BASEBALL: Kansas ranked for first time in seven years. See page 2B. WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Seniors bid Kansas farewell. See page 4B.
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SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
1B
WWW.KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2002
COMMENTARY
Doug Pacey
dpacey@kansan.com
ESPN movie about Knight tells nothing, just happens
Bobbv Knight is a media circus.
Because of his checkered, yet entertaining past, you can be sure that nearly everything having to do with the chair-throwing, basketball-punting, three-time national champion will earn a segment on SportsCenter and at least a mention in almost every daily newspaper.
The public's and media's infatuation with Knight is so great that ESPN saw fit to produce a movie about Knight based on writer John Feinstein's best-selling book, "A Season on the Brink," which will air 7 p.m. March 10.
Give ESPN credit for trying something new, but the sports guys in Bristol, Conn., should stick to what they do best: reporting the news and not making movies about it. The best parts of this made-for-television program can be seen in the commercials advertising "A Season on the Brink."
Nothing we all haven't heard about Knight is revealed in this made-for-television documentary. There are no startling revelations divulged about Knight or Indiana University that Feinstein didn't write in his book after he was given an all-access pass to Knight's program from the coach himself.In fact,the movie was a whole lot of nothing.
No plot. No climax. No conclusion. The film just happens.
"A Season on the Brink" chronicles the 1985-86 Hoosiers basketball team, one year after Indiana suffered a losing conference record and the season before Knight won his third national championship. It follows the lives of Knight and key players through the season. At practice and in games, Knight (played by Brian Dennehy) is portrayed as win-at-all-costs man who would rather give his players a tongue lashing (parental discretion is advised with good reason) than constructive criticism.
At home with his son, Pat, (Knight was between marriages at the time) he is a loving father with plenty of affection for his son.
When Knight finds out that one of his players, Andre Harris, has been skipping classes, he suspends him indefinitely. Harris is allowed back on the team when his mother tells Knight that her son grew up without a male influence and that the coach might be just what Harris needs.
That is the deepest the film gets as far as character development, which leads to the movie's ultimate downfall: you don't know why things are happening.
It attempts but fails to establish the tough-love relationship between Knight and Steve Alford, who now is Iowa's coach. When Knight explodes in verbal tirades at players Daryl Thomas and Delray Brooks, it's not clear why. If you didn't know that Thomas was a McDonald's and Parade high school All-American and Brooks was Indiana's "Mr. Basketball" in 1985, you would have no idea why Knight was so harsh on them.
This movie wasn't made to earn an Academy Award or Emmy. ESPN produced "A Season on the Brink" to make money. With a release date coinciding with the same day the NCAA announces the pairings for the NCAA Tournament, that much is obvious.
With that in mind, this movie is a perfectly fine ways to pass two hours of time, but don't expect to get much from it.
Seniors say farewell tonight
Pacey is an Issaquah, Wash., senior in journalism.
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Junior Forward Drew Gooden goes up for a dunk against Missouri. The men's team is currently 25-2 for the season.
Six players will hit Naismith Court one last time
By Brent Wasko
Kansan sportswriter
Flowers will be thrown and tears will fall as one of the most successful Kansas men's basketball teams of all time plays its final home game of the season at 7 tonight in Allen Fieldhouse.
The No. 1 Jayhawks, who are 25-2 overall and 14-0 in the Big 12 Conference, will attempt to remain undefeated at home this season as they battle Kansas State.
While the game remains significant for Kansas, the action on the court almost takes a back seat to the pageantry of senior day. For seniors Jeff Boschee, Jeff Carey, Lewis Harrison, Brett Ballard, Chris Zerbe and Todd Kappelmann, tonight marks the last time they will play at the fieldhouse.
Boschee, the Jayhawks' all-time three-point shooter, said the event would be special for him.
"It's not the last game of the year, but it is significant because I'll never play in the Fieldhouse again," Boschee said. "I think when you're a freshman you take it for granted that
Flowers for Seniors
The Kansas athletic promotions encourages fans to bring carnations and silk flowers to the Kansas-Kansas State game at Allen Fieldhouse tonight. Crimson Girls and cheerleaders will collect the flowers shortly before the game and will throw them onto the court during the pregame senior-recognition ceremony. Roses are not allowed because they can cause damage to the court and their petals are difficult to pick up.
you've got so many opportunities to play. The time does come when you're a senior, and you cherish the last one."
"I try not to show too much emotion on the floor, but I'm an emotional guy," he said. "I think it comes from mom's side. She's a real emotional lady."
Boschee added that it would be difficult for him to contain his emotions during and after the game.
Kansas has a variety of senior-day traditions, including the pep band wearing tuxedos, the Crimson Girls and cheerleaders showering the players with flowers before the game. postgame speeches and coach Roy Williams starting each of the seniors.
there are six seniors this season, which means that Williams has a dilemma on his hands if he hopes to keep tradition intact. The last time the team had six seniors was during the 1996-1997 season. Jerod Haase, Jacque Vaughn, Scot Pollard, B.J. Williams, Joel Branstrom and Steve Ransom were on the court to start the game. A referee told Williams he had to remove one of the players.
"It's something I've given a little thought to," Williams said Monday during his weekly radio show. "I had a great official involved with us in '97. Maybe I'll find a nice referee to allow us to do that same kind of thing. If not, I have to come up with an ingenious kind of plan. If not, we'll cheat for a while."
Williams took one of players off the court and the game started without a hitch, but he said he hadn't decided how he would handle the situation this year.
Post-game speeches might also be a problem. With six seniors, the speeches might last for more than an hour after the game.
LAURIE SISK/KANSAN
Boschee said he was going to try to
Senior center Nikki White smiles as she gives fellow senior K.C. Hillenkamp a hug after their final game at Allen Fieldhouse. Five seniors bid adieu to their home-town fans last night in a 61-46 loss to no. 13 Texas, which dropped the Jayhawks to 0-16 in the Big 12.
SEE BASKETBALL ON PAGE 9B
Kansas women fall to Texas
In their last game at Allen Fieldhouse, the seniors on the Kansas women's basketball team showed just why they will be missed.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
By Ryan Wood Kansan sportswriter
Senior center Kristin Geoffroy led all Jayhawk
During the season, the five seniors provided the bulk of Kansas's offense.
scorers with 9 points and senior forward Katie Hannon added 8, but it wasn't enough as No.13 Texas prevailed 61-46 last night.
SEE WOMEN ON PAGE 4B
Confidence, hair grew during Boschee's career
By Doug Pacey
Kansan sportswriter
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Jeff Boschee was a college freshman when he did something that you'd expect from a grade-schooler.
He stuck out his tongue.
Senior guard Jeff Boschee takes a three-point shot during the game against Missouri. Boschee has led the team's efforts from the arc this season.
This display of adolescent aggression wasn't the kind you might find at an elementary school playground. It came during Kansas' second-round game against Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament four years ago. Bosche wagged his tongue in the face of the Wildcat's Wayne Turner after the Valley City, N.D., native hit one of his six three-pointers in the Jayhawks 92-88 overtime loss.
"Coming in as a freshman I think I was a little more, I won't say arrogant, but a little more over-confident of myself," Boschee said. "I think I've matured in the way to not let those emotions flare out.
Even if he wants to, Kansas' senior guard won't have many more opportunities to repeat that juvenile display. Tonight's 7 p.m. game at Allen Fieldhouse against Kansas State will be the last time Boschee will play before 16,300 people in the "Phog."
"I'd never do something like that anymore."
head than his basketball ability. But Jayhawk fans and the rest of the Big 12 Conference soon found out there was a reason why he was a McDonald's High School All-American. He started every game his freshman
When he came to the University of Kansas in the fall of 1998, he was known more for his bald
season at point guard and won a slew of awards: Big 12 Freshman of the Year, Big 12 Tournament Most Outstanding Player, Big 12 All-Freshman Team and
SEE BOSCHEE ON PAGE 9B
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