Ping brings physical game
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By BRIAN ROSENTHAL / Lincoln Journal Star
Shang Ping is not Yao Ming.
And that's not a line trying to differentiate the talents of two basketball players.
No literally, Shang Ping is not Yao Ming.
Apparently some people wandering the Lincoln shopping malls are confused.
"Some people think I'm Yao Ming," Ping said, referring to the Houston Rockets center. "I say, 'I'm not Yao Ming.'
"It happens to me all the time. I say, 'Whatever.'"
Now, what about the Creighton fans shouting out Yao Ming's name to Ping on Saturday?
"They knew I wasn't Yao Ming," Ping says matter of factly.
So, who is Ping?
He’s the first Asian-born player to play for the Nebraska men’s basketball team. A junior college transfer, Ping came to Lincoln with a reputation as being mean — on the court, not off it.
The numerous scrapes, scratches and bruises on Ping’s 6-foot-10, 230-pound body attest to that.
“Looks like he’s been fighting all day,” Nebraska guard Steve Harley said. “I try to stay away from him as much as possible, before he gives me a couple of bruises.
“Very aggressive. Very physical guy.”
At a recent practice, Ping sought out trainer Brad Brown no fewer than three times for a quick bandage, a little gauze, and maybe some scream-inducing iodine.
Hey, even tough players can feel that.
“It’s not a big problem. It’s nothing,” Ping said. “On the court, I have to be tough. Off the court, I’m a really friendly guy.”
Ping substitutes for Aleks Maric and sometimes plays alongside Nebraska’s senior center. Through five games, Ping is averaging 13 minutes, four points and two rebounds. His 9-of-15 shooting includes one three-point goal in two attempts.
Not surprisingly to Ping, playing NCAA Division I basketball is “totally different” than junior college. School, he said, is more difficult, too.
Originally from Haerbin, China, Ping played at Avondal High School in New Zealand. He came to the United States intending to play at Winchendon, a prep school in Massachusetts, but wasn’t happy there.
“At first, I couldn’t speak English well,” Ping said, “and I had a hard time with classes because I couldn’t understand class.”
He moved to Illinois, where his godparents lived, and where Illinois Central College coach Tony Wysinger discovered Ping and offered him a scholarship to the junior college. Ping said it’s at ICC where he had the most help improving his English.
Ping isn’t yet perfect with the language.
“Sometimes they don’t understand my English, but they always have patience to listen to me,” he said, referring to coaches and teammates. “They’re very friendly.”
Teammates say communication problems have improved from the beginning of practices in October.
“It’s getting better with play calling,” Harley said.
Ping said he’s taught some teammates certain phrases in Chinese — hello, thank you, etc. He’s also found a traditional Chinese restaurant in Lincoln where he’s taken teammates.
“Best Chinese restaurant I’ve been to in my life,” Chris Balham said.
As for the Chinese phrases?
“He’s taught us a couple of things, but I don’t think I want to say,” Balham said, laughing.
Briefly
* Coach Doc Sadler, saying he wants his team to focus, has closed practices to the public this week .
* A decision on the redshirt status of Alonzo Edwards and Toney McCray is expected by this weekend.
* Nebraska hosts Arizona State on Sunday at 1 p.m. in the Big 12-Pac 10 Hardwood Series. The game will be televised by ESPNU.
Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com.
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