JAYHAWK
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Basketball
Inside Sports today
Kansas tennis players Luis Uribe, Ed Dus and Kris Sell begin competition in the Rolex Indoors Championship.
Yesterday's game - Kansas Women vs. Colorado
SEE PAGE 4B
KANSAS
17-6,7-3
ED NO.22
RANKED NO.22
65
COLORADO
11-8, 4-5
UNRANKED
57
SECTION B, PAGE 1
WWW.JHAWKBBALL.COM
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1999
Women avenge Colorado loss
Inside play, strong defense lead to fourth straight win
Kansas forward Brooke Reves extends for a jump shot. Reves, a colorado native, scored 14 points in the Javhawks' 65-57 victory against the Buffaloes. Photo by Augustus Anthony Piazza/123RF
Matt James
Kansan sportswriter
How sweet it is.
The Kansas women's basketball team roared back from a half-time deficit and claimed a 65-57 victory against the Colorado Buffaloes last night at Allen Fieldhouse, avenging a Jan. 20 loss to the Buffaloes.
The Jayhawks have won four consecutive games since the loss at Boulder, Colo.
"This was a great win for us," said coach Marian Washington. "We beat a team that was obviously very good."
The game's first half was similar to the one in Boulder, with the Jayhawks struggling from the field and the Buffaloes jumping out to an early lead. Colorado hit 6 of 10 three pointers and led 34-28 at the half.
"It really took a tremendous effort in the second half to get back in the ball game and find a way to win it." Washington said. "That tremendous effort
ing a career-high 24 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Johnson added 11 points, 10 rebounds and a season-high seven assists.
Sanford's big game came as no surprise to the center, who said the coaching staff had pointed out the Buffaloes' tendency to play loose defense on her in the previous meeting.
"When I saw the film, I was so mad at myself for not taking advantage of it," she said. "This time we were ready for that and we adjusted our offense."
The crucial move for Kansas was to get the ball into the post players after junior
"It really took a tremendous effort in the second half to get back in the ball game and find a way to win it."
Marian Washington Head Coach
trap from two of the Jayhawks' unsung inside players; senior Nakia Sanford and sophomore Jackyn Johnson. Each posted double-doubles in the comeback win.
Sanford led the second-half charge, scor-
Lynn Pride drew constant double-teams from the Buffalo defenders in the previous match-up.
"We knew we had to get the ball inside," Washington said. "We spent a lot of time trying to figure out what happened to us at Colorado, and basically they didn't play our post at all. We decided that we would just go in to them."
The strong effort from the Jayhawks' inside players couldn't have come at a better time, as Pride had a rare off-shooting night, hitting only 3 of 16 shots and scoring only eight points. Pride contributed by
leading the defensive effort that held Colorado to 33-percent shooting in the second half.
Colorado native Brooke Reves scored 14 points on seven of 10 shooting.
The win moves Kansas to 7-3 in conference play, which is third in the Big 12 Conference behind Texas Tech and Iowa State. With six games remaining, the Jayhawks are in position to make a run for the conference title.
To read more about the game.
See page 6B
NO. 22 KANSAS 65, COLORADO 57
COLORADO (11-8)
Dilwarth 1-6 2-2 4, Gorcia 4-5 0-0 10, Harstson 1-4 2-3
Nightingale 4-8 2-3 14, Lappe 3-7 4-1 14, Weddle 1-1 0
0 3, Roulier 2-10 1-3 5, Johnson 2-10 2-2 6, Swagger 0-0 0-
0, Carmann 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 18.52 13-17 57.
KANSAS (17-6)
Reves 7-10 0-1 14, Johnson 5-10 1-3 11, Sanford 10-1 14
4-6 2-4, Jackson 3-6 0-0, Pride 3-16 2-1 28, Scott 0-1 0-0
0, Robbins 1-3 0-0, Fletcher 0-0 0 0. Totals 29-6 0-7 12
65.
Halftime--Colorado 34, Kansas 28 3-point teams --Colorado 8-14 (Nightingale 4.5, Garcia 2.6, Wedding 1.1, Lappe 1.2, Roulter 0.4) Kansas 0.2 (Pride 0.1, Scatti 0.1). Fouled out--none. Rebounds--Colorado 33 (Lappa 5.2), Kansas 40 (Sanford 11). Assists--Colorado 9 (Dillworth, Lappe, Johnson 2), Kansas 13 (Johnson 7). Total fouls--Collier 14, Kansas 13. Attendance--1,100.
Kansas signs 22 players for Allen's 'best class'
Richard Bachman/Kausar
By Michael T. Rigg
Kanson sportswriter
After being on the road for a good part of the last three months. Kansas football coach Terry Allen sat in his chair, kicked back and was all smiles yesterday as he officially announced 22 national letter of intent signings for the 1999 season.
"We are very excited about our class," said Allen, shortly before naming this class the best of his three signed at Kansas.
hailing this class the best of his staff are signed to honors.
The class features 15 high school players and seven junior college players. The junior college players fill what Allen described as very specific needs in the defensive line, safety, linebacker, and punter positions. Also among the junior college recruits are wide receiver Carl Nesmith and quarterback Dylan Smith. Smith earned junior college All-American honors last season
The Jayhawks were surprised earlier in the day when junior college All-America lineman Cliff Holloman backed out of a non-binding verbal commitment and signed a letter of intent with Kansas State.
Allen said Smith could come into Kansas and compete for the starting quarterback position next year, especially with the status of Zac Wegner up in the air.
Lyden Smith, in our opinion, was the best junior college quarterback available," said Allen. "And Carl Nesmith is truly an outstanding athlete."
"That's why they call it a non-binding commitment," Allen said. "Those things do happen on both sides of the coin."
Among the 15 high school seniors, Allen said that running backs Reggie Duncan and Harold McClendon could make an impact immediately.
Duncan was a SuperPrep Magazine All-America selection and is one of four players to commit to the Jayhawks from Ellison High in Killeen, Texas, in the past two years. Running back David Winbush is also from Ellison.
"I was doing back flips in my house at 11:30 on Monday night when I found out we got Reegie Duncan." Allen said.
Allen said the Jayhawks' winning percentage during the past few years had hampered his recruiting of some top players.
"In a number of cases, the number of wins and bowl game appearances have been a detriment to us," said Allen. "We just have to get kids to buy into the fact that this program is heading in the right direction."
Kansas' recent lack of wins didn't change the decision of junior college punter Joey Felliano, who committed to the Jayhawks last season but had to stay at Sacramento Community College because a math class didn't transfer.
"I're really excited," said Pelfiano. "We have a lot of talent coming in, and Coach Allen and his staff have done a very good job of getting everyone prepared for the upcoming season."
Gregory is out of slump, back on track
author college a asser kyan brock. "It's going to be a good season," said Brock. "I know it's early, but there's a really good spirit and atmosphere surrounding the football team."
Junior college transfer Ryan Brock agreed.
The Javhawks open spring practice March 30.
By Kevin C. Wilson
Kansan sportswriter
In Kansas guard Kenny Gregory's mind, his demotion from the starting line-up and his subsequent resurgence are unrelated.
But the numbers tell a different story. After starting the Jayhawks' first 18 games of the season, Gregory has come off the bench in the last three games. His play has improved exponentially.
Coming into the Big 12 regular season, the sophomore guard was the Jayhawks' leading scorer and most consistent offensive force. But beginning on Jan. 6, Gregory fell into a slump, failing to score in double figures in six straight games and shooting a miserable 35.1 percent from the field.
"It's just a coincidence," Gregory said.
"I was having a bad stretch," Gregory said. "There was either one of two things I could do. I could give in, or I could come out and compete."
Luckily for the baywalkers, Gregg did his best.
The 6-foot-6-inch guard returned to his explosive form.
Luckily for the Jayhawks, Gregory did the latter.
"Perhaps Kenny would have ended his slump without the line-up change," Williams said. "Kenny decided he was going to try to do some things better. He was not going to pack it in, but he was going to continue to fight."
Kansas coach Roy Williams agreed with Gregory that the guard's improvement was more a matter of time than a change in the rotation. Williams said the two had discussed Gregory's struggles prior to the demotion and his player knew it was time to step up his play.
coming off the bench to score 51 points in the last three games on 18-of-32 (65.3 percent) shooting from the field.
According to Williams that's exactly what Gregory has done since he started coming off the bench, especially on the defensive end. Gregory, who is not known for his defensive prowess, has improved his play on that end of the court in the last two games. In fact, Williams now feels comfortable using Gregory for that very reason.
"I told him in the Colorado game, 'Don't faint, but I might put you in for defensive purposes.'" Williams said.
Gregory said that was the first time he had been looked at as a defensive stopper.
"It made me feel proud and a little happy for him to say that about me of all people," Gregory said. "That boosted my confidence up and let me know that I can contribute on the defensive end."
Williams said Gregory also was contributing on the backboards.
"He has been giving a more concerted effort on rebounding, both offensively and defensively," Williams said. Gregory had a career-high eight rebounds against Kansas State on Monday. "He was not using his abilities," Williams said of Gregory's previous performance. "I don't know if it was laziness or tentativeness, but he is much more active now, especially on the boards."
Despite his increase in production, Gregory still would like to hear his name announced with the starting line-up.
"Definitely I want to start," said Gregory, who claimed he had never been a non-starter until last season. "If that doesn't happen the remainder of the season, I'm in a comfort zone and I'll just keep trying to play the way I've been or even better. Starting is a big deal to me, but it's not going to change my attitude towards the team or the way I play."
Commentary
Kansas' recruits next step in team reconstruction
Welcome to Signing Day 1999.
Yesterday morning, thousands of high school football players, most at silly press-conferences orchestrated by overzealous principals and surrounded by giddy cheerleaders, slapped their big John Hancocks across the dotted line and, in the process, made countless numbers of old, crusty alumni very, very happy. For the next four years, these will be the guys who help to make or break a football program.
So while I sit diligently by the fax
machine, waiting,
for my letter-of-
intent to arrive
(you didn't know I
was a highly
recruited dropback
quarterback
and a Kansan
columnist), I will
pass on a few
thoughts. No pun
intended...
Speaking of college football recruiting:
Harley Ratliff sports.tansan.com
The Kansas Jayhawks found out
just how fickle this business can be. On Wednesday, Zak Kustok, the 6-foot-3,215-pound recruit from Orland Park, Ill., withdrew his commitment from Kansas to attend Northwestern. Kustok had given a nonbinding oral commitment to the Jayhawks last fall.
For coach Terry Allen, this has to be an especially disappointing loss. Allen, who has struggled to implement his air attack offense on the windy plains of Kansas, desperately needs a talented, strong armed quarterback to lead his squad. The success of his offense depends upon it.
During his first two seasons, Allen has been forced to rely upon Matt Johner, Zac Wegner, and Jay Alexander — guys who, while scrappy and determined, probably wouldn't start at most other Division I schools. Even if Kustok didn't live up to his billing, he would have at least provided Allen with another good arm.
Does everyone have the flu?
At our Super Bowl party, I saw more kids putting away cough drops and cold medicine than potato chips and beer. I felt like I was at ground zero for the Influenza outbreak
Reminder to the non-believers:
Remember to the not-benefiters.
Harley's Super Bowl prediction (as printed in last Thursday's 'Kansan'):
Denver 34, Atlanta 16.
Scarv. isn't it?
As a native Oklahomaan (as we all know), I'm entitled to be a bit paranoid about what goes on down in Austin, Texas. But what Mack Brown has done in Longhorn country during the past season should have everyone in the Big 12 Conference a bit on edge.
After turning around Texas football on the field, Brown has made strides to return the program back to its glory days of years past. Brown known for being a charismatic recruiter, has brought in what many consider to be the best class in the nation.
Reality: Denver 34, Atlanta 19.
If Brown's first full year is any indicator, Texas could replace Nebraska as the dominant force in Big 12 football.
In the words of my roommate, there is only one way to describe Kansas State's Bramlage Coliseum. Sterile.
- As Paul Pierce keeps popping up in more and more ESPN highlights, you can't help but ask, how did this guy go so low in the last summer's NBA draft?
As the NBA's abbreviated season gets into full swing, fans across the nation will find out what folks in Lawrence have known for three years: Pierce can put the biscuit in the basket. Repeatedly.
Although he still looks a bit soft around the edges, I wouldn't be surprised to see Pierce win Rookie-of-the-Year.
Ratliff is a Norman, Okla., senior in journalism