Men's basketball adds Division I exhibition game to fall season
Doug Taylor
Issue date: 9/9/08 Section: Sports
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The last time UNO faced a Division I opponent was in 2006. The Mavericks dropped consecutive exhibition games at Creighton (73-56) and UNL (76-62) that year. In 2005, UNO nearly upset UNL in Lincoln before falling 70-65.
The Mavs will be hoping for a better outcome than the 114-57 stomping suffered the last time they played the Cyclones in 1991. The 57-point victory capped a sweep of Omaha's two major college basketball programs as ISU had previously defeated Creighton 92-75 earlier that season.
Head Coach Derrin Hansen is well-aware of the challenges awaiting the Mavs in Ames.
"It will expose our weaknesses, but it will be good for the team and a great test to see how we're playing early in the year," Hansen said. "The biggest challenges will be playing on the road against a bigger, more athletic team."
Senior guard Michael Jenkins is excited about matching up against another Division I opponent.
"We usually just played or scrimmaged Nebraska or Creighton," Jenkins said. "It'll be a hostile environment and a good chance to see where we're at as a team."
Jenkins, who averaged 16.3 points per game last season, said playing a team of Iowa State's caliber provides extra motivation.
"Whenever you're playing a Division I team, there's not going to be much to lose," Jenkins said. "We can go out and play with a lot of confidence, because we will be expected to lose. We're looking to go out there and get better every game."
Formal discussions between Iowa State and UNO officials regarding a possible game began this past spring and became a reality when the contract was finalized two weeks ago.
According to Michelle Roberts, UNO associate athletic director/senior women's administrator, multiple individuals were involved in the process. UNO assistant coach Randall Herbst and Iowa State's Director of Basketball Operations Ron Smith negotiated the contract before it was signed by head coaches Hansen and Greg McDermott of Iowa State.
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