NU ranks near bottom of pack as Big 12 play starts
BIG 12 from page 10
Iowa State is after the Cyclones visit
Missouri on Jan. 13 and Kansas on Feb. 5.
Texas (11-2,1-0) The Longhorns, who
come to Lincoln on Saturday, have domi
nated on their home floor, beating the likes
of Illinois, Utah and Indiana in Austin. But
UT was embarrassed by Duke in the semifi
nals of the Preseason NIT and dropped a
road contest to South Florida.
Unlike the majority of its conference
foes, Ifexas still has two remaining non-con
ference games. Texas hosts Connecticut on
Jan. 15 and travels to Arizona on Jan. 27.
Ttexas will rely on its defense throughout
those two games and the conference sea
son. UT is allowing a paltry 64.5 points per
game behind a league-high 7.46 blocked
shots per game.
Oklahoma (11-2,0-1) The Sooners were
victimized by Hilton Magic in their opener
at Iowa State on Saturday, losing 100-80. But
solid wins over SMU and Arkansas in non
conference play point to another solid job
thus far by Coach Kelvin Sampson.
Sampson finds a way to build a solid
squad year after year and is doing much of
the same this season. OU has a favorable
schedule until mid-February when it trav
els to Texas and Oklahoma State on succes
sive dates.
Despite another treacherous five-day
span where OU plays at Missouri and
Maryland, look for the Sooners to pile up
another 20-win season.
Missouri (10-3,1-0) Quin Snyder’s
troops played what is arguably one of the
hardest non-conference schedules in the
nation and came away with only three
blemishes.
Not many coaches would put his team
through a schedule consisting of Iowa,
Indiana and Illinois - all on the road - in a
five-day period. But Snyder did, and his
team will reap the benefits when it faces
close encounters on the road in conference.
Having Kareem Rush doesn’t hurt
Mizzou, either. Rush showed NU on
Saturday why he might jump to the NBA
early. Rush will push Iowa State’s Tinsley for
Player of the Year honors in the league.
Colorado (10-4,0-1) The Buffaloes are
about where many expected them to be, if
not higher.
CU dropped games to underrated
Austin Peay, St. Joseph and at California,
while beating the likes of the University of
Missouri-Kansas City and Murray State -
wins that only have significance in Lincoln.
Buffs Coach Ricardo Patton will have
his team hovering around the 15-16 win
mark and an NIT bid again this season.
Oklahoma State (8-3,0-1) The Cowboys
re-dedicated the newly remodeled
Gallagher-Iba Arena on Monday night
against Iowa State on ESPN.
The unofficial dedication took place on
Dec. 19 when OSU center Jason Keep shat
tered a backboard in the waning moments
of a 70-60victory over Arkansas-Little Rock.
Despite a very inexperienced roster, the
Cowboys should settle for no less than five
wins in January. By February, which gets
more difficult, OSU fans should know
whether to make plans for the postseason
or move their attention to the wrestling
team.
Kansas State (7-5,0-1) The Wildcats,
picked by both die coaches and the writers
to finish last in the league, are off to a sur
prising start behind first-year Coach Jim
Wooldridge.
KSU beat Iowa 86-78 on Dec. 23 and
then won its Big 12 opener on the road at
Texas A&M 53-48. Despite a spirited begin
ning, don't expect the Wildcats to have a
winning record going into their Jan. 27
matchup with Kansas in Lawrence.
Nebraska (7-7, 0-1) This category
should be split into two at this point, with
those Huskers who showed up in Florida,
Puerto Rico, Minnesota and Missouri in
one and those who suited up for UMKC,
Murray State and Creighton in the second.
NU could be 12-2 at this point or they
could be 3-11. On the heels of an inspired
performance Saturday against Mizzou, 7-7
seems to be a happy medium right now.
But .500 ball won't pack Devaney. Just to
get an NIT postseason bid, NU must get its
act together fast
Texas Tech (6-6,0-1) The Red Raiders
should be thankful for Texas A&M (see
below) because without them, Tech is the
worst of the worst at this point
Texas Tech hasn’t beaten anybody, and
losses to the University of Alabama
Birmingham, the University of Texas-El
Paso and Texas A&M Corpus Christi are
inexcusable.
Tech would be better served with some
semblance of gdbd guard play to comple
ment Andy Ellis and Cliff Owens in the post
The two are averaging a combined 30.8
points and 14 rebounds per game.
Texas A&M (6-7,0-1) Much like Tech,
A&M is one-sided. But that one side con
sists of one player-1999 Big 12 Freshman of
the Year Bernard King.
King has led the Aggies in scoring in
seven out of the 13 contests, but is shooting
just over 40 percent on the season. In taking
47 more shots than the next highest Aggie,
King is averaging 18 points, but without
help, he will bum out trying to carry the
woeful Aggies.
“There’s got to be a silver lining out
there somewhere, so we will keep plugging
along until we find it,” Coach Melvin
Watkins said.
Watkins will be plugging for a while as a
double-digit win total should be consid
ered a victory for A&M at this point in the
road.
ACL tear likely ends
McTorry's career
MCTORRY from page 10
Said Manning; "It could pos
sibly not be over. He could come
back after a month and get a
brace and see what happens.”
Even if that doesn’t happen,
McTorry, who was rated as the
34th-best athlete to ever come
put of Tennessee by Sports
Illustrated, said his days here at
NU will not have been in vain
because of what he has earned
off the mat
McTorry will graduate in
May with a degree in communi
cations. He will also leave with
three minors in ethnic studies,
Portuguese and political sci
ence.
With those accomplish
ments, McTorry and his family
said they share the same per
71 could possibly not
be over. He could
come back after a
month and get a
brace and see what
happens.”
Mark Manning
NU wrestling coach
spective on his days at
Nebraska.
“The main thing is I’m at the
University of Nebraska, and my
education is the main thing,” he
said. “It's a journey. The journey
may be cut^hort, but it’s still a
journey. When it’s over, I’m going
to leave here with a degree.”
Oft-criticized Huskers earn praise
CASICINSfrompagelO
We still should remember
Alexander exits NU as its No. 10
all-time rusher and probably best
yards-after-contact carrier ever,
linemen can't help you keep run
ning after you've been hit He did
all this after returning to the field
from a tom ACL and knee strain
that required surgery.
If I tore my ACL, I probably
couldn't make it back to die type
writer. All Alexander did was
become the only freshman to win
Lifter of the Year.
While he wasn't doing that, or
earning three Big 12 commission
er Honor Roll awards with a 3.1
GPA in business, he made stops at
the People’s City Mission, the
Food Distribution Center, St.
Elizabeth's bum unit, the Make-A
Wish Foundation, the Team Spirit
Hospital Visitation Program and
Dads for Kids with Disabilities. No
Husker in die five-year history of
die Brook Berringer Citizen Team
has made it on four teams except
Alexander.
You don’t get yards or touch
downs for that, but Alexander
deserves a little bit of credit
As for Vanden Bosch, he never
quite became the next Trev
Alberts, Jared Tomich or Grant
Wistrom as everyone anticipated
he would when he was a hulking
freshman. He was co-captain of a
Blackshirt defense that had one its
worst years in the last decade. The
line he fought on got criticized for
not getting to the quarterback
enough.
Yet, without the plethora of
bone-crushing sacks we expected,
he still managed to lead the team
with 17 tackles for losses and 26
quarterback hurries. And he made
one of the nation’s brightest and
most innovative quarterbacks in
Kustov look like Mr. Magoo in the
pocket
All this while graduating in
three and a half years with a 3.8
GPA in finance and winning too
many power lifter and academic
awards to list here.
Both of these men, andalotof
athletes who don't get a lot of
press, praise or even playing time,
deserve more recognition than
being brutes in jerseys who are
pampered by athletic department
pork and a sheepish fan following.
Sometimes we take for grant
ed that it’s not a walk in the park to
take hits from both brutes and
media know-it-alls everyday, then
hit the weight room, then hit the
books, and then stop by a hospital
to make someone's day just by
your presence.
Yes, there are far too many ath
letes today who get much more
light shined on them than they
deserve.
But the light that shined on
Alexander and Vanden Bosch in
their last game, complete with an
overdone, carnival-like atmos
phere, was well-earned and fit
ting.
Thkeabow, men.
Missouri found out first-hand
on Saturday what Nebraska is
capable of doing if motivated
Mizzou squeaked out a 68-66
victory at home after trailing
much of the contest
Tiger Coach Quin Snyder said
he was impressed with NU’s
defensive pressure and the
Husker’s ability to get good shots
on the offensive end.
Snyder pointed out that
Coach Barry Collier and his team
can’t be overlooked by anyone.
“You look at the breaks that
sometimes happen in a season,"
Snyder said. “They go up to
Minnesota and have a crazy play
on a tip-in, and our game was
close. So many games can go
either way for them, and they
could be a very good team as the
season progresses."
***
Baylor Coach Dave Bliss
makes no qualms about his
team's 12-0 start or the less-than
impressive non-conference slate
which earned his team the marie.
“I would of probably not had a
schedule like this in any other
league, but you have to do every
thing you can do to prepare for
the Bataan death march,” Bliss
said. “Because once you start
playing these schools in the Big
12, it is absolutely relentless.”
***
The Big 12 Player of the Week
was Iowa State’s Kantrail Horton,
who averaged 20 points in two
wins, including a career-high 27
in a 100-80win over Oklahoma.
Rookie of the Week honors
went to Texas's Brian Boddicker,
who played 35 minutes and
scored 17 points in UT’s win
against Oklahoma State.
***
According to collegeRPI.com,
a service that rates teams based
on strength of schedule and their
record against that schedule, the
Big 12 has five teams in its Top 35.
Kansas is fifth, Texas is No. 20,
Iowa State is No. 21 and Missouri
and Oklahoma are No. 33 and 34,
respectively. Baylor, is No. 80.
Nebraska is currently ranked
No. 96 in the RPI.
Intramural Sports
• Broomball (M,W)
Registration: Now - Jan. 11
• Basketball (M,W)
Registration: Now - Jan. 16
• Broomball Officials Training, Jan. 10,4:30pm ©CREC.
• Indoor Soccer (C)
Registration: Jan. 10 - 23
• Volleyball (C)
Registration: Jan. 10 - 23
• Basketball Officials Training, Jan 11,4:30pm ©Ne
braska Union, Jan.16,4:30pm ©Nebraska Union, and
Jan. 17,6:00pm ©CREC.
• Sports Trivia (M.W.C) Competition, Jan. 11
• Broomball (M,W) Managers Meeting, Jan 16, 5:30pm
©Nebraska Union.
• Racquetball Doubles (M.W.C)
Registration: Jan. 17-30
• Racquetball Singles (M,W)
Registration: Jan. 17-30
• Basketball (M.W.F/S) Managers Meeting, Jan. 18,
5:00pm ©Nebraska Union.
• Laser Quest Tournament (M,W)
Registration: Jan. 24 - Feb. 6
• Chess (O)
Registration: Jan. 24 - Feb. 6
• Volleyball Officials Training, Jan. 24,4:30pm ©CREC.
• Indoor Soccer Officials Training, Jan. 24,5:30pm
©CREC.
• Volleyball (C) Managers Meeting, Jan. 25, 5:00pm
©Nebraska Union.
• Indoor Soccer (C) Managers Meeting, Jan. 25,5:30pm
©Nebraska Union.
• Warball Tournament (M.W)
Registration: Jan. 31 - Feb 13
• Floor Hockey (M,W,C)
Registration: Jan. 31 - Feb 13
Fitness & Wellness Services
• Free Fitness Classes Jan. 8-14.
• Drop-In Body Composition Testing, Jan. 17 (2-3pm)
@CREC Weight Training & Conditioning Room.
• Drop-In Cycling Class, Jan. 14,12(5-6pm) @CREC.
• Drop-In Aerobics Class, Jan. 13,20,27 (10-11am)
@CREC.
Outdoor Recreation
• Indoor Climbing Wall Safety Classes - Level I will be
held Jan. 9(6-8:30pm), Jan. 11 (4-6:30pm), Jan. 13
(2:30-5pm), Jan. 16 (6-8:30pm), Jan. 18 (4-6:30pm),
Jan. 23 (6-8:30pm), Jan. 25 (4-6:30pm), Jan. 27 (2:30
5pm), and Jan. 30 (6-8:30pm)
• Join Outdoor Recreation on a 2001 Adventure Trip!
Register now for these destinations: Colorado Ice
Climbing Festival (February), Wilderness First Re
sponder Medical Course (Spring Break), White Rocks,
NM Rock Climbing (Spring Break), Grand Canyon
Backpacking (Spring Break), Blue Mounds Rock
Climbing (April), Elkhom Canoe (April), Veedawoo, WY
Rock Climbing (May), Grand Canyon Backpacking
(May). For details, visit Outdoor Recreation or call 472
4777.
• Australian Expedition with Outdoor Recreation! Ex
plore the continent of Australia on a 45-day adventure
trek May 31-July 15, 2001. Registration deadline is
March 15, 2001. Visit Outdoor Recreation for regis
tration and price.
Instructional Programs
(Pre-registration recommended)
• Master’s Swim Program, Jan. 9-April 26 (T/R),11:30am
1:00pm @CREC Pool.
• Mideastem Belly Dancing, Jan. 16-March 8 (T/R), 8:30
9:30pm @CREC Fitness & Aerobics Room.
• Athletic Training Basics, Jan. 18-March 29 (R), 2:30
4:00pm @CREC OA Conference Room.
• Sports Enhancement Through Balance Training, Jan.
23-Feb. 20 (T), 4:30am-5:00pm @MLH South Gym.
• Introduction to Aerobic Fitness, Jan. 24-26 (W/F),
12:10- 12:50pm @CREC Combative Arts Room.
• Tai Chi Fitness, Jan. 25-March 1 (R), 7:30-9:00pm
@MLH 304.
• Argentine Tango, Jan. 29-March 5 (M), 7:00-8:00pm
@MLH 304.
• Yoga, Jan. 29-March 7 (M/W), 12:10-12:50pm @CREC
Combative Arts Room.
• Shotokan Karate, Jan. 30-March 8 (T/R), 5:45-7:15pm
@CREC Combative Arts Room.
• Adult CPR, Jan. 31 (W), 4:00-7:0Qpm @CREC 230.
• Sports Safety Training, Jan. 31 (W), 7:00-10:00pm
@CREC 230.
• West African Dance, Jan. 31 -Feb. 28 (W), 7:00-8:30pm
@MLH 304.
Family & Youth Programs
• Registration is opeh for spring sessions of Children’s
Swim Lessons. Session III will be Jan. 20-Mar. 10
(Sat), 9-9:50am @ Mabel Lee Hall Pool. Session IV
will be Feb 6-March 8 (T/R), 6:15-7:00pm. Levels I
VII.
• Priority registration for Husker Kids & Husker Adven
tures Summer Camps begins Feb. 1.
http://yvww. unL edu/crec
For information visit the Campus Recreation Center and East
Campus Activities Building or call 472.3467 or 472.2692. Flyers and
brochures for activities and programs are available at both locations.
Campus Recreation attempts to fulfill all published activities and sched
ules, however changes may occur. Registration and program fees may
be associated with activities.