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SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2008
trivia of the day
Snow business
Q: When was the last time the Illinois State basketball team made the NCAA Tournament?
A: 1998. The Redbirds advanced to the second round as a nine-seed before being defeated by Arizona. This year's Illinois State team, coached by former Kansas assistant coach Tim Jankovich, is currently 15-5 and on pace to possibly reach the tournament.
-GoRedbirds.com
fact of the day
-GoRedbirds.com
quote of the day
Earlier this month, Illinois State won its ninth straight game by defeating Wichita State, 72-51. It was the longest win streak at Illinois State in 26 years. The Redbirds, however, have lost two straight since.
"He is a great coach, especially for point guards. He is a great teacher of the game and has been around basketball for a long time."
*Kansas sophomore guard Sherron Collins on Illinois State coach Tim Jankovich
calendar
TOMORROW
Men's Basketball vs. Kansas State, 7 p.m., Manhattan Women's Basketball vs. Oklahoma, 7 p.m., Norman, Okla.
Snowmobilers Robbie Malinoski from Canada, left, and Levi LaLallee from Longview, Minn., take to the air together as spectators watch from below during the Snowmobile SnoCross event at the Winter X Games Saturday at Buttermilk ski near Aspen, Colo.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
COMMENTARY
Teams deserve equal support
Energetic, packed-house atmosphere may help women win
LaChelda Jacobs, sophomore guard, shoots a mid-range jumpshot Saturday night against Missouri. Women's home games average 2,501 fans compared to the sell-out crowds at men's games.
Weston White/KANSAN
The Kansas men's basketball team has played in front of sell-out crowds at Allen Fieldhouse 106 times in a row. The Kansas women's basketball team has never sold out a single game.
While more than 16,300 fans have crammed into the fieldhouse for each men's game since the second game of the 2001-02 season, the women have played in front of an average of only 2,501 fans during their 11 home games this year. On five different occasions this season, the women have had an attendance of less than 2,000 fans.
Yes, the men's team is 20-0 and has a long history of being one of the top programs in basketball history, but what do you think helps them win so many games? It's the fans that pack Allen Fieldhouse each night that make it one of the toughest places for road teams to play in the nation. I don't think it's a coincidence that the men have gone 184-12 in the historic building since the start of the 1994-95 season.
So how can we expect the Kansas women's basketball team to become a national power if we can't even get 2,000 fans to attend the games? Maybe
Would they have won games such as the 81-79 win over Oklahoma State in 2005 or the 59-58 win over Oklahoma in 2006 with only 2,000 fans in the stands? I highly doubt it.
it's just another coincidence that the Jayhawks' only conference victory so far came with the biggest crowd of the season in attendance. Two weeks ago, 4,912 fans saw the Jayhawks defeat border rival Missouri 66-60.
And she's right. How fun is it to come out of the tunnel before a game and see nothing but empty seats? How much fun is it when you can hear individual fans shouting at the officials or when the coaches can be heard instructing their players from the top row of the building?
enthusiasm in the stands directly affects the players' performance on the court. The more electricity coming from the stands, the more play
to play in front of a packed house" con Bonnie Henrickson said.
"Any kid wants
So how can we expect the Kansas women's basketball team to become a national power if we can't even get 2,000 fans to attend the games?
It's no secret that the energy and
ers will find that extra little boost to push them forward.
I can't see that day coming quickly but it should. The team is improving year by year, turning the corner and becoming a team that will contend for an NCAA tournament bid.
"I think the crowds will get bigger," Associate Athletics Director Jim Marchiony said. "A couple years ago we won our first 12 games and beat Texas and there were
almost 5,000 people in the stands. I can see that day coming very quickly.
If you haven't seen a women's game this year, head down to the fieldhouse and check one out. Admission is free with your KUID and not only will
"You have people in this town that love basketball and appreciate the game," Henrickson said. "If they haven't come to a game and do, I think they would appreciate it and enjoy it and want to come back."
you have a good time and enjoy the action, you might be the difference in the game.
FOOTBALL Mangino announces recent medical tests
— Edited by Sasha Roe
Kansas coach Mark Mangino issued a statement Monday evening saying he recently underwent medical testing. "I underwent some tests over the past couple of days at Lawrence Memorial Hospital" Mangino said. "These are tests that I had put off until after the season. The tests have been completed, I'm fine and I'll be back in the office and recruiting starting tomorrow."
Men's Top 25
The top 25 teams in The Associated Press men's college basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Jan. 28, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote, and previous ranking:
| Team | Record | Points | Prev. |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 1. Memphis (46) | 19-0 | 1774 | 1 |
| 2. Kansas (26) | 20-0 | 1754 | 2 |
| 3. Duke | 17-1 | 1625 | 4 |
| 4. North Carolina | 19-1 | 1596 | 5 |
| 5. UCLA | 18-2 | 1500 | 8 |
| 6. Georgetown | 16-2 | 1377 | 9 |
| 7. Tennessee | 17-2 | 1359 | 3 |
| 8. Michigan State | 18-2 | 1320 | 10 |
| 9. Washington State | 17-2 | 1261 | 6 |
| **10. Texas** | **16-3** | **1129** | **12** |
| 11. Indiana | 17-2 | 1065 | 7 |
| **12. Butler** | **19-2** | **948** | **15** |
| 13. Wisconsin | 16-3 | 848 | 11 |
| 14. Stanford | 16-3 | 786 | 20 |
| 15. Xavier | 17-4 | 638 | 23 |
| 16. Drake | 18-1 | 616 | 22 |
| 17. Marquette | 14-4 | 513 | 21 |
| **18. Pittsburgh** | **16-4** | **464** | **13** |
| 19. Vanderbilt | 17-3 | 397 | 14 |
| 20. Florida | 18-3 | 374 | NR |
| 21. St. Mary's | 17-2 | 310 | NR |
| **22. Kansas State** | **14-4** | **281** | NR |
| **23. Texas A&M** | **16-4** | **277** | **18** |
| **24. Mississippi** | 15-3 | 217 | 17 |
| **25. Baylor** | **16-3** | **166** | **25** |
Women's Top 25
The top 25 teams in The Associated Press women's college basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Jan. 28, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote, and previous ranking:
Team Record Points Prev.
1. Connecticut (50) 19-0 1250 1
2. Tennessee 17-1 1200 2
3. North Carolina 18-2 1128 3
4. Rutgers 17-2 1086 5
5. Maryland 22-2 1051 4
**6. Baylor** **18-1** **990** **6**
7. Stanford 17-3 980 7
8. LSU 16-3 908 9
9. Duke 15-4 817 10
10. California 17-3 772 8
**11. Oklahoma** **13-4** **753** **11**
12. West Virginia 16-3 661 12
13. Old Dominion 16-3 658 13
14. Pittsburgh 16-3 528 19
15. Wyoming 18-1 502 18
16. George Washington 16-4 451 20
17. Georgia 16-4 419 17
**18. Kansas State** **14-5** **375** **22**
19. Ohio State 15-4 348 15
20. Notre Dame 15-5 271 16
**21. Oklahoma State** **16-3** **258** **14**
22. Syracuse 16-3 216 24
23. DePaul 15-4 161 NR
24. Illinois State 17-1 84 NR
**25. Texas** **15-5** **79** NR
BIG 12 BASKETBALL Martin OK with players trash talking Kansas
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Any problem Frank Martin has with his Kansas State players brashly predicting victory over Kansas is staying strictly in-house.
To the outside world, Kansas State's first-year coach insists it doesn't matter what his star freshman Michael Beasley or anyone else says about Wednesday night's Sunflower Showdown between the No. 2 Jayhawks and No. 22 Wildcats
"Do you think Darrell Arthur is going to become a better player because of what Michael says?" Martin said. "Is Kansas going to be a better team? Do you think that's going to make them any better?"
Nevertheless, both of Kansas State's freshmen sensations,
Beasley and Bill Walker, have predicted the Wildcats would snap the 24-game win streak Kansas has on its rival's home floor.
It may not make the unbeaten Jayhawks any better. But for as long as players have laced up sneakers or strapped on helmets, coaches have cringed at anyone's saying anything that might provide the competition with one ounce of extra motivation.
If they do come in for a chewing-out behind closed doors, the players would seem to have an excuse. Coach Bob Huggins also predicted Kansas State would beat the Jayhawks last year in what turned out to be his only season in charge of the Wildcats. Kansas proceeded to prove Huggins wrong by beating him 67-11 in Lawrence and 71-62 in Manhattan.
"Mike said what he felt in his heart!" Martin said during the Big 12's Monday coaches call. "It's what he believes. He didn't come here to lose to Kansas."
Associated Press
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