Section B·Page 10
The University Daily Kansan
Friday, March 3, 2000
Freshman wall myth for'Hawks
Longer schedule isn't exhausting team's youngest
By Matt Tait sports@kansan.com Kansan sportwriter
Fact or myth? Every college basketball season, the freshman class becomes ineffective late in the season because it is tired and worn down from the longer, more treacherous college schedule.
Generally, that statement has proven to be a fact, but for Kansas' three freshmen this season—Nick Collison, Drew Gooden and Kirk Hinrich — the mythical freshman wall is just that: a myth.
"We've all been playing pretty well," Collison said. "I think we've been playing about the same level all season."
The theory of the freshman wall involves the season's length and physical and mental preparation.
First, in most states, the high school playoffs begin this week, and in others, the season-ending tournament began last week. In college, the regular season doesn't end until Sunday, and then the most important part of the season — the postseason tournaments — stretches to the beginning of April.
Kansas point guard Jen Boscnee, a tresman last year, said that he remembered the length of the season being a tough adjustment.
"It is extremely difficult to adjust to the longer season," Boschee said. "It's almost a month longer than your high school season."
Second, both in practices and games, the competition is more physically demanding. That makes for another brick in the wall.
"The season's a lot of fun, but it does take a wear and tear on your body," Hinrich said. "You just have to be mentally tough to get through it."
"It's more mental, I think, to be able to maintain focus in practice everyday," Collison said. "Because practices are so much tougher than they were in high school."
Collison agreed that mental endurance was the key to climbing over the wall rather than running into it.
Despite the difficulty of the adjustment from the high school gym to Allen Fieldhouse, this year's freshman class has survived on adrenaline.
"You can bust through it early because you're all excited about the season," Collison said, "But if you can get it in your head to be strong enough to do it, your body will be able to do it, too, and I think us three
"You can bust through it early because you're all excited about the season. But if you can get it in your head to be strong enough to do it, your body will be able to do it too and I think us three have done a good job."
Nick Collison Kansas freshman forward
With the postseason beginning next week, the statistics show that the freshmen have done an admirable job, indeed.
have done a good iob."
Collision is third on the team in scoring with 10.3 ppg and second in blocked shots with 31 and rebounding at 6.8 rpg.
Gooden leads the team in rebounding at 7.4 ng and is second in scoring at 10.7 ng
The numbers add up to a title the three freshmen have had since the season began: the future of Kansas basketball.
1. 4 pg and is second in scoring at 10.7 pg. Hinrich has come on strong lately. In his first 21 games he scored nine or more points just once, but in his last eight games, he has topped nine points four times. He also ranks second on the team in assists per game with 3.5.
Freshman Nick Collison said mental and physical preparation would be key in adjusting to the post-season schedule. Kansas file photo
Women ready for Red Raiders
By Zac Hunter sports@kansan.com Kansan sportwriter
The Kansas women's tennis team is confident about beginning its Big 12 Conference season this weekend with a meet against Texas Tech. A team it beat easily last year 7-2.
Although the 'Hawks fell seven points in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association poll to No. 49 after last week's 5-2 loss to Tulsa, the team has a 6-2 record.
Despite some minor injuries — a constant problem for small teams, women's tennis coach Jenny Garrity said that the team would be ready to go this weekend.
Sophomore player Lisa Mallaiah agreed.
"It's all tough competition, but I think we get up extra for the Big 12," she said.
The meet begins at 11 a.m. Sunday at Alvamar Golf and Country Club, 4120 Clinton Parkway.
Garrity said that Texas Tech had struggled in the past against some Top 25 teams. She also said that the Red Raider's busy weekend schedule would put her team at an advantage.
"If I had to pick which day I want to play them, of course I'd want to play them on the last day."
The Red Raiders' spring season is off an ominous start after losing five of their first six meets. Two of their losses came against Arizona and Arizona State, which are both ranked in the Top 25. The latest loss occurred in their first Big 12 meet against Oklahoma State.
Jenny Garrity women's tennis coach
Garrity said that playing Top 25 teams probably hadn't helped Texas Tech's confidence.
Winning Sunday also will not be easy for the Red Raiders because of a threemeet road trip this weekend.
Before coming to Lawrence, Texas Tech plays Iowa State today and Missouri tomorrow. Garrity said Kansas would benefit because of the likely fatigue the Red Raiders would feel.
"You have not only physical matches, but emotional matches," Garrity said. "If I had to pick which day I want to play them, of course I'd want to play them on the last day."
Although her team may be aided, Garrity warned that the Red Raiders would be ready to play regardless of what happened in the next two days.
For the Jayhawks to meet their season goals — which is competing against Texas for the Big 12 Championship—they will have to win early meets against the other teams in the conference, including
The Kansas women's tennis team begins the Big 12 Conference season Sunday against Texas Tech. The Jayhawks beat the Red Raiders 7-2 last year. Kansan file photo
Texas Tech.
Texas started the season with a 9-0 record and is ranked No. 9 in the nation.
Kansas won't play the Longhorns until the final meet of the regular season in Austin, Texas.
By Brent Wasko
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
After winning two of its last three matches, the No. 73 Kansas men's tennis team will roll into Big 12 Conference play this weekend.
If the Jayhawks want to continue winning, they will have to get past one of the strongest teams in the conference, the No. 9 Baylor Bears, at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Alvamar Golf and Country Club, 4120 Clinton Parkway.
"They have a lot of power in their line-up," said junior Ed Dus. "Talent-wise we match-up well with them. If we get out early, I think they will get a little nervous and we can take advantage of that."
Baylor has been a perennial conference and national championship contender. Last season, the Bears advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament, losing to the eventual champion, Georgia. Dus said the Bears were a very competitive group.
"As a team they're not the nicest people in the world," Dus said. "We just need to keep our composure out there on the court."
Baylor's squad this year is led by Johann Jooste and ranked 14th in the nation. The team features five other returning letter winners, including David Hodge who is ranked No.90 and freshman Zoltan Papp who is No.62.
The Bears, last season's Big 12 runner-up, also bring to the table a talented group of doubles teams. Hodge and Mark Williams are No. 4 in the country, Pawel Gajzik and Johannes Michalsky are No. 30, and Gajzik and Jooste are No. 38.
"They are a very solid team," said Mark Riley, Kansas men's coach. "We play in one of the best conferences in the country in
"Talent-wise we matchup well with them. If we get out early, I think they will get a little nervous and we can take advantage of that."
Ed Dus
Kansas tennis
tennis, but we are looking forward to the challenge."
Kansas, 3-5, took a week off to prepare for their Big 12 opener against the Bears, which Riley said was very beneficial.
"I think we are making some progress," he said. "We've had a better effort from everyone at practice. I think we're ready to turn the corner this season."
The Jayhawks have had a disappointing start to their season, but their performances have started to turn around. They defeated the No. 68 Iowa Hawkeyes 4-3 on February 13, lost a close match to No. 25 Harvard and got by Columbia in Boston.
"We came off a good set of matches prior to the break, so we were able to carry that into our practices," Riley said. "The first third of the season has gone by, and no one is happy where we are. I think we are stepping up our play now though."
Kansas is led by freshman Eleazar Magallan, who is ranked No.1 in Region V with a team-best 22-11 singles record. The squad also has three other players ranked among the Top 25 in Region V. The Jayhawks have two doubles teams ranked in the region as well.
"We haven't played our best tennis yet," Riley said. We are going to fight with Baylor for every point this weekend."
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