SPORTS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1995
Vaughn is just one of us
I haven't read the Sports Illustrated story on Jacque Vaughn. I'm not going to until I finish this column, because I can tell you something about him without reading the story.
PAGE
The Kansas point guard is not awesome. Jacque Vaughn is not a special student-athlete. He's able to dribble down the court faster than anyone, make better decisions quicker than most and knows that center Scot Pollard is behind him ready to catch his
GUEST COLUMNIST
send the back pass on a fast break.
Jacque even earned a 3.8 grade point average last semester and led the Jayhawks to impressive victories. But this does not make Jacque special.
Jacque Vaughn is you and he is me.
He is an athlete that only a college student can love best. He is one of us.
student can love best. He is one of us.
We see that he gets good grades,
and we know that he is at the University of Kansas for more than an NBA degree. Without ever talking to Jacque we know he is a friend. He is someone that studies for tough tests, like us, and does his homework, like us. And when we are sitting around after the game, we are proud to know that our point guard is a college student, like us.
But Jacque isn't just a student.
We love the fact that Jacque gets attention from the media for his good grades. When the national media does a game, they never fail to mention his grades. And with the success of fellow guards Jerd Haase and C.B. McGrath in the classroom, the Jayhawks appear to be upstanding student-athletes. It makes us proud that people around the country think that we have athletes who are smart students as well. It shows what kind of people go to the University of Kansas.
But Jacque isn't special.
The national media think Jacque is special. The local media think he's going to be governor of Kansas or California someday.
But he isn't special
Or is he?
He is you and he is me. He is no different from Haase, center Greg Ostertag, guard Angie Haleible on the women's team or linebacker Don Davis on the football team.
He goes to class like Davis. He studies hard for tests like Haase.
He's an example of why our basketball team is so special to us. Thirteen college students suit up for about three hours and become one of the best basketball teams in the nation. They are national celebrities. They make us famous.
But when they leave Allen Field House, we know they have to do many of the things we do. Without those uniforms, outside of the field house, they belong to us.
They aren't a nationally recognized powerhouse or statewide celebrities. They aren't even Roy's Boys. They are ours.
They walk the Hill like us and listen to boring lectures like us. We know they are students learning about life while concentrating on the grade they want in English 209. We think we could be in their shoes if only we had certain God-given talents.
They are no different than us.
They've spent a little more time on
the court, but we have spent our time
in other places that we dominate. We
are like them. And they are special.
All of them. Jacque is no more special than forward Raef LaFrentz, just because of his GPA. Everyone has different circumstances surrounding their lives and their classes.
Greg Ostertag is special. He may not have the grades Jerod, Jacque or C.B. have, but he has other responsibilities, and he is a different person. To some, having a good time in life is more important than getting an "A." Sacrificing time studying for time with someone who is important to you is just as noble as being studious.
Jacque is my favorite player on the court. But off the court, the Kansas basketball team members are all equal. I want every one of them to succeed off the court in their own way. Some just get more attention than others.
They are all worthy of Sports Illus trated. They are all special.
Jayhawk win had 'Minor' glitch
Sooner forward hits game-high 26
By Christoph Fuhrmans Kansan sportswriter
Kansas sophomore guard Jacque Vaughn has had better birthday presents than the gift he received during Saturday's game against Oklahoma in Allen Field House.
Oklahoma freshman guard Prince Fowler and Vaughn knocked heads during the first half, and both players required stitches.
Vaughn was cut above his left eye and needed seven stitches. Fowler was cut behind the right ear and received five stitches.
It's a nice way to celebrate my birthday — with seven stitches," said the 20-year-old Vaughn.
The No. 2 Jayhawks celebrated with a 93-76 victory against the Oklahoma Sooners, despite Oklahoma junior forward Ryan Minor's game-high 26 points.
Kansas improved to 18-3 overall and 7-2 in the Big Eight Conference. Oklahoma fell to 17-6 and 4-4. The Jayhawks regained a share of first place in the conference with Missouri following Oklahoma State's 81-79 loss to the Tigers on Saturday in Columbia, Mo.
Kansas had a 27-24 lead with 7:21 left in the first half. Then, the Jayhawks went on a 10-0 run which included a three-point play by sophomore guard Jerod Hasee. The Sooners didn't get closer than nine after that run, but Kansas coach Roy Williams had other things to worry about.
Fowler and Vaughn bumped heads as Vaughn dribbled the ball up the court with 3:42 left in the first half. Vaughn said that he didn't even realize that he and Fowler had been cut.
"I wasn't even trying to go by the guy," Vaughn said. "I knew I wasn't sweating that much, and I put my hand up and it was covered with blood."
Kansas freshman guard C.B. McGrath played a little more than nine minutes in the first half while Vaughn got stitches in the locker room. McGrath had five points, two assists, a steal and one turnover in the first half.
"C.B. did well," Williams said. "If the doctors had said, 'No, Jacque would be better off not playing,' I had no problem going with C.B. for the whole second half."
But Vaughn did return, and when he ran onto the court, the student section responded by singing "Happy Birthday."
Although it was his birthday, Vaughn gave presents
in the form of five assists, most of which went to Kansas' big men.
"We were trying to take advantage of our size," said Kansas sophomore forward Scot Pollard. "For the big guys it was definitely important because of the Oklahoma State game."
A strong performance was important for Kansas senior center Greg Ostertag, who had eight points and three rebounds against the Cowboys on Feb. 6.
"He was thinking more than just playing in there.
Kansas 93, Oldahoma 76
KANSAS (18-3, 7-2)
Player fgm/fta ftm/fta tp
LaFrentz 5-9 3-13 13
Pearson 1-13 0-0 2
Ostertag 4-6 9-11 17
Haase 5-9 3-5 16
Vaughn 1-6 1-3 4
Williams 4-6 0-0 8
Pollard 2-4 7-10 11
Thomas 2-3 0-0 5
Gurley 2-4 7-7 12
McGrath 1-2 2-2 5
Whatley 0-1 0-0 0
Brantrom 0-1 0-0 0
Novosel 0-0 0-0 0
Totals 27-63 32-41 93
OKLAHOMA(17-8,4-4)
minor 7-21 8-9 26
Abercrombie 7-12 5-6 19
Mayden 0-0 0-0 0
Ontjes 0-0 0-0 0
Fowler 3-6 0-0 6
Curry 1-1 1-2 3
Yanish 4-7 2-3 10
Barnes 5-13 1-1 12
McClain 0-0 0-0 0
Totals 24-59 13-21 63
today," Williams said. "After he had the second turnover, I screamed at him to relax and just play basketball."
Halftime Kansas 47, Oklahoma 37 9-point
goals Kansas 7-12 (Haase 3-4, Vaughn 1-2,
Gurley 3-6), Oklahoma 5-14 (Minor 4-10,
Barnes 3-13) Rebecca Kohnie 42 (Lafrentz
8, Pollard 8), Oklahoma (Minor 6, Abercom-
Grath 4), Oklahoma (Minor 5, Abercom-
Grath 3), Oklahoma (Minor 5, Onjies
2) Total Fouls Kansas 22, Oklahoma 29
Attendance 16,300
Ostertag scored a team-high 17 points and had seven rebounds. Ostertag didn't block a shot for the first time in 28 games, but he dominated the game's inside play, along with Pollard and freshman forward Raef LaFrentz.
"We blocked them out as well as a human can block out," said Oklahoma coach Kelvin Sampson. "We had Ernie Abercrombie inside on Ostertag, and Ernie's got a big caboose. But 7-foot-2 is higher than Ernie Abercrombie can jump."
Abercrombie scored 19 points, but Minor led the Sooners in scoring for the 18th time this season.
Minor shot 30 percent from the floor and was four for 10 from the three-point line.
"We tried to cut down on his percentage, and I look over and see seven for 21, and that's not the percentage he wanted to shoot," Williams said. "But I tell you what, he's really good."
Kansas center Greg Ostergat goes up for an uncontested layup against Oklahoma. The Jahways defeated the Sooners 9-3 76th at Allen Field House.
Standby: Sooners experience technical difficulties
Jayhawks convert six free shots, take momentum from unhappy Oklahoma
his judgment."
three technical fouls.
Pointy elbows and harsh language were the fare at this party, which saw the visiting Oklahoma Sooners get slapped with
By Robert Moczydlowsky Kansan sportswriter
Kansas and Oklahoma held a "T" party in Allen Field House Saturday, but they didn't serve tea and crumpets.
"I don't even want to talk about them." Oklahoma coach Kelvin Sampson said. "They gave Kansas six uns answered points and really made an impact on our momentum."
The first of the three technical fouls came late in the first half when Oklahoma senior James Mayden was whistled for a foul inside on Kansas sophomore Scot Pollard. Mayden disagreed with the call and turned to discuss it with official Eddie Jackson. He was called for the technical almost instantly.
"I'm sure that James didn't say the right thing to the referee." Sampson said. "I don't fault his effort on the play, but I do fault
Lisa Perry/KANSAN
Pollard made one of his two free throws and senior Greg Gurley converted both of the technical shots and sparked a 10-0 Kansas run. The Jahayhaws carried that momentum and a 47-37 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Tasha King,
Kansas fresh-
man guard,
goes up for a
shot surrounded
by Kansas
State defen-
ers. The Jay-
hawks lost to
Kansas State
80-73 Sunday
afternoon in
Manhattan.
Midway through the second half, Pollard collided with Oklahoma senior John Onsties under the Jayhawk basket, sending Ontjes sprawling. No foul was called, and that sparked angry reactions from both benches. Kansas coach Roy Williams left
See TECHNICALS, Page 7.
Two weekend losses may put Big Eight title out of women's reach
Wildcats, Buffaloes overpower Kansas
By Jenni Carlson
Kansan sportswriter
The No. 15 Jayhawks, 6-4, dropped two conference games this weekend, a 73-84 loss to No. 3 Colorado on Friday night and a 73-80 defeat at the hands of Kansas State on Sunday.
MANHATTAN — A regular-season Big Eight Conference title might be in serious jeopardy for the Kansas women's basketball team.
To possibly claim the Big Eight title, the Jayhawks must win the remainder of their games.
In addition, the Colorado Buffaloes, which lead the conference with a 10-0 record, will need to lose its last four games against Nebraska, Iowa State, Kansas and Kansas State.
The Wildcats held Kansas to 31 points at halftime and took a 12-point lead into the locker room.
Kansas women's basketball coach Marian Washington said she was not pleased with her team's performance against Kansas State at Bramlage Coliseum. The Jayhawks struggled throughout the game, but Washington did not take anything away from the Wildcats.
"I thought they played a heckuva ball game," Washington said. "We just didn't get the performance from the people we needed to step up."
BASKETBALL: Box for the Kansas-
Kansas State game. Page 8.
One key to Kansas State's first half success was that it kept Kansas senior forward Angela Aycock at bay as she had only seven points.
Kansas State women's basketball coach Brian Aglier said K-State rotated defensive players on Aycock, who finished with 24 points on 6-of-18 shooting, and wore her down physically.
"Avcock is their main offensive"
But the Jayhawks did make a run at K-State in the second half. Washington said Kansas needed to get into the bonus early, attack the Wildcats offensively and get opportunities at the free-throw line.
Stires said. "This is probably the biggest game of my career."
"Aycock is their main offensive weapon, and we had to try to deny her the ball."
"After three years of frustration, we finally did it. We finally beat KU."
Entering the game, Kansas had dropped its last three games at the Coors Events Center in Boulder, Colo.
Missy Decker Kansas State sophomore guard
They were successful, but K-State senior forward Shane Stires responded with a three-pointer, and the Javahwks did not threaten again.
Kansas tried to end a losing streak of its own on Friday against Colorado.
They were unable to break the cycle, and the Buffaloes overpowered the Javhawks.
Colorado senior forward Isabella Fijalkowski scored a career-high 28 points on 12-of-21 shooting from the floor.
"Obviously, Isabelle had a great, great game," Colorado women's basketball coach Ceal Berry said. "She was very consistent inside."
counter the Buffaloes' second-chance baskets.
Even with a 27-point performance from Aycock and 20 points from sophomore guard Tamecke Dixon, Kansas could, not
"We have to limit every team to one shot, regardless if they're big or small," Dixon said. "I thought we gave them too many opportunities inside, and they capitalized on that."
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