No. 10 Huskers Head to Final Road Test at Minnesota

The No. 10 Nebraska men’s gymnastics team is on the road for the last time during the 2008 regular season as it travels to Minneapolis, Minn., on Saturday, March 1, for a 7:00 p.m. triangular against No. 8 Minnesota and No. 9 Temple.

The Huskers are 0-6 on the road this season and will be hunting for their first triangular win against the Gophers and the Owls on Saturday. NU’s highest team scores have appeared in the last few meets, and the Huskers are on pace to better those scores once more at Minnesota.

Nebraska is on the winning end of a 16-13-1 all-time record against Minnesota, with Nebraska’s last win over the Gophers taking place at the Devaney Center in 2005. NU will meet up with Temple for the first time in Husker history this Saturday.

Despite a young squad, the Huskers have been making huge improvements every week. NU enters this weekend’s competition after posting a team mark of 341.150 in its loss to No. 1 Stanford (357.600) on Feb. 16. Sophomore Tony Maras tied for first on still rings after notching a career-high score of 14.90 on the event. Sophomore John Robinson made his first-ever collegiate all-around debut, where he placed second with a score of 80.20. Junior T.J. Schmidt also cracked the top-three on parallel bars, as he tied for second with a score of 14.90.

Minnesota faces the Huskers after posting a season-high mark of 345.000 over Illinois-Chicago (330.700) at home on Feb. 16. Despite the competitive score, Minnesota remained eighth in the national standings and has a 4-6 record on the season.

Temple enters the meet after winning six consecutive competitions following a defeat to Penn State. The Owl (10-1) competed last weekend, narrowly beating Illinois-Chicago, 338.850-337.100.

Saturday’s meet is the fourth of four straight away competitions for Nebraska this season. The Huskers will be back at home three meets in a row starting Friday, March 14, with a double dual against Iowa with the Nebraska women competing against ISU.

The Huskers will then welcome Air Force on March 22 before hosting the MPSF Championships on April 5, at 2 p.m. in the Bob Devaney Sports Center.

Scouting the Competition
Husker-Gopher History
When it comes to Husker history, the annual meet with the Gophers is as much a tradition as national titles or Head Coach Francis Allen’s career. NU’s rivalry with Minnesota dates back to before Allen’s coaching reign when the NU legend competed for the Huskers in their first meeting with Minnesota in 1964. Although the meet ended with a 63.5 to 48.5 Nebraska victory, the Gophers would go on to amass 12 wins of their own over the next 30 years despite a five-year gap between 1971 and 1976 when the two programs did not compete. With the all-time dual record currently at 16-13-1, NU is looking for win No. 17 and its first dual victory of the season.

Last Meeting
Nebraska let met with Minnesota on Sunday, March 11, 2007, at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. The Gophers defeated the Huskers, 213.55-205.45.

No. 8 Minnesota Quick Facts
2008 Record: 4-6-0
Head Coach: Michael Burns, Fourth Season
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 11/3
Top Returner: Adam Reichow, Sophomore
2007 NCAA Finish: Sixth

Scouting the Competition
Husker-Owl
Saturday’s meet marks the first time in Husker history Nebraska has competed against Temple in a regular season competition. However, at the 2007 NCAA Championships, the Huskers placed above Temple in the qualifying rounds, 209.100-205.400.

No. 9 Temple Quick Facts
2008 Record: 10-1-0
Head Coach: Fred Turoff, 32nd season
Top Returner: Luke Vexler, Senior
2007 NCAA Finish: Sixth