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SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
12A
WWW.KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2002
Ryan Malashock rmalashock@kansan.com
Baseball team has a chance to improve
The real season begins tomorrow.
And no, I'm not referring to Kansas' first-round contest in the Big 12 Conference Basketball Tournament.
I'm talking about our very own "boys of summer," the often forgotten and overlooked Jayhawk baseball team. Kansas, off to a school-record 9-0 start and ranked in a poll — No.31 — for the first time in seven years, opens its Big 12 season with three games this weekend at Hoglund Ballpark against nationally ranked Texas A&M.
Coach Bobby Randall, in his seventh year at Kansas, could be coaching the best team nobody knows about. Or, this squad could be a carbon copy of disappointing Kansas baseball teams of years past. The problem is, Kansas' opening platter of non-conference cupcakes leaves no room for judgment.
Calling Kansas' 9-0 mark inflated would be a monumental understatement. The 'Hawks have beat up on the likes of Centenary and Wisconsin-Milwaukee and had games with Northwestern and Creighton postponed. True, those teams won't be knocking on the College World Series door anytime soon, but in disposing of their non-conference opponents, the Jayhawks find themselves in an all-too familiar position.
Mimicking the early 1990s Kansas State football method of scheduling, Kansas baseball teams always possess a high winning percentage entering Big 12 play. In Randall's seven seasons, Kansas' combined winning percentage entering the Big 12 season is .661 (41-21). In Big 12 competition the last six years, it's .291 (51-124).
So, the trend would indicate that Kansas would be on its way to yet another dismal Big 12 season. But, contrary to popular belief, I'm convinced that this team can compete.
The Jayhawks have shown major improvements in power and pitching, the two lacking aspects of last year's squad.
These Jayhawks should have no trouble hitting the long ball. Last year, a home run was about as remote as a Drew Gooden three-pointer. At this point last season, the team had hit only two home runs. As of now, Kansas has knocked 13.
Junior college transfer Pat Holmes has made an immediate impact with four home runs. Sophomore Matt Tribble and junior Kevin Wheeler have already surpassed their home run totals from last year. Sophomore Ryan Baty has displayed no ill effects from last year's shoulder surgery and has two home runs.
The Jayhawk pitching situation appeared bleak at best after the team lost its entire starting pitching staff from a year ago. But some relative unknowns have stepped to the forefront. Kansas has improved its team earned run average by more than three runs from a year ago at this point. Seniors Jeff Davis, Dan Olson and Jake Wright make up a rotation that should compete in the Big 12.
After leading the Jayhawks to six straight losing conference seasons, this undoubtedly should be Randall's last chance at resrecting a winner.
But the cards are in his favor. Randall has more talent on this team than any other during his tenure.
Whether Kansas can break the Big 12 hex is left to be seen. It all begins tomorrow.
Malashock is an Omaha, Neb., junior in journalism.
Drew's World
Gooden has applied lessons from life to the court
By Doug Pacey Kansan sportswriter
Drew Gooden stared intently at a college basketball game on television as reporters peppered the junior with questions about his past.
"How did your parents' divorce affect you?"
"What is 'dead-broke'?"
None of the queries fazed the 20-year-old basketball superstar. Gooden replied to each question with a thoughtful response and even joked about inquiries that others might think twice about answering.
"How broke is dead-broke?" Gooden said as he cocked his neck and his eyes ventured toward the ceiling. "We were broke. Like trying to find a place to stay, a place to live other than the car or something like that."
This is the Drew Gooden that nobody but his family and close friends know. He isn't simply a human dunking machine. He's more than just a Kansas basketball player. Different worlds
Gooden's parents divorced when he was in elementary school and his dad, Andrew, received custody of him. He lived with his dad, stepmom Adrienne, brother Antonio and sister
When he stayed with his mom, Ulla Lear, on the weekends, it was like visiting the Twilight Zone.
Ariel in a cramped one-bedroom apartment in Richmond, Calif., during the week.
"We were broke basically, we didn't have any money," Gooden said of life with his father. "We couldn't have everything we wanted or that we needed. It was just basically getting by. When I visited my mom on the weekends she was always squared away financially and I got to see how that type of lifestyle was as a child.
"I was fortunate. I got to see both sides."
As a child, Gooden said he had trouble understanding why his parent's divorced, but now that he's grown he's not perplexed any more.
"Divorce is a hard thing to do between a couple," he said. "I see that now more than anything because I'm older now. But as a kid, it's really hard on the kids. It's not mommy and daddy that are together anymore."
After a few years of living with his father's family, Gooden moved in with his mom and stepdad, Jim Lear, during middle school. But as nice as it was to live in a home that always had food in the pantry and money for leisure activities, Gooden said he wanted to live with his dad.
SEE GOODEN ON PAGE 8A
Junior Drew Gooden watches his teammates from the sidelines during a recent game. Gooden has consistently led the team in scoring this season.
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Jayhawks slam Avila 24-3, win ninth straight game
By Ryan Wood Kansan sportswriter
The recent cold front that swept across the Midwest may have canceled five Kansas baseball games, but it did nothing to cool down Kansas' bats.
After an 11-day layoff, the Jayhawks returned with a bang, pounding out 25 hits and soundly defeating Avila College 24-3 yesterday at Hoglund Ballpark.
Kansas heads into Big 12 Conference play tomorrow undefeated at 9-0. With the loss, Avila dropped to 0-3 on the year.
"We came out hitting today, for sure," junior designated hitter Kevin Wheeler said.
Wheeler set the tone for the Kansas offense, blasting a grand slam as part of a five-run first inning. For the day, Wheeler went 2-for-3 with three runs and six RBI and pitched an inning of scoreless relief.
"Kevin Wheeler's home run changed the whole thing," coach Bobby Randall said. "That grand slam took the starch right out of them. That was a big one."
Wheeler had 10 RBI in his last two games, giving him 14 on the year. He said the time off may have been beneficial for the team.
"It might have been a blessing," he said. "We were winning but we weren't playing as good as we wanted to. We needed some time to practice
SEE BASEBALL ON PAGE 9A
Kevin Wheeler, center, is congratulated by teammates after hitting a first-inning grand slam. The Kansas baseball team defeated Avila College 24-3 yesterday at Hoglund Ballpark.
SARA SHEPHERD/KANSAN
'Hawks victorious in Pittsburg
By Ali Brox
Kansas scheduled two additional games this week because rain canceled three games in a tournament last weekend and snow forced the postponement of Tuesday's scheduled home opener against Washburn University.
The weather cooperated with the Kansas softball team yesterday as the Jayhawks defeated Pittsburg State 4-1 in their home opener and improved their record to 6-7.
Kansan sportswriter
With bad weather possible for this weekend's Kansas Holiday Inn Invitational, the Jayhawks could face even more cancellations.
"It would be hard to lose eight games in ten days to weather," coach Tracy Bunge said. "We needed the opportunity to play some ball. We were looking for anyone who would play us."
runs in the first inning. Senior centerfielder Shelly Musser led off the game with a triple to right field and scored when freshman first baseman Lindsey Weinstein singled in the next at-bat. Weinstein advanced to second base on a wild pitch, stole third base and scored on a throwing error by the Gorillas' catcher.
The Jayhawks started yesterday's game very aggressively, scoring two
Kansas added two more runs in the third inning, but according to Bunge, the Jayhawks weren't able to maintain the intensity they showed during the first inning.
`If we can ever put together seven
SEE SOFTBALL ON PAGE 9A
Big 12 names Williams its coach of year
By Doug Pacey
By Doug Pasyy Kansan sportswriter
Boy, have they ever.
Roy Williams promised his players at the beginning of the season that if they won as a team the individual awards would follow.
After leading No.1 Kansas to an undefeated 16-0 Big 12 Conference record, Williams netted three coach-of-the-year honors yesterday. The Associated Press and Big 12 coaches made him the Big 12's Coach of the Year and the United States Basketball Writers Association named him the District VI Coach of the Year.
"It's nice, but it's not something I set out to do," Williams said. "I set out for our team to win a conference championship. I tell our guys all the time to remember the greatest thrills you've had in athletics and it's always after a big win that turtles too
Williams
got. That's the way it is in coaching, too."
Williams said he was flattered to win the award in a conference with so many good coaches, but junior forward Nick Collison said no coach merited more recognition than Williams this season.
"To be able to win every game in conference," Collison said, "no one deserved it more."
Williams wasn't the only one who was honored. Drew Gooden was named District VI Player of the Year and earned First Team All-American honors.
Gooden and Kirk Hinrich also were named to the Big 12 coaches' First Team All-Big 12, while Collison made the second team and Boschee received honorable mention.
Bosche, Hinrich and Collison also were recognized as members of the 10-man All-District VI Team.
Contact Pacey at dpacey@kansan.com
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