JAYHAWK
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Basketball
Inside Sports today
Dennis Rodman moves one step closer to signing a contract with the Los Angeles Lakers yesterday.
SEE PAGE 6B
Yesterday's game - Kansas vs. Oklahoma State
67 SU OKLAHOMAST. 18-9,9-6 UNRANKED 66
SECTION B, PAGE 1
WWW.JHAWKBBALL.COM
Thompson is a Wichita senior in journalism.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1999
Commentary
Farewell celebration
Seniors say good-bye to KU players, University
Four years ago Ryan Robertson, T.J. Pugh and Paul Pierce first entered the friendly confines of Allen Fieldhouse. Pierce has moved on to bigger and better things but is still a member of this class of seniors in my mind.
Four years ago, I moved my belongings into the friendly confines of Gertrude Sellars Pearson-Corbin
Hall. The beginning of life as a University of Kansas student was exciting and new. But in the blink of an eye, I'm a senior with only three months left before I must face the real world, with real bills, real car insurance and real rent.
Erin Thompson
sports@kansan.com
Kansas basketball always has been a
It's scary how fast it's gone.
Now it's finished. The class will never step on the floor of the fieldhouse again wearing the crimson and blue of a Kansas uniform.
As a sophomore, Robertson filled in when point guard Jacque Vaughn had surgery on an injured wrist. Robertson led the Jayhawks to a perfect 11-0 record, giving hope to all of us underclassmen that we, too, could play ball with the big boys. Of course, most of us didn't have three first round NBA draft picks watching our backs.
part of my life, but this class of players Robertson, Pugh, Pouch, Pierce, Chris Mar-
There has hardly been a class at Kansas that has achieved more success than this one. During their four years as Jayhawks, Robertson and Pugh compiled a 116-19 record, have won three conference championships, were a part of the 62-home game winning streak and have made three NCAA tournament appearances.
SENIORS
Pugh has fought back from more injuries than I can begin to remember. He has made me feel better about myself after breaking my arm and blowing out my knee playing soccer in my years at the University. If Pugh could fight back to play for the sometimes top-ranked Jayhawks, I could fight back and play for the club soccer team.
Janisse joined Kansas after playing two seasons at Los Angeles City College. His season last year was hampered by preseason ankle surgery. This year Janisse is perfect from the floor, with 10 points on 4 for 4 shooting, including the first bucket in last night's game. He is thinking about walking on the football team. Janisse has shown us that perseverance is always possible.
Martin found a spot on the basketball team after surviving walk-on tryouts. Although he has not seen much playing time, Martin has fulfilled a dream of his by playing at Kansas. Martin has given hope to all of us that our dreams also can come true if we work hard and dedicate enough time to fulfilling them.
Seniors, thanks for the memories We'll miss you.
their debut bathhouse — are my chas.
My first basketball game as a student was their first game as college players. I can still remember that first exhibition game at Allen Fieldhouse. The first time we all saw Pujue drive the baseline and explode for a one-handed dunk. The first time Pugh stepped on the court and fans decided they should vell "PUUUUGGGHH."
That night Pierce sprained his ankle. The next day at the Kansas football game, I still remember two fans behind me saying, "Why don't they make an announcement about how that freshman Pierce is doing? More people care about that than this football game."
4·32·23·30
Ryan Robertson
Jelani Janisse
T. J. Pugh
Chris Martin
Top: Kansas guard Ryan Robertson concentrates on the rim before shooting the pin-breaking free throw after overtime expired in last night's game against Oklahoma State. Right: Robertson and forward T.J. Pugh, both seniors playing their final game in Allen Fieldhouse, hug after Robertson's game-winning shot. Photos by Matt J. Daugherty/KANSAN
Robertson's shot in overtime snags Senior Night win
By Kevin C. Wilson
Kansan sportswriter
See CHENOWITH on page 3B
When Kansas senior Ryan Robertson stepped to the free-throw line with the score tied and no time remaining, he had the opportunity to clinch a victory in his final game at Allen Fieldhouse.
"You don't get to see a game very often when a guy gets to shoot a free throw to win the game," Robertson said. "For me to be in that situation, especially on Senior Night, is hard to believe."
Robertson sunk the first of three foul shots and gave the Jayhawks their 16th-straight victory on Senior Night as they defeated Oklahoma State 67-66 in overtime last night.
"To end my career here on free throws to win the game, that was special." Robertson said.
Kansas coach Roy Williams said he couldn't have dreamed of a better way for Robertson to end his career at the fieldhouse.
"That young man has faced more challenges and played more roles than anyone," Williams said. "It was so fitting for the game to end this way."
Kansas sophomore Eric Chenowith scored six of his game-
Storybook ending crowns 'Hawks' fieldhouse finale
By Marc Sheforgen Associate sports editor
Endings don't get any sweeter.
Had senior Ryan Robertson been told four years ago that he would hit a free throw with no time on the clock in an overtime game unofficially named Senior Night, he would have laughed and asked who was writing the script.
The drama Robertson and his Jayhawk teammates provided last night's raucous Allen Fieldhouse crowd probably would sell to millions with the right producer, director and actors. And the right title-
how about Senior Night?
Robertson, who started last night's game alongside fellow seniors, T.J. Pugh, Chris Martin and Jelani Janisse and sophomore Eric Chenwith, scored only four points on two of 10 shooting in the first 25 minutes of last night's game. But movies don't sell as well when the hero falls, and Jayhawk fans are not accustomed to sending their seniors away as losers.
So with 2.2 seconds on the clock in
See SENIORS on page 3B
Washington, 'Hawks still have shot at Big 12 title
By Matt James Kansan sportswriter
Women's team drops in AP poll to No.22
With only one week remaining in women's Big 12 Conference play, the race for the regular season title has come down to three.
Texas Tech, Iowa State and Kansas remained the top three teams in the conference standings this week, and the only three not mathematically eliminated from a shot at the conference crown.
League-leading Texas Tech held the No. 11 ranking in this week's Associated Press poll, and moved to 12-2 in conference play after defeating Oklahoma State 73-56 at home last Wednesday and outlasting Nebraska 75-62 in Lincoln on Sunday.
The Lady Raiders were able to hold off a Cornhusker second-half rally after jumping out to a 14-0 lead and overwhelmed Oklahoma State on the strength of conference player of the year candidate Angie Brazil's 30 points and 10 rebounds.
"They (Texas Tech) have good players inside and outside," said Oklahoma St. coach Dick Halterman. "That's the reason they are as good as they are. They execute their offense and do everything else better than the rest of us right now."
Oklahoma State has stumbled in the last half of conference play losing five of its last six and falling to 12-12 overall.
"We're struggling right now to find any points." Halterman said.
The road doesn't get any easier for the struggling Cowgirl offence, which next faces the Big 12's stingiest defense in Kansas. The Jayhawks, who have allowed only 58 points per game and 37 percent
shooting for the season, travel to Stillwater Wednesday.
"I told our team that was probably the lowest point of our season and in 10 short days, our whole season has changed," said Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly.
The Iowa State Cyclones slipped one spot to No. 20 in this week's AP poll but gained sole possession of second place in the Big 12 at 11-3 after ending Kansas' 21-game home winning streak last Tuesday and destroying Kansas State 86-53 at home Saturday. The victory avenged a 70-63 upset win by the Wildcats in Manhattan February 10.
Coach Marian Washington's team, while not eliminated from league title
Kansas also fell one place in the AP poll to No. 22 after the loss to Iowa State and a hard-fought 55-52 win against Oklahoma Saturday. The Jayhawks are now 10-4 in the Big 12 and two full games behind Texas Tech.
contention, will need both the Lady Raiders and Cyclones to lose each of their games this week to win the Big 12 crown.
The likelihood of that is doubtful as both teams play one of their remaining games at home, where they are a combined 23-0 this season.
Tech, Iowa State and Kansas are also the only three teams at this point in the season with a good chance of making the NCAA tournament. Texas, Baylor and Nebraska will each need a strong Big 12 tournament showing to have a realistic shot at future post-season play.
While a league title is most likely out of reach, Kansas' win against Oklahoma did secure its 10th straight 20-win season.
Washington's 500th win also wasn't the only 500 milestone reached during Saturday's senior day game. Sophomores Jaelyn Johnson and Jennifer Jackson each scored their career 500th point.
Edited by Seth Hoffman