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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 9, 1998)
Matt Miller/DN NU WRESTLER JOSE DEANDA has earned the starting position in the 141-pound weight class as a fifth-year senior. The South Sioux City native is the lone undefeated Husker this season. Work ethic, confidence help Nebraska’s DeAnda By Lisa Vonnahme Staff writer Wrestling is the only thing on Jose DeAnda’s mind these days. And for every reason, it should be. DeAnda, a fifth-year senior from South Sioux City, has begun his last season as a Nebraska wrestler. He has no All-America status to boast about. No national champi onship or Big 12 Conference title, either. But what the 141-pounder does have is . confidence. That confidence, something DeAnda has n't always had is what has helped him to a 6 0 start this season, making him the only unde feated Husker. And continued confidence, along with a strong work ethic, is what DeAnda said will make a difference for him this year as he works his way to every wrestler’s dream - a national title. “This year. I've just told myself that I’m a better wrestler,” DeAnda said. “I’ve worked harder. I get myself pumped up before I go on the mat. I don’t think about losing.” In four seasons as a Husker wrestler, DeAnda hasn’t been in the spotlight. He’s never had a starting position until this year. And he’s had to share that spot with other wrestlers throughout his career. Some might even say he’s fallen into the shadows during his career at Nebraska. But those who work closely with DeAnda have noticed a difference this year in his mentality. “He believes in himself,” said Mark Cody, NU assistant coach. “You can see how confident he is when he walks on the mat. He Please see DEANDA on 8 «-— You can see how confident he is when he walks on the mat. He knows he can win. Before, sometimes there was uncertainty.” Mark Cody NU assistant coach NU women double up on Troy St. By Jay Saunders Staff writer Even in the recreational centers in Long Beach, Calif., Monique Whitfield has never had a basketball game where she never missed a shot. But on Tuesday night, the junior forward achieved perfection in No. 19 Nebraska's 108-54 win over Troy State. Whitfield made all seven shots she took from the floor, and she didn't miss any of her four free throw attempts. To top it off. Tuesday was Whitfield's first start as a Comhusker. “1 was real relaxed tonight,” Whitfield said. “It felt like old basketball like I was playing at the rec.” Whitfield was one of five players who had career highs in scoring. Her 18 points led all scorers in a game where NU (8-1) made an assault on the record books. All 13 active players scored at least two points against Troy State (0-7). Four Huskers scored in double figures, and the Huskers' 28 assists ranks fourth all-time. “We have the ability to have a good bench,” Sanderford said. “Games like tonight help develop your bench.” I he bench players helped contribute to the seventh UohrocLo me hi§hest scoring game in neOiaSKa 1UO Nebraska history. This was Troy State 54 the first time NU scored in triple figures this season and the second time in two sea sons under Sanderford. The big number at the end of the game was helped by a quick start. In the Huskers’ last two games against Creighton and Drake, NU Ml behind early. * ? Against Troy State, Nebraska jumped out to an 8-1 lead. The team's first seven baskets were layups. “Our goal was to jump on them early,” junior Brooke Schwartz said. “Towards the end of the game we worked on getting better.” TSU did hang around for the first three minutes. Led by junior LaKeisha Parrish, who had 11 first-half points, the Trojans trailed 17-14 with 12 mmutes and47 seconds remaining in the first half. After scoring her 12th point, Parrish would not be heard from again in the first half. At that pomt, the Huskers were off to the races. In the next six minutes, NU pulled off a 22-7 run and led 56-26 at halftime. The 56 first-half points were the most scored in one half under Sanderford. “You saw an out-manned and tired team play a ranked and superior basketball team,” Troy State Coach Jerry Hester said. The Bob Devaney Sports Center crowd of 2,708 cheered its loudest when NU hit the 100-point mark. Senior Kate Benson hit a free throw with 1:41 left in the game. “Thank goodness for this game tonight,” Sanderford said. “It is nice to relax and give kids some playing time.” Bluejays hoping for first Lincoln win in 66 years By Adam Klinkkr Staff writer A Depression Era victory and a pair of early 1920s wins is all the victories the Creighton bas ketball team has to show for playing Nebraska in Lincoln. Going into tonight s^7:05 contest at the Bob Devaney Sports Center^ the Bluejays, 6-0 over all, have not won on NU’s home court in 66 years. Last season’s 84-73 triumph in Omaha was CU’s first victory over the Comhuskers in seven meetings. It has been dubbed the 1-80 rivalry. Bluejay Coach Dana Altman said things have changed for his team, but he’s still got a wary eye on NU. “I’m not sure that we’re the favorite,” Altman said, “especially since we’re coming down to (Lincoln).” But the Huskers (5-3) have struggled early this year, plagued by turnovers and poor shoot ing. And the memories of last year’s Bluejay vic tory is still fresh in Coach Danny Nee’s mind. CU forward Rodney Buford especially is a concern, as he comes into the game averaging 19.3 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. In last year’s tangle for state roundball brag ging rights, Buford put up 29 points, pulled down eight rebounds, dished out two assists, had two steals and blocked a shot. The Jays are 29-12 (.707 percent) overall when Buford scores at least 20 points. “Creighton comes in with a lot of confi dence,” Nee said. “Rodney Buford is just a tremendous player. We better plan on guarding him or he’s going to score a lot of points like he did last year.” And since last year, the Jays have done noth ing but improve, Altman said. “We're just a better team now,” Altman said. “We were decent before, but we’ve improved. We have a lot of leadership, and we’re scoring well.” CU averages 83.3 ppg, and a tenacious Jay defense holds opponents to 59.2 ppg. Bluejay center Doug Swenson joins Buford as another offensive staple, scoring 12.3 points and grabbing 7.8 rebounds per game. Already, Swenson has two double-doubles on the season - Today 7:05 p.m. Bob Devaney Sports Center Nebraska (5-3) Rankings: None Pos. No. Name Ht/Yr. PPG RPG G 5 Larry Florence 6*5 / Sr. 7.5 3.3 G 30 Cookie Belcher 6-4/Sr, 12.8 3.5 F 15 Chad Johnson 6-6 / So. 8.1 3.6 F 44 Andy Markowski 6-8 / Sr. 7.8 5.9 C 15 Venson Hamilton 6-10 / Sr. 12.5 9.0 Creighton Bluejays (0-0) Rankings: None Pos. No. Name HWYr. PPG RPG G 4 Ben Walker 6-2 / So. 4.7 4.0 G 5 Ryan Sears 6-0 / So. 8.0 3.0 F 32 Rodney Buford 6-5 / Sr. 19.3 7.2 ► F 44 Donnie Johnson 6-7 / Jr. 7.2 2.8 C 11 Doug Swenson 6-10 / Sr. 12.3 7.8 Jon Frank/DN 12 points and 14 rebounds against Towson State and 15 points and 13 boards against Missouri Kansas City. Swenson will have the job of containing Husker center Venson Hamilton, who has com parable numbers with an average of 12.5 ppg and nine rpg. Both Altman and Nee said the physical play under the boards in the Swenson-Hamilton matchup will prove to be a focal point in the game. “They’re big inside; they’re physical,” Altman said. “We just want to be more physical than they are.” The Jays hold a rebound margin this season of plus-12 to NU’s plus-3.9. The Huskers also trail CU by a considerable margin in scoring averages - scoring 64 ppg as a team while allowing opponents 62 ppg. But those numbers don’t mean much to Altman. This year’s edition of the NU-CU rival ry should prove to be another intriguing chapter in the game’s history, he said. “Nebraska is a good team,” Altman said. “They’ve got some big guys, and we need to make sure we shut them down and stay tough defensively.” While the history lies with the Huskers and this season’s statistics go CU’s way, Nee said he isn’t concerned about either issue. “I don’t worry abo.ut that stuff,” Nee said. “We’re just defending our home court, and we have to get ready to play. It’s going to be a great game.”