NCAA BK

A FAMILIAR SITUATION

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Updated Dec 11, 2009 10:30 AM ET
     
 
OMAHA - At least the NCAA came up with something unique. They boxed up an eye-popping, brightly colored teal volleyball court and addressed it for Qwest Center Omaha, along with Big 12 rivals Texas and Texas A&M, Nebraska and Iowa State. "I think I love the colors," Nebraska coach John Cook said after Thursday's practice. "It's a different look." While the color scheme attempts to reflect the tranquility of Tampa, site of next week's Final Four, its controversy that has marked this regional in the two weeks since the NCAA unveiled the brackets. The fact that just one of these teams - three of them ranked among the nation's top seven - can play in Tampa has led to some emotional reactions. Texas coach Jerritt Elliott said the committee was irresponsible in putting the top three teams from one league into the same region. "This would never have happened to the Pac-10," Cook said. It's been 15 years - predating the Big 12 as a league - since one conference has taken over a region. So if there's one positive to take from this weekend, it's that the Big 12 has made a big statement. "Finally we're getting a chance to show what we go through every Wednesday and Saturday for 11 weeks of our season," Texas A&M coach Laurie Corbelli said. Predictably, the four teams set to play tonight have in many ways defined each other's seasons. For Texas A&M, a September win over Nebraska may have been the difference between the Aggies earning an at-large bid or staying home for a fourth straight postseason. Iowa State ended its losing streak of forever against Nebraska, beating the Huskers in Lincoln, and the Cyclones followed that up by knocking Texas from the unbeaten ranks. Nebraska and Texas learned from those setbacks, however, and when NU went to Ames in November, the Huskers rolled. Their nine-match winning streak entering today is the longest of any of the four teams. With everyone knowing everything there is to know about each other, Cook said it's easy to overthink what things opposing teams might change. He compared the weekend to the NBA Finals. "There, it's four-out-of-seven, and everybody knows what the other one is doing by the third or fourth game," Cook said. "That's what we're in, and now it comes down to execution and will and heart." Without question, Texas has the best collection of athletes, but given the circumstances, there are things to offset that. Texas A&M, having been swept twice by the Longhorns this season, can play with nothing to lose today, and Iowa State can frustrate teams with its defense. Nebraska, on the other hand, is counting on some outside assistance. If 10,000 Big Red fans turn out, that's something none of the other teams have faced. Before the season, Cook was talking less to his team about Tampa and more about Omaha, where outside of a stinker against Michigan to open this season mostly good things have happened for NU. No matter what color the court was. "It's the Qwest," said senior middle blocker Kori Cooper."We're home." Reach Todd Henrichs at 473-7320 or thenrichs@journalstar.com
Tagged: Iowa, Texas, Texas A&M, Iowa State, Nebraska

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