Thursday, November 18. 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section B · Page 3
Team ready for first real test
By Melinda Weaver
sports@kansan.com
Kansas writersporter
Although the Kansas women's basketball team has cruised to two victories in two exhibition games, the team has not yet faced a true challenge.
Saturday, when the Jayhawks begin their regular season against the Houston Cougars in Houston, they will have their first chance to see how well the team comes together.
Tuesday night, in an 87-51 victory against LATVia-Cubra Lake. Kansas showed significant improvements from its sluggish 80-67 exhibition victory against Club Gija-Marijampole on Nov. 9.
The defense did a better job of slowing its opponents and keeping them off the free-throw line, but Kansas coach Marian Washington
said the team still had some improvements to make before the regular season.
"I'm more encouraged, but we still have work to do," Washington said. "I don't want to see our opponents catching the ball too easily, and I don't want to see them making an easy entry into the post. We need to do a better job when we get to Houston."
The Jayhawks also had a chance to introduce their triple-post offense against a man-to-man defense, which most Big 12 Conference teams will use against Kansas.
The team successfully ran every offensive option they had practiced but one during its 87-point scoring performance.
Though senior guard Suzi Raymant, one of the team's top scoring threats, was not playing her best after missing Monday's
practice with intestinal flu, Kansas still had four players score in double figures. Junior forward Brooke Reves led the team in scoring with 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting, followed by senior forward Lynn Pride and junior forward Jaclyn Johnson, who both scored 13. Sophomore center Kristin Geoffroy scored 11.
"Houston plays more player-to-player defense, and we really wanted to see that before the regular season," Washington said. "Right now, we are comfortable with our offense. We scored on every option but one, and we know what we did wrong there. It can only get better from here."
Despite these impressive statistics, junior guard Jennifer Jackson said the team could not get a big head from its performance in its second exhibition game.
"We played a tired team." Jackson
said. "We were the last of seven teams they played in America, and the score just sort of got away from them. It all counts now. We have to go into Houston ready to play hard and stay focused."
Playing mediocre and tired opponents may not be the best preparation for the regular season, but Washington said that playing these international teams was important because it gave her players experience in a game situation.
"It's important to be in a game situation with people in the stands and officials making calls where we can work together and play against their defense," Washington said. "We had a chance to work through our offense and try all the options. We got a chance to see what we could do and that will help prepare us."
Edited by Kelly Clasen
Senior guard Suzi Rayminton makes a play for an offensive rebound against Latvia Club-Riga. The Jayhawks won 87-51 Tuesday night. Photo by Roger Names (KANSAN)
Women's basketball to gain juco transfers
By Melinda Weaver
Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas women's basketball team will add two junior college transfers who will add size and a scoring threat to next season's team.
Dalchon Brown, a 6-foot-5 center from Independence (Kan.) Community College, and Fernanda Bosi, a 6-0 shooting guard from Western Nebraska Junior College, signed letters of intent yesterday to play for Kansas next season.
Brown, a junior college preseason All-American, committed verbally to Kansas two years ago as a senior at Green Run High School in Virginia Beach, Va., but had to attend junior college because her grades did not make her eligible to play Division I.
At Green Run, Brown was among the top high school players in Virginia, averaging 14.7 points, 11.4 rebounds
"She has a great inside game that really opens us up on the perimeter."
Marian Washington Kansas women's basketball coach
and 8.0 steals per game.
At Independence, she was the 12thranked junior college freshman last season.
"She can run the floor and has great hands," said Independence coach Keitha Green. "Her size is an added strength, and she is a quality person. She has a great inside game that really opens us up on the perimeter. She's a very talented young lady."
Kansas coach Marian Washington said Brown would make a good addition in the post, a position which has been thin for Kansas.
"Dalconch is a much improved player," Washington said. "She is big, but she is very agile and quick. She could develop into a strong inside
into a strong inside player for us."
Brown said she has had her eye on the Kansas program since high school, and she said that she thought her hard work ethic would benefit the team as much as the atmosphere at the University would benefit her education.
Washington: pleased with fall recruits
"When I met the
team and coaches, I just felt like I was at home," Brown said. "As far as the atmosphere and the school, educationwise I think it will really good for me, and I will do well here. I work hard at everything I do, and I can work hard to
be a good team leader. I have improved a lot. I can score and rebound, and I am becoming an all-round player."
Bosi, who averaged 15 points and 16 rebounds per game, is a native of San Pablo, Brazil. Last season, she was named All-Region after leading her Western Nebraska team to a 14th-place ranking in the junior college polls.
Washington said she expected Bosi to make an impact right away next season as she will be needed to add a shooting attack after the loss of guard Suzi Raymant to graduation.
"I am really delighted because I was very worried about all the scoring we are losing and have been trying to find consistent outside shooting for next season," Washington said. "She doesn't only add shooting but also rebounding. She is very mature. She brings an intense energy and knows the game well. I think she will work well in our system."
- Edited by Chris Hutchison
Wegner takes on role of Dylen Smith's mentor
Backup quarterback Zac Wegner throws a pass in a game last year. While Wegner's role has been limited this year, he still contributed to the team. KANSAN file photo
Continued from page 1B
and suited up for spring practice. But he was to face another challenge this fall in the form of junior college transfer Smith.
Wegner never viewed it that way. He merely viewed Smith as someone who would push him and make other better with competition. And when it was announced four games into the season that Smith would start instead of Wegner, it could have been viewed by some as the end of an era.
After all, Wegner had started 18 straight games when he wasn't injured and was among Kansas' all-time leaders in passing vards. completions and attempts.
Wegner took it in stride and tried to accept his role as another coach on the sidelines — but Chandler thinks otherwise.
"Zac would be lying and I'd be lying if he didn't want to be out there," Chandler said. "But as an athlete he respected the fact that Dylen can do a little more on the field than he can."
Wegner had the tools to be a star quarterback — at 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, Wegner is a big, strong-armed quarterback with good touch on the football — but his accuracy kept him back.
Interceptions have plagued Wegner throughout his career — he has a 1:1 career touchdown-to-interception ratio — but for Allen, that's negligible because he has such respect for him as a person.
"For all his throwing ability he could never throw with much consistency," Coach Terry Allen said.
"I really admire him for what he's been through. From my perspective you couldn't
"I really admire him for what he's been through. From my perspective you couldn't ask for anything more."
Terry Allen
Kansas men's football coach
ask for anything more," Allen said.
Wegner's perseverance has paid dividends this season with the knowledge he has gained while standing on the sidelines being a coach to Smith. A communications major, Wegner is entertaining thoughts of coaching after he graduates in May and might accept a position on Allen's staff as a graduate assistant if a position is available. But Wegner is not about to limit his options to just coaching.
"If a job comes along, I don't know if I could pass that up," he said.
It's not because he harbors any ill will toward Allen and his staff either. Despite less playing time this season, Wegner is grateful that he was given the chance to play Division I football for so long — and especially for the Jayhawks.
"I've got no regrets about anything." Wegner said.
Chandler, a target for Wegner the past four years, knows how to write the perfect ending for the senior co-captains during Saturday's game against Iowa State.
"It'd be great for me and Zac to hook up.
On a touchdown pass," Chandler said.
Edited by Chris Hutchison
Baseball recruits sign letters of intent to play for Kansas Jayhawks
By Jason Walker sports@kanson.com
Kansan sportswriter
They want to be Javahaws
Kansas baseball coach Bobby Randall got some good news yesterday from three recruits.
The recruits signed letters of intent yesterday to play baseball at Kansas. They include Justin Davis, a middle infielder from Grayson Junior College in Denison, Texas; Justin Wilcher, a left-handed pitcher from Garden City Community College; and high school senior Matt Trible, a left-handed pitcher and outfielder from Wheaton, Ill.
Davis led his team to the 1999 National Junior College Athletics Association National Championship after hitting .330 with seven home runs and 45 RBI. He also was named honorable mention All-Conference.
"His talent and experience will be a tremendous asset to our club in the future," Randall said.
Randall said he thought that Davis was a standout player on one of the best junior college teams in the country.
Wilcher, a sophomore at Garden City, is a native of Denton, Texas. He attended Billy Ryan High School where he was named to second team all district and Denton Record Chronicle All-Area. Denton also is the hometown of current Kansas baseball player John Nelson.
Randall said he was excited about adding another left-handed pitcher to his roster.
"Justin will come to us after an impressive high school career and two years of quality junior college experience," he said.
Tribble, the final one to sign, is a senior at Wheaton-Warrenville South High School. He led his school to back-to-back conference championships the last two years while amassing a .444 career batting average with 11 home runs and 67 RBI. He was 5-1 last year on the mound with an earned run average of 3.13.
"I'm very excited," Tribble said about playing for the Jayhawks. "It's a great opportunity. I fell in love as soon as I got down there. I can't wait to get down there and play."
Tribble also has earned several accolades at the high school level, including two-time team most valuable player and conference MVP. Randall said he was looking forward to the contributions Tribble could make to the Jayhawks in the future.
"Matt has had an excellent career at the high school level, and we are confident he can bring that success to the University of Kansas," he said.
— Edited by Kelly Clasen