend in the Texas Invitational in Austin, Texas. The No. 16 men’s team will go up against six other teams in the top 25 in the country, including No. 5 Tennessee and No. 3 Texas. The No. 7 women’s team is one of six ranked teams in the women’s field. Even with all the talent at this event, NU Assistant Coach Rick Paine said the Cornhuskers are not looking to have a season-best perfor mance at this particular event. “We have tried to peak before at this meet,” Paine said. “We aren’t doing that this year. We have not taken anything away from our train ing for this meet.” Both the men’s and women’s teams have swum against several of the teams that will be in Texas this weekend. The men’s team fell to Texas, which Paine said will probably challenge them for the national cham pionship, at the Big 12 relay meet in the beginning of die season. NU was able to beat No. 8 Southern Methodist in a dual meet in November. “The men have seen Texas and Tennessee,” Paine said. “This will be a good measuring stick on how we can perform later.” All-American Adam Pine is once again swimming personal-best times in both the 50- and 100-yard butterfly. Pine set a record in the 50-yard but terfly in the Husker Shoot Out.“Our men are usually good in-season,” Paine said. “I think that is because of the way we train here at Nebraska. Adam Pine sure takes care of the but ifro terfly.” The women’s team is also familiar with some of this weekend’s competi tion. NU has already swum against No. 13 UCLA and fellow Big 12 member, No. 24Texas A&M, both of whom will be competing this weekend. One team that the Huskers have not swum against is No. 5 Arizona., whom Paine said is probably the best team in this weekend’s field. Paine said NU will probably be able to use this weekend as a barometer of where they stand if the Wildcats don’t shave and taper. “If (Arizona) comes in shaved and tapered,” Paine said, “they will probably come in ahead of us. If not, that will give us a chance to see where we are at with them.” ♦V';’T Coach urges team to forget about polls POLLS from page 7 gories, including rushing, scoring and pass efficiency defense. “We just have to go out like we do every week and shut down the run,” Wistrom said. “They pride them selves on playing physical. It’s going to be a physical game.” A win Saturday would earn Nebraska an Orange Bowl berth, but the Huskers will not be able to play top-ranked Michigan (11-0), which will play in the Rose Bowl as the Big Ten champion. The Wolverines own 58 of 62 first-place votes in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches’ poll and all but one first-place vote in The Associated Press Poll. All Nebraska can do is go out and concentrate on winning its final two games, Osborne said. “I’ve talked to them quite a bit about forgetting the polls and forget ting all that other stuff,” Osborne said. “Just play. This week, we have our hands full. We have to try to win this game and play well enough to get it done. I think maybe way too much is made of that poll thing. At some point in the season, you just have to try to play well enough to win.” NU quarterback Scott Frost agreed. “All we can really control is what we do on the field,” Frost said. “Thinking about Michigan isn’t going to do us any good this Saturday.” Notes: The student lottery for bowl tick ets will begin Monday and continue throughout the week, NU Ticket Manager John Anderson said. If Nebraska wins Saturday in the Big 12 Championship against Texas A&M, the Huskers will earn an Orange Bowl berth and tickets will be available for $80 each. “If it’s not the Orange Bowl, there probably won’t be much demand,” Anderson said. If the student ticket demand exceeds the supply, Anderson said, a lottery system would be used. Only 11 student tickets were sold for the Big 12 Championship. Nebraska offensive guard Aaron Taylor was named the offensive line man of the year by the Touchdown Club of Columbus, Ohio. The 6-foot-1, 305-pound senior all-American, who is also an Outland Trophy candidate and was a Lombardi Finalist, has helped to lead the Huskers to a No. 1 ranking in rushing, averaging 397.8 yards per game. NU hopes to dominate with defense By Jay Saunders Assignment Reporter Nebraska continues its march through the Missouri Valley Conference tonight when the Hu skiers face Wichita State at 7 in the ffrst round of the Insight.com Women’s Classic in Tucson, Ariz. No. 12 NU (7-1) has already defeated MVC teams Creighton and Bradley. But tonight’s game against the Shockers features a 0-3 Wichita State team that played in last sea son’s conference championship game and is expected to return this season. “I’v? seen them on film,” NU Womens Basketball Paul Sanderford said. “They have a good, solid post game and play some zone and man-to-man. They mix it up a little bit.” The Huskers used a balanced offensive attack to defeat Creighton 80-59 and Bradley on Wednesday night 80-66. Against the Braves, the Huskers shot a season-high 62 per cent from the floor and had five players score in double figures. Sanderford said while the offense has stepped it up, two of the Huskers’ trademarks have fallen by the wayside. “1 like to see balance,” Sanderford. “We are going to go back now and rebound and play defense a little bit.” The Shockers, who have lost to No. 20 Arkansas and Arkansas State, are led by guard LaTeesha Hill, who is averaging 8.7 points and 5.3 rebounds a game. WSU Coach Linda Hargrove said the Huskers provide the Shockers with a good opportunity, but she is more interested in a victo ry than in using a measuring stick:. “We really need to win a ball game and get back home,” Hargrove said. “We are struggling a little bit with our confidence. We need a win bad.” If the Huskers defeat Wichita State, NU will play in the champi onship on Sunday at 4 p.m. Nebraska could get a shot against No. 11 Arizona. The Wildcats are 2-0 and return all five starters from last season’s team. Sanderford is no stranger to the Wildcats. In each of the last two seasons, Arizona beat Sanderford’s Western Kentucky teams. Last season, Arizona beat Sanderford and the Hilltoppers in the fits'! round of the NCAA Toiirhhnfeiit.' " 1 “I would love to play another top team on the road,” Sanderford said. “We have to take care of busi ness first, though. If we don’t beat Wichita State, we can kiss No. 10 or 11 in the country goodbye.” Big Bucks for Used Books Get back up to 60% of the list price on boob being used again on campus!* *■ $$ - City Union Buyback Hours: Dec. 8-118:30am-5:30pm, Dec. 12 8am-5pm, Dec. 13 Uam-3pm, Dec. 15-18 8:30am-5:30pm, Dec. 19 8am-5pm East Campus Union Buyback Hours*r ire's NU helped Reitsma realize dream REITSMA from page 7 College, a small Christian school close to her home. A shy, quiet person, Reitsma was not heavily recruited and struggled to choose between Nebraska and Dordt. “It was for personal reasons,” Reitsma said. “I was just raised that way. But I know that I’ve become the best player I can be here.” Husker setter Fiona Nepo does not dispute Reitsma’s claim. The two share a special relationship, Nepo said, because they fill two important leader ship roles forNU. The extroverted Nepo often plays the part of the Huskers’ vocal leader, while it’s easier for the qui eter Reitsma to lead through example. “Reitsma’s sophomore year, we had everybody,” Nepo said. “We had (Allison) Weston and Christy (Johnson), but she just put everybody in awe. Her talent and her presence on the court are amazing.” I No matter what happens for Reitsma during her final tournament run with the Huskers, her final act at Nebraska will not be the last of her career. The 6-foot-4 outside hitter plans to join the: U S. National Tdam at Colorado in May. And standing on the court before her final regular-season home match last Saturday, listening to the applause of appreciation as the fans honored her in a special ceremony, it was a decision Reitsma does not regret. “It was the most emotional moment I’ve had since I’ve been here,” Reitsma said. “Just knowing that I had the crowd and my parents and coach behind me. “You always have the dream but it doesn’t seem real. Nebraska made it a reality for me.” . NebrasketbaH GIVE IT A SHOT "• ‘V i -f ' £ ‘ * Ameritas Classic NU Man vs. UNC Wilmington Friday, Dacambar 5 at 6:30 pm Championship Saturday, Dacambar 6 at 8:16 pm at Bob Devaney Sports Center Please bring a new upwrapped toy to the Ameritas Classic games to participate in the Toys for Tote project conducted by Phi Beta Lambda and the Marine Reserves. "< _ . . •• -? - 1