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Monday, March 25, 1974
University Dally Kansan
UCLA Seniors Disdain Consolation Game
Kansan Staff Photo by CARL DAVAZ
Reserve Rick Suttle Was KU's Only Bright Spot in the Marquette Game
By GERALD EWING
Kenan Sparis Editor
GREENSBORO, N.C.-KU'i beleganted and humble Jayhawks take on UCLA's "mystery lineup" in tonight's 5:35 p.m. (Lawrence time) conesion game. KU wins by 6-0. KU wins a victory you would expect. The consolation game will not be televised.
The "mystery" surrounds the lineup that will start for the Bruins' final game of the season. The reasons for the mystery- UCLA's starting seniors, Bill Wittman, Kelvin Tommy Carlisle and Greg Lee might not play in their first concussion game ever.
After Saturday's semi-final loss to North Carolina State, UCLA coach John Wooden said he would let his players decide whether they wanted to play. Wooden said that it was up to the team to determine sonation games and that he wouldn't force them to play if they didn't want to.
"I JUST DON'T LIKE THEM," he said about the third-place game. "I'm going to play the people who haven't played a lot this year."
At a press conference yesterday, Wooden again said it was up to the players and he knew of one, "a very important player," who told him he wouldn't be playing tonight.
This revelation has assured that tonight's game will remain secondary in importance to Saturday's brilliant game between UCLA and North Carolina State.
It will be something novel for UCLA to be playing for third place. The Bruins haven't played a consolation game since 1962, when they lost to Wake Forest, 82-80.
Even though it will be to frustrating for KU,
it will probably be too perturbed about the whole affair.
"OUR PLAYERS really hope that your seniors will want to play." Owens told Wooden at the press conference yesterday. "We would really prefer to play against your best players and have less chance to win but we know Richard Washington, Andre McCarter and Ralph Drollinger (UCLA's substitutes) aren't all bad."
Owens said KU's only starting senior, Tom Kivisto, was ready to play and was looking forward to the challenge of playing UCLA.
"A lot of time it's tough to get up for the consolation game," Dale Greenlee said. "But we'll be up for it. In 1971, the KU team wrestled forth and we want to prove that birth is real."
WHAT OWENS REALLY wants is a chance for KU to redeem itself from Saturday's loss to Marquette. Before tournament play began, KU wasn't give much of a chance to win and Saturday's play seemed to bear this out.
NCAA Show Only A Denouement
GREENBORO, N.C.—It will be anticlimactic at best, but the show must go on.
The "show" is tonight's NCAA Tournament championship game between MU and Texas Tech.
By HAL RITTER
Kannan Sports Writer
There won't be as much talent involved as in Saturday's semifinal game between State and UCLA, and the aura of suspense that envelops a "dream" matchup will be missing. But then a semifinal game billed as a "tough challenge can't help being a tough act to follow.
North Carolina State's 80-77 win over UCLA in double overtime was a TV producer's dream. The NCAA didn't have staged a better contest if scripts had been written before the game. Nor could the NCAA have come up with a more improbable ending.
UCLA doesn't blow an 11-point lead midway through the second half. UCLA doesn't blow a seven-point lead in overtime. UCLA doesn't lose a 'nCAN tournament game. Or so most people thought until the Wolfpack stunned the Bruins.
SO THE FINALS WILL MATCH STATE,
a team many people thought was the best in
the country a year ago when it was on
probation and couldn't compete in the
NCAA Tournament, and Marquette, which
coach Al McGurie calls only the "fifth or
sixth best team we've had in the last eight
years."
The Wolfpack should beat Marquette tonight, but don't let McGure fool you. He and his Warriors are capable of pulling a few surprises.
In fact, Marquette has the horses to win it,
but it will take a super effort to get the
horses to run.
"Any team that gets to the final four can beat any of the others," UCLA coach John Wooden said Saturday after his team's loss. This year Wooden may be right.
Wolfpack coach Norm Sloan has gone so far as to say that Marquette is in an 'en-ten' attitude.
two days ago.
Also, Marquette is playing a team tonight that obviously reached an emotional peak
"WE'VE GOT TO COME DOWN OFF our cloud in just one day," Slaan says. He's concerned but not overly worried about getting his team ready for the finals.
"They didn't have people talking about them when they came here." Sloan says. "They don't want to talk to me."
"If we lose it won't be because we are overlooking Marquette," he says. "It won't be because we were physically and emotionally drained after our game with the team." It will be because Marquette is a better basketball team tomorrow night than we are."
At a press conference yesterday, McGuire hinted that Marquette would concentrate on trying to stop Burleson. He said he would stop both joints and grabbed 14援Saturday.
McGuire said the Warriors might play a "triangle two" defense, which means State's Monte Towe, a 5 feet 7 guard, and David Thompson would be guarded man to
man and three would sag in on Burleson in the middle.
That strategy might work. One thing is certain: It would be foolish for Marquette to try to contain Thompson, a 6 foot 4 All-America.
THOMPSON IS UNSTOOPABLE. He'll score 25 points on an off night, 4 if he's on. He'll grab rebounds with his elbows at rim and put the ball in the name and pick up an assist here and there.
"I don't think we demonstrated the kind of team we have been all season." Owens said. "I can stand losing but not when we're not playing up to our capabilities."
Next to Thompson, Burleson is the Wolfpack's biggest offensive threat.
KU did turn in one of its poorer performances of the year in losing to Marquette 16-43. I The Jayhawks clearly had a weakness by the quicken and humrier Warriors.
The problems started early in the first half when Damien Knight picked up his third ball.
"Somebody is going to get a great pro in Burleson") says Slows. "His best career was at LSU."
Marquette has a pair of 6 foot 19 leapers in Maurice Lucas and Bo Ellis who may give Burleson fits and slow down the Wolfpack express.
KNIGHT DIDN'T play much of the remainder of the game and for the first time Knight was not on the board. Knight's absence was felt most on the boards, where the physical Marquette team dominated the action. Knight had only five rebounds while Maurice Lucas had 14 and four.
One of the two major factors in the game, Roger Morningstar said, was that Marquette simply took the boards away from the defender and physical team KU had faced all year.
See CONSOLATION Page 7
MORNINGSTAR SAID the second factor in the game's outcome was the team's poor shooting from the field. The Jayawhats shot on the first half were five for 18, and point in the first half were only five for 18.
"We just missed a lot of easy shots amo
had a lot of turnovers," Norm Cook said.
"They're a good team and won because
they took advantage of the violations."
"I was just glad to be here," Morningstar said, "On a given night we're as good but I have to give credit to Marquette. They just beat us."
Cook said he couldn't explain his poor play but said the pressure of playing as a freshman in a national tournament didn't affect his play.
ANOTHER FACTOR in the loss was KU's 19 turnovers, caused by Marquette's tough zone trap press and tenacious man-to-man defense.
Marquette coach Al McGuire said his team tried to force Kiove into making turnovers by trapping him in the corners when he was bringing the ball up court.
"We had to do something with Kivisto, something to make them have some turnovers. McGure said. "We kept pretty well in the second half and it finally worked."
"During the course of the year, we've had
one or two people have a bad night, but someone else would come in off the bench and pick us up." Owens said. "No one picked anyone up today."
Rick Suttle was the only standout for KU. He scored 19 points and had nine rebounds. He and Morningstar kept KU in the game with about eight minutes left in the game.
KU LED at the half, 24-32, and stayed even with the Warriors for the early going in the second half. But a spurt, led by Lucas Washington, put Marquette ahead to stay.
That spart, Owens said, turned the game around and gave Marquette a lot of confidence. He said if KU could have hit a couple of baskets in the early going of the second half, the game could have gone KU's way.
"In the second half, we weren't hurt by their first shots," Owens said. "But we were hurt by their rebounding and second shots inside."
McGuire said his team looked very inadequate in the first half and couldn't give up. "We were going for a big win."
"WHAT WINS THIS ONE, I don't know," he said.
County Drops Drug Charges Against Athlete
The pending charges of illegal possession of amphetamines against University of Kansas spawn Mark Lutz were dismissed by county attorney David Berkwitz.
A trial had been scheduled for March 29. He was deposited on $78 bond since his arrest on Feb. 14.
Berkowitz said that even though Lutz was a track star he should not be treated differently than any other student. He said if Lutz would have been convicted of the drug charge, he would have lost his scholarship and been unable to remain in college.
According to Berkowitz, Lutz's case was discussed with the undercover agent who purchased drugs from one of Lutz's contacts. It is not clear that Lutz was not involved in the sales.
Lutz will be competing in all the upcoming track meets and, according to KU coach Bob Timmons, he has returned to the full competitive program.
Floundering in Bureaucratic Quicksand?
Owens Was Puzzled During the Second Half
Try the Ombudsman Office
or drop in the office at B-108 in the Union
Kansan Staff Photo by CARL DAVAZ
We're open and ready to help you with your hassle whether it concerns the dorm, your classes or the administration.
The Ombudsman can investigate the problem and act as a neutral mediator. If we can't solve it or it goes beyond the scope of the office, we can direct you to someone who can.
Call 864-3607
This ad paid for through funds allocated from KU Student Activity Fee
1974-75 KU Pom Pon Girl Tryouts
PRELIMS—April 6, Allen Field House,10 a.m.
FINALS—April 10, Allen Field House,7 p.m.
You can be a part of the nationally recognized University of Kansas pom squod which traditionally has become a source of pride for all KU followers. The requirements for trying out are the following: regularly enrolled University of Kansas female student, either undergraduate or graduate; possesses a minimum 1.8 average grade-point-average; and have a sincere interest in learning.
The KJ pom pen girls classes are governed by the University of Kansas Athletic Department. All female students interested in learning more about trying out for one of the squads' 10 positions are urged to attend clinics to be conducted prior to preliminary and final tryouts. Questions will be answered and routines for trying out will be taught at all four clinics.
Pom Pon Girl Clinics
7-9 p.m.—Allen Field House
MARCH 27
MARCH 28
April 2
April 4