Section:
B
Bad here, worse there
Sports
The University Daily Kansan
The Chicago Cubs lost 6-0 to the Tokoyo Yomiuri Giants yesterday. Next up for the Cubs is a Japanese women's softball team.
Inside: The women's tennis team matched up against Notre Dame yesterday.
SEE PAGE 2B
TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2000
Inside: Iowa State coach Larry Eustachy won't be reprimanded — by Iowa's governor at least — for his tirade during Sunday's loss.
SEE PAGE 3B
3 surprise teams make it to Final Four
As Michigan State struts into the Final Four, its No.1 seed intact after two weekends of March Madness, the Spartans must wonder how those other guys with suspect credentials got there.
The Associated Press
North Carolina able to
instrument for the NCAA tournament
two weeks ago,
thrilled even to be
considered after 13-loss seasons and
more than happy with their No. 8
seeds.
North Carolina and Wisconsin were ques-
WWW.KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
Everybody knew
So here are the Tar Heels, Badgers and Gators — ready to join Michigan State as the tournament reaches Indianapolis for the NCAA semifinals on Saturday. The championship is Monday night at the RCA Dome.
Florida, its roster crammed with freshmen and sophomores, was simply too young to withstand the pressure.
Miehizan State, returning to the Final
Four for the second straight year, is the logical favorite as the last No.1 standing.
"The pressure has been there since the first (preseason) magazine came out," said coach Tom Izzo. "These guys deserve what they got."
season. Michigan State
In the semifinals, the Spartans face Big Ten rival Wisconsin for the fourth time this season. Michigan State
season Michigan has won the first three — the only games Wisconsin has lost since Feb. 2.
Michigan State also knows Wisconsin can rebound. The Badgers were the only team to beat the Spartans on the boards all season until Iowa State did earlier in the tournament.
" twice or beat a team three times," izzo said.
"We know it's going to be tough to beat a team four times. They are on a roll and making shots now."
"I don't think it's ever easy to beat a team
Michigan State's senior leadership of Mateen Cleaves, Charlie Bell and Morris
Peterson is crucial this time of year. The Spartans, winners of nine straight games, overtook Iowa State with a 23-5 run in the last six minutes and did the same thing two nights earlier, scoring the last 17 points against Syracuse.
Wisconsin is getting hot three-point shoot-
ig from Division I transfer Jon Bryant. And coach Dick Bennett thinks his team won't be disturbed by the Final Four hype.
"This is a very level
headed group," he said. "If the very worst thing that happens to us is that we we're just happy to be there and don't play very well, then we have a very good life."
In the other semifinal, North Carolina, a perennial Final Four team, was not expected to get there this year. It faces a Florida team that almost did not escape the first round.
The Tar Heels have emerged from a season-long funk, picking the right time to
piece together their first four-game winning streak. They have reached the final weekend for the 15th time and third in the last four years.
Coach Bill Guthridge,
"I think this team is in a class by itself," said point guard Ed Cota. "It took awhile to get used to each other and find a way to win."
Coach Bill Guthridge, under fire when North Carolina struggled, is thrilled with the turnaround.
"I am so happy for the team and so proud of them," he said. "They realy nung in there all year through some difficult times and helped keep me up."
Florida was saved in the tournament opener by Mike Miller's basket with a fraction of a second left against Butler. From there, the Gators have flourished, beating No. 1 Duke and No. 3 Oklahoma State to win the East.
"We have nine guys that have been to the Sweet 16," said sophomore guard Teddy Dupay. "How many other teams have that? It's not a lot."
Penn State, UConn proceed to finals
Bv Melinda Weaver
By Melinda Weaver
sports at kanson.com
Kanson sportswriter
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — When Penn State point guard Helen Darling visualized how she would perform against Louisiana Tech, she never imagined this.
She focused on not committing turnovers. Last season, Darling blamed herself for the loss to the Lady Techsters.
"There's nobody like Helen," said Penn State coach Rene Portland. "If she's not a Kodak All American, I'm going to be crushed."
But Darling had plenty of help from her teammates. Portland said all season that this team would take her to the Final Four, and she was right.
In a 86-65 victory against the Midwest's top seed, Darling exceeded her expectations, scoring 15 points and dishing 2 assists. She was named Most Outstanding Player.
The game staged close for the first 10 minutes of the first half, but with 6:25 remaining, Penn State guard Lisa Shepherd, who scored 20 of her game-high 25 points in the first half, hit three consecutive three-pointers, giving the Lady Lions a 13-point lead.
"When Lisa hit three in a row, I thought, 'We are going to win this game. Keep shooting, Lisa.' Darling said.
Penn State continued its first-half run, opening with 12 points in the second half, storming to a 25 point lead, its largest of the game.
Though Louisiana Tech had a few spurs left, it never came close enough to worry the Lady Lions.
The win sends the team to Portland's first Final Four, and the final games will be played in Philadelphia, home of the Lady Lions.
"We've been talking about this and talking about this
Women's NCAA Tournament
since the beginning of the year," said center Andrea Garner. "All I can say is, we're going home."
While Penn State looks to the future, the Lady Techsters had to say goodbye to coach Leon Barmore, who announced his retirement after an 18-year coaching career at Louisiana Tech.
"Coach Barmore has done some great things for this program, and these players will miss what he brings to the game," said senior guard Tamicha Jackson. "They will miss his determination to get the best out of you."
The Associated Press
RICHMOND,
Connecticut is going back to
the Final Four for the first time
in four years, but not with an
air of invincibility.
The Huskies, accustomed to routing opponents by 30 points, struggled against sharp-shoot-
a half
before pulling out an 86-71 victory
Monday night in the East Regional fin
All-American Svetlana Abrosimova led the Huskies with 25 points and was selected the regional's most valuable player. Sue Bird added 16 points, and Shea Ralph, another All-American, had seven of her 15 points late in the second half.
Connecticut (34-1), ranked No. 1 all season, will play Penn State in Friday's national semifinals.
Regional final.
Golfers lead invitational
Men ahead by 18 after two rounds
By Matt James sports@kansan.com
Associate sports editor
It seems the only thing that could keep the Kansas men's golf team from winning the Colorado-Stevinson Ranch Invitational today would be one of those west-coast natural disasters.
And even that might not be enough.
the Jayhawks lead the nearest school by 18 strokes after their highest four finishers carded a combined 572 (-4) in yesterday's first two rounds in Stevenson, Calif.
The host Colorado Buffaloes begin today's third and fourth rounds with the task of chipping away at the Kansas lead after finishing at +14. Colorado is the only school in the 14 team field with a reasonable shot at catching the Jayhawks, who also hold the top two individual spots.
"I played pretty well all day long," said junior Conrad Roberts, overall leader. "It just seemed to hit in all the right spots, especially on the greens. Even on my bad shots, I missed on the best sides of the greens and left myself in good position."
Those bad shots were far and far between as Roberts shot a first-round 69 and second-round 73. He leads senior teammate Ryan Vermeer by one stroke.
"This was a good team effort," said Kansas coach Ross Randall. "I was really happy for Jake Itnick. That was a great effort to come back with a 69 in the afternoon."
Even the Jayhawks who didn't ultimately figure into the team standings were able to play well — especially Isnick, a senior, who shot his 69 after a dismal 81 in the first round.
Junior Casey Harbour tees off in practice earlier this year. The Kansas golf team is in first place in the Colorado-Stevinson Ranch Invitational in Stevenson, Calif. Harbour currently is in 11th place. Photo by Matt Dougherty/KANSAN
(holes) to sour your day."
"We had a quality second round going, but we lost nine shots to par the last two holes," said Colorado coach Mark Simpson. "It leaves a bad taste in your mouth, in all our mouths. It only takes one or two bad
The Jayhawks have three other golfers who'll challenge Roberts and Vermeer for the individual title. Juniors Andy Stewart and Casey Harbour, and freshman Chris
The Buffaloes did the opposite, fading in the final holes.
Marshall all are within five shots of the lead.
Women's rowing team spends spring break in training
"It just seems like we play very well here," Randall said. "We like the golf course. I wish we could take it with us."
By Shawn Linenberger
The Kansas rowing team's spring break was spent in the South, and, although it was far from a relaxing week on the beach, the 'Hawks no doubt enjoyed the trip by winning their first race of the spring season against Tula.
Kansan sportswriter
ports@kansan.com
The Jayhawks' busy itinerary started with spring training at Natchitoches, La., March 20 through Friday. The team had practices two times a day, three hours each in the morning and afternoon, except March 21, when practice was canceled because of rain. The Jayhawks also scrimmaged Drake University while in Natchitoches.
Natchmones:
"It it was a really good week," said coach Rob Catloth. "There was a lot of rowing. I thought the women learned a great deal."
Kansas, ranked 23rd nationally, rowed against Tulsa Saturday, sweeping the Golden Hurricane in four events. Jayhawk boats finished first in all events, including the first varsity's commanding win. Kansas finished roughly seven seconds ahead of Tulsa in the 2,000 meter race, with a 5:10.3 mark. Tulsa's time was 5:17.21.
Tulaa, Okla., Saturday for the fun part of the week.
From Louisiana, the Jayhawks traveled to
Although a strong wind made condition abnormal, Catloth was pleased with the wins
"The current was so fast that times were faster," Catloth said. "Our margin of win was negated by the current. For the conditions there were, we competed well."
Senior rower Kristi Dubiel said having spring training before the season's first race — instead of after, such as in previous years — was good.
Although spring training was hectic, Dubiel
said she enjoyed the week.
"It was a nice change of scenery and a different river to row on," she said. "I had a nice tan, but a lot of tan lines."
The Jayhawks will plunge into tougher waters this Saturday in a critical triangular regatta at Iowa City, Iowa, against 16th-ranked Iowa and Tennessee. Iowa has been a big rival for Kansas. Last year, the Jayhawks and Hawkeyes squared off three times. The Jayhawks won once, but each race was decided by three seconds or less.
"We have a really big weekend," Catloth said. "This race has a lot to do with how our season goes. Iowa's in our regional, and they're one spot away from who goes to nationals."
Cathot was referring to Iowa's No. 16 ranking in the USRowing Coaches Poll. The Top 15 teams in the final poll advance to the NCAA Championships in May.
ROWING RESULTS
First Varsity Eight
Saturday, Arkansas River near Tulsa, Okla.
1. KANSAS, 5 minutes,
10.3 seconds
2. Tulsa, 5:17.21
■ Second Varsity Eight
1. KANSAS A, 5:13.0
2. Tulsa, 5:15.48
3. KANSAS A
1. KANSAS A, 5:08.9
2. Tulso, 5:12.4
3. KANSAS B, 3:16.6 Varsity Four
Sports Editor Commentary Mike Miller
3. KANSAS B, 5:57.05
Novice Eight
3. KANSAS B, 5:13.73
1. KANSAS B, 5:38.4
2. Tulsa, 5:52.13
sports@kansan.com
Neither editor nor Dick Vitale will eat words
It's amazing how things get around.
"This is he."
"Mike. Dick Vitale."
The week before spring break, I'm sitting in the Kansan newsroom reading stories when I get a phone call. I pick up the receiver and I hear this loud, boisterous, somewhat recognizable voice on the other end ask for Mike Miller.
Mike Burrstein
My brain's reeling, and I'm wondering what the hell is going on when I realize what's about to happen.
1
About three weeks ago, I wrote a column about Vitale expressing my thoughts about Dickie V's relentless and noisy flair. I thought the column was fair — maybe a little harsh. I did call him a stagnant old man — because it pointed out his shortcomings, yet praised his enthusiasm for college basketball.
It also expressed my disbelief of Vitale's praising of coach Roy Williams' job with this year's team. During the Kansas-Texas game, Vitale said that "Roy Williams has done a masterful job to win 21 games with this club." I may be playing the part of spoiled fan, but this year, Kansas was decent, sometimes good and sometimes great. With this talented group of players, it's what we've come to expect of Roy.
So there I sat, wondering how Vitale came across a column written by a college student. (He said that a fan sent it to him). But more importantly, I wondered if I would be able to get a word in edgewise.
I managed to get out my friendliest, "Dick, how are you?" when the phone exploded.
"You tell me Mike! I've got this column sitting here in front of me, and I can't believe what I'm reading. I know that you're a college kid that's trying to make his mark, but you're printing stuff that just isn't true! I never said Roy did a marvelous job. I said it's amazing that he's averaged 28 wins a year!"
That took about 10 seconds, and it was only the beginning. Of course, all those sentences could be one run-on sentence, because I don't think he took one breath during that whole spiel.
I had to hold the receiver away from my ear as I desperately tried to find the volume control on the phone. I finally shouted back that I heard him say Roy did a fantastic job and tried to ignore the bewildered stares of everyone else in the newsroom. (It's not every day that a person gets to vell at a celebrity on the phone.)
"I never said that," he said. "You send me the tape. You send me a copy of that tape, and I'll eat my words!"
So after a few more minutes of wrangling, I tell him I'm standing by what I wrote. I thought it was good, and hey, it was my opinion anyway. He said that was fine and that he was going to send me copy of his book and his office phone number so that I could call after the season was finished — when I was a Dick Vitale fan again.
The next day, I sent him my own care package: a video of the Kansas-Texas game and a letter that defended my column, explained that I didn't hate him as much as Bill Raferty, and invited him to speak to the Kansan sports staff about covering college basketball.
Two days later, I got a care package in the mail, complete with two autographed books, an autographed mini-basketball, a hat and a Dick Vitale video, along with a three-page letter that further explained Dick's points.
I received another package yesterday, but nothing about him eating his words. It doesn't matter, though, because I'm grateful for the experience.
The story has made great fodder for my friends, family and professors, all of who vigorously shake my hand and say how much they liked the column. If I could write it again, I would make sure that I emphasized Vitale's knowledge of the college game — better than anybody — and his overwhelming positive influence for the game. It's kids that play the game, and he always makes sure that he's positive because of his impact on those players.
So am I Dickie V fan now? No, but I always listen to him. With the volume turned down, of course.
Miller is a Cheyenne, Wyo., senior in journalism.