
CODY METCALF
Omaha World-Herald
Luke Mullin and Amie Just share their thoughts on Nebraska football’s final week of spring camp, then dive into who Nebraska basketball is going after in the transfer portal.
Nebraska bowling is headed back to the NCAA Championships. And many familiar foes will be joining the Huskers in Las Vegas this weekend.
NU, McKendree, Arkansas State and Vanderbilt are in the final four of the double-elimination bracket that starts Friday. But just how familiar are the programs?
Bryan O’Keefe, McKendree director of bowling, and Nebraska coach Paul Klempa used to be teammates in Lincoln.
“Bryan O’Keefe was a member of the men’s bowling program here in the early ’90s,” Klempa said. “He’s a close friend.”
Arkansas State coach Justin Kostick coached the Husker men’s team from 2004 to 2006 and also bowled at NU.
“And I coached him,” Klempa said. “So there’s three of us out of the four (teams) that are all Nebraska connected.”
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That’s no surprise. NU has long been the blueblood of collegiate bowling, boasting more titles than any other program (six) as well as being the only one to appear in every NCAA tournament.
Klempa attributed that sustained success to the system and culture Nebraska has built.
“There’s no real magic secret to it,” he said. “It’s just doing the right things and having a good system within your program of how to teach people the game, physically and emotionally and mentally.”
The other three programs are also regulars in the finals. Vanderbilt and McKendree have each won two national titles.
“I think it’s a testament to how well coached those programs are,” Klempa said. “It might look easy when you’ve got the same teams that keep on vying for a title every year, but it’s not. If you slip a little or you get a little lazy, someone will go above or go around you.”
Nebraska is coming off a strong run at regionals last weekend in Pittsburgh, but it was a short turnaround to the championships. The Huskers returned to Lincoln on Sunday and departed for Las Vegas on Wednesday, giving them two days to practice.
That lack of preparation made Thursday’s two-hour practice especially important. It’s the only chance to get a feel for the lanes and test different equipment, key to a good start. And, hopefully, a strong finish.
“If you’re spending the first match still unsure and trying to make adjustments and trying different equipment, you’re going to fall behind,” Klempa said. “It’s really critical that going into Friday you’ve made the right decisions regarding equipment and lane play.”
But the Huskers are confident and have prepared all season for the opportunity to win title No. 7. Morale is high, the vibe is good and NU is ready for the challenge, the coach said.
“When you get that group on the road that’s well prepared and confident and clutch, it can take you a long way,” Klempa said. “And that’s this group. We’ve got a good group.”
Nebraska faces defending champ McKendree in the opening round at South Point Bowling Plaza at 11 a.m. Friday, then either Vanderbilt or Arkansas State in Round 2. The final is set for 8 p.m. Saturday.
Today in sports history: April 13
1957: Boston Celtics capture their first NBA championship
1957 — The Boston Celtics capture their first NBA championship as rookie Tommy Heinsohn scores 37 points and grabs 23 rebounds in a 125-123 double overtime victory over the St. Louis Hawks in Game 7.
AP FILE
1980: Seve Ballesteros, 23, becomes youngest player to win Masters
1980 — Seve Ballesteros, 23, becomes the youngest to win the Masters, with a four-stroke victory.
AP FILE
1984: Pete Rose collects 4,000th hit of career
1984 — Pete Rose of the Montreal Expos collects the 4,000th hit of his career with a double off Philadelphia’s Jerry Koosman in the fourth inning.
AP FILE
1986: Jack Nicklaus wins Masters for record sixth time
1986 — Jack Nicklaus wins the Masters for a record sixth time and at 46 becomes the oldest to win the event.
AP FILE
1997: Tiger Woods wins Masters by record 12 strokes
1997 — Tiger Woods wins the Masters by a record 12 strokes at Augusta National. Closing with a 69, Woods finished at 18-under 270, the lowest score in the Masters and matching the most under par by anyone in any of the four Grand Slam events.
AP FILE
2003: Mike Weir becomes first Canadian to win Masters
2003 — Mike Weir becomes the first Canadian to win the Masters after the first sudden-death playoff in 13 years.
AP FILE
2008: Trevor Immelman first South African to win Masters in 30 years
2008 — Trevor Immelman handles the wind and pressure of Augusta National far better than anyone chasing him to win the Masters, the first South African in a green jacket in 30 years.
AP FILE
2012: Martin Brodeur becomes second goalie to earn 100 postseason wins
2012 — Martin Brodeur stops 24 shots for his 100th postseason win, and a three-goal first period is enough to help the New Jersey Devils spoil the Florida Panthers’ long-awaited return to the Stanley Cup playoffs in a 3-2 victory. Brodeur becomes the second goalie in NHL history to reach triple-figures in playoff wins. Only Patrick Roy has more, with 151.
AP FILE
2014: Bubba Watson wins Masters for second time in three years
2014 — Bubba Watson wins the Masters for the second time in three years. Watson claims another green jacket by shooting a 3-under 69 in the final round, fending off Jordan Spieth’s bid to become the youngest major champion since 1931.
AP FILE
2016: Golden State becomes first 73-win team in NBA history
2016 — Golden State becomes the first 73-win team beating the Memphis Grizzlies 125-104, an NBA mark set 20 years ago by the Chicago Bulls. Stephen Curry becomes the first player to make 400 3-pointers in a season by knocking down 10 from long range on the way to 46 points and 402 total 3s.
AP FILE
2016: Kobe Bryant ends career with 60-point performance in final game
2016 — Kobe Bryant goes out with a Hollywood ending to his remarkable career, scoring 60 points in his final game, wrapping up 20 years in the NBA with an unbelievable offensive showcase in Los Angeles’ 101-96 victory over Utah.
AP FILE

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