Tuesday. March 30, 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section B · Page 3
Future Jayhawks add to accolades
By Kevin C. Wilson
Kansan sportswriter
University of Kansas signee Nick Collison culminated a busy week of basketball on Sunday when he participated in the Nike Hoop Summit in Tampa, Fla.
Collison and fellow Kansas signee Kirk Hinrich helped the USA's Men's Junior National Select team defeat the International Select Team 107-95 in front of a sellout crowd of 3,432 at the Martinez Center.
Hinrich, 8-6, 175-pound senior guard at Sioux City West High School, scored seven points on three-of-three shooting from the field and dished out two assists in 10 minutes.
Collison, a 6-foot-9, 230-pound senior forward at Iowa Falls High School, scored six points and grabbed five rebounds in 21 minutes before fouling out.
"I was really excited that we won," Hinrich said. "I was pleased with the way we adjusted to the way they played."
Kansas coach Roy Williams watched the game from the stands with his wife, Wanda, and North Carolina coach Bill Guthridge.
Earlier in the week Collison and Hinrich were named co-winners of Iowa's Mr. Basketball Award after leading their respective teams to state titles. It was the second time in 19 years that two players tied for the award that honors the best player in the state. Collison averaged 22 points and 10 rebounds to lead Iowa Falls to their second straight Class 2A state championship. Hinrich averaged 23 points and six assists for the Class 4A state champions, Sioux City West.
On Wednesday, Collision scored 16 points to help the West team defeat the East 141-128 in the prestigious McDonald's All-American Game at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. He scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half, shot eight-of-nine from the floor and had seven rebounds in front of his home state crowd.
"The first half they were playing man-to-man. I wasn't getting open at all." Collison said. "The second half, they went zone and I got it going a bit."
fans when he returns next year as a Jayhawk.
Although he received a hero's welcome on Wednesday, Collision doesn't expect the same response from the Iowa State
"I know I'll get boored here next time," Collison said. "Hopefully I'll get a victory."
■ On Sunday, Collison was also named second-team Parade All-American, and fellow Jayhawk signee Andrew Gooden was chosen for the third-team. The two future Jayhawks will have a chance to get to know each other on April 8 when
Kansas senior guard Ryan Robertson was also busy last week.
they are both scheduled to play at the Capital Classic in Washington.
Robertson: Finished fourth in a three-point contest
On Friday night,
Robertson scored 10 points to help the
West squad defeat the East 93-86 in the
37th annual National Association
of Basketball
Coaches 'All-Star game at the Sun Dome in Tampa, Fla.
"It was fun, and I had a real good time," Robertson said. "I thought I played pretty well. In this all-star game, there were a lot of guys who passed the ball, and we really played good basketball."
Thursday night, Robertson finished fourth out of eight competitors in the National Car Rental men's three-point shooting contest at the Ice Palace in Tampa, Fla.
"I had a great time," Robertson said. "I caught a little cold streak in the second round, or I could have gone to the finals.
Jason Terry of Arizona defeated Pat Bradley of Arkansas 15-12 in the men's final, and Minnesota's Quincy Lewis placed third overall. Robertson finished ahead of Stanford's Arthur Lee, Kentucky's Scott Padgett, Grinell College's Jeff Clement and George Washington's Shawna Rogers.
Robertson said that although he didn't win the contest, he was enamored to participate against such a talented group of players.
"Just to be considered in that class is quite an honor," Robertson said.
—Edited by Juan Heath
Jayhawks look for victory, mental boost
By Brandon Stinnett Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas softball team is looking to break out of its slump today when it plays host to NAIA powerhouse Oklahoma City in a doubleheader at Javahawk Field.
The Jayhawks (14-17) are coming off two losses in their Big 12 Conference opener to ninth-ranked Oklahoma Sunday in Norman. Kansas has dropped six of its last eight games, but freshman Shelly Mueller said the team was showing improvement.
"We've been doing well in just about every aspect of our game," Musser said. "There's just been a few key mistakes we've made that have hurt us."
Sophomore pitcher Jessi Kowal said she thought the Jayhawks had the ingredients of a winning team.
"I don't think there's anything missing," Kowal said. "I think
The Jayhawks' offensive production has been on the rise. In the past eight games, Kansas has batted .258 as a team, 18 points higher then its .240 season average. Musser has been leading the Jayhawks' offensive onslaught, batting .346 during the past eight games and .309 overall. She also leads the team in stolen bases with 24.
it's just a matter of putting it all together at one time."
"Hopefully what I'm doing will help the rest of the team get better." Musser said.
The Kansas pitchers, on the other hand, have had problems with consistency.
"Jessi has been struggling a little bit, but she threw a good game for us against Oklahoma," coach Tracy Bunge said. "Sarah (Workman) has also been struggling. It's safe to say both our pitchers have not been 100 percent mentally. It's important for them to both have good games (today)."
Bunge said Kansas would need a complete performance to beat Oklahoma City.
"They are a very solid team, a perennial NAIA national champion," Bunge said. "We will have to play very, very well in order to beat them."
Oklahoma City won't be Kansas' only nemesis today. The Jayhawks also will be batting mental obstacles because of their recent slump.
"I don't think there is any doubt the team is struggling with their confidence." Bunge said. "But I don't think they have lost faith."
Oklahoma City (36-7) already has picked up wins against Oklahoma and Oklahoma State
this season. Bunge said two wins today would give the Jayhawks a big mental lift heading into Saturday's showdown with Missouri.
"As far as confidence goes, two wins would be a big booster for us." Bunge said.
It will be the Jayhawks' first home game since March 16 when they split two games with Arkansas. Musser said the team was glad to be home after the long road trip.
"Playing at home gives us a big advantage," Musser said. "We have a lot of fans that can give us a big psychological edge."
After Oklahoma City, Kansas will face Missouri, Baylor and Texas Tech in five consecutive Big 12 games. Bunge said this was the perfect time for the Jayhawks to turn things around.
"We have to keep fighting," she said. "I think we are ready to go on a big winning streak."
Mud leaves NASCAR fans stuck in parking lot
— Edited by Darrin Peschka
The Associated Press
FORT WORTH, Texas — Many NASCAR fans spent as much as 71/2 hours trying to get away from the Texas Motor Speedway's muddy parking lots more than twice the time it took Terry Labonte to win the Primestar 500.
corridor.
After two years of complaints, drivers said the racing surface at the $165 million facility — where water seeped through the asphalt last year — was improved. But fans in the parking lots on Sunday weathered puddles and knee-deep mud following heavy thundershowers.
But it was the cluster of cars stranded in some lots that frustrated people even more.
"Once you get an accident, trying to get it flowing again is difficult." she said.
"The worst part was just plain old waiting. Not moving, not knowing what was going on, and not knowing why we weren't moving," said Sandra Young of Longview, who said her vehicle made less than a foot of headway in more than 51/2 hours. "There were people standing outside of their vehicles ... trying to see what was going on."
Even at the best of times, the traps empties from only three exits onto only two highways. Construction to widen one of the highways is supposed to be finished later this year.
Discontented fans, who had no lavatory facilities available, used the field. After several hours, folks stranded without supplies were offering money for beer, soda and water.
Track spokeswoman Sarona Winfrey said a two-car accident and a broken recreational vehicle clogged the main
Some people went so far as to build a bonfire in the parking lot.
"They were pouring straight diesel fuel on it because they were bored," Young said. "It started with three pieces of newspapers."
One conspiracy buff, who didn't give his name, joked that he thought the NASCAR fans might be corralled in the parking lot as part of an "experiment."
The Fort Worth Police, who directed traffic at the track, had no log records of any delays, wrecks or even of the bonfire, which smoked for several hours.
But Lt. Ric Clark said there was a shooting on the track campground. Allen R. Davies of Livingston, was charged with
attempted murder in the shooting of Brvan Austin of Mesquite.
Austin, shot in the left shoulder, was taken by helicopter from the track to a nearby hospital. He was released Monday.
Police said they also were not familiar with an earlier bottleneck on a track walkway.
People were sardined into a small walkway between a chain-link fence and the grandstand until the claustrophobic crush ripped the fence from the ground and thousands of people poured through the opening.
Winfrey said an overwhelming number of fans tried to use the same walkway immediately after the race.
"That walkway was there last year and not a problem. It was a problem this year," she said, adding that officials will consider blocking the area for the next Winston Cup race, forcing people to go in other directions.
Attendance Sunday was second only to crowds for race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. But, Indy fans don't usually endure as long a wait as those in Texas.
"They also have roadways. We only have roadways on three sides," Winfrey said.
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