Section:
12A
Mush? In this cold?
The University Daily Kansan
Sports
Paul Gebhardt opened up an early lead in the Iditarod, the grueling 10-day/dog race which determines who wants to freeze for $525,000.
Inside: Junior pole-vaulter Andrea Branson is among the best in the country — and she's only been jumping for five years.
SEE PAGE 11A
Inside: College basketball stories and scores as March begins to get crazy.
SEE PAGES 8A AND 10A
THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2000
WWW.KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
'Huskers burn Hawks,80-67
Katie Hannon (left), Selena Scott and Suzi Raymant watch dejectedly as Kansas loses to Nebraska yesterday afternoon in the Big 12 tournament. Ramvant fouled out of the game with a little more than two minutes remaining. Photo by Jay Sheperd/KANSAN
Jaclyn Johnson drives under the basket and is fouled by Nebraska's Charlie Rogers. Johnson led the team with 20 points and seven rebounds. The Jayhawks lost 80-67 to the 'Huskers, their third loss to Nebraska this season. Photo by Jay Shepard/KANSAN
By Chris Fickett sports@kansan.com Kansan sportswriter
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The game was so simple for Nicole Kubik.
Kubik, Nebraska's star senior guard,
burned Kansas with 32 points, making
shots from everywhere on the
Municipal Auditorium floor in yesterday's Big 12 Conference tournament quarterfinal. The 80-67 win knocked the Jayhawks out of the tournament.
Nebraska's victory, its third this season against Kansas, increased its hopes of earning an NCAA bid, while Kansas, which dropped to 20-9, must wait for selection Sunday to see who its next opponent will be.
"Nebraska's been a challenge for us this year, particularly with their ability to drive and take the ball to the hole." Kansas coach Marian Washinoto said
Nebraska's quickness and ability to dribble penetrate wasn't a factor early in the game. Besides Kubik and her 18-point first half, no one else got involved in the 'Huskers' attack.
"Their defense pushed us out a little further on the floor than we normally are," said Nebraska coach Paul Sanderford. "We didn't show an awful lot of patience early in the game, and I think that is to Kansas' credit."
The Jayhawks held a 35-21 lead with 511 left despite having Pride on the bench. Pride, who was called for a technical foul after contesting a foul call,
played only seven minutes in the first half.
Picking up the slack was senior guard Suzi Raymant, who hit two three-point shots, and junior forward Jaclyn Johnson, who musced past 6-foot-5 center Casey Leonhardt on offense and finished with 20 points.
"They were bigger," Johnson said. "We have to use our quickness to get to the basket, and I think we outplayed them inside tonight, but it wasn't enough."
It wasn't enough partly because of Kubik, who scored eight of her 18 first-half points during a 16-6 Nebraska run. The Jayhawks only led 43-17 at half
After halftime, Pride, who finished with 14 points, kept Kansas close. Two of her free throws gave the Jayhawks a 56-55 lead with 11:06 to play.
"I felt that if we could get to halftime five or six points down, then we would be able to win." he said after the game.
time, but after trailing by as many as 14 points, the halftime score was an omen for Sanderford.
But Nebraska went on a 14-3 run and led by 11 with less than two minutes to play.
Even though the Jayhawks' next opponent is uncertain, Washington said, "It will be great to see someone new."
BOX SCORE
NEBRASKA 80, KANSAS 67
NEBRASKA (18-11)
Reves 6-14 1-12, 13, Pride 3-11
8-18 4-14, Raymant 5-10 0-12,
Jackson 1-6 0-02, Johnson 8-16
4-7 20, Moy 0-1 2-2, Scott 0-0
Rogers 3-4 2-8, Leonhard 4
11 2-1 2-1, Peterson 2-7 1-3, Schwartz 4-10 2-2 11, Kubik 10-
10 11-32, Kelley 0-0 0-0, Went 1-3 0-0, Roberts 0-0 0-0,
Sutton 0-1 1-2 1, Glmore 4-6
10-3. Totals 28 0-2 25 8-20
KANSAS (20-9)
2-4 2, White 1-1 1-0 2, Geoffroy 0-
1 0-0 0, Fletcher 0-1 0-0 0, Totals
24-61 17-23 67.
Haltime—Kansas 41, Nebraska 37. 3-Point goals—Nebraska 4-8 (Schwartz 1.1, Kubik 2.4, Went 1.2, Sutton 0.1), Kansas 25 (Pride 0.1, Rayman 2.4). Fouled out—Rayman. Technical Foul's—Pride. Rebounds—Nebraska 42 (Peterson 10), Kansas 34 (Johnson, Reves 7). Assists—Nebraska 12 (Peterson, Kubik 4). Kansas 10 (May, Scott 3). Total fouls—Nebraska 20, Kansas 21. A—3,559
Boschee may be key to Kemper win
Jeff Boschee, Kansas guard, has recently struggled to score. The Jayhawks are hopping Boschee will be able to step up his game today as the 'Hawks take on Kansas State in the Big 12 Tournament. Kansan file photo.
By Shawn Hutchinson sports@kansan.com
Kanson sportwriter
Need proof? Take into account all five games that Boschee has played in Kemper.
Put Jeff Boschee in Kemper Arena, and good things are likely to happen.
Earlier this season, he hit four of seven shots and scored in double-figures during Kansas' 71-60 win against St. Louis in the Sprint Shootout.
Last spring, Boschee was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 1999 Big 12 Tournament after helping lead Kansas to the title by averaging 14 points and hitting nine three-pointers in three games.
Before that, Bosche made his Kemper debut by playing 28 minutes in Kansas '65-55 win against Illinois in the 1998 Sprint Shootout.
It can't get much more encouraging than that for No. 24 Kansas as it prepares to defend its Big 12 Tournament title starting today at Kemper in Kansas City, Mo. The Jayhawks (22,8,1-5 Big 12) take on Kansas State at 2:20 p.m., needing four victories in four
That's five Boschse appearances in Kemmer and five Kansas victories.
"This is the first time we've ever played on Thursday, so that's going to be a little different," said Kansas coach Roy Williams. "But we've put ourselves in this position by losing some games. If Bosche is making his jump shots, then we definitely look better."
The problem is that Boschee hasn't been making those jump shots lately. After opening the season hitting nine of his first 10 three-point attempts, Boschee has endured traumatic scoring droughts, including a 2-for-17 performance from the field against Iowa State, Feb. 16.
days to take home the title.
"My shot has struggled at times, but my confidence is really high," Boschee said. "It doesn't look as good on paper, but I've been working hard on defense."
Bosche is averaging 9.9 points per game this season, which is down from 10.9 points per game last season. His shooting percentage in Big 12 Conference games is also down from 36 to 31 percent.
Boschee and the rest of the Jayhawks are hoping to shoot lights out today against K-State (9,18-2,14 Big 12), a team that Kansas has already roughed up twice this season — 87-79 in Lawrence and
94-65 in Manhattan.
Kansas notes
Kansas holds an 18-game winning streak against the Wildcats.
Today's game will be the 137th of Nick Bradford's career, which will move him into a tie for 20th place in NCAA history. Former Kentucky guard Wayne Turner holds the NCAA record for most games played with 151.
TODAY'S GAME
Who: Kansas State vs. No. 24 Kansas
Who: Kansas State vs. No. 24 Kansas
When/Where: 2:20 p.m. at Kemper Arena in
Kansas City, Mo.
TV/Radio: ESPN Regional/The Jayhawk Radio Network
Kansas State (9-18, 2-14 Blg.12)
Ht. Yr. Pep RPG
F 5 Travis Reynolds 6-7 So. 5,3 6.0
F 4 Tony Kite 6-8 Sr. 12,6 9.0
C 44 Kelvin Howell 9- Jr. 8,1 7.3
F 22 Josh Reid 6-6 Sr. 6,9 2.4
G 2 Cortze Groves 5- Sr. 16, 2.1
No.24 Kansas (22-8, 11-5 Big 12)
Ht. Yr. Ppg RPG
F 4 Nick Collison 69 Fr. 10.4 6.8
F 0 Drew Gooden 69 Fr. 11.0 7.6
G 20 Kenny Gregory 65 Jr. 12.9 4.5
G 13 Bj Boschee 61 So. 9.9 1.6
G 10 Kirk Hinick 61 Fr. 5.1 2.3
Jayhawks hope 'final answer' is a Big 12 title
Get out the blue books Jayhawks and sharpen those pencils. Today is the first test of a four-part midterm, otherwise known as the Big 12 Tournament.
OK, so the first part is more of a quiz — an open-book quiz. It's the first question of Who wants to be a Millionaire, when Regis doesn't even bother with the dramatic pause. He just blurts out, "You got it," and we move on to the second round.
Assuming No. 24 Kansas doesn't flub up a gimme question like, 'Duck, Duck, ___', it should have no problem with the Kansas State Wildcats this afternoon at Kemper Arena. (But keep your fingers crossed Wildcat fans, they say beating a team for the 19th time in a row is always tough.)
The rest of the midterm, however, could be a bit tricky. Because in this game show, there are no more freebies. Waiting in the wings will be Oklahoma State (23-5), most likely followed by Iowa State (26-4) and Texas (22-7).
And if you've forgotted, the Jayhawks went 0-4 against those schools during the regular season. And those weren't half-court, bank-shot, buzzer-beating, "I can't-
believe we-just-beat-Kansas" upsets we're talking about. They were two second-half Cyclone romps, a 33-point embarrassment in Stillwater, and a Texas-sized dunk contest that Kansas was apparently invited to, but not allowed to participate, down in Austin.
Having the tournament just 40 miles from Lawrence has been a home-court advantage for the Jayhawks in the Big Eight and Big 12. It no doubt played a part in Kansas winning the first three Big 12 Tournaments, and influencing the Big 12 committee to vote that Kansas City share the tournament with Dallas in the future.
Luckily for coach Roy Williams and his freshman-led squad, they do get three lifelines at Kemper Arena.
Those raucous Jayhawk fans may have their work cut out for them, though, if they want to outdo Cyclone fans in a possible third-round match-up. You better believe thousands of them will be making the three-hour trip from Ames to see the first Iowa State men's basketball team to win a confer-
1. Asking the audience — to be louder, that is.
Associate Sports Editor Commentary Matt James
sports@kansan.com
ence title since 1945 — when Franklin D. Roosevelt was in office.
IOWA State clinched the Big Six title that year with a 61-39 victory against Kansas. On a side note, Roosevelt died of a brain hemorrhage just 41 days later, but it is unknown whether he was still contemplating the Big Six basketball standings at the time.
2. 50-50 — In a single-elimination tournament there is a chance — albeit a small one
— that one or two of those tough answers might be eliminated. Like how does Kansas stop Marcus Fizer? Or how do the Jayhawks handle Chris Mihm and Gabe Monuke without a center — or at least one
who doesn't get his shots thrown off by guards?
After all, this is the Big 12 Conference where the phrase "any given night" usually applies. But let's be honest, the odds of a Colorado or Nebraska knocking off one of the front-runners isn't likely. The Jayhawks probably can't rely on the ol' 50-50.
3. Phone a friend — Calm down Jayhawk fans. Coach Williams will not be calling you from press row to figure out who he should be playing.
Williams will probably call on Drew Gooden — and all three freshman for that matter. He's been reluctant thus far to put the responsibility of leading his team on Gooden, pulling him after his frequent mental mistakes. But the study sessions are through, and it's time to leave the talent out there. After all, the final exam is just around the corner.
Will the freshman be able to carry the Jayhawks deep into two postseason tournaments?
That's the million-dollar question.
James is a Hugoton senior in journalism.
Softball team undefeated, blows away UMKC
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sports editor
By Mike Miller
Aggressiveness at the plate paid off for Kansas yesterday, as the softball team swept the University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2-0 and 4-3, in a windwhipped doubleheader in Kansas City, Mo.
The Jayhawks have yet to lose to the Kangaroos, improving their all-time record against UMKC to 8-0, while collecting 16 hits in the two-game set.
"As a team we played much more aggressively today," said shortstop Christy McPhail. "We all hit the ball a lot better."
Kansas, 10-11 overall, pounded Kangaroo pitcher Erin Brown for seven hits and four runs in 3 2/3 innings in the second game. Catcher Leah Tabb was three for four, including two doubles, while pitcher Melanie DeWinter held the Kangaroos scoreless until the sixth inning.
"The big thing today was that we swung the bats better, Tabb and McPhail especially," said coach Tracy Bunge. "But McPhail made some phenomenal defensive plays that just saved us in the second game."
McPhail was the star in the first game, with a double, triple and an RBI. Tabb connected on a solo home run in the sixth inning, which was more than enough for pitcher Sarah Clopton. She went the distance, allowing only five hits and one walk, while striking out seven.
The 'Hawks had to deal with 40 mph winds, which made fielding difficult.
"It was like a three-ring circus out there trying to catch the ball," Bunge said.
Nagging injuries to Clopton and center fielder and last year's team MVP Shelly Musser made things tough on Kansas, as well. Clopton has had lower-back problems, and Musser still is recovering from a third-degree concussion two weeks ago. Clopton's stamina pleased Bunge, and Muszer played two innings to try and ease back into the season.
Kansas travels to Knoxville, Tenn., for the Lady Vol Invitational this weekend. The 'Hawks play six games in three days, but their three-game winning streak gives McPhail some encouragement.
"We just need to have fun and play hard this weekend," she said. "We still haven't played to our capabilities, so that is our goal going into the weekend."
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