For Immediate Release
January 3, 2008
Wesleyan to honor 1988 Final Four Team
LINCOLN, Neb. — The Nebraska Wesleyan University men’s basketball team will honor its 1988 Final Four team this Saturday (Jan. 5) as part of the NWU men’s basketball alumni events that will be held on campus.
An Alumni basketball game will take place at 11 a.m., in Snyder Arena on the NWU campus with a reception following the game. The team will also be honored at halftime of the NWU-Morningside College men’s basketball game that tips off at 4 p.m.
It is the 20-year anniversary of a season that saw the Plainsmen men finish with a 24-6 overall record. NWU lost in the NCAA Division III National Semifinals to eventual national champion Ohio Wesleyan University. NWU went on to defeat Hartwick in the consolation game to finish third for the third time in four years.
The Plainsmen opened the season with an 11-0 record climbing to a No. 1 ranking in the NCAA DIII Poll. NWU finished the regular season second in the Nebraska Intercollegiate Athletic Conference standings and received a bid to the DIII West Regional where they won both games to claim the West Region Crown. NWU then hosted Washington University in the quarterfinals and overcame a 12-point halftime deficit to pull out a 58-55 victory to advance to the Final Four.
The 2007-08 NWU team is currently 8-3 on the season, their best start in 10 seasons, while Morningside is a perfect 15-0 and ranked #2 in NAIA II. The coach of the ’88 Final Four team, Jerry Schmutte, is currently the athletic director at Morningside.
1987-88 NWU Plainsmen Roster
Steve Brugman, Lincoln, Neb.
Charlie Burt, Lincoln, Neb.
Greg Dean, Evergreen, Colo.
Matt Green, Wauneta, Neb.
Don Larsen, Wayne, Neb.
Mike Longe, Lincoln, Neb.
Dann Martin, Maxwell, Neb.
Jay McMillan, Utica, Neb.
Scott Miller, Lincoln, Neb.
Jim Moran, Baton Rouge, La.
Kirk Penner, Aurora, Neb.
Steve Peterson, Lincoln, Neb
Curtis Reimer, Hastings, Neb.
Bill Weed, Lincoln, Neb.
Head Coach: Jerry Schmutte
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