Friday, February 19, 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section B·Page 3
Women to play last home game
Continued from page 1B
responsibility to celebrate the positive things that are happening with individuals and programs," Washington said. "We're real competitive, but I'm certainly pleased for the people in our conference and how well our conference is doing. Maybe there isn't an appreciation for history, and that's okay."
The two coaching staffs are linked by Kansas assistant coach Pam DeCosta. She will be facing the Sooners for the first time since she returned to Kansas after a two-year coaching stint with Oklahoma. She served as recruiting coordinator for the Sooners during the past two seasons. DeCosta said it would be a little strange facing her old school.
"It was the same thing when I went to Oklahoma and had to face Kansas," she said. "It's just a weird feeling. I think it'll be harder, though, because I recruited a lot of those players and I never really got a chance to see them play."
One of the players that DeCosta helped recruit was freshman LaNeisea Caufield. The 5-foot-9 guard has been a major factor in the Sooners' dramatic February turnaround.
Before this month the last thing on the Sooners' minds was post-season play. They were a meager 8-10 overall and were stumbling to a 2-6 conference mark.
Women's BASKETBALL
Since February began, Oklahoma is undefeated in five conference games and has been building momentum toward the Big 12 tournament. Caufield, who has been named conference rookie of the week four times, is averaging 21 points and 5.8 rebounds during the current winning streak.
"She has become an impact player much faster than we thought she would," said Coale.
Oklahoma's leading scorer is junior Phylesha Whaley, who averages 19.5 points per game. Whaley and Caufield were named player of the week and rookie of the week, respectively, on February 15, marking the first time one school has won both awards in the same week since the Big 12 began.
"They are a much improved team playing with a lot of confidence," Washington said. "Everybody feels they need to finish up on a winning note. It's going to be very competitive."
Edited by Liz Wristen
The Starting Lineup
KANSAS
JAYHAWKS
9-4 Big 1.2, 1.9-7 overall
G LYNN PRIDE 6-2 JR.
G JENNIFER JACKSON 5-10 So.
C NAKIA SANFORD 6-3 SR.
F BROOKE REVES 6-0 So.
F JACLYN JOINSON 6-1 So.
Oklahoma SOONERS
7-6 Big 12, 13-10 overall
LANEISHEA CAUFILD 5-9 FR.
G STACEY DAILES 6-0 FR.
G DESIREE TAYLOR 6-1 So.
F FISHLESA WAHLEY 5-10 JR.
F SHANNON SELMON 5-10 FR.
Alien Field House • Lawrence 7:05
Sunflower TV
Robertson's Perspective
Kansas men's team could make run
Underclassmen will benefit from season's experience, he says
- Ryan Robertson sat down with the Kansan's Mike Harrity yesterday to reflect on his team's inconsistent season, March Madness and playing his final game at Allen Fieldhouse against Oklahoma State at 8:30 Monday night. The following is from the interview:
This whole season, talk about roller coaster rides. Winning games we're not supposed to, losing games we're not supposed to. It's been so up-and-down, and we've been so inconsistent. Yet, at the same time, I still feel like we're a very good team. You put us in the tournament in March, and there's no telling what could happen. Everybody always says this team reminds me a lot of the '88 team when they lost 11 games. And I always say, well, of course they had Danny Manning, too. Or people say Arizona won the championship and they had lost 10 times.
I think all of those things are good facts to know because I think that's very similar to what this team can accomplish. I don't see it out of the possibility for us to make a run like that all the way to the top.
Right now, we're just trying to get better, because we haven't played well in certain games. I would say a lot of the inconsistency has to do with inexperience. If you look at our team, really me and T.J. are the ones that Coach Williams really depended on, like, had to have perform well in order for us to be a good team. Nick (Bradford) has played great. Eric (Chenowith) has played great, at times. Jeff (Boschee) has played great. Except, this is their first experience. And they've played great, they've been sensational. But I think they will feel so much more comfortable, say, next year, after being through all these rigors, and after being through close games, and after being through a conference where they had to play well in order for us to win. That will pay big dividends.
I've heard the talk about not being a leader. My only thinking is that, like last year, when we were 35 and whatever, and we had Raef (LaFrentz) and Paul (Pierce) on the team, I remember reading all these articles about how I didn't score that much but I was such a leader on the team. Even Paul and Raef would say 'Ryan is a leader on the team'.
Now, this year, we struggle a little bit and everybody says 'He's not leading.' I'm the same player as I was last year—it's just the results are different. We do our best, but the results are just a little bit different. So to me, they're just being a little
bit hypercritical.
I'm the same player that I was last year,
and I'm doing all the exact same things,
so my game hasn't changed any. So I just think that they're searching for something
I spend
very little
time fretting
about the media.
It's nothing
against you (Harrity), or to any other
media who write about it, but nobody knows more about the team or about me or about college basketball than me and my teammates and Coach Williams. So for a publication to think they know what's going on in that locker room, or think they know what's going on with me, is ludicrous.
Monday night is "Senior Night" and I don't really have a lot of thoughts as far as OSU is concerned. I have thought a little bit about it being senior night. My only real thought about that is I can't believe how fast it's gone. I mean, I can remember so vividly what "Late Night" was like my freshman year. I can remember that
My parents will be there. But that's not anything unusual, because my dad comes over for every single game, and that's seven hours both ways.
"Right now, we're just trying to get better, because we haven't played well in certain games. I would say a lot of the inconsistency has to do with inexperience."
like it was yesterday. And I can remember my first game, playing at Kemper Arena in Kansas City against Utah. You talk about how quickly things go, I mean, it's just gone by like a blur.
"You know there's nothing like kickin' back with an icy cold one and washing some underwear."
Good for one FREE Wash on FRIDAY 75¢ Draws on FRIDAY
DUDS'nSUDS Good clean fun!
9th and Mississippi
841-7285
COUPON PAGE
4-9 p.m. Dine in only
Munchers Bakery One coupon per visit Exp. 5/30/99
Hillcrest
Shopping Center
749-4324
---
A Breath of Fresh Air
Non Smoking Lounge
Free Basket of Fries Course Good Afternoon or Thursday in February
2222 Iowa • 841-BREW (2739)
Arnex of WEST COAST SALOON
Wearing nothing
Free Admission
on your birthday
Open everyday at 6:30 to 2 a.m.
841-4122
913 N. Second
Next to Tanger Outlet Mall
COMPUTER CAREER DAY
FEB 23,4:00pm and 7:00pm
Career opportunities from industry leaders Technology Trends and where you fit in Placement and internship programs Financing Alternatives
Learn about:
Win a Sharp Windows CE computer Free software from:
Microsoft - Novell - Caldera
Free Seminars - Dinner Provided
Seating is Limited - Call for Reservations
7844 Quintra Road
Lenexa, KS 66216
www.networkknowledge.com
Call: 913-962-5267
SHABBAT DINNER Feb.19th at Jewish Community Center at 6 p.m. $5 Bring a can of food!
Weekend Retreat Feb.26-28 Purim Carnival March 4 Questions? Call Hillel at 864-3948
NOW PRE-LEASING FOR FALL 1,2 and 3 bedroom luxury apartments
Tuckaway
Live in Luxury.
2600 West 6th Street
APARTMENTS
Luxury Bring... on campus!
10th & Missouri
OPEN HOUSE
11-2 Saturday
OPEN HOUSE
11-2 Saturday
Harper Square Apartments 2201 Harper Street
All apartments include washer/dryer, alarm system, fully equipt kitchen, fireplace (not at Hawker), and built-in TV (not at Harper Square). Tuckaway has two pools and hot tubs, basketball court, fitness center and gated entry.
CALL 838-3377 TODAY