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SPORTS
6B THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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TUESDAY, MARCH 1. 2005
Teams respond to free agency
Wide receiver David Terrell, the eighth pick in the 2001 draft, was released by the Chicago Bears as NFL teams prepared for the start of free agency tomorrow by paring veterans to get under the salary cap.
Terrell was joined on the temporary unemployment line Monday by Cleveland safety Robert Griffith, 36-year-old line-backer Roman Phifer of New England, and three Atlanta defensive players who have been starters much of their careers: Travis Hall, Ed Jasper and Cory Hall.
DIVISION II
Carolina cut 39-year-old backup quarterback Rodney Peete and San Diego released defensive tackle Jason Fisk. The Associated Press
Kangaroos defeat Crusaders 80-79
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Brandon Temple had 20 points, including a three-pointer with less than seven seconds left, to lead Missouri-Kansas City to a 80-79 victory against Valparaiso last night.
The Kangaroos (16-11, 12-4 Mid-Con) overcame a five-point deficit in the last minute to win.
Carlton Aaron had 19 points for UMKC, Quinton Day had 16, and Mike English added 15.
Dan Oppland led the Crusaders (15-15, 10-6) with 25 points and 10 rebounds. Jarryd Loyd added 13, and Ron Howard had 12.
Valparaiso led 42-39 at half-time.
with a minute left, the Crusaders led 78-73. Day then connected on two free throws with 55 seconds remaining to make it 78-75.
A traveling violation on Seth Colclaasure gave UMKC the ball with 24 seconds left, and a drive by Day made it 78-77 at the 18.4 mark.
Day fouled Loyd, who made his first free throw but missed the second. Temple then launched the winning shot with 6.7 seconds remaining.
Chilly drill
Stephanie Farley/KANSAN
Sarah Beals, Olathe freshman, practices a lacrosse drill at Shenk Complex, 23rd and Iowa streets, yesterday with her teammates Michelle Archambault (right), Katy, Texas, freshman, and Laura Swick (left), McPherson freshman. The temperature yesterday reached 34 degrees. The University's women's lacrosse club team will travel March 5 and 6 to Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo., for a tournament.
BIG 12 BASKETBALL
Teams wait for word on NCAA Tournament
BY STEVE BRISENDINE THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — At No. 20, and with 20 wins already this year, Kelvin Sampson's team is all but guaranteed a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
Oklahoma's coach said he would be surprised if the Sooners are joined by fewer than five other teams from the Big 12.
The Big 12, third in the latest RPI rankings behind the Atlantic Coast and Pac-10 conferences, already has three locks: Oklahoma, No. 7 Kansas and No. 8 Oklahoma State.
The Associated Press
which seems assured of at least an NIT bid in first-year coach Billy Gillispie's remarkable turnaround season.
Lurking on the bubble — for now — is 'Texas A&M (18-7),
Iowa State (15-10) is still being discussed as an outside possibility for the NCAAs, while Kansas State (15-10), Nebraska (13-12), Missouri (14-14) and Colorado (13-13) all could get NIT invitations if things fall just right.
Since the Big 12 played its first basketball season in 1996-97, only one team with 20 victories by the end of the conference season has failed to earn an NCAA bid. That was in 1999, when Kansas State was relegated to the NIT — the Wildcats most recent postseason appearance — despite a 20-12 record.
Drop the win total to 19, and the chances are still pretty good — 40-for-44 since the formation of the Big 12.
Still, Texas coach Rick Barnes said, no team can afford to consider either number magic.
Of the teams hovering closest to .500, Nebraska appears to have the most momentum going into the regular-season home stretch. The Cornhuskers have won two straight, a 74-67 home upset of Oklahoma State and a 76-69 road victory over Iowa State.
"We want to finish the season strong no matter where it takes us," coach Barry Collier said. "We've been an improving team, even though we don't always have the W's to show it."
Players
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B
Keith Langford he would speak off the top of his head.
"My number one goal is not to cry, though." Lord said.
Everyone who knows him is certain that the guard will not be at a loss for words.
Maybe he'll talk about how he didn't want to come to Kansas at first, and how his mother made him come here. Perhaps he'll mention how angry he felt after the Jayhawks lost to Syracuse his sophomore year, and Roy Williams left. Or maybe, he'll get up there, say
"I will remember Keith as being clutch and cool," Self said. "Keith has a very dynamic personality that attracts people to him, but he is cool. He is 'Freeze.' That's his nickname, and he lives by it."
something vibrant and make everyone laugh.
Mike Lee rattled off a list of people he wanted to thank, but said he would just go up there and talk.
You just never know with Langford.
Lee is the locker room lawyer, Self said. Anybody who thinks they can beat him in an argument is nuts, he said.
Self said talking was what the reserve guard did best.
"He has a unique way of leading people and being positive, and that is hard to do sometimes when you are not playing a lot," Self said
Lee has been every bit as valuable as the other guys, Self said.
The interesting thing is, Lee didn't always feel valuable. He didn't even feel wanted.
There were many times during his freshman and sophomore years that he wanted to leave Kansas. He just didn't feel like he belonged. He thought about leaving over and over again.
Every time he felt the urge to pack up, he turned to his parents and Aaron Miles, his longtime friend, for support. His parents didn't want him to give up the opportunity he had, and Miles was always there to cheer him up.
After Roy Williams told Lee he hadn't given him a chance because he didn't act like he wanted to be at Kansas, Lee realized all he needed was a better attitude.
Now, if you ask Self, Lee is the hardest worker on the team.
"He's the first one to practice last one to leave, always working hard." Self said. "If everyone worked as hard as Mike Lee, this team would be very, very good, because I don't remember very many days where I had to get on him about his effort."
It's as if Aaron Miles doesn't think about it, he won't have to come to terms with the fact that his last game in the fieldhouse is approaching.
"I don't even like thinking about it." Miles said. "This is a
special place, and it is coming up ..." Miles trailed off.
His teammates make Miles is the jokester on the team, but the team jokester and Kansas' all-time assist leader said he hadn't thought about what he would say after tomorrow's game.
"Aaron is ornery, fun, tough and even when he is not playing his best, gosh, does he try hard." Self said of his point guard.
Kansas coach Bill Self has plenty to say about Miles.
Miles has played with Jeff Boschee and Kirk Hinrich, two of the best point guards in recent Kansas history, but he has still started all but one game as a Jayhawk. (He didn't start on senior day of his freshman year.)
Miles has 917 assists in a Kansas uniform — more than any other Jayhawk in history.
He will be looking at his parents, who have sat in the same
It is almost a guarantee that Kansas fans will bring countless "Big Dub" signs. But the All-American candidate won't be looking at them.
spot for every game this season. When asked whom he would thank tomorrow, Simien, whose faith is well documented, said he owed everything to his parents and God.
The Leavenworth native said he grew up dreaming about playing for Kansas. He didn't imagine that some day, kids would be idolizing him.
If everything goes right for him, Simien could be taken high in the NBA draft.
Tomorrow, the Jayhawks will wear special uniforms in honor of the night. Self said they were like "modernized throw-backs." Everything about the night will be special, Self said, because of the players who were being honored.
In recent basketball history, fans will point to Manning, Vaughn, Collison and Hinrich as some of the most memorable players to leave the program. Self said these four could be added to the group.
Edited by Kendall Dix
NO NAMES,
NO LINES,
NO WAITING
Doors will open one hour before game time Reservations taken until 5pm Call749-8925
March 2, 2005-Kansas State Holiday Inn Holidome 200 McDonald Drive
For All Games
$5.00 to get in the door with a reservation- includes (1) 16 oz. draw w/ a valid ID
2.1.1.1.1.1
- Chicken Tender Basket-$7.50 (includes tax and tips)
- $10.00 without reservations- includes (I) 16 oz. draw with valid ID
- Unlimited Hord'erouvres for the game $18.00 per person (includes tax and tip)
- Beer Special-16 oz. draws-$2.50
- Burger Baskets-$7.50 (includes tax and tips)
*Large groups welcome
*Full Set Bar will be available
Two large projection TV's & others
Anyone who has called in and made a reservation will be entered in a Door Prize drawing for the VIP section for the winner plus 7 friends. This includes couches, chairs, private TV and private server. Drawing will be held 10 minutes before tip off.
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