Wednesday, November 10, 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section A · Page 13
Texas Longhorns shoot for national respect,title
By Matt Tait
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Last season the Texas Longhorns established themselves as the top team in the Big 12 Conference by winning the regular season title.
This season, Texas wants to establish itself as one of the top teams in the nation.
"I can honestly say for once in my life that we can't put limits on this team," said junior center Chris Mihm. "I think we have unbelievable talent on this team, and as long as we keep working hard and working together as a team, I think we can be a top team in the nation."
As Texas coach Rick Barnes prepares for his second season
"It's nice to have four guys back from last year who have been under the system for a year now and can help the new guys along and understand
at Texas, he and the rest of the team are more comfortable with each other and know what each expects — something Mihm thinks will help the entire team.
takes to drive this team to our goals," Mihm said. A talented group of freshmen and transfers join the team this season. The guard position has been beefed up by the incoming players, but the most noticeable impact has been in the new players' attitudes.
"The new guys have come in and I've been really impressed with their work ethic," Mihm said. "The way these guys
themselves what it
TEXAS MEN'S BASKETBALL
Last year: 19-13 overall; 13-3 in
B12 play; B12 champions;
lost in first round of East Regional
to Purdue 58-54
Coach: Rick Barnes, second season key players returning; Junior center Chris Mihm (13.7 points per game), 11.0 rebounds per game), senior forward Gabe Mauzeen (16.5 ivan, 6.6 rpg) and senior guard Wagner (8.1 rpg, 2.7 rpg)
Key players lost Forward Chris Klack (14.2 pkg, 6.4 rpg) and forward Dejuan Vazquez (5.8 pkg, 2.8 rpg)
came in and worked hard everyday has been fantastic. The mindset and talent that we have at the guard position can really make us strong there."
- Edited by Chris Hopkins
Coach puts faith in young team
Seven freshmen join Texas A&M men; two may be starters
By Matt Tall
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
By Matt Tait
Two things are apparent as Texas A&M enters this season.
First, the Aggies are extremely young. And second, Coach Melvin Watkins likes it that way.
"The recruiting class has everyone excited because the potential is there." Watkins said. "But potential
doesn't win basketball games. You have to come in and play it out on the court."
Ten of the 15 players on the Aggies' roster are
underclassmen, seven freshman and three sophomores. The only junior is a junior-college transfer.
pleased with the talent his younger players have, but he also is ready for them to contribute.
"I don't think I've ever been associated with a team this young," he said. "We will have to depend on some of the new players coming in and contributing immediately. You'd like to be able to bring those kids along gradually, but we're in a situation where some of them will be thrown into the fire right away."
Although young players can be unreliable, Watkins is not only
After losing two starters because of graduation and another because of academic problems, Watkins' main concern will be the Aggies' backcourt.
Last year's point guard, junior
Clifton Cook, started all 27 games and was selected as Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. He averaged 15.6 points a contest and grabbed 5.4 rebounds a.
game while dishing out 156 assists and earning 67 steals. He became academically ineligible during the off season; however, adding to Watkins' headache and creating the
TEXAS A&M MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM
Last year: 12.5 overall, 5.11 Big 12
Coach: Melvin Watkins, second season
Key players returning: Senior guard Jerald Brown (5.9 points per game,
3.6 rebounds per game) and senior forward Aaron Jack (5.6 ppg, 4.0 pg)
Key players lost: Forwards Clifton Cook (15.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg), Shane Jones (14.3 ppg, 6.0 rpg) and Chris Clayton (8.7 ppg, 2.3 rpg)
prospect of starting two freshmen, Jamaal Gilchrist and Bernard King, at the guard positions.
Despite the team's youth, Watkins does have an experienced group of veterans ready to lead the team. Seniors Jerald Brown, Aaron Jack and Paul Jacobs have played under Watkins for one year.
"We are going to need the leadership of our returning players, to play an extra part in us having some success this year," Watkins said.
Texas women counting on seniors
—Edited by Chris Hopkins
By Melinda Weaver sports@kansan.com Konson sportwriker
Texas is like any Big 12 Conference team.
It has improved from last year,has key upperclassmen who expect to lead the team to the top of the conference and has brought in a strong recruiting class to add depth to the lineup.
"I think we're a lot like many of the teams in the Big 12," said Coach Jody Conradt. "We return almost our entire squad. We have a marquee player and freshmen who bring enthusiasm. I think you could say that about everyone. So many teams in the Big 12 are at the same level."
Texas' marque player is senior Edwina Brown, who led the team in 16 statistical categories last year. She averaged 16.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 2.2 steals per game. Brown was one of two
Another key upperclassman is junior guard JokRuth Woods, who averaged 7.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game last season.
collegiate athletes to compete for the United States in the Pan-American games and finished first in assists with 4.0 per game, and steals with 2.4 per game. She finished second in scoring with 13.3 per game, and rebounding with 5.1 per game.
"We have to win our home games and steal some on the road," Conradt said.
Despite youth, Conradt said that the team had a simple gameplan for the coming season.
The Longhorns proved they could compete in the conference last season when they became only one of two conference teams to defeat Texas Tech, the defending Big 12 champion. Texas' 16-12 record, 10-6 in the Big 12, also earned the team a NCAA tournament bench, and the Longhorns lost a close game to
TEXAS WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Last year: 16-12 overall; 10-6 Big 12; lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament to Auburn 69-61 Coach: Jody Conrad, 24th season Key players returning: Senior forward Edwina Brown (led Texas in 16 statistical categories including scoring with 16.1 points per game, rebounding with 7.5 per game, assists with 5.7 per game and steals with 2.2 per game), junior guard JoRuth Woods, sophomore forward Tracy Cook, sophomore guard Asha Hill and sophomore center Rashunda Johnson. Kaiolver Ibsi Guard Kim Liew
Auburn in the opening round
Edited by Jamie Knodel
Brown said the team was closer to reaching the top of the conference this season because of team chemistry.
41
Aggie women hope to snap bad record
By Melinda Weaver
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Texas A&M has nothing to prove this season.
The Aggies won only nine Big 12 Conference games in the past three seasons and are picked in preseason polls .o finish in last place again this season.
But the Aggies are not too worried.
"It gives us motivation," said senior forward Kera Alexander. "We're not going to finish in last place just because everyone thinks we are going to finish last. When you are in last place, what have you got to lose? We can't disappoint anybody."
However, Coach Peggie Gillom joined Texas A&M last season after winning back-to-back championships with the WNBA's Houston Comets and would like to turn the Aggles into a winning team.
TEXAS A&M WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Last year: 7-20 overall, 2-14 Big 12.
Cach: Peggie Gillom, second season
Key returning players: Senior forward
Prissy Sharpe (18.4 points per game,
8.9 bounces per game) and junior
guard Brandy Jones (8.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg)
Key players lost: Kim Tarkington
(6.0 ppf, 4.1 rpg)
"We played well last year, but the transition had a lot to do with our lack of success," Gillom said. "It's just a matter of adjusting, and we have adjusted."
Texas A&M finished 7-20 last season, but it lost eight games by five points or less. This season, the team would like to play tough in the final minutes to pull out those close games.
Gillom added a six-person recruiting class that concentrates on adding a balanced shooting
attack.
"Last season, we were missing outside shooting," Gillom said. "I think we added that with our recruiting class. We have a lot more weapons. We definitely weren't as good at shooting as we could have been."
In addition to the six newcomers, the Aggies return last season's top three scorers: Alexander, senior forward Prissy Sharpe and junior guard Brandy Jones.
Gillom said that the most promising aspect of the team was that the players maintained a positive attitude despite their low ranking.
"It is such a positive thing because they never get down on themselves," Gillom said. "There were a lot of games that we should have won last season, and it was very hard for us, but I thought we showed a lot of guts. I am seeing that same attitude this season."
Edited by Katie Holman
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