Eight is Enough
Nebraska seeks to avoid another premature peak
Cornhuskers to rely on seasoned group of seniors this year
Contributed Photo
By Adam Herschman
Kansan sportswriter
After appearing in the NCAA tournament for four consecutive seasons, Nebraska exploded into the 1994-95 season with an 11-1 start.
The 11 wins included an overtime victory at home against No. 15 Michigan State. The victory earned Nebraska a No. 24 ranking in the USA Today/CNN poll. The Cornhuskers went on to appear in postseason play for a school-record fifth consecutive year. However, Nebraska did not wind up in the NCAA tournament again last year. They ended up in the National Invitational Tournament.
"We had an 18-14 season last year, and it shouldn't have been that way," said Erick Strickland, Nebraska senior guard. "Last year we didn't really step it up, and we never hit our potential."
Nebraska reached the second round of the NIT only to be bounced at home in the Bob Devaney Center by Penn State 59-65.
It was in Austin, Texas, on Jan. 4, when the in the Cornhuskers' season jump-stopped and turned 180 degrees.
Nebraska lost to Texas 102-74, beginning a stretch in which the Cornhuskers lost 13 of their final 20 games. Nebraska finished 4-10 in the Big Eight Conference, just ahead of last-placed Kansas State (3-11).
Strickland said Nebraska's losing streak was due to a lack of leadership, a leadership the team would have this year.
"We didn't have that vocal inspiration, that vocal leadership, that we needed and that we had in the past. We just sat back and watched, and when things were going wrong, it just continued to fall because no one took the initiative to stop the bleeding," he said.
Strickland, a 6-foot-3 guard who will also see time at small forward this season, said that he had no problem being that vocal leader, because he had taken that role in high school.
"I'm going to do whatever it takes to keep this team in focus and in step to try to do well in the conference and in the season," Strickland said.
Nebraska guard Jaron Boone is one of five seniors expected to contribute this year.
Nebraska's basketball program is headed into its centennial season in good shape after losing only one senior, 6-8 forward Melvin Brooks, who averaged 7 points and 4.7 rebounds last year.
Nebraska senior guard Jaron Boone said that the team's motto was "no excuses," as
five seniors will try to lead the Cornhuskers back to the big dance.
This year Nebraska's big men will be led by 6-11 junior center Mikki Moore, who averaged 9.8 points and 7.2 rebounds during his final 12 appearances last year.
"I think Mohawk was the sleeper on our team," Nebraska men's basketball coach Danny Nee said. "He still has a lot of potential left to be developed."
The forward spot will see a good mix of upperclassmen and freshmen. Seniors Terrance Badgett, 6-6, and Jason Glock, 6-5, and sophomore Chester Surles, 6-7, will alternate at the small forward spot and possibly at power forward, if Nebraska elects to run with a quicker line up.
"We have guys in the program like Terrance Badgett and Jason Glock, who have been with us for five years," Nee said. "These guys have played in the tight games and know how to compete in the Big Eight."
Nebraska has brought in five freshmen frontcourt players: 6-9 Venson Hamilton, 6-7 redshirt Chad Ideus, 6-8 Andy Markowski, and 6-11, 272-pound Leif Nelson.
The strength of the Cornhuskers will reside in the backcourt. Athlon Sports predicts that Nebraska will have two All-Big Eight performers in Strickland and Boone.
Boone was the Cornhuskers leading scorer and three-point shooter last season. He averaged 17.5 points a contest and hit a school-record 70 treys out of 182 attempts in one season, which was another school record.
1995 Big Eight Men's Basketball Awards
Associated Press Player of the Year Ryan Minor - Oklahoma
Big Eight Coaches' Player of the Year Bryant Reeves - Oklahoma State
Newcomer of the Year Jerod Haase - Kansas
Freshman of the Year Raef LaFrentz - Kansas
Associated Press Coach of the Year Kelvin Sampson - Oklahoma
First Team All-Big Eight
Ryan Minor-Oklahoma
Bryant Reeves - Oklahoma State
Fred Hoiberg-Iowa State
Jacque Vaughn-Kansas
Randy Rutherford-Oklahoma
State
Second Team All-Blg Eight
Donnie Boyce - Colorado Jaron Boone - Nebraska Jerod Haase - Kansas Paul O'Liney - Missouri Julian Winfield - Missouri
Hill • November 15, 1995
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