Cornhuskers will play without true center
By Mark Button
Kansan sportswriter
Some say teams can't play in the Big Eight Conference without a center. Nebraska coach Danny Nee isn't one of them. *
"This will be the first year since I've been coaching that we'll play without a post man," Nee said. "We're basically going to play with four forwards and a point man."
Although this style of play is unproven, Nee said, at least he had experienced personnel at each position.
"The strength of this Nebraska team, I think, is experience," he said. "We've got four seniors back, and two of those men are five-year players."
Both Eric Piatkowski, 6-foot-7, All-Big Eight Conference forward, and forward Bruce Chubick, 6-7, were redshirt freshman. Nee said that both players' maturity would benefit the team.
Nebraska
Lastyear:20-11
Piatkowski scored 16.7 points a game last year, fifth-best in the league. Chubick added more than 8 points and at least 5 rebounds a game. Nee said he expected both men to improve in all categories this year.
Big Eight Finish: 8-6, tied for second place Coach: Danny Nee
Another senior returning is three-year starting point guard Jamar Johnson, who had a down season last year. Johnson slipped from scoring more than 11 points a game as a sophomore to 9.8 points a game last year. Nee said, however, he was confident that Johnson would improve this season.
At one of the other forward spots is Nebraska's fourth senior, Tom Best.
Record at Nebraska: 126-82 (seven years)
Strength: Senior leadership. Nebraska will start four seniors, including all-conference forward Eric Piatkowski. Pliatkowski, 6-foot 7, scored 16.7 points while grabbing 5.7 boards a game last year and looks to improve on both numbers this year. He will be the focus of opposing defenses, but guard Jamar Johnson, 6-0, and forwards Bruce Chubick and Tom Best will hurt teams.
Kansas junior center Greg Ostertag is caught on the perimeter against a Nebraska defender. Kansas defeated Nebraska 94-83 in Allen Field House last year. The Cornhuskers are without a center this year but think that the experience of the team will lead it to success.
KANSAN
Renee Knoeber/KANSAN
Weakness: Rebounding. Nee said his team would play this year without a true center, operating with four forwards and a point guard. Platkowski will be the tallest starter, and he usually roams the perimeter on offense, so offensive rebounds may be few and far between.
"These men are older, more mature and they're very focused," Nee said.
Four sophomores, all of whom played crucial minutes as freshmen, complement the four seniors.
Sophomore forward Terrance Badgett will start this year, and sophomore guards Jaron Boone and Erick Strickland played several minutes a game during the conference schedule last season. Also, guard Jason Glock, who played his freshman year and was redshirted last season, will add depth to the backcourt, playing behind Johnson.
Nee said that his team was talented
although it was down in numbers this year two junior-college transfers round out the 10-man roster. If it could steer clear of injuries, Nee said, he expected to be in the race for the conference title.
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COLLEGE BASKETBALL PREVIEW • University Daily Kansan • November 17, 1993