Section B·Page 6
The University Daily Kansan
Tuesday, November 2, 1999
'Husker men look forward to season with new offense
By Matt Tait
by Matt Tait
sports@kanson.com
Kanson sportwriter
The Nebraska Cornhuskers will have a totally fresh look when they step on the court this basketball season.
Aside from having a host of newcomers and partial renovations to their arena, the Devaney Center, the "Huskers have worked on installing a new offense.
"We're trying to play 94 feet and shoot more threes," coach Danny Nee said. "We're trying to be more aggressive, but right now we're playing between a turtle and a snail. And I want to play like a race horse or a rabbit."
Nee said that the progression of the new, more aggressive game plan was about where he expected. The Cornhuskers also will be using a full-court press more on defense, Nee said.
NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS MEN'S BASKETBALI
Last year: 20-13 overall, 10-6 Big
12; lost in the second round of the
NIT to Texas Christian, 101-89.
**Coach:** Danny Reeb, 74th season
**Key players returning:** Senior guard Cookie Belcher (11.8 points per game, 3.3 bounds per game) and senior forward Larry Florence (10.3 ppg, 4.1 rpl)
and forward Andy Markowski [6.4
poa, 5.6 real
■ Key players lost: Center Vanson Hamilton (15.7 ppt, 10.2 rpg; Big 12 Conference player of the year)
For senior guard and team co-captain Cookie Belcher, that is just fine
"When you have a totally new team, things can be difficult at first." Belcher said. "But with Coach Nee pulling us together, everything's going to work out. We've got the potential to be a great team."
Outlook: The Connushers' hopes are high this season. Although the team was selected to finish seventh, seniors Cookie Belcher and Larry Florence along with Coach Danny Nee are expecting much more. A new offense, several new faces and a new aggressive attitude may have the 'Huskers gearing for a Big 12 crown and an NCAA tournament birth in March.
Just how great will depend largely
on Belcher. Last year he was named to the All-Big 12 Conference third team and was a first-team All-Big 12 defensive player. His scoring average of nearly 12 points a game was second on the team, and he led the 'Huskers in steals and assists with 102 and 138 respectively.
- Edited by Ronnie Wachter
K-State will count on veterans
'Cats will try to claw way to tournament behind strong leaders
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
By Matt Tait
The Jayhawks have never lost a game in Kansas State's Bramlage Coliseum since it first opened in 1988. That's 10 straight victories at the 'Cats' new place, and 16 in a row in Manhattan.
While the Jayhawks have enjoyed success in Manhattan, very few other teams have. The Wildcats have racked up an NCAA record of 53 straight winning seasons at home. K-State used that home-court advantage to boost a 1-7 conference road record to a 7-9 finish in the Big 12.
Losing to Kansas at home has affected the Wildcats, but 6-foot-6 forward Josh Reid, one of three seniors on this year's team, said that beating Kansas was not the
KANSAS STATE WILDCATS MEN'S BASKETBALL
**Last year:** 20-13 overall, 7-9 Big 12; lost in the first round of NIT to Texas Christian, 72-71.
- Coach Tom Asbury, sixth season
- Key players returning: Senior forward Josh Reid (9.7 points per game, 4.4 rebounds per game), senior forward Tony Kitt (8.8 ppg, 7.6 rpg) and senior guard Cortez Graves (9.9 ppg, 3.2 ppa)
Shawn Rhodes (7.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg), point guard Chris Griffin (6.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg) and guard Ayome May (8.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg)
Key players lost: Forward Manny Dies (10, pep 8.2), cgrr, center
team's main goal this year.
**Outlook:** Despite being predicted to finish 10th in the Big 12 Conference, Kansas State's hopes are high. Seniors Tony Kitt and Cortez Groves said that the team's goals are to win a Big 12 championship and make it to the NCAA tournament.
"We try to play every game the same way," Reid said. "Going to the NCAA tournament will be more of a goal for myself than beating KU. That's just one game on the schedule."
While it remains to be seen if KState will snap its losing streak against Kansas at home, the play of Reid, along with the other two seniors, 6-5 guard Cotez Groves and 6-8 forward Tony Kitt, will determine the Wildcats' success.
Kitt said that he was confident in the seniors' play and their ability to teach the younger players.
on what the seniors) do this year," Reid said. "And we're going to be kind of the backbone of the team and come out and play every game and get everybody else going."
"I agree with Josh, and I think showing leadership and getting the younger guys to adjust will be our role this season." Kitt said.
"Our team is going to rely a lot
Transfer adds height to Nebraska
— Edited by Mike Loader
Team to shoot for spot in NCAA tournament
By Melinda Weaver sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportwriter
NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
After a fifth place Big 12 Conference finish that earned it the Big 12 berth in the NCAA tournament, Nebraska spent the summer trying to find a way to get to the next level.
Nine of the team's players traveled to Europe for competition and to gain experience and concentrate on weaknesses.
Last season, the Cornhuskers finished 21-11, their second consecutive 20-win season, but they finished 8-8
- Last year: 21-11 overall, 8-8 Big 12; lost to Kentucky 98-92 in the first round of the NCAA tournament
"One of the things we had a hard time doing was scoring, and it gave us a chance to work on that," coach Paul Sanderford said. "We worked on the center position and gave our players a chance to bond and get used to one another."
Coach: Paul Sandforder, 17th season
■ Key players returning: Senior All-American guard Nicole Kubik (19.8 points per game and 5.6 assists per game), senior forwards Naciska Gilmore and Charlie Rogers and senior guard Brooke Schwartz (13.2 ppg and 5.9 rebounds per game)
- Key players lost: Forward Cary McDill and guard Gordon Williams.
Outlook: Last season, Nebraska captured the final NCAA tournament berth in the conference. This season, the 'Huskers expect to see similar results and make another tournament appearance. The team returns four seniors, and 6-foot-5 center Casey Leonhardt joins the team.
in the Big 12.
"My goal is to get my team Y2K ready," Sanderford said. "We play at a lot of tough places during our nonconference schedule to get ready for the Big 12 in January. We need to be better at winning on the road."
The team also is excited about a good recruiting class that brought in eight new players, which added depth and height to its lineup.
Transfer Casey Leonhardt will
make her Nebraska debut this season as the first 6-foot-5 target either of the team's senior guards can remember.
"Nebraska hasn't had a solid inside game in awhile," senior guard Brooke Schwartz said. "This opens up the outside because the defense can't ignore the inside."
Nebraska will return four seniors, including Nicole Kubrik, an All-American guard.
— Edited by Jamie Knodel
By Melinda Weaver sports@kansan.com Kansan sportswriter
Experience finally will be an important factor for Kansas State, as center Angie Finkes, center Olga Firsova and forward Nicky Ramage enter their senior seasons.
Kansas State returns four seniors and four juniors, including the top three scorers and three of the top four rebounders from last season.
Last season, the Wildcats finished with a 16-14 record, 7-9 in the Big 12 Conference, but this season they will add depth and experience that they will help them improve.
KANSAS STATE WILDCATS WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
"I am excited about the prospects for this season." Coach Deb Patterson said. "We finally bring a team to the floor with experience. I will be looking to this group as a foundation. We are also a little
- Last year: 16-14 overall, 7.9 Big
    l2; lost in the second round of the
    NIT to Arkansas State. B3-70
- Coach: Deb Patterson, fourth season
- **Key players returning:** Senior centers Angie Finkes (team's most valuable player, 12.2 points per game and 6.0 rebounds per game) and Olga Firsova (set a single season record with 49 blocked shots last season), and senior forward Nicky Ramage (average 13.6
points and 6.2 rebounds)
■ Key players lost: Forward
Brandy Harris
**Outlook:** The Wildcats finally add more experience, returning four seniors and four juniors, including last season's top three scorers and rebounders. Behind a strong frontcourt, the team hopes to find enough consistency to compete with the conference's top teams.
bit deeper. We have more than one player at each position, which is good for us."
The frontcourt will be especially strong with last season's top three scorers, Finkes, Firsova and Ramage, combining to make one of the top frontcourts in the Big 12.
"We have to establish a
strong presence in the paint, which has traditionally been the strength of this program," Patterson said. "We need to improve as a team defensively. On an overall basis, the next step for us is to establish enough consistency to beat the upper echelon teams."
- Edited by Jessie Meyer
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Kansas Jayhawker YEARBOOK
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*Based on survey responses from 1,621 KU students. Survey administered by the KU Office of Institutional Research & Planning (1999)
1
A