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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 16, 2001)
Track teams open season in style BY DOUGLAS SHEPPERD The Nebraska track team opened its sea son in impressive fashion at the KSU Invitational in Manhattan, Kan., on Saturday. The Nebraska men exited with a team tide, while the women finished second to Kansas State, ranked No. 7 by Tiackwire. The first- and second-place finishes pleased Coach Gary Pepin, he said, especially considering NU’s current practice situation. “I feel as though we did extremely well con sidering the many obstacles we have had to overcome - most importantly not being able to use our indoor track," Pepin said. "However, once we can start utilizing that facility, we will be more prepared." NU’s new indoor track, under construction throughout the fall and winter, is reportedly ready for use. The Huskers will practice on the new surface starting this week, with a formal dedication of the trade coming on Wednesday. Not having an indoor trade didn't hurt the NU men too much. The Huskers, ranked 16th, captured the team tide by earning a total of 169 points and just edging Kansas State. Nebraska used six event victories and sev eral runner-up performances to take first place. The Huskers received a much-needed boost from two All-Americans when they won their respective events with NCAA provisional qualifying marks. Junior Shaun Kologinczak won the high jump with a jump of 7-1, while sophomore Eric Eshbach cleared 17-8 Vz to obtain first place in the pole vault Also taking home victories were sopho mores James De Bruhl and RJ. Grosserode. De Bruhl was the first to break the tape in the mile. Grosserode won the 600-yard run. In the sprints category, the Huskers were led hy junior Derek Zachary, who won the 60 meter hurdles. Meanwhile, freshman Frank Tolen opened his collegiate career with a first-place finish in the long jump, with a leap of 24 Vz. Tolen also placed fifth in the 200-meter dash. Nebraska also received a convincing per formance from junior sprinter Jimmy Pino, who finished second in both the 60-meter (6.93) and 200-meter dashes (22.97). Junior All-American Sheldon Hutchinson earned seven points for the Huskers with his second place finish in the triple jump, leaping 50-10%. Hutchinson said he was satisfied with the team win, but not entirely satisfied with hiSp performance. “This was our first meet, and we are all try ing to get into a rhythm," Hutchinson said. “I want to maintain a good technique, and if I can do that, hopefully by the end ofthe season I will be jumping around 55 feet." On the women’s side, the Huskers, which, like the men, were ranked 16th, ended the meet with a total of 141 points, giving them second. NU was unable to top the No. 7 Kansas State team, which finished with 152.5 total points. The Husker women claimed first place in five events. Four of those Husker champions were freshman. Nebraska was led by redshirt freshman Shelley-Ann Brown, who opened the meet with a win in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.58, and followed that with a first-place fin ish in a personal-best time of 7.53 in the 60 meter dash. The Huskers also were bolstered by fresh men Ann Gaffigan and NaThssiaVice. Gaffigan was the first to break the tape in the 3,000 meter run, while Vice brought home top hon ors in the high jump. Also earning a first place victory was senior Lesley Owusu, who won the 600-yard run in ^Her first attempt at that distance. Nebraska’s Kimani Ffriend continues to lead the nation in field goal percentage, shooting just over 70-percent on the season (.702). Teammate Stefibn Bradford is pouring it in at a dip of just over 61 percent (.612). Baylor’s DeMarcus Minor leads the Big 12 in free throw shooting at 92 percent Minor has made 69 of 75 attempts this year *** Big 12 in the polls: Kansas is No. 5, Missouri is No. 20, Oklahoma is No. 22 and Iowa State is No. 23. Itexas dropped from the rankings after it lost to Nebraska. Oklahoma State and Baylor both are receiving votes in the Associated Press Poll •** Despite dropping a four-over time decision to Missouri on Saturday, Iowa State Coach Larry Eustachy said his team’s effort never came into question. “I’ve been very disappointed in some wins this year,” said Eustachy, whose team has won four games by six points or less. "We just wanted them to leave it on the court and they did, so we are satisfied.” *** After watching Oklahoma State jump out to a 2-1 record in the Big 12 after being picked by many to have a down year, Baylor Coach Dave Bliss said there are just some things that one doesn't do if he or she is smart “You don't spit into the wind, you don't pull the mask off the lone ranger, and you don't underesti mate an Eddie Sutton team," said Bliss, whose team will clash with die Cowboys onWfednesday night *** Missouri guard Clarence Gilbert was named the Big 12 Player of the Week after racking up 43 points against Iowa State on Saturday. Gilbert is averaging 18.5 points per game this season and is making 3.2 3-pointers per game first in the conference. Gilbert’s 18.5 points per game is second in the conference only to teammate Kareem Rush, who is averaging 22.3. Those two make up the best scoring tandem in the league with Kansas's Kenny Gregory and Drew Gooden com ing in second, averaging 16.9 and 15.6 points, respectively. *** Oklahoma State's Maurice Baker was named the Big 12 Rookie of the Week for die second straight time after averaging 18 points in wins over Iowa State and Texas Tfech this past week. Four-overtime loss hurts ISU title hopes BY DIRK CHATEUN Forgive Lany Eustachy if he’s less than thrilled the next time Iowa State is pushed into over time. The coach of the Cyclones, who wonthefiig 12 ayear ago, has lost only four conference games the last two seasons. All four, how ever, have been overtime games on the road “Those losses have all been to good teams,” Eustachy said. "It’s just the circumstances of who we play and where.” Last Monday, ISU lost in over time at Oklahoma State88-80. The latest nail-biter came in Columbia, Mo., on Saturday where die Cyclones were defeated 112-109 in four extra periods -the most in Big 12 history. During a three-hour struggle that seemed like it would never end, Missouri’s Clarence Gilbert hit just enough big shots to keep the Tigers dose. “When they need me to make them, I make them,” Gilbert said “I call it confidence.” His 43 points on 12-36 shoot ing and Iowa State’s depleting ros ter due to foul problems proved to be the difference in the marathon. The Cyclones fouled out five play ers including preseason All American Jamaal Tinsley, who picked up his fifth foul in the sec ond overtime. As a result, Iowa State was forced to use inexperienced reserves in the game’s most cru cial moments. “It’s part of the game,” Eustachy said. “If you play 60 min utes, you’re going to have adverse situations.” The tough week leaves the Cyclones 1-2 in the conference and badly in need of a victory to keep their conference-champi onship hopes alive. The time for a hot streak may be now as Iowa State’s next six games are against teams that finished in the bottom half of the Big 12 last year. ISU (13-3 overall) will try to regain lost momentum as it plays host to Colorado on Tuesday night “It’s the biggest game of the year,” Eustachy said of Colorado. “We need to get back on the win ning track. You have to move on.” Swimming team whips Cydones BY TOBY BURGER The Iowa State Cyclones played host to the Nebraska men's and women’s swimming and diving teams, but NU stoftned out of Ames victorious. The men’s and women’s team each won their dual meet in Arnes, Iowa, on Saturday. The women defeat ed the Cyclones 130-113 and improvedtheir record to 4-2 and 1-0 in the Big 12. The men upset No. 25 Iowa State 125-118. The victory upped the team's record to 4-2 and 1-1 in the Big 12. Interim Assistant Coach Jon Haggerty called the teams’ performances "absolutely outstanding." “On the men’s side,” Haggerty said, “it was an all out effort on both parts - swimming and diving - that really pulled together a win for us.” Haggerty said the women gave an equally com plete performance in their victory. “Basically, they outclassed the Iowa State women," Haggerty said. The NU men won six of die 13 events. Freshman Brent Menghini help lead the men by winning both the 500- and 1,000-yard freestyle. Javier Botello (200-yard freestyle), Charlie Law (3 meter dive) and Carlos Oliva (100-yard breast stroke) also took home individual tides: The men’s diving team rallied behind senior All American Bret Loddin’s victory on the 1-meter spring board. Senior All-American Beth Karaica again led the women. The team claimed eight of the 13 events; Karaica won the 50- and 100-yard freestyle in addition to assisting in the 200-yard medley relay. Freshman Jackie Lobdell earned two victories in the 200-yard freestyle and 200-yard backstroke. Freshman Jerityn Drummond again claimed vic tory for the women's diving team. She won the 1 meterdive. Haggerty said the victories are a great start to the second half of the season where the focus turns to "put up or shut up” against conference competition. Next up for die NU women are duels at No. 15 SMU on Friday and No. 24 Texas A&M on Saturday* The men travel to Dallas for the Dallas Morning News Classic Friday and Saturday. UT Guard Kelly's 31 points not enough BY JOSHUA CAMENZINP Following his team's 80-67 upset loss to Nebraska on Saturday, Texas Coach Rick Barnes was stunned at his team’s lack of offense. Barnes knew his No. 22 Longhorns weren’t the epitome of offensive execution coming in. But after a week of emphasis in practice, Barnes said he was expecting more than he saw. “We came out like a deer in the headlights,” said Barnes, whose team had accumulated only 11 points with 5:35 left in die first half. “I don’t understand our tentativeness on offense.” A late flurry saw UT trailing only 28-20, but Barnes said he knew his team was in trouble after the first 20 minutes pro duced one assist, and senior Darren Kelly was the only Longhorn to make more than one field goaL “Before I walked in at half time, 1 talked to Darren and I thought he had a great point when he said, ‘We’ve talked about this enough, we’ve got to do this,’ ” Barnes said. And when it came down to it, Barnes turned to his senior leader to get it done. Kelly, who had six points at the break, erupted for 25 in the second half as he became the go to guy for Barnes. Kelly was eight of 18 from the field in the final 20 minutes, as compared to his teammates who shot seven of 25. Barnes said his team had no choice but to go to Kelly, who came in averaging 20 points per game. Unlike Nebraska, UT’s big players did not step up to the challenge, he said. Maurice Evans and Chris Owens came into the game averaging over 32 points per game combined but were held to 12 by NU. “There are going to be nights when they don't show up, but I didn’t show up in the first 20 min utes, either,” said Kelly, who played all 40 minutes in the game. “Maybe if I would have played more aggressively in the first half, then maybe we’d all play harder.” But that didn’t happen, and UT's hopes fell on the shoulders of Kelly. It got so bad for a period of 5 minutes, 28 seconds in the second half that no Longhorn except felly hoisted up a shot. “Darren’s a competitor, but we can’t continue to put it all on his shoulders like that,” Barnes said. Kelly delivered at times for Texas, hitting seven of nine free throws down die stretch with fans harassing the senior with chants of “GPA” and “Do your home- % work,” referring to Kelly’s first semester academic suspension. “You’ve got to love playing on the road,” Kelly said after the game. But Barnes response to his team had a little heavier tone with a tough Big 12 slate ahead. “We’ve got to take it up anoth er level on the road,” he said $1 Mug Night $1 Mini Pizza Every Wednesday from 8pm to midnight upstairs only 2 for I Calzones All day Sunday 826VStrMt • (402) *77-2277 Recycle your Nebraskan ...or else. Nebraska holds off Texas in uoset win LONGHORHSfrompagelO n’t on tonight” , With Evans struggling, the Horns turned the show over to senior guard Darren Kelly in the second half. Kelly responded with 31 points. “We made a concerted effort to stop everybody and couldn’t stop Kelly,” Collier said. “I think he was really hot, and they deferred to him over and over again. But between rebounding and him, that was about all they needed.” UT had chopped Nebraska’s comfortable halftime lead to 36 32 with 13:36 remaining, but Belcher quickly retaliated with one of his four three-point goals to push the lead back to seven. Belchera’s shot sparked a 12 2 Nebraska run that was capped by junior point guard John Robinson's three-pointer and a Ffriend dunk. Texas attempted to rally late, cutting the lead to 67-59 on a Kelly three-pointer with 2:07 remaining, but Nebraska hit 11 of 12 foul shots from that point on to secure the 13-point victory. Belcher said he hoped the win was the start of something big. “I think this is the first time we played well for almost 40 minutes,” Belcher said. “We went on a rough start losing four in a row, and maybe this is a starting point to get a streak going.” Solich nabs recruit No. 15 forHuskers RECRUITS from page 10 just one big family." Jeremy Crabtree, a national recruiting expert from RivalslOO.com, calls Manning one of the top two to three cover cor ners in the state oflfexas. After seeing Manning in per son at the Texas seven-on-seven tournament earlier this summer, ' Crabtree said he was sold on Manning’s playmaking ability right away. “He really showed his stuff down there that weekend,” Crabtree said "I think he is ahuge pickup for Nebraska. “After his visit down there this weekend, he called it his dream school” Manning has visits set up to Texas Christian next weekend and Texas Tech on the following week end As of right now, he is not quite sure on the status of those two trips. “1 might visit TCU this week end, but I don't know,” he said Considering Graduate School? Take Kaplan and get the scores you need to get Into the schools you want Classes are forming now in Lincoln. Call or visit us online today to enroll! 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