Section B
The University Daily Kansan
Oklahoma State coach Eddie Suton has taken four teams — Creighton, Arkansas, Kentucky and the Cowboys to the big dance.
Sports
In a class by himself
KANSAS TENNIS
Inside: No. 60 Minnesota plowed the Kansas women's tennis team this weekend in Lawrence.
SEE PAGE 5B
MONDAY, MARCH 13, 2000
Inside: Kansas runner Charlie Gruber placed sixth at the NCAA Indoor Championships in Favetteville, Ark.
SEE PAGE 3B
WWW.KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
'Hawks fizzle in tournament
By Shawn Hutchinson
By Shawn Hutchinson sports@kansan.com Kansan sportwriter
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jeff Boschee sets a career-high in three pointers on Thursday afternoon, and Kansas wins.
Drew Gooden sets a career-high in three-pointers on Friday afternoon, and Kansas loses.
So ended the Jayhawks' three-year reign as Big 12 Conference Tournament champions this weekend, as the Oklahoma State Cowboys branded Kansas 77-58 in the second round of the tournament at Kemper Arena.
Boschee's seven three-pointers helped Kansas to an 84-60 win against Kansas State in the first-round, whereas Gooden's four three-pointers were almost an afterthought following the Jayhawks' second-round ousting on Friday.
"If you see me out there shooting threes, you know we're out of our offense," said Gooden, a 6-foot-9 forward who led Kansas with 17 points and 10 rebounds. "I was able to knock some down, but that's really not what we wanted to do as a team."
True, the Jayhawks didn't get much going against a senior-laden Oklahoma State team, but things started on a decent note for Kansas. The 'Hawks jumped out to a 6-1 lead behind a Kenny Gregory layup, a Nick Collison free throw and Gooden's first three-pointer at the 18:45 mark of the first half.
Then Oklahoma State guard Joe Adkins hit two straight threes as the Cowboys went on a 21-4 run. The Jayhawks ended up shooting 37 percent from the field in the first half, then they ended up shooting themselves in the foot.
"We had our chances in the first half," said Kansas coach Roy Williams. "We turned it over and missed free throws. It could've been a two or three- or four- or five-point game at halftime. Instead, it was 14 or 16 or whatever it was."
The fourth-seeded Cowboys took their
40-26 halftime lead and never let the fifth-seeded Jayhawks back into the game. What possibly hurt Kansas the most was its free-throw shooting. The 'Hawks hit only three of 14 shots from the charity stripe.
"We didn't step up to the challenge," Boschese said. "We didn't show any intensity. We just need to stay focused and do the things Coach says for us to do."
The Jayhawks had won all three previous Big 12 Tournament titles before Friday's 19-point thumping by the Cowboys.
"We have a great respect for the University of Kansas and their program," said Oklahoma State coach Eddie Sutton, whose team beat the Jayhawks for the second time this season. "They've dominated this league for so long. Today, we just played a little better than the Jayhawks."
Sutton's words, however, didn't seem much consolation to the Jayhawks, who dropped to 23-9 on the season.
"We thought we had a good shot at winning this game," said Kansas guard Kirk Hinrich. "They just outplayed us. It's not like we need to change anything, they're just better. We should've been more ready to play."
BOX SCORE
No. 17 OLKHAOMA ST. 77, No. 24 KANSAS 58
KANSAS (23:9)
Gooden 613 1 6 17, Collison 5 9 2 32, Gregory
4-11 0 2 9, Hinnich 3-5 0 07, Boesche 2-8 0 05,
Earl 0-0 0 9, Nooner 0-1 0 00, Bradford 2-4 0 04,
London 0-1 0 10, Johnson 0-2 0 00, Chenowith 2-7 0
4, Totals 24-1 6 51
OKLAHOMA ST. (24-5)
Montana t 10-4 1-9 3, Mason b 8-19 4-4 22, Jonzen
c 3-9 11 5, Adkins b 5-16 3 14, Gattles g 4-7 5
a, Alexander i 1-3 00 2, Williams o 1-0 00, Carzelle
o 1-0 00, Webber i 1-0 00, Totals 2-6 00 27-7 07
Haltime — Oklahoma St. 40, Kansas 26. 3Point goals—Kansas 7.18 (Gordon 4.7, Gregory 1.2, Hinch 1.2, Bosche 1.4, Collison 0.1, Nooner 0.1, Bradford 0-1), Oklahoma St. 5.16 (Mason 25, Adkins 2.7, Göttebil 2, Alexander 0-2). Fouled out—Hinch, Braford, Rebounds—Kansas 38 (Goodenok) 10, Oklahoma St. 48 (Jonzen 13). Assists—Kansas 11 (Bosche 4), Oklahoma St. 19 (Gottie 9). Total fouls—Kansas 22, Oklahoma St. 1A. 19-100.
Drew Gooden pops a shot over Brian Montonati at the Big 12 Conference Tournament, in Kansas City, Mo. Gooden had 17 points and went six for 13 with 10 rebounds to the Oklahoma State Cowboys Friday. Photo by Aaron Lindberg/KANSAN
Jayhawks face uphill battles
By Chris Fickett and Shawn Hutchinson sports at kansan.com
Kansas sportwriters
rne Jayhawks' NCAA tournament situation is like one of those soundless movies.
You know the plot. The girl is tied to the railroad tracks and a freight train with no brakes is barreling out of a tunnel!
Except that for the Kansas men's and women's basketball teams, it's up to them to release themselves from the tracks and pull off upsets in their respective tournaments.
The Kansas men, 23-9 this season, are the No. 8 seed in the East Region. If the 'Hawks beat No. 9 DePaul, they almost certainly will play No. 1 Duke in the Blue Devils' backyard at Winston-Salem, N.C.
The Kansas women, 20,9 this year, are the No. 8 seed in the Midwest Region. If the 'Hawks beat No. 9 Vanderbilt, they almost certainly will play No. 1 Louisiana Tech — on the Techsters' home floor in Ruston, La.
"I really thought we would be a sixth or a seventh seed, but it doesn't matter what I thought," said Kansas men's coach Roy Williams, whose team will be making its 11th-consecutive appearance in the tournament. "In tournament play it makes no difference. We've got to be ready to play on Friday."
The men's team will face DePaul on Friday, led by Quentin Richardson, who Williams calls one of the premier players in college basketball. Richardson is averaging 16.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per game this season. The Blue Demons are 21-11 overall, including a 9-7 record in Conference USA play.
NCAA brackets To see the brackets for the men's and women's basketball tournaments See pages 6B and 12B
After DePaul, Kansas could face the Duke Blue Devils, who have blitzed through the regular season and won both the Atlantic Coast Conference regular season and tournament titles.
But don't try to catch the Jayhawks looking past the Blue Demons to the Blue Devils.
"It's one game and you're done," said Kansas guard Kenny Gregory. "So we just have to be ready to play."
After being seeded ninth last season and losing to eventual national champion Purdue in the second round, women's coach Marian Washington would have liked to have been out of the immediate path of a No. 1 seed this season.
"We hoped that we'd get higher than eight or ninth, or lower," she said. "But when you look at the No. 1 seeds Louisiana Tech is probably the most attractive."
Before the Jayhawks can worry about the Techsters, winners of the Sun Bell Conference, they have to beat Vanderbill at 9 p.m. Saturday.
The Commodores finished 20-12 and 6' in the Southeastern Conference, which along with the Big 12. Conference placed six teams in the NCAA tournament.
Although the women's team was disap pointed that it could face the No.1 seed in the second round again, one Jayhawk was glad she was going home.
"We're going back down South," said junior guard Jennifer Jackson, who's from Tuscaloosa, Ala. "And that's how I like it."
Kansas seniors work out to wow professional scouts
NFL dreams come into view for seven players
By Brandon Krisztal sports@kansan.com
Kansas sportwriter
In the heart of March Madness, the Kansas football team has its focus elsewhere.
The team is getting set for the start of spring practice this afternoon.. However, Friday marked the last chance for some graduating seniors to work out for NFL scouts before the April 15 and 16 draft.
A handful of scouts tested running back Mitch Bowie, wide receiver Michael Chandler, defensive back Muhammad Abdul-Rahim, defensive linemen Dion Johnson and Dion Rayford, and offensive linemen Dameon Hunt and Chris Enneking at Anschutz Sports Pavilion.
The NFL held its annual scouting combine last month in Indianapolis, but only the Top 350 college seniors were invited. No one from Kansas went.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers scout
Mark Dominik said Friday that with almost 2,000 graduating seniors, visiting schools allowed teams to take a look at players they had not previously seen.
"The thing that we're looking for here is guys that didn't go to the combine, some of the senior class that didn't actually make it to the Indianapolis combine," Dominik said. "We get a chance to come in here again and take a look at them, time them, see how they do on film compared to what they do on the field here in workout."
The athletes were tested in the 40-yard dash, the 20-yard shuttle run, a cone drill, vertical leap, broad jump and bench press. Although he put up some of the top numbers in almost every test, Bowles said he was disappointed.
"Whatever I hoped to accomplish, I sure didn't," he said. "I've got a lot of work to do."
Unlike Bowles, the others were much happier with their performances. Chandler, whose 40-yard dash time was second-fastest behind Bowles, he was pleased with his tests.
Bowles said that he was planning to go to Chicago in April for a similar workout.
"I think I did all right today — a little slower than I wanted to on
Recievers return
Recievers return
two wideouts, who sat out last season with injuries, return for the Jayhawks' spring workouts.
See page 4B
the 40 — but it was still a decent time for today," he said. "Overall, I was happy with how I did."
I was happy to hear Hunt, who started 39 games for the Jayhawks, said that his on-the-field performance — competing in the Big 12 Conference against the best — spoke for itself. But he wanted to show what he could do in the weight room, he said. He admitted that he was nervous.
"I just hope to polish up my skills, run a good 40," he said. "Give them a good vertical. (I) hope to profit off my workouts that I've been doing all winter vacation."
Although he spoke for himself, Johnson summed up the seniors' feelings.
"I said to myself, 'It's a once-in-a lifetime opportunity, you know you got nothing to lose," he said.
"I love to go out here and give it all I got," he said. "Go 100 percent and hope for the best."
Abdul-Rahim said he was just hoping to get someone to notice him.
Former Hawks use heads, hearts to get into pros
Jason Thoren is headed to the NFL. The name doesn't sound familiar? Not surprising considering his recent signing with the Chips didn't make SportsCenter. In fact, it got only a cursory mention in the Kansan sports briefs, and guess what? Thoren's a former Jayhawk.
So how come you haven't heard about it? Because Thoren is making it the hard way. Talent makes headlines, and talent isn't Thoren's ticket to the big time.
Thoren leaves today for training camp in Orlando, Fla. If all goes well, he will move on to play for NFL Europe's Berlin Thunder this summer.
Thoren doesn't possess the monstrous size or preternatural speed that's become the norm for NFL linebackers. He went undrafted after his senior season.
But Thoren won't be dissuaded by any of that. If he needs inspiration, he can turn to his best friend Tony Blevins.
That name may not strike a chord either. Blevins played defensive back
Sports Columnist
Derek Prater
sports@ kansan.com
for the surging Indianapolis Colts and snagged two interceptions last season — one he returned for a touchdown. Blevins started in the NFL with the San Francisco '49ers practice squad in 1988. He was activated in place of an injured player and then put on the waivers when that player returned. The Colts snatched him off the waiver wire and he's been there since.
since.
Thoren and Blevins both finished their careers at Kansas in 1997. They became close friends in 1994, hanging out at the Jayhawker Towers during winter break. They played video games, went to the Yacht Club and worked out together — and they talked about making it to the NFL.
"It was a goal of ours," Blevins said. "I didn't know it was going to happen like it did, but we talked about some day playing against each other on Sundays."
The way these two guys made it
happen is a refreshing story in a troubled league. The NFL focuses primarily on speed, size and strength. Character is usually considered more for negative reasons. (Will Florida State standout Peter Warrick's draft position drop considering his arrest last season for larceny?) It's just the opposite for these former Jayhawks.
Thoren and Blevins have gotten their chances based more on their characters than physical gifts. Intelligence and determination are their calling cards.
Like Thoren, Blevins wasn't blessed with the natural size and abilities that would make him a lock for the NFL. Last season, FOX announcer John Madden marveled at Blevins' relatively diminutive stature, speculating that he may fit inside a hip pocket. Madden expressed amazement that Blevins was making such an impact for the Colts.
Thoren, however, wasn't surprised.
"Playing with him — he's probably the smartest guy on the field." Thoren said. "He makes quick decisions and makes a lot of plays because of it."
Blevins is coachable, hardworking and determined, Thoren said. When the opportunity arose, Blevins was ready. Thoren remembered when he heard Blevins had
See HEART on page 2B
Baseball team snaps four-year drought at No.4 Texas, but can't win series
By Amanda Kaschube
Kansan sportswriter
If last weekend's series against No. 4 Texas was any indication of the future, Kansas' drought against the Big 12 Conference bigwigs might be coming to an end.
team — the first time "It was a bittersweet weekend," said senior Shane Wedd. "We saw how good we can be and it's encouraging. In the two games that we lost, we had a chance to win
Kansas won only four conference games last year, and even though the 'Hawks (13-7 3-3) lost two of the three games in the series, they won in Austin for the first time in four years and also had a win against a ranked team — the first time since last March.
them and it shows us that we can be good." Kansas won the first game, 8-7. Friday but could not overcome Texas' pitching
Sophomore Ryan Klocksien, who went 5-11 in the series, said the offense kept the games in hand.
"We got to the park early and got in a lot of batting practice the whole weekend," he said. "We showed up at the plate, and it showed in our hits. It's a good thing for the freshmen to get experience playing at Texas. It shows them what Big 12 baseball is all about."
Kansas had a chance to win yesterday's game but failed to connect in key situations.
Texas jumped out to a two-run lead in the second jong on two RBI singles. In the
third inning, Klocksien dropped a fly ball in foul territory off the bat of Chris Houser that would have ended the inning. Houser then tripped, and the Longhorns went on to score three runs in the inning.
"If I would have caught that ball it would have been a different story." Klocksen said. "It would have been the final out, and they wouldn't have scored those runs."
Going into the ninth inning down 5-2, the 'Hawks scored one and were in good position with the bases loaded and only one out. But strikeouts by freshman Kevin Wheeler and senior Brett Kappelmann ended the game and a chance of winning the series.
"They came out a better team, but we still played well," Klocksien said. "We should have taken two of three."
In Saturday's loss, Kansas connected on
Wedd said the combination of offense and strong pitching helped snap Kansas' sixgame losing streak to Texas.
10 hits, including two from juniors John Nelson, Doug Dreher and Wedd. Senior pitcher Ryan Schmidt entered the game in relief for sophomore Jeff Davis in the fourth and went five innings, allowing just six hits and two runs.
In Friday's win, Kansas scored eight runs on 12 hits, led by Nelson and Kappelmann who slapped three base hits each. Junior Pete Smart went six innings, allowing three runs and four walks in his third win of the season.
"We did a good job of putting numbers on the board," he said. "We had a good offensive weekend. We took one game from a really good team."
Friday
Kansas 030 031 001 8 12 4
Texas 001 101 202 7 10.1
Friday
BOX SCORES
Saturday
Kansas 030 031 001 8 12 4
Texas 001 101 202 7 10 1
Kansas IP H R ER BB SO
Pete Smart 6 7 3 3 4 2
Dan Olson 0 1 2 2 1 0
Brandon O'Neal 6 3 2 2 0 1
Sunday
kansas 200 100 000 **3 10 0**
Texas 103 011 00x **6 13 1**
Kansas IP H R ER BB SO
Jeff Davis 3 7 4 4 0 1
Ryan Schmidt 5 6 2 2 1
V
Sunday
Kansas 000 200 001 3 4 0
700 500 500 500
Kansas 000 200 000
Taxa 023 000 100x 68.1
Kansas H R ER BB SO
Rusty Philibrick 7 8 5 5 3 2
Sam Gish 1 0 0 0 0 1
4