8B • THEUNIVERSITYDAILYKANSAN
SPORTS
FRIDAY,FEB.1,2002
Washington looks to bench to revive inconsistent offense
By Jessica Scott Kansan sportswriter
As if the Kansas women's basketball team hasn't had its share of competition this season, the worst may be yet to come.
The Jayhawks (5-17,0-9 Big 12 Conference) have faced a multitude of ranked opponents already and will add another to that daunting list when they travel to Norman, Okla., tomorrow to face No. 4 Oklahoma (17-2, 7-1 Big 12 Conference).
With offensive consistency a major concern, Kansas is fighting to end its longest losing streak in history.
"I really think that the problem is that we don't play together consistently." Kansas senior Nikki White said. "We know our offenses, but if one person breaks down, then we're not on the same page."
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
At Colorado on Tuesday, the Jayhawks shot a seasonlow 23.5 percent from the field while reaching a season-high 68 field goal attempts. White said her team was working hard to overcome the severe absence of scoring.
"We're focusing on our offense and just running it through with confidence," she said.
Their last win came Dec. 29 against Morgan State, and they've lost nine games in a row.all in the Big 12.
Still, the 'Hawks are possibly at the lowest point of their season.
Recent offensive struggles from experienced players have forced Kansas coach Marian Washington to look toward her bench for help.
Seniors White, Kristin Geoffroy and Selena Scott combined for only seven points against Colorado, and players who saw limited time on the court early in the season, such as freshmen Brandi McGinest and Valerie Migicovsky and senior Katie Hannon, were spending more time on the court.
The Jayhawks will need additional help from their bench if they want to compete against the Sooners, a team that has four players averaging in double digits.
Senior forward Nikki White goes up for a shot in a game against Fort Hays State early in the season.
"Coach has expressed to them that they're going to have to step up," White said. "I think they're taking on that challenge and really trying hard."
"We've had a team meeting and we're trying to come out with a lot more confidence than we've had in the past," she said. "We're really focusing on playing together and doing more things as a team — even outside of basketball — to try to get closer to each other."
Although the Jayhawks have already tied the school record for losses in a season. White said her team's mentality had remained strong.
Contact Scott at
jscott@kansan.com. This story was edited by Kyle Ramsey.
against the Baylor Bears.
BASKETBALL
Williams said the Buffaloes were tough to defend because they had so many different weapons.
Junior guard Kirk Hinrich said Kansas would not be overlooking Colorado
because when the Jayhawks had done that in the past, it had resulted in upset losses.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1P
"It is easy when things are going this well to skip and look down the road, and I think we have done that in past years, and we got complacent," Hinrich said. "Last year, we had a few slip-ups, and if we would not have had
Kansas and Colorado tip off at 3 p.m. Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse.
that, then we might be wearing a ring right now."
Contact Wasko at
bwasko@kansan.com. This story was edited by Justin Henning.
Oklahoma arsenal set for Hawks
By Ryan Wood
Kansan sportswriter
"The strength of our team all year is that we have a lot of different weapons." Sooner coach Sherri Coale said.
And it's about to get a little tougher.
Kansas center Nikki White said her team realized Oklahoma's scoring potential.
The Kansas women's basketball team, facing the toughest conference schedule in the nation, hasn't had much success.
The Jayhawks (5-17 overall, 0-9 in Big 12 Conference) travel to Norman, Okla. to take on No. 4 Oklahoma (17-2, 7-1) at 1 p.m. tomorrow.
The Sooners came off a victory against the stingy Oklahoma State Cowgirls, 66-58 on Tuesday night. Guard Stacey Dales scored a career-high 29 points in the game.
Dales, last year's Big 12 Conference Player of the Year and a Kodak All-American, will come in to tomorrow's game averaging 15.7 points per game.
"We're know that we're going to have to go out and play tenacious defense to shut down their main scorers." White said.
"Stacey has the gift of vision," Coale said. "She sees the floor better than any player in the country."
The Sooner's single loss of the conference season took place on Jan. 15, when Iowa State defeated Oklahoma by a convincing 16-point margin in Ames, Iowa.
Oklahoma will close out the season with five of its final eight games at home before the Big 12 Tournament begins on March 5.
"We really like to be at home," Coale said. "We expect a good crowd on Saturday."
Contact Wood at rwood@kansan.com. This story was edited by Kyle Ramsey.
NASH
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B
ence) added height on the perimeter. Jeff Boschee, Kirk Hinrich, Aaron Miles and Keith Langford are all shorter than 6-foot-4, and when Kansas plays teams with taller guards — UCLA's starting guards were all taller than 6-foot-6 — Nash's presence could help the Jayhawks on defense.
Before that can happen, Nash has to cut down on fouls, Williams said. Against Texas A&M, he committed two fouls in three minutes and was whistled for one in five minutes against Missouri. That, plus turnovers, is keeping Nash in his warm-ups during games.
Nash said he knew this and
gave extra effort to reach Williams' expectations.
Whatever shooting drills Nash has been doing has paid big dividends. He made his first career three pointer against the Aggies Saturday and hit another against the Tigers Monday. His teammates have taken notice, too.
"we do need a three-man, but I still have a ways to go," Nash said. "I stay a little after practice and go to practice early and work on my ball-handling skills and shooting the ball more."
"They call me 'must touch,' he said. As in, Nash 'must touch' the ball on every possession.
Whether or not Nash gets more minutes doesn't concern him.
"I'm ready when coach Williams needs me," he said. "As
Note:
long as we're winning, I'm happy."
Note:
Members of the 1952 National Championship team will be honored at halftime of tomorrow's game. Coached by FC. "Phog" Allen, the Jayhawks beat St. John's 80-63 in Seattle for Kansas' first NCAA Tournament title.
A who's-who list of college basketball greats comprises the 13 team members who will be at Allen Fieldhouse.
There's two-time All-American Clyde Lovellette, who was also the MVP of the 1952 tournament and led the nation in scoring the same year. Dean Smith didn't attempt any shots in the championship game, but he's college basketball's winningest
coach, 879-254, after 36 seasons at North Carolina.
B. H. Born averaged just 1.4 points per game that season, but in 1953 he was an All-American and tournament MVP.
Allen and seven players from the team were on the 1952 Olympic team that won the gold medal in Helsinki, Finland. Five of those players — Lovellette, Bill Houglund, Charlie Hoag, Bill Lienhard and Al Kelley — will be at the game tomorrow.
who be at the game Other Jawhacks who will be there are Bob Kenney, Jerry Alberts, Everett Dye, Larry Davenport, Bill Heitholt and student manager Wayne Louderback.
Contact Pacey at
dpacey@kansan.com.This story was edited by Justin Henning.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B
TRACK
don't either."
Seniors Brian Blachly and Katy Eisenmenger and sophomore Laura Lavoie will make their first attempts at the 800-meter run after competing in the mile during the first two meets of the season.
All three must decide whether to compete in the 800 or the mile next week at Iowa State and at the Big 12 Conference championships in two weeks.
Clark said all three runners.
along with freshman Brandon Hodges, could qualify for the NCAA championships in the 800.
In addition to competing on the track, the Jayhawks will attempt to impress 22 high school recruits during the weekend. Assistant coach Doug Clark said it would be a hectic weekend, but it was crucial to have recruits visit now.
"They need to go out, not reckless, but run hard from the start," Clark said.
"During indoor season, when you're trying to have official vie
Jayhawk Invitational at a glance
Seniors Brian Blachly and Katy Eisenmenger and sophomore Laura Lavoie will compete in the 800-meter run for the first time this season.
Senior Scott Russell, the Kansas and Canadian record holder in the lightweight throw, will compete.
The women's 4x400 relay team will compete again after setting a meet record at Kansas State (3:48.38).
■ Junior Vadim Gvodzetskiy will try to improve on his NCAA provisional qualifying jump of 17 3/4 last week at Kansas State in the men's pole vault.
its, basically you've got to have them when you're here," Clark said.
The Jayhawk Invitational is Kansas' only home indoor meet
mnorton@kansan.com. This story was edited by Brandon Stinnett
of the season.
Contact Norton at
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