TOURNAMENT NOTEBOOK: Nebraska is coming in immediate future

UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- Looking for a possible first-round upset to distance yourself in your NCAA Tournament pool? History has proven more often than not, a No. 6 seed will fall at the hands of a No. 11 seed. Since the NCAA began seeding teams in 1980, there have been 19 times when a No. 11 has upset a No. 6 in 56 total games (14 years). That's more than one a year, and 33.9 percent overall, for all you math majors out there. Why are we wasting time on this miniscule topic? Because the Penn men's basketball team takes the No. 11 seed into its game tomorrow night against sixth-seeded Nebraska. The Quakers will be looking to continue the relatively strong success of No. 11 seeds in the tournament, something which was most prevalent in 1986 and 1989. Eight years ago, Dale Brown led his 11th-seeded LSU Tigers into the Final Four in Dallas. Three years later, all four 6-11 games were won by the underdog No. 11 team, so don't think Penn got too shafted when the Quakers were given the 11th-seed here at Nassau Coliseum. So count on at least one upset of a No. 6 seed in this year's tourney. Other 6-11 matchups see Texas against Western Kentucky (Midwest region), Marquette taking on Southwest Louisiana (Southeast region) and Minnesota battling Southern Illinois (West region). You think Nebraska coach Danny Nee may be a little worried about this trend? Well, figure that Nee is well aware of the fact his only win in the Big Dance came when his Ohio U. squad knocked off Illinois State in 1983's first round. What was Nee's team seeded that year? You guessed it, No. 11. · The mood here out on the Island hasn't quite reached the fever pitch that might be expected at the NCAA Tournament. Maybe that's because the majority of the locals here are a little disappointed with the eight teams coming to Nassau Coliseum (home of the NHL's New York Islanders). Over 40 media types from around the country have already cancelled since North Carolina has been sent down South to Landover, Md. The prevailing wisdom around here was the defending champs were coming as the second seed in the East. But that all changed when six of the top eight teams in the Associated Press poll lost Saturday. With big names like Dean Smith, Bobby Knight and John Chaney about to grace the floor at the USAir Arena, don't be surprised if the Nassau folks aren't satisfied with names like Dunphy, Allen and Pierce. Besides, the Coliseum isn't even ready for March Madness as of yet. As most of the media was arriving here last night, the New York Islanders were hosting the New Jersey Devils in an NHL matchup. No word on how long it takes to remove the ice and lay down a hardwood floor for some hoop action. · Here is some more meaningless minutiae for all you NCAA-aholics out there: Nebraska has never won a game in the NCAA tournament, going 0 for 4 overall, including losing in each of the last three years. Last year, the Cornhuskers were supposed to lose, as No. 7 New Mexico State defeated the 10th-seeded Huskers 93-79. Two years ago, Nebraska took the No. 8 seed into a matchup with No. 9 Connecticut, only to be slaughtered, 86-65. Even worse, 1991 saw the Cornhuskers, a No. 3 seed, fall to mighty Xavier, seeded 14th, 89-84. Nebraska's other loss in the Big Dance came in 1982. So you think the Penn Quakers are otherwise unknown on the national level? Think again. Penn holds an NCAA Tournament record even Bobby Knight would be proud of. In 1979, the year the miracle Quakers danced all the way to the Final Four, they also set a record that may stand forever, committing 150 fouls in six games. That's good for most fouls ever by an NCAA team, a record that may never be broken. Think it's about time the Ivy League ended its five-year run of falling just short in the first round? A Penn win would definitely end all the "close, but no cigar" talk, as well as improve the Ivies' overall record in NCAA play. In 47 total appearances in NCAA history, the Ancient Eight has posted a less-than-impressive 35-56 record (good for a .385 winning percentage). The conference with the best all-time winning percentage (with at least 10 appearances)? You guessed it, the ACC.

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