Simms, Neal Jr. Named to Big 12 Specialty Teams

Lincoln -- Guard Corey Simms was named to the All-Reserve Team and Marcus Neal Jr. was selected to the All-Newcomer Team, the Big 12 Conference announced Monday. The Big 12 Specialty Teams were voted on by a panel of sportswriters who regularly cover the conference.

Simms earned his first career honor by being selected as one of the top reserves in the league. Simms, who started 26 games last year and the first 13 games this year, averaged 4.2 points and 3.6 rebounds per game in 2003-04 while earning a reputation as the Huskers' top man-to-man defender. A native of St. Louis, Simms helped NU hold opponents to 61.6 points per game on 39.3 percent shooting, both at the top of the conference standings. He also scored double-figures four times this season, including picking up his first career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds against Eastern Michigan in the second game of the year.

Neal became the second Husker in as many years named to the All-Newcomer Team, joining Andrew Drevo who earned the honor in 2002-03. Neal transferred to Nebraska from Polk (Fla.) Junior College earning All-America honors last year. He averaged 5.0 points and 1.9 assists per game in his first season in Division I. The Annapolis, Md., native was outstanding down the stretch by averaging 8.2 points and 2.9 assists per game in the final 10 contests of the regular season. He is one of five Huskers with at least 20 three-pointers this season and is second on the team in assists

The pair has helped Nebraska to a 16-11 record this season, a five-game improvement over last year and the Huskers' first winning season since 1998-99. They will lead Nebraska to the Big 12 Tournament in Dallas this week as the No. 10 seed, where the Huskers will face No. 7 seed Oklahoma on Thursday, March 11, at 6 p.m.

2003-04 Big 12 Men's Basketball Specialty Teams
All-Freshman
J.R. Giddens, Kansas
Drew Lavender, Oklahoma
Jarrius Jackson, Texas Tech
Curtis Stinson, Iowa State
P.J. Tucker, Texas

All-Newcomer
Jason Conley, Missouri
Joey Graham, Oklahoma State
Jeremiah Massey, Kansas State
Marcus Neal, Nebraska
Harvey Thomas, Baylor

All-Defense (tie in voting)
Tony Allen, Oklahoma State
David Harrison, Colorado
Royal Ivey, Texas
Arthur Johnson, Missouri
Aaron Miles, Kansas
Ivan McFarlin, Oklahoma State

All-Reserve
Brian Boddicker, Texas
Jason Conley, Missouri
Jason Klotz, Texas
Mickey Marshall, Texas Tech
Corey Simms, Nebraska

All-Improved
Tim Ellis, Kansas State
Jared Homan, Iowa State
John Lucas, Oklahoma State
Jason Klotz, Texas
Andy Slocum, Texas A&M

All-Underrated
Jason Detrick, Oklahoma
Lamar Harris, Colorado
Jarrett Hart, Kansas State
Terrance Thomas, Baylor
Jackson Vroman, Iowa State