Basketball

 

HE 1926 basketball season was rather a disappointment to Husker fans who had expected a team of the same calibre as last year. After making an excellent showing in the first games of the season, the Husker basket shooters slowed up and dropped five games in a row. A strong defensive play and a weak offense may be said to have characterized the Huskers' team work. A statistical table reveals the fact that Nebraska ranked fourth in the Valley in point of defensive strength but only eighth in point of offensive strength.

      Coach Ernest Bearg, headcoach of football, had charge of the 1926 squad, assisted by Mathias Volz, former Nebraska cage captain. The work of Captain-elect Clark Smaha, who seemed to be the only Husker who could consistently hit the basket, was the one outstanding bright light of Nebraska's play.

     With Coach Charles Black, a newcomer at Nebraska, as head coach of basketball next year, and a strong squad of letter men and freshmen prospects to draw from, Nebraska should make a strong bid for the 1927 Missouri Valley pennant. The construction this year of the Field House as a part of Nebraska's athletic equipment will provide the best basketball floor in the Valley for Husker basketball teams, and will further provide seating facilities for crowds of from eight to ten thousand people. With these factors in sight, basketball should assume an important role in Nebraska sports in future years.