Section:
B
Even in skating
The University Daily Kansan
Sports
Russian Yelena Berezhnaya and his partner withdrew from the World Figure Skating Championships on Sunday after he failed a drug test.
Inside: An animated crowd of Kansas alumni didn't go unnoticed by the men's basketball team in Winston-Salem, N.C.
SEE PAGE 4B
Inside: Scott Russell and Andrea Branson qualified for the NCAA Championships in the first meet of the Kansas outdoor season.
MONDAY, MARCH 27, 2000
SEE PAGE 3B
WWW.KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
Sports Columnist
Derek Prater
sports@kansan.com
Grades out for 'Hawks following NCAA loss
Déia vu.
A mildly disappointing regular season found redemption in a valiant tournament effort that ended in an intense, inspiring defeat in the second round.
The similarities between last season's Kansas men's basketball team and this one don't end there either. Both teams were saddled with unrealistic expectations by fans and, yes, sportswriters. Both teams relied on a nucleus of young players. And neither team showed much toughness until the tournament.
Mid-season grade cards came when the team was 16-3, and the 'Hawks finished 24-10. Even though the team went just 8-7 since the midterm, the grades didn't dip too much because the tournament (as always) was weighed more heavily.
Grades are based solely on game performance and on my opinion (which, as I was informed by several readers after the midterm report, was completely worthless). The letter in parentheses is the midterm grade, followed by the final grade.
Luke Artell. (B) W. Enough said.
Nick Bradford — (B), B+ — He never could knock down the open jumper and was second on the team in turnovers (with the most costly of the season coming late against Duke). But Bradford was the toughest guy on the team and made his share of big plays. We couldn't have beat DePaul or Missouri without him.
Jeff Boschee — (B), C+ — Shooting toud faded in and out during the second half of the season, but he still ended better than 40 percent from three-point range. The problem is that when he doesn't get open looks, he can't find other ways to help the team. Boschee is the worst passer Kansas has had at guard in Roy Williams' tenure.
ERIC Chenowith — (D+), C- — The improved grade is based largely on the three dunks he had in the tournament. His effort did seem better late in the season, but the off season will be the true test. He needs to spend more time in the gym and less time as the world's tallest Dave Matthews groupie ("Dude, I caught eight shows this summer!"). Reconsidering a Student Senate run would also be a good idea. It's not often a sports writer gets political, but... Vote Delta Force.
Nick Collison - (A), A - Consistent all year long. He has so many moves that sometimes he tried too many and got called for traveling. He can score, he can rebound, he's got great hands. Don't expect Collison to do anything but improve.
Drew Gooden — (A), A. — Showed he can dominate in the first half against Missouri. Lapses in focus, however, sometimes rendered him ineffective (thus the minus). Gooden is awesome on the boards, and he can score both facing up and with his back to the basket. A little more maturity will make him a star.
Kenny Gregory — (B+) B+ - Without a jump shot, he'll never truly be a star. He did a great job, however, finding his role. He is a strong finisher around the basket, and he got regularly by running in the open court and attacking the offensive glass. It's hard to argue against 57.7 percent field-goal shooting. Unfortunately, it's even harder to argue for 42 percent free-throw shooting.
See TEAM on page 4B
'Hawks to rebuild with recruits
Williams upbeat about Stevenson; walk-on prospects
By Shawn Hutchinson sports@kansan.com
Kansas sportwriter
After his team was bumped in the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the third year in a row, Kansas coach Roy Williams was forced to put a spin on an up-and-down season.
"It was at times a very frustrating season," he said. "You don't like to have 10 losses. I think that some teams, and how easily they adapt to things in practice, make it easier and allow more sleep. This was not a team that did that, but there's no question that I enjoyed the kids."
Jayhawks early in the season after they won 15 of their first 17 games. Then the 'Hawks went into a funk and finished fifth in the Big 12 Conference after losing six of their last 13 regular-season games.
The enjoyment was abundant for the
Kansas, 24-10, came to life in the NCAA Tournament in Winston-Salem, N.C., winning an overtime game against DePaul before eventually falling to top-ranked Duke in the second round. 69-64.
"We talked for a couple of moments in the locker room (after the
loss to Duke) about some things that had to be done, not necessarily on an individual basis but on a collective basis," Williams said. "Everybody knows things that you struggle with, and everybody knows your weaknesses. How successful we're going to be in the future depends
Williams: Will have 10 returning players next season
on how well we take care of those weaknesses."
The Jayhawks return 10 players next season and have already tried to plug some weaknesses through recruiting. Kansas has signed one player for next season and has two more available scholarships, but Williams wasn't sure he was going to sign anybody else.
"We're looking, and if someone has a real upside and can add to the program, then we'll pursue them." Williams said.
That pursuit has already landed DeShawn Stevenson, a blue-chip prospect who signed with Kansas last fall and is labeled by most recruiting analysts as the top wing player in the nation. Stevenson, a 6-foot-5 guard, was named a McDonald's All-American and averaged about 30 points a game at Washington Union High School in Fresno, Calif.
The only downside? Stevenson hasn't qualified academically.
"I'm not worried," Williams said. "I think he's got some time left, and he's starting to do some things now that are going to help him. He's had a tough
senior year and has had to change coaches, so it hasn't exactly been smooth sailing. I guess I am confident but he knows that he has some work to do."
One other possible Kansas recruit is unsigned Travon Bryant, a 6-foot-8 power forward from Jordan High School in Long Beach. Calif. Bryant told allstar-report.com that he would likely wait until after the McDonald's All-American Game to make a decision.
That means Bryant will make a decision between California, Kansas and Missouri after Wednesday night, when he will play in the McDonald's game at the FleetCenter in Boston. Like Stevenson, Bryant has yet to qualify academically.
The Jayhawks have one more player in the fold for next season. 6-2 guard Mario Kinsey from Waco, Texas. Kinsey signed a football national letter-of-intent with Kansas last month, and plans to walk on to the basketball team after the football season has concluded.
Williams also said he hoped to add two more walk-ons for next season.
Late Kansas rally can't tame Tigers
Rv Amanda Kaschube
Top: Brett Kappelmann, slides into first base. In yesterday's game against the Tigers at Hoglund Ballpark, Kappelmann went two for one, with one hit. The Jayhawks are 17-13 on the season and 5-7 in the Big 12.
Above: Ryan Klocksien safely slides into second base as Dustin Barnes fumbles the ball. Klocksien went four for three with two RBI in the loss to Missouri. Photos by Aaron Lindberg/KANSAN
By Amanda Kraschube
kansas@kanson.com
kansas sportswriter
Runs came too late and too few for the Kansas baseball team yesterday at Hofund Ballpark.
The 'Hawks dug holes early in their 10-7 defeat to Missouri. A lead-off walk in the second inning led to a Missouri run, and back-to-back home runs broke the game open in the fifth inning, giving the Tigers a 7-1 lead.
But Kansas fought back with a four runs in the seventh inning when juniors Doug Dreher, Jesse Gremminger and Brent Del Chiaro, sophomore Ryan Klocksien and senior Shane Wedd each had hits.
"I don't believe in moral victories, but I liked our fight today," said coach Bobby Randall. "We got down 7-1 and battled our tails off and made it a ball game. I like the way we swung our bats, but at some point we've got to find a way to come back and win one of these."
Missouri took two of three games from Kansas during the weekend that was highlighted by a 3-0 shutout performance from junior lefty Pete Smart on Friday and a 12.2 shellacking by the Tigers on Saturday.
Most of the 'Hawks' bats were cooled by Missouri pitchers, but Klocksien and Del Chiaro provided offense during a lackluster Kansas series.
Klocksien, who has hit safely in 19 of his last 21 games, ripped a two-run homer left the left-field wall yesterday in the seventh and scored Kansas' final run in the ninth.
Del Chiaro tallied seven hits in his two starts against the Tigers, including four rips and two RBI yesterday in clutch situations.
"It hurts to us battle and then come up short," said Del Chiaro, whose family flew in from California to watch him play. "It was good for us to show our fighting ability in the later innings, but it's frustrating."
See 'HAWKS on page 3B
SPRING BREAK RESULTS
After a two-and-a-half hour rain delay, Kansas defeated Oklahoma State 8-4. The 'Hawks' 13 hits, including two each from Doug Dreher and Brent Del Chiaro were backed by solid pitching performances from Rusty Philibrick and Brandon O'Neal.
**Game Two**
March 17-19 at Oklahoma State
Game One
The Cowboys came back on Saturday, beating the 'Hawks 12-0. Kansas produced only five hits, including two from Casey Spanish who filled in for the injuree John Nelson.
Oklahoma State took the final game, 7-5, rounding out the series with two of three wins
Game Three
March 21 against Rockhurst
March 21 against Rockhurst for the second time this season, 9.3. Nelson earned his second save of the season, and Kevin Wheeler launched his first homer of the year.
March 22 against Arkansas
- Pitcher Rusty Philbrick pitched six strong innings for the 'Hawks, allowing only one run, but four bullpen pitchers let go of the 2'1 lead as Kansas lost 10.3. Ryan Klocksen risen his second home run of the season, and Del Chiro went four for four in the losing effort.
Surprising Carolina, Florida teams join No.1 Michigan State in Final Four
Two longshot teams who were on the NCAA tournament bubble two weeks ago are headed for the Final Four. They'll be joined by the last No. 1 seed in the field and a racehorse team that nearly went out in the first round.
The Associated Press
round:
North Carolina and Wisconsin,
both No. 8 seeds, Join No. 1 seed
Michigan State and No. 5 Florida in
the climax of the college basketball
season with the national semifinals
For the Tar Heels and Badgers, the Final Four berths are payoffs for peaking at the end of difficult seasons. For the Spartans and Gators, the trip to Indianapolis is an opportunity to punctuate successful seasons.
set for Saturday at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis.
Wisconsin (22-13) vs. Michigan State (39-7).
Wisconsin finished sixth in the Big Ten but has lost just three games since Feb. 2, all of them to conference
champion Michigan State, winners of nine straight.
"We haven't figured out a way to score against them yet," coach Dick Bennett said.
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo knows the three earlier games don't matter much now against a Wisconsin team that is in the Final Four for the first time in 59 years.
"I don't think it's ever easy to beat a
team (twice or beat a team three times," he said. "We know it's going to be tough to beat a team four times. They are on a roll and making shots
For the Tar Heels, this marko 15th
> North Carolina (22-13) vs. Florida (28-7)
trip to the Final Four and third in the past four years. It was one of the least expected. Coach Bill Guthridge was
The Tar Heels stumbled in with four losses in six games and a mediocre 7-8 record in the season's final weeks. Their No. 8 seed matched their lowest in 22 years, and they had been a No. 1 or 2 seed in their previous seven Final Fours.
under fire during a difficult 13-loss season that had some people believing North Carolina would not be invited to the tournament.
"Obviously, since we were an eighth seed, this was unexpected."
Guthridge said. "But I believed and the team believed and that's why we're going."
Under fourth-year coach Billy Donovan, Florida turns games into track meets with a freshman-sophomore dominated roster that can sustain it.
Guthridge thinks Carolina can handle the Gators' up-and-down style.
"I think the experience in playing against some athletic teams in our league and in non-conference has helped us," he said.