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The University Daily Kansan
Taking it for the team
San Francisco second baseman Tony Hurtado has been hit by an NCAA-record 82 pitches during his college career. The 5-foot-7 senior is hitting only .286, but has a .495 on-base percentage.
Sports
THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2000
Inside: Former Kansas assistant Matt Doherty has his Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the finals of the NIT.
SEE PAGE 6A
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Hitting's the name of the game Star power
Kansas defenders swarm a Nebraska ball carrier last season. The Jayhawks beane full-contact practices on Tuesday. Kansan file photo
Kansas football looks to improve defensive tenacity
By Allan Davis sports@kansan.com Kansan sportswriter
To play winning football, physical dominance is the name of the game.
All defensive and offensive players — with the possible exception of the quarterback — need to be able to out-muscle and dominate their counterparts on the other team. It means letting the other guy know who's moving who in the struggle for position and yardage. And that seems to be something Kansas coach Terry Allen is trying to instill in his team.
"I think it's important for us to get a little tougher, physically and mentally," Allen said. "I think we have some guys that are good football players, but they have to develop a little mental toughness, and this is a good time to do that."
Tuesday was the first day the Jayhawks practiced in full pads, and some serious hitting was happening. Allen says more can be expected.
"We're going to do a lot of hitting Thursday, Friday and Saturday," he said.
At 11 a.m. Saturday, the 'Hawks will scrimmage at Shawnee Heights High School in Tecumseh, just east of Topeka. The first team offense and the first team defense will scrimmage — and a lot of hitting is anticipated.
Some of the biggest hitters are the inside and outside linebackers. Because of their experience, the Kansas linebackers should be a strong point of the Jayhawk defense. Eight lettermen including six who have starting experience — return from last year's team, which should make for fierce competition at the four startning linebacker spots in the 'Hawks 3-4 defensive setup.
"I think it's important for us to get a little tougher, physically and mentally."
Terry Allen
Kansas football coach
Junior Andrew LeClair — who, at 6-foot-6 and 255 pounds, started all 12 games at inside linebacker last year and earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors returns as the Jayhawks' leading tackler with 102 total tackles.
"There's quite a bit to know and understand on the defense," LeClair said. "They're simplifying it now this year. It's been a good system; you just have to know how you fit in and what passes you're responsible for. I guess I understood it decently, and it worked out pretty well for me."
LeClair also said that there was a lot of competition at linebacker.
"We have nine linebackers probably that can play," LeClair said. "There's by no means anybody who has a definite position right now."
LeClair's height helps him to see over offensive linemen even though some offensive linemen are as tall as he is. LeClair couldn't get taller, but he has added 10 pounds since last season.
"Being a little heavier helps taking on the guards," LeClair said. "Basically what we're doing is over the guard and center, so it does help."
Marcus Rogers, a 6-1, 235 pound junior who started the final four games of last season, is listed as the other No. 1 inside linebacker. Senior Dariss Lomax also will bring experience to the Jayhawks defense, having started the first eight games last season before suffering a knee sprain. Senior Chris Doyle, also a letterman, adds depth inside.
Competition at outside linebacker appears to be hot and heavy, too. Senior Tim Bowers started 10 games last year at outside linebacker and earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors on the coaches' team, but on the spring depth chart he is listed behind 6-4, 252 pound senior Chaz Murphy, who started five games last season.
Junior Algie Atkinson, 6-5, 260 pounds, started eight games last year and is listed on the depth chart as the starter at the other outside position. Senior Victor Bullock is now the backup at that position.
year are several redshirt freshmen, including 6-3, 220 pound Glenn Robinson, who is listed as a backup at inside linebacker. And waiting in the wings, scheduled to arrive in August, is 6-2, 222 pound Columbus Wooley, a first-team junior college All-American at linebacker.
Making the linebacker positions even more competitive than last
Allen and his wife, Lynn, celebrated the birth of their third child, a boy on March 17. Alexander Gene Allen — 20-inchs, 8 pounds and 5 ounces — joins siblings Angela and Chase in the Allen household.
Star power will bolster Relays' return
By Sarah Warren sports @kanson.com Kansan sportwriter
The World's Fastest Man and some of his fleet-footed companions are signed on to help bring the Kansas Relays back with a bang when they return April 19-22.
Maurice Greene, world record holder in the 100-meter dash, is scheduled to compete in the meet, which is back after a two-year hiatus.
And, just as on the track, a bevy of talented athletes are following his lead. Olympians Tim Harden, Jon Drummond and Ato Bolton are committed to compete in the Relays as ..
"With the Olympics season upon us, these top stars of track and field will be at the top of their game," Kansas Relays meet director Tim Weaver said. "Any time that Maurice, or any of these elite athletes steps on the track, world records are in danger."
Elite indeed.
Bite into
Greene, a Kansas City, Kan. native, not only holds the outdoor 100-meter record at 9.79 seconds, he also holds the indoor 60-meter record at 6.39 seconds.
Greene: Holds the world record in the 100-meter dash
Games.
Bolton won two gold medals at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and won the 200-meter dash in the 1997 World Championships and in the 1998 Goodwill
Drummond won the 200 meters at the 1997 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships and claimed a silver medal in Atlanta as a member of the 400-meter relay team.
Harden, a native of Kansas City, Mo., was also a member of that silver medal-winning team.
Cream of the crop female sprinters are scheduled to make an appearance at the Relays as well - namely Inger Miller, Torrie Edwards and Anianette Kirkland.
Miller was ranked third in the world in the 100-meter dash in 1998 and was a member
of the 1996 Olympic gold-medal winning 400-meter relay team. Edwards was ranked fifth in the 100-meter event in 1998, while Kirkland placed eighth in the 60-meter hurdles at the 1998 USA Indoor Championships.
"It will be exciting to have such talented women athletes with us," Weaver said. "Their efforts will cei
tainly lead us to some of the fastest times of the year."
But Greene will be the main attraction.
"I think it's great just for Kansas to have him here," sophomore thrower Andrea Bulat said. "I know that it'll be nice just to get more people in the stands and he'll help to do that, especially since it's just starting up again."
Freshmen set their goals high
Young talents hope to rebuild baseball team
By Amanda Kaschube sports@kansan.com
Kansas sportswriter
After the three-game series against Texas when the Kansas baseball team went 1-2, nine freshmen gathered in the outfield and made a pact.
"We told ourselves that when we were juniors and seniors, we would make regionals and then the College World Series," Kevin Wheeler said. "We knew we were good in high school, and we want to change the program around."
Lofty goals for a bunch of players who are only halfway through their first season at Kansas. But if anyone is up for the challenge, these freshmen
Second baseman Baty, shortstop Spanish and designated hitter/pitcher Wheeler all have seen more playing time than expected. And in a team filled with upperclassmen talent, that means something.
Their team chemistry is evident. They live together in Jayhawker Towers and all have fought for a role on the starting roster.
u led by Ryan Baty, Casey Spanish and Wheeler — are.
"They've all made so much progress throughout the season," coach Bobby Randall said. "This is one of my best freshman classes ever. They have talent all over."
"I came in asking for an opportunity, and I didn't expect anything," Baty said. "I took advantage of the opportunity that was given to me. This is a totally different game from high school to college in pitching and the speed of the game — they're both faster."
But the trio has made an exceptionally smooth transition.
ly smooth translation
Spanish, a two-sport letter-winner
at nts nigh school in Savage, Minn., had his first taste of quality play time during spring break when he filled in for the injured John Nelson. Spanish had two hits in the 'Hawks loss to Oklahoma State on March 16, and Randall noticed Spanish's quick adjustment to the college game.
"They never know when they'll be in the lineup, but they have to be ready at a moment's notice." he said. "Casey did an adequate job at shortstop filling in for John. He got over his nerves quickly."
So did Baty. During his first college at-bat, his hands shook so much he couldn't concentrate. But after a few swings, his nerves were calmed.
Baty, a native of Wichita, home of perennial baseball powerhouse Wichita State, said he chose Kansas because of the strength of the Big 12 Conference. And he jumped at the chance to be part of the rebuilding process.
"You always have the freshmen jitters," said Baty, who has a .250 batting average. "But you get more experience, and the butterflies go away."
And then there's Wheeler, who came to Kansas from Omaha, Neb., with the dreams of pitching, but has found his niche as designated hitter. He went 3-for-4 against Rockhurst on March 21, smacking his first homer of the young season.
"You go from being the best in high school to going to middle of the row in college," he said. "It took me a while to get used to playing with the guys, but we clicked."
The other freshmen — Jim Caine, Scott Burrage, Ted Seibetter, Justin Siefken, Nick Seibert and Clay Wheeler — may get a chance to prove their worth later.
"We have it in our power to achieve any goals we set," he said. "We're not going to cheat ourselves."
Freshman Ryan Baty patrols the infield from second base. He is one of three freshmen who have made major contributions to the team this season. Kansan file photo
"They all may play a lot, but we'll have to see what the season holds in store." Randall said.
GAME CANCELLATION
Yesterday's Kansas baseball game against Westminster was canceled because of inclement weather.
No plans have been made to reschedule the game now, but the team may use a scheduled rain date later in the season.
Up next for the 'Hawks, 17-13, will be Texas A&M tomorrow at Hoglund Ballpark. Junior Pete Smart is scheduled to start for the Jayhawks at 7 p.m.
Stevenson led all scorers with 25 points as he hit 12-of-19 shots in just 25 minutes. He won the slam-dunk contest Monday night.
BOSTON — Kansas recruit DeShawn Stevenson strutted his stuff and led the West to victory in yesterday's McDonald's All America High School game at Boston's FleetCenter.
The West outscored the East 146-120 as Randolph won the game's MVP award with 23 points and 15 rebounds and Taylor, a point guard, had 14 points, six rebounds and three assists.
Michigan State's top recruits, Zach Randolph and Marcus Taylor, also starred in the West's run-and-gun victory.
Their next stop: Indianapolis, to watch the Spartans play Wisconsin in the NCAA semifinals Saturday.
It was a record-shattering night at the FleetCenter featuring 24 of the top high school seniors in the country chosen by a seven-member selection committee and an advisory panel of scouts and media members.
The 146 points broke last year's mark set by the West in a 141-128 victory. And the crowd of 18,624 far surpassed the biggest previous crowd of 15,527 set in 1962 at the Rosemont Horizon outside Chicago. The
The Associated Press
There were 254 shots in the four-quarter, 48-minute game. The West went 67-for-137 from the field, the East 49-for-117. The West also had a massive advantage on the boards, outbounding the East 84-54.
The West led 37-32 after one quarter and 74-63 at the half. It scored the first 10 points of the fourth quarter on 3-pointers by Alton Ford, who plans to attend Houston, and Taylor, a dunk by Travon Bryant — who has yet to commit to a school but who analysts say has Kansas at the top of his list — and a layup by Chris Duhon.
The West led 106-85 after three quarters, and Randolph and Taylor made sure the East wouldn't come back, scoring their team's first seven points of the fourth period for a 113-87 advantage.
the crowd missed the FleetCenter record of 20,153 set Dec. 9, 1995, in a game between Boston College and Massachusetts.
Darius Rice, a nephew of NFL wide receiver Jerry Rice, led the East with 24 points, making 9-of-18 shots in 24 minutes. The Mississippi high schooler is leaning toward Kentucky.
KANSAS BRIEFSS Kansas to play in 2000 Coaches vs. Cancer tourney
first McDonald's game was played in 1978 in Philadelphia.
NEW YORK — Perennial powers St. John's, UCLA, Kentucky and Kansas were selected Wednesday to play in next season's Coaches vs. Cancer tournament.
The fans saw a game of sprinting players, quick shots and enough alley-oops and dunks to fill a highlight show last night.
The teams, coming off appearances in the NCAA tournament, will play Nov. 9-10 at Madison Square Garden. Opening-round match-ups will be announced later.
The 1999 event, featuring last year's national champion Connecticut, Stanford, Duke and Iowa, raised $500,000 for Coaches vs. Cancer. Stanford won last year's tournament.
Coaches vs. Cancer is a collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
The Associated Press
Kansas softball splits two with Arkansas
Kansas took an early 2-0 lead, but Arkansas quickly tied the game in the fourth inning. The Jayhawks rallied in the eighth inning to score two runs and clinch the win.
An eight-inning rally helped the Kansas softball team to split a doubleheader against Arkansas yesterday in Favetville.
Pitcher Sarah Clopton pitched eight innings, only allowing three hits and striking out six.
In the second game, the Lady Razorbacks got even with a 5-2 win. The Jayhawks will play Texas A&M at 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Jayhawk Field.
— Rebecca Barlow