Sports
Huskers have mile-high hopes for CU contest
By Adam Klinker
Senior staff writer
One day at a time.
It’s quickly becoming the credo of the
Nebraska men’s basketball team as they ride high
on a three-game Big 12 Conference win streak.
And after Wednesday’s victory at Oklahoma,
the Comhuskers have won five of their last six
conference games on the road.
Saturday, NU (11-7 overall, 3-2 in the Big 12)
brings the tour bus back to Lincoln for a 12:45
p.m. matchup with Colorado (10-8, 1-4), fol
lowed by another home game with No. 19 Kansas
(13-4, 5-0) that looms large on the horizon.
“Those are huge games for us,” Husker
Coach Danny Nee said. “But our mentality is ‘we
came back (and won in the Big 12).’ Now we put
all our focus and energy on
Colorado. On Sunday, we’ll
start with Kansas.”
The Buffaloes come into
Lincoln having lost five of
their last six games - the lone
bright spot being an 82-63
trouncing of Missouri in
Boulder, Colo., on Jan. 16.
CU has been sparked as
Nee *ate by sophomore guard
Tyron Manlove, who, in just
eight games, is leading the Buffs with an average
14.6 points per game and is second in rebounding
with 4.6 boards a contest.
Manlove, a transfer from Oregon, was ineligi
ble for active duty with the Buffs until after the
completion of the first semester. Though
Manlove has been a welcome addition, CU’s
offensive output has dropped slightly over the
past eight games, as compared to the 10 games
previous.
The Buffs have gone from scoring 78.2 ppg in
their first 10 games, in which they won six and
lost four, to 73.5 ppg over the last eight in which
they are 3-5.
In addition to Manlove, senior guard Kenny
Price and freshman guard Nick Mohr also aver
age double-digits in scoring for CU with 11.5 and
10.6 ppg, respectively.
Though the Buffs are struggling, especially
against conference foes. Nee said he plans not to
have a letdown after the OU game, ais each NU
game now becomes crucial in determining post
season play.
One way the Huskers have managed to
remain focused is with a more active involvement
in scouting opposing teams.
Nee said he has been sending assistant coach
es out to keep abreast of the quirks in upcoming
opponents’ offenses and defenses.
And, as signaled by NU’s three-game win
streak, things may be clicking just in time.
“We’re just staying one game ahead of the
posse,” Nee said.
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ERIK COOK, LEFT, and Danny Bergman are NU’s highest-ranking divers, but their personalities set them far apart. Cook, the more laid-back
of the two, said he likes to “relax and kind of go with the flow.” Bergman, meanwhile, said he lives for the excitement. “I try not to take
things to seriously,” Bergman said. “If I’m not having fun, it’s no good.”
Diving duo push each other to perform
By Brandon Schulte
Staff writer
Two different personalities, two different styles
and two very different stories. Perhaps the only
thing NU divers Danny Bergman and Erik Cook
have m common is their love for fly fishing.
That, and the fact they may be Nebraska’s best
two male divers of all time.
Bergman, a senior, and Cook, a junior, are the
top performers for the diving team. But each in his
own way.
From the beginning these two were different.
Bergman followed the lead of his sister, an All
American diver at Brigham Young, and first met
Diving Coach Jim Hocking at an early age.
Hocking’s first impression of Bergman was that
of a little boy in constant motion.
“He was like a gnat,” Hocking said. “Always
buzzing around in my ear.”
As for Cook, he wanted to attend NU, but as a
gymnast.
“I started diving because I blew out my knee in
gymnastics,” Cook said. “I started thinking about
something else so I wasn’t decrepit when I got
older.”
They both came to Nebraska in the fall of 1995.
And they just happened be paired as roommates that
first semester.
Bergman feels the reason they could live togeth
er was because their personalities clashed.
Cook describes himself as laid back and down
to earth. Hocking describes Bergman as outgoing
and wild.
While both are successful at diving, their styles
are very different as well.
Coach Hocking describes their styles as savage
power vs. smoothness and grace.
“Dan attacks,” Hocking said. “He’s very reac
tive, explosive and powerful. “Erik is slightly less
powerful. But his smoothness makes up for it.”
They are friends, however, both in and out of the
water, pushing each other to perform better.
“Danny pushes me a lot,” Cook said. “Probably
more than he realizes.”
Bergman feels the same way.
“He (Cook) definitely pushes me,” Bergman
said. “It's always helpful to have someone of that
level to compete with in practice and meets.”
This leads to a healthy competition in the eyes of
Hocking.
“It’s a battle,” Hocking said. “But it’s positive.
Each one wants to beat the other, but its very com
plimentary. They win with grace and lose with dig
nity.”
This was never more evident than this year in a
trip to Texas. In a dual against Texas Christian, Cook
set a new record in the 3-meter springboard, break
ing Bergman’s old mark.
The following day against Southern Methodist,
Bergman topped Cook in the same event.
The constant competition has led tt^a respect for
each other.
“I’ve always looked up to Danny and his div
ing,” Cook said. “When I got here he was better than
I was, so I tried to emulate him. I knew if I dived like
him. I’d be doing good.”
They also keep each other at peak performance.
“He’s wild and full of eneigy,” Cook said. “On
days I’m dead he keeps me going.”
The same is true for meets.
“(Cook’s) good, so I don't want to screw up,”
Beigman said. “But at the same time if he beats me
it’s not like I want to kick his ass.”
They may compete against each other regularly
but above all else they are teammates.
“We’re the Big Red Boys,” Bergman said.
“People recognize us as the players from Nebraska.”
Bergman completes his eligibility this spring.
Cook will be back next year, due to a redshirt season
last year because of frequent injuries.
His sophomore year he was unable to compete
at nationals because of an abdominal injury. From
that time on. Cook’s drive has increased.
“Every time I get hurt, my drive becomes
intenser,” Cook said. “I thought to myself as soon as
I can get back on the board, ‘I’m going to work my
ass off.’”
One thing they both like to do out of the pool is
fly fish. On long road trips, Hocking and fellow
divers Bert Locklin and Travis Niemeyer join in.
Both cherish the relationship they have with
their teammates, coaches and each other while away
from the sport. For awhile, they are all just friends.
As for the future, both have an opportunity to
compete at the Olympic trials in 2000. But for now,
they’re just having fun.
Said Bergman: “I figure the day that diving isn’t
fun anymore and 1 have to make it a serious thing is
where I have to sit there and meditate. It’s just not
worth it.”
NU readies
for elevated
court action
By Jay Saunders
Staff writer
Considering the No. 23 Nebraska
women’s basketball team won last
Saturday’s game against nationally
ranked Kansas, it might seem like the
Comhuskers are being unfairly pun
ished for having to run a lot in practice.
The excess sets of stairs and lines
has nothing to do with a lack of effort
on the part of the Huskers. Because it’s
not punishment, but preparation.
NU Coach Paul Sanderford is
preparing the Huskers to take in the
Rocky Mountain air of Boulder, Colo.,
and a 7:05 p.m. game Saturday against
CU.
“Altitude is a factor.” Sanderford
said. “Anyone that plays there will tell
you it’s different. Kids get winded real
ly quickly.”
Colorado is the first team Nebraska
(14-4 overall and 3-2 in the Big 12
Conference) will play a second time
this season.
When CU came into Lincoln on
Jan. 6, the Buffs left the Bob Devaney
Sports Center with a 90-49 loss.
In that game, the Buffaloes made
three field goals in the first 15 minutes.
NU, on the other hand, had the Midas
touch with 52 first-half points.
“We are going to get a mad
Colorado team,” Sanderford said.
“They were humiliated a little bit and
they will be out for revenge.”
There is probably no better place
for the Buffs to get that revenge than the
Coors Events Center. NU has not won
there sinc^ an 85-60 victory in 1985.
This 13-year reminder might not
come at the best time for a Nebraska
team that hasn’t been able to win any
where but the Bob Devaney Sports
Center lately.
Losses at Texas and Kansas State
brought out the doubters of the No. 23
Huskers.
But junior Nicole Kubik said the
82-62 win over Kansas has given NU a
boost in confidence.
“After having such a successful
game against Kansas,” Kubik said, “I
don’t think anyone is going to be think
ing ‘we are on the road so we’re going
to lose.’” l.
Colorado (8-7 and 1-4) is led byf"
freshman guard Linda Lappe. Lappe is i
the only CU player to average more
than 10 points per game.
Lappe and the rest of the Buffaloes
are hoping to use the home advantage
to rebound from losing four of their last
five games. CU’s last win came at
home Jan. 9, against Oklahoma.
But Kubik, who is averaging 19.6
points per game, said it may be time for
the Huskers to break the mile-high jinx.
“It’s one of those droughts that will
come to an end sooner or later,” Kubik
said. “The sooner the better.”
