WEDNESDAY, FEB. 27, 2002
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN - 3B
Flu bug, uniform problems slow down softball team
By Ali Brox Kansan sportswriter
The person who scheduled last weekend off for the Kansas softball team deserves a pat on the back.
Then the players caught the bug as well. Last week, as many as four or five players each day were so sick that they had to leave practice.
Whoever planned the break couldn't have known how sorely needed the break would be. Between a nasty flu bug, problems with uniforms and marriage proposals, the team had plenty to handle off the field.
The flu virus started with assistant coach Aaron Clopton and soon spread to the entire coaching staff.
"The flu went wildfire through our team," coach Tracy Bunge said. "I know Drew Gooden was sick, but it affected our entire coaching staff and then the players started coming down with it
when we were in Vegas. It went through at least half to three-quarters of the team. So last week at practice was kind of hit or miss all week. So I don't think a weekend off could have come at better timing for us physically."
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"I said 'Why didn't you tell me before we left when I could have had spare uniforms instead of these?'" Bunge said. "They're hideous. They're boxy cut and the shorts actually look tapered."
Then, the team had problems with its new uniforms.
The uniforms arrived the day before the team was supposed to leave on its first trip to Arizona. Bunge told the Jayhawks to try on the uniforms to make sure everything was OK.
Kansas didn't wear the new uniforms and having taken only
No one said a word until Kansas was actually in Arizona. After a team meeting, about five players came in and told coach Bunge they didn't want to wear the uniforms.
one other set on the trip, the team manager had to do a lot of washing during the weekend.
"When I first put them on, I was like," No we can't wear these," senior catcher Katie Campbell said. "But we had one other set so we just wore them all weekend."
Meanwhile, another layhawk became engaged. Junior pitcher Kirsten Milhoan's boyfriend surprised her by making the trip to Las Vegas and proposing. Two other softball players are already engaged.
"It tells you that our kids are well-rounded," Bunge said. "It tells you they're very caring, loving people, and that's great characteristics to have as people."
Bunge said she thought it spoke well of the character of her players.
Contact Brox at
abrox@kansan.com. This story was edited by Kristi Henderson.
Missouri seeks tournament bid
The Associated Press
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Winning 20 games could be enough to smooth out the bumps in Missouri's season and secure an NCAA bid.
The Tigers took a big step toward a third straight tournament berth under coach Quin Snyder and fourth straight overall by beating No. 12 Oklahoma State 72-69 Monday night, recovering from a 10-point first-half deficit and then holding off a late challenge.
They've stumbled badly since a 9-0 start that elevated them to No. 2 in the country, getting zero votes in the poll this week. But then they reached 20 victories the
fastest since 1993-94 when they were unbeaten in the Big Eight.
Snyder is hoping that 20 is the magic number for the Tigers (20,9,9-6 Big 12), who have one game to go in the regular season — a matchup against No. 1 Kansas at home on Sunday.
"I think we were a tournament team before this win," forward Kareem Rush said.
In the short history of the Big 12, every team that has won at least 19 games and finished with a better than .500 conference record has advanced to the NCAA tournament. Missouri made it last year with 19 victories and a 9-7 conference record and with 18 victories and a 10-6 Big 12 record in 1999-2000.
Missouri's RPI of 57 will go up after Monday's victory.
The keys to the victory over Oklahoma State were rebounding and a general willingness to mix it up. Missouri had a 42-32 advantage on the boards and was more tenacious than usual.
Paulding led Missouri down the stretch, scoring nine straight points in one sequence and then adding two baskets in the final minute.
A big plus was the play of Rickey Paulding, who had 21 points on 10-of-12 shooting.
With Rush and Clarence Gilbert struggling, going a combined six for 28, Paulding filled the void, adding three steals and five rebounds.
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