2B
Wednesday, November 30, 1994
SPORTS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
BASKETBALL PREVIEW
UMass: Coach with a thick skin
Continued from Page 18.
Wooden Classic in Anaheim, Calif.
Massachusetts returns all 12 letter-winners from last year's team, including 6-foot-7 forward Lou Roe, who should be an NBA first round pick; guard Michael Williams, who twice beat Temple with last-second bombs; and guard 11-Marcus Camby, the Atlantic Ten's freshman of the year.
It was after the first Temple game last year when Chaney threatened to kill Calipari after Calipari criticized the officiating.
"With me it was never an issue, I was OK a week after the incident," he said. "We've got a great rivalry, although we've had the upper hand now for the last five games. But that could change."
There are those, however, who question Calipari's methods, who contend he often permits players to neglect the academic side of college. The Boston Globe recently obtained transcripts that showed four Massachusetts players, including starters Williams, Camby and forward Donta Bright, were on academic probation this fall. Sports Illustrated followed with a story equally critical of the program.
Calipar was furious, both at the leaking of classified student records and at the implication that he ran a shoddy program.
"It was upsetting to me for two reasons," he said. "First, they used the kids to get at me. And second, I've taken great pride in the great changeover here. There were two NCAA studies done before I got here. One said there was a zero percent graduation rate (among basketball players), the other was 21 percent. I started coaching here, and it went to 75 percent.
"One motto that we talk to the kids about is, 'The dogs will bark, but the caravan's moving on.' I told them the agenda was to attack me. But when it comes back to me, the numbers are there, and it's hard to do. Our GPA over the last four years is 2.5. One thing I can tell you is that this isn't bothering me; I have everything in order. The kids are all eligible. We haven't done anything against university or NCAA rules in any way. So what do we have to worry about? We'll just go about our business and take the shots like a man. I took them like a man."
Massachusetts officials said university guidelines stipulated that academic probation does not automatically disqualify a player from competing. But, perhaps in response to the criticism, Calipari suspended Williams for three games. Always looking for motivational weapons, methods to convert every season, every game, into wars, Calipari constantly has cautioned these experienced Minutesmen.
During the last two years, after reaching the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament in 1992, UMass has been eliminated in the second round, first by Virginia and then Maryland. Calpari has used those losses as a means to strengthen this year's team — vowing to improve the shooting that was the Minutemen's downfall in the defeats.
Fewteams will have had such a challenging non-conference schedule. Besides Arkansas, and Kansas, the Minutemen will play Pittsburgh, Maryland, Princeton and Western Kentucky.
"We have great kids," Calipari said, "but they hear people saying. You've got to do this, you've got to do that.' Will they play for themselves or our team? Do we have guys playing for themselves because it's their last go-around? You've got to get your team on one agenda: Winning."
No one doubles Caliparí's agenda. In his first head-coaching job after serving as a Kansas and Pittsburgh assistant, he has constructed a powerhouse out of a program that had not even had a winning season since 1978.
He arrived in 1988 as an unknown 29-year-old. Since then he is 129-64, going 82-19 the last three seasons.
"It's not possible for us to exceed expectations this year unless we win the national title," Calipari said.
UMass revels in basketball spotlight
The Associated Press
Bv Jeff Donn
AMHERST. Mass. — For Marcus Camby, the journey from Number None to No. 1 borders on the impossible.
"It feels a little crazy. I still don't think it's sunk in yet," the sophomore center for the University of Massachusetts said.
upon their first top-ranked basketball team.
But across this 22,000-student campus in western Massachusetts, it was sinking in nicely Monday. Students and staffers were reveling in the national attention lavished
"We're not used to the limelight like a North Carolina or Duke or someone who is always winning championships," Lyle Core, a senior, said during a break in a pickup basketball game.
"We were No. 3 in the nation, but still recognized as underdogs."
This season's team, anchored by forward Lou Roe, has become the first in New England to climb to the top of the national rankings.
Connecticut reached No. 2 last season. Boston College gained its best spot at No. 6 a decade ago.
Massachusetts rocketed past them all on the strength of Friday's season-opening 104-8 blowout of defending NCAA champion Arkansas, then ranked first but now fourth.
The national media panel polled by the Associated Press gave Massachusetts all but seven of 65 first-place votes, lifting it from third place.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Former heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe got a head start on his Continental Americas championship bout with Larry Donald.
Bowe starts fight early, takes shots at opponent
The Associated Press
Bowe and Donald, who fight Saturday night at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, were fielding questions at a news conference Monday when, without warning, the talking stopped and Bowe began punching.
"All during the question-and-answer period, they had been mumbling to each other," said John Beyroot, director of public relations for Forum Boxing. "But it wasn't necessarily an exchange of insults or derogatory comments — more like boastful talk."
All of a sudden Bowe threw a short left hand and then a right, Beyrooty said. Both punches struck Donald near the mouth.
"I didn't see the left because I was blocked by Bowe," Beyroty said. "Everyone told me about it. But I did see the right. It landed flush on Donald's jaw."
Donald appeared to be more surprised than
hurt, Beyrooy said, although he was bleeding from the inside of his mouth.
Beyrooty said that following the punches, representatives of both fighters separated them.
Bowe expressed no remorse, Beyrooty said, adding that Donald left the press conference almost immediately after the incident.
Bowe stayed around to answer more questions.
"Heck, no," Bowe said when asked if he regretted throwing the punches.
"This was the first time in all the years that I've gone to these kind of press conferences that a guy was actually hit." Beyrooty said.
Saturday night's bout is scheduled for 12 rounds. Donald, 27, is 16-0 with 12 knockouts. Bowe also, 27, is 34-1 with 29 knockouts.
Bowe beat Evander Holyfield on Nov. 13, 1992, to win the undisputed heavyweight championship, but lost in a rematch on Nov. 6, 1993.
Bowe's last fight was against Buster Mathis Jr. on Aug. 13 in Atlantic City.
The bout was declared no contest because Bowe hit Mathis while he was down.
Baseball back to bargaining
The Associated Press
LEESBURG, Va. — Baseball owners are prepared to impose their salary cap plan when they meet Monday in Chicago.
"Last year's system is a historical artifact, and we cannot operate under it any more," Atlanta Braves president Stan Kasten said Monday night.
TV SportsWatch
"Clubs have to do something by December 7th because from that point forward we're into next season with last year's economic system."
All Times CST
Live, same-day and delayed national TV sports coverage for today:
Talks resumed yesterday. Kasten and other members of the owners' bargaining committee met Monday with mediator W.J. Usery.
6 p.m. ESPN — NCAA Basketball, Great Eight, Purdue vs. Missouri, at Auburn Hills, Mich.
7 p.m. TBS — NBA Basketball, Phoenix at Chicago
8:30 p.m. ESPM — NCAA Basketball,
Great Eight, Arizonavs. Michigan, at
Auburn Hills, Mich.
SPECIAL ADVANCE SCREENING
Nicolas CAGE Jon LOVITZ Dana CARVEY
Trapped in PARADISE
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JOZ DEMMICKI JACK N GREEN PETER PERMIT JON DAVISON GEORGE GALLO GEORGE GALLO
FREE MOVIE POSTERS
TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX **** JON DANSVANN / GERGES GALLIO **** GEORGE GALLIO
Wednesday, November 30
8:00 PM
Lied Center
Pick Up Free Passes at the SUA Box Office From 8:30-5:30
that it'll make someone forget what's really in a hot dog?
Can you write copy so brilliantly
If you can accomplish this arduous task without tossing your lunch, the University Daily Kansan wants you to apply for the Spring 1995 Creative Staff. You'll get a chance to write stunning copy for eye catching ads and to create breathtaking campaigns. Boost your portfolio. See your work published. Meet new people. Gain real world experience. Pick up applications in room 119 Stauffer-Flint. Application No. Nov. 30 at 5:00 pm. Rosum6
Applications are due Nov. 30 at 5:00 pm. Resumé and portfolio not required, but are helpful.
If you can get someone past lips, tips and well you know;you can probably figure out a way to design packages of eight hot dog buns.
Oh, yeah. We also need people with graphic design skills.