Section A·Page 10
The University Daily Kansan
Wednesday, December 1. 1999
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Big 12 men start off hot by taking tournament titles
By Matt Tait
By Matt Tait
sports@kanson.com
Kanson sportswriter
At the Big 12 Conference's media day in Dallas last month, all of the league's coaches expressed feelings that the Big 12 was a better conference than had been perceived.
With their teams' achievements so far, they are proving it.
Kansas' championship at the Great Alaska Shootout last week end made the team the fourth Big 12 team to win an early season tournament. Joining the Jayhawks with tournament crowns were Texas at the Puerto Rico Shootout, Oklahoma at the Top of the World tournament in Fairbanks Alaska and Oklahoma State at the America's Youth Classic in Stillwater, Okla.
Iowa State came close to becoming the fifth but lost to No. 1 Cincinnati in the final game of the Big Island Invitational in Hilo, Hawaii.
The success of the league, as predicted, has not surprised the coaches and has them grinning at
the prospect of how much the early success can help in March
"It's great to see," said Missouri first-year coach Quin Snyder who is 4-1. "From Texas to Oklahoma to Kansas, and even Iowa State, who played Cincinnati tough. To see the league do well helps us nationally, and especially as we look toward March."
Kansas coach Roy Williams agreed with Snyder but said that the league's success made sense because 11 of last year's Top 15 players had returned.
"Of those first, second and third teams all conference at the end of last year, 11 of those guys are returning, and several teams are getting either transfers or freshmen eligible that will help them as well," Williams said. "It's going to be a much better league than the Big 12 has been, much less just last year. But I think it's going to be far better than last year, and there are some quality teams in this league."
even the so-called bottom dwellers of the conference have gotten off to hot starts.
Baylor (3-0), Texas Tech (2-1) and Colorado (4-0) have won games, both at home and on the road.
In all, the league has been winning and winning often. Through Sunday, the Big 12 was a combined 17-5 in preseason tournaments and
"The Big 12 conference is a much improved league from last season, even though I thought the league was very good last season," said Colorado coach Ricardo Patton. "Last year, teams were just very young, and those players have gotten older. Certainly we want to be one of those teams that gets better with each game and makes the league better by doing so."
Despite early success, loyal Big 12 fans must remember that it is still early. The season is very long, and there are a lot of games to play. Baylor coach Dave Bliss said that he hoped that the league's success would continue throughout the season.
"Hopfully, the hot starts will carry over to conference play," Bliss said. "And then what happens is that we take turns beating up on each other."
— Edited by Jamie Knodel
Back-to-back tournaments to test team
Weekend games challenge 'Hawks
By Melinda Weaver sports@kansan.com Kansan saintwriter
In preparation for a tough conference schedule, the Kansas women's basketball team must find nonconference opponents that can challenge the team and help it improve.
Last week, the Jayhawks won the Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout in Anchorage, Alaska, by defeating Northern Arizona 69-40 Nov. 23 and Louisville 78-68 on Thanksgiving day.
Although Kansas won in Alaska, coach Marion Washington said a tougher test would come this weekend when the Jayhawks play host to the KU Credit Union Jayhawk Classic Friday and Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse.
"Competing in tournaments is positive because it provides us with the opportunity to play more than one game without as much travel," Washington said. "It is important to get a chance to play as many games as possible because we are looking to improve all aspects of our game.
It gives us the opportunity to work together and improve offensively and defensively."
The two tournament games were exempt for Kansas, which means the Jayhawks can schedule two more games without exceeding the maximum number of games allowed by the NCAA.
It also gave the Jayhawks a chance to spend a few days together and get to know one another better.
"When we are on the road we get to do a lot of fun things, like when we were in Houston we went shopping and in Alaska, we went dog-sledding," said junior point guard Jennifer Jackson. "We spend 24 hours together, and we learn a lot about each other. Being together off the court helps us learn stuff about each other that we can carry on the court, and it really helps us."
"We have had a chance to play some good teams that have challenged us, but I think playing at home will give us an even bigger challenge," Washington said. "We have scheduled teams that
Washington said that she hoped the togetherness would help the team be more successful while playing at home.
will really challenge us and even one team that is ranked higher than we are (California-Santa Barbara). It will give us a good chance to gauge where we are against the tougher teams."
So far this season, the Jayhawks have compared well with its opponents. In the Great Alaska Shootout, Kansas set six team records and added several individual honors.
Senior forward Lynn Pride was named Most Outstanding Player, scoring 30 points and adding 14 rebounds and seven assists in the two games, and junior forward Brooke Reves made the All-Tournament team with her 32-point, nine-rebound and six-assist performance.
"We have improved in every way, offensively and defensively." Washington said. "When you compare our exhibition performance to the way we played in Alaska, we have improved immensely. I hope to see more good improvement this weekend."
Gregory's level of play exceeds expectations in, out of practice
Edited by Chris Hopkins
By Matt Tait
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
From day one of the 1999-2000 Kansas basketball season a lot of the hype has surrounded junior forward Kenny Gregory.
So far, through a similar but more relaxed style of play than last season. Gregory has lived up to the hype.
"I think I'm playing the same style, I'm just picking my spots a lot better," Gregory said. "I'm much more relaxed than in the past, and I'm letting the game come to me more."
Relaxed is not really the word to describe Gregory's play. On two separate occasions at the Great Alaska Shootout, Gregory's poise resulted in a jump shot that maintained Kansas' lead and a driving layup that gave the Javahaws their back.
When the Jayhawks have needed someone to score, Gregory has done it. When the Jayhawks have needed a big stop, Gregory has provided it. And when the Jayhawks have needed to slow it down and take a good shot, Gregory has done that too.
In Kansas' first four games, Gregory is the team's leading scorer, averaging 17.3 points a game with 70 percent shooting.
"In my first two years, at times, I was pressing too much, trying to make too much happen," Gregory said. "But now I'm just enjoying it more."
Kansas Coach Roy Williams said that Gregory's outstanding play came from increased maturity and confidence.
"A lot of it is Kenny's maturity, but a lot of it is also confidence from working as hard as he's worked." Williams said. "Whether it was in the summer or thus far in practice, Kenny has been very consistent."
"In my first two years, at times, I was pressing too much, trying to make too much happen. But now I'm just enjoying it more."
Williams said that he stopped the team
Kenny Gregory Junior forward
during a drill at Monday's practice and explained to them that what Gregory had just done was exactly the way it was supposed to be done.
"He's had some stretches in practice that have been very impressive," Williams said. Gregory said he has focused more on practice this year and that he attributes a lot of his early success to the way he has practiced.
"I've been taking practice pretty serious.
and I try to carry that into games," Gregory said.
Besides Gregory's shooting percentage, his tenacity on the backboard is more impressive. He is tied for second on the team in rebounding with seven per game.
"Coach has talked to me about getting more rebounds," Gregory said. "And his main focus has been offensive rebounds."
His 14 offensive rebounds in four games also ranks him second on the team and has helped him get more open shots. Those open shots have translated into a high shooting percentage.
Gregory's play has even instilled extra confidence in Williams.
"I've had pretty good confidence in him in the past, but my confidence level is way up right now," Williams said.
Right: Kenny Gregory dunks the ball in the Nov.
19 game against Fairfield. Kansan file photo
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