NU hopes it’s physical enough to upset OU
ByAdamKunker
Senior staff writer
The N ebraska-Oklaho ma football
matchup will live in infamy in the
annals of sport for the physicality and
rugged nature of the rivalry.
But lately, when the Comhuskers
and the Sooners get down to business on
the hardwood, the two teams spare none
of that football mentality. »
“Do you remember last year’s
game?” Husker Coach Danny Nee said
in reference to last season’s 53-43 NU
win over OU in Lincoln.
Thirty-six total fouls were called
and the two teams combined to shoot a
dismal 31.5 percent from the field
“That might have set basketball
back 10 years,” Nee said
This time around, Nee said, he
expects no different
“It will be ugly,” he said “Period”
The No. 25 Sooners (13-4 overall,
4-0 in the Big 12 Conference) are look
ing to increase their share of die Big 12
lead and even the score with NU (10-7,
2-2 in the Big 12).
With five starters averaging double
digit point totals, and a 8-1 home court
record OU has just die right tools at just
thetighttune.
“They’re one of the hardest, tough
est teams in the league,” NU center
Venson Hamilton said. “I’m expecting a
battle down low”
And Hamilton, a senior, can expect
to battle his hardest against OU junior
forward Eduardo Najera, who is leading
the Sooners in points and rebounds with
15.8 and 7.8 per game respectively.
Against Big 12 opponents, Najera is
averaging 18.3 ppg.
“Najera is a solid, solid player,” Nee
said “I think he’s improved every year
he’s been at Oklahoma. Offensively and
defensively he’s a ferocious rebounder -
very active. He’s as good as they get”
Najera is also regarded as one of the
more rugged players in the Big 12,
basecl onhis physical, scrappy play and
-t^lbot-S, 235-pound frame
Preparing for die roughhouse game,
freshman Husfcer guard Cary Cochran
said, the NU scout team has been very
active in practice this week.
“Our scout team is brutal,” Cochran
said “They don’t mess around, but that
doesn’t compare to Oklahoma - that’s
like a fight with Tyson. We’re ready for a
4- minute football game out there.”
In addition to die daundess Najera,
the Sooners also bring several other
solid players to the battle lines with
plenty of firepower. Sophomore for
ward Ryan Humphrey is another stolid
facet, averaging 12.4 ppg and 7.7 rpg.
Sophomore guard Tim Heskctt is
averaging 11.4 ppg and junior guards
Michael Johnson and Eric Martin are
both averaging over 10 points per game.
As a team, OU leads the Big 12 in
allowed), in 3-point field goals per
game (7.2) and in scoring margins, beat
ing opponents by an average of 13
points per game.
Also, the Sooners’ scoring defense
numbers rank fourth in the nation.
But what goes unranked, though not
unseen, is the Sooner toughness.
Hamilton and Nee said the fierce
and rugged play that OU has adopted as
their trademark is unquestionably the
focus when teams play the Sooners.
“They’ll grab you, hold you, pinch
you and everything,” Hamilton said.
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■
Sampson likes latest Sooner frontcourt
By Darren Ivy
Senior staff writer
After having its six-game winning
streak snapped Sunday at Cincinnati,
Oklahoma men’s basketball Coach
Kelvin Sampson is relying on his
team’s mental toughness to help it
bounce back and defeat Nebraska
Wednesday at a 7:05 p.m. contest in
Norman, Okla.
Sampson is confident that will hap
pen.
“I like the way our kids are play
ing,” Sampson said “I like their mind
set. I think this game at this time of the
year is so much mental. There’s a differ
ence between teams who want to win
and teams who expect to win. I think
that’s where our kids are.
“When they go on the floor, regard
less of what our shortcomings are and
we still understand we have our defi
ciencies at guard,
they expect to
win.”
The Sooners
been a sur
this season,
ing 13-4 and
ig one of two
perfect teams in
the Big 12. After
the loss of first
team All-Big 12
guard Corey
Brewer, OU was picked to finish fourth
in preseason polls.
Tim Heskett and Michael Johnson
have picked up the scoring in Brewer s
absence. Inside, Eduardo Najera is
putting up 15.8 points and 7.8 rebounds
a game, while Ryan Humphrey has
posted 12.4 points per game.
“I think any coach in this league
will tell you there’s three guys who bet
ter play well for us to be successful,”
Sampson said. “If they play well, we’re
going to be in a spot to win. Our guys
are Eduardo (Najera), Michael Johnson
and Ryan (Humphrey).”
Now that the road games at
Cincinnati are behind the Sooners,
Sampson hopes his squad won’t make
similar mistakes against die Huskers.
“The attention to detail is a little
better after this,” Sampson said. “We’re
looking forward to the game
Wednesday night.”
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