Inside Sports
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Sports
Monday
December 6,1999
Section:
B
Page 1
More photos from last weekend's KU Credit Union Jayhawk Classic.
SEE PAGE 8B
College football
Nebraska beat Texas in the Big 12 Championship game Saturday and will play Tennessee in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan.2.
SEE PAGE 2B AND 4B
The Kansas men's and women's swimming teams suffered defeats against Iowa on Saturday in Iowa City. SEE PAGE 2B
Swimming
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Jubilation!
The Jayhawk bench celebrates a down-to-the-wire win in this weekend's KU Credit Union Jayhawk Classic at Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks fought off numerous runs by California-Santa Barbara in the championship game. Photo by Shelly Smith/KANSAN
Kansas wins Jayhawk Classic
Raymant's 23 points vital in 76-73 win
By Melinda Weaver
By Mennad Weave sports@kansan.com Kansan sportswriter
When senior guard Suzi Raymant returned from her medical redshirt, the Kansas women's basketball team wondered how long it would take her to return to her full potential.
All questions were answered after Raymant's KU Credit Union Jayhawk Classic Most Valuable Player performance in the 76-73 championship victory against No. 15 California-Santa Barbara Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse.
Raymant:Was MVP
at KU Credit Union
Jayhawk Classic
See KANSAS on page 3B
Santa Barbara coach surprised by team's balanced attack
By Chris Fickett
by Chris Pickett
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
California-Santa Barbara coach Mark French actually was hoping that Lynn Pride would try too hard against his team Saturday.
"I thought, I hoped that she would try to do a little too much, maybe in a close-game situation," he said.
French's hopes were played out on the Allen Fieldhouse floor as the Gauchos were tied with Kansas at 72 with 2:10 remaining. But Pride didn't overdo it; she did just enough to lift her team to a 76-73 victory in the championship of the KU Credit Union Jayhawk Classic.
And with the game on the line, senior guard Suzi Raymont made a running
Pride put up good numbers — 10 points and nine rebounds in 38 minutes — and was named to the all-tournament team, but it was her passing that helped get her Jayhawk teammates involved in the triangle offense and make big shots.
women's BASKETBALL
"Last year, our opponents knew that they had to stop Lynn and that put a lot of pressure on her to do well. Now we know that we can't just rely on Lynn. All of us have to step up and take shots," said Raymant, who earned MVP honors with 23 points in 10-of-17 shooting, six rebounds and four assists. "This team isn't scared to have anyone shoot the ball because we can all make the shots when we need to."
jumper with 25 seconds remaining. The shot put Kansas up by three points and sealed the win.
Junior guard Brooke Reves, who scored 14 first-half points and joined Pride on the all-tournament team, also made some key baskets — one came with a little help from Pride.
In the first half, Pride unleashed a long pass to Reves, who converted it into a
layup that pushed Kansas' lead to 13 points and forced the Gauchos to call timeout.
"Lynn's role is not diminished," Kansas coach Marian Washington said. "Every team still focuses on Lynn. Suzi was our key player tonight, but Lynn still had seven assists."
After the game, French said he was impressed with Pride's unselfish play.
"Pride was willing to give the ball up" he said. "She passed the ball very well."
The Jayhawks played well in transition, forcing 13 steals and scoring 21 points off 25 Gaucho turnovers, but they generated most of their offense from half-court sets, something that pleased Washington.
"I think we've got an offense that really suits us," she said.
French agreed.
"I think the difference between this Kansas team and maybe past Kansas teams is that they were able to not just be very athletic and very talented but that they were able to run enough of their stuff to generate some easy baskets," he said.
—Edited by Mike Loader
Kansas puts away diligent Blue Raiders, 97-77
Gregary: Shot 100 percent in Saturday's win
sports@kanson.com
Kanson sportswriter
By Matt Tait
The Kansas men's basketball team traveled to a state known for its music yesterday, and whistled a little Dixie to the tune of a 97-77 victory against the Blue Raiders of Middle Tennessee State.
Kansas came out in the first half on fire. Through the first 16 minutes, Kansas shot 75 percent. Highlighting
Behind a routine dominating performance from guard Kenny Gregory, the No. 6 Jayhawks (6-0) increasingly built their lead and held off a couple Blue Raider runs.
And the beat goes on
men's BASKETBALL
the hot shooting was Gregory, who was nine for nine in the half. Gregory finished 11 for 14 for a game-high 22 points.
"If you take away the free throws, Kenny really did have a fantastic day for us," Kansas coach Roy Williams said.
While the Jayhawks were on fire offensively, it was their defense that allowed them to build a 15-point half-time lead, 49-34.
Kansas forced 11 turnovers in half and held the Blue Raiders' field-soil
percentage under 35 percent. But while the Jayhawks were dominating most facets of the game, they didn't run away with the match, at least not right away.
For about eight minutes in the first half Kansas' lead fluctuated from nine to 12, but in the last 3 minutes, Kansas went on a 10-10 run and pushed the lead as high as 19. A final Blue Raider flurry cut the lead to 15. It also had an impact on Williams.
"I was really impressed with the way coach (Randy) Wiel's kids battled out there," Williams said. "They just kept fighting and fighting and fighting and that will really help them down the road."
Ultimately, however, the Blue Raiders were knocked out.
Kansas pressured the ball at the start of the second half, which led to a Blue Raider turnover and a three-point play for center Eric Chenowith.
Kansas' shooting cooled off somewhat in the second half, as they shot only 56 percent, but the Jayhawks finished with a 61 percent shooting percentage
Chenowith, who has struggled this season, played a complete game, scoring 16 points in six-of-seven shooting, including three-for-three from the free-throw line.
Williams was pleased, and said that he thought that Chenowith had improved his play.
See MEN on page 3B
Hey Santa, a trip to the Final Four would be great
Dear Santa.
What's up, dog? Not a whole lot going on in Lawrence. Finals.
Basketball. Work. Same old drama.
Well, it has been a while since I've written to you. I have been very happy with all my Christmases since the last time we corresponded. I was especially pleased with the year you got me Laser Tag. Thanks a bunch.
I hope that I made your "nice" list this year. My behavior has been acceptable, in my opinion. Others
may disagree. I ask that you ignore those people.
So here is my very reasonable Christmas list for this year.
I really want an excuse to go see the Final Four this year, Santa. It would be great to see the Kansas Jayhawks playing for the title in Indianapolis. I
Seth Jones sports columnist oksen@kansas.com
know that you are a Jayhawk fan as well, (didn't I see you at the Pepperdine game?) so this could be beneficial to us both.
I want Kenny Gregory to quit getting the shaft. First, he was left off the all-tournament team at the Great Alaska Shootout, and yesterday he was not chosen as player of the game.
I'd like to see Taco Bell install larger windows on their drive-thrus. This has recently become a problem in Lawrence, Santa. It's really a matter of safety for customers.
I'd like for Kansas State fans to get a grip on reality. Maybe the trip they earned to the Culligan Man Holiday Bowl in San Diego will provide the splash of cold water that they need. They won't ever find the Wildcats playing for a national championship until the team faces tougher competition outside of the Big 12. Kansas State football is a power, but they need to prove it to more people.
I want one of my readers who really enjoys my columns to have a mom or dad that owns a major newspaper or sports magazine so they can get me a job.
I want the new Beastie Boys CD. I might as well throw an easy one your way.
Santa, no matter how angry a coach gets, I want that coach to remain professional and call me at the sports desk, not at home. Or maybe they could write me an e-mail. I have a policy similar to yours, Santa. You won't let all the kids call the North Pole because you'd rather they write you so you aren't interrupted while you're watching The Simpsons or The Crocodile Hunter. This system has worked for you for years. You still gets all the toys out, and don't miss a minute of your favorite TV shows. And the boys and girls understand.
I'd like to be able to play basketball outside in the rain, and not get wet. Now, wouldn't that be great?
I'd like to help out with next year's Late Night with Roy Williams and try to make the skits more humorous than the little kid that danced around with the Jayhawk.
I'd like my own MegaVision.
I'd like to see the Jayhawks bring back the old red basketball uniforms from the team that played in 1986 Final Four.
I'd like to see Ashante Johnson get a little more playing time.
I'd like for all fellow Jayhawks to have happy holidays and to wear their seatbelts when they travel home. Then I'll talk to them more next semester.
Thanks, Santa. Tell Mrs. Claus and Toy-Boy I said hey. Don't work the reindeer too hard. As always, the eggnog and bourbon will be sitting out waiting for you.
审
1
Jones is a Mulvane senior in journalism.
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