6B = THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
NCAA TOURNAMENT
MONDAY, MARCH 25, 2002
Illini eliminated, Ore-gone Kansas continues.
University of Kansas students, from left, John Strichland, Lawrence sophomore, Jon Bowen, Olathe sophomore, Nick Sinnard, Lawrence sophomore, and Dustin Snider, Overland Park junior, show their team loyalty. They were waiting in Allen Fieldhouse for the Kansas men's basketball team to arrive.
ATLANTA CONTINUED FROM 1B
my calluses removed last night because I needed new wheels.
"It was a fun game to play in, a really fun game, but it hurt my feet."
Oregon tried to slow down the game early and force the ball inside to the 7-foot-2, 300-pound behemoth Chris Christoffersen, but the plodding center proved a liability on defense and Kansas led 40-28 with 5:40 left before halftime. The rout seemed to be on. But Ducks coach Ernie Kent went with a smaller lineup and Oregon was able to run with the Jayhawks. Less than thee minutes later the Ducks had tied the game 40-40, but Kansas responded by outsourcing them 8-2 in the final two
minutes of the half.
"I thought we went better in the match-up when we went small," Kent said. "But I remember when we got it to 40-40 with two minutes to go, then boom-boom, bad shot, bad defensive stand and then they're right back on us again. Going in at the half we were a little ragged."
Kansas and Oregon played even for the first 10 minutes of the second-half, but a 13-5 Duck run in a two-minute span brought them within five, 77-72. Like the first-half, the Jayhawks responded with a streak of their own, 14-3, over the next five minutes and all but ended Oregon's upset bid.
"We're going to the Final Four and there are a lot of teams that people think are tougher than us that are at home," he said. "If they want to say we're soft, that's fine."
That killer instinct and Kansas' toughness inside should put to bed any talk that the Jayhawks are soft, Colliison
Above: The Jayhawks take a bow after being crowned Midwest Region Finals champions in Madison, Wis. The team heads to the Final Four for the first time since 1993.
"We're still in the Final Four."
said. But he doesn't care if people still question Kansas' mettle.
Note:
Kansas assistant coach Neil Dougherty will be announced as the head basketball coach at Texas Christian University today, according to ESPN.com. He'll continue to coach Kansas through the tournament. No replacement has been named.
Contact Doug Pacey at dpcey@kansan.com This story was edited by Justin Guenley.
**Below:** Thirteen-year-old Lawrence resident Philip Bennett waits for the Jayhawks to arrive at Allen Fieldhouse after returning from Madison, Wis. The Jayhawks play Maryland, Saturday in Atlanta, Ga.
CHRISTINA NEFF/KANSAN
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