WEDNESDAY JAN. 30.2002
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN • 3B
'Hawks erupt after halftime
Late blowout continues trend of second half play
By Brent Wasko
Kansan sportswriter
This year's Kansas men's basketball team would make any baseball closer proud. The Jayhawks don't blow leads at the end of games.
Kansas is 17-0 this season when leading at the intermission, and the team showed why against Missouri on Monday night at Allen Fieldhouse by turning a one-point halftime lead into a 105-73 blowout.
The Jayhawks played so well in the second half against the Tigers, even coach Roy Williams, who almost always has a few negative things to say about his team's performance after games, had little to complain about after his squad dismantled Missouri.
"The second half, we were sensational," Williams said. "We had two or three silly possessions and did some crazy things, but other than that, we were really good. In the second half, everything went right for us and wrong for them."
Kansas outscored Missouri 62-31 in the second half. The squad held the Tigers' two leading scorers, Kareem Rush and Clarence Gilbert, to just nine points, and, at times, the Jayhawks showed signs of offensive brilliance after halftime.
In the second half, the Jayhawks made 64.5 percent of their field goals, 75 percent from behind the three-point line and a sizzling 94.1 percent from the free
throw line, which ranks as the eighth-best free throw percentage in the Williams era at Kansas.
Opponents have outscolced the Hawks in the second half in only five of 20 games this season, with Oklahoma State being the only squad to do it in Big 12 Conference play. Kansas has scored 50 points after halftime six times this year.
Williams said he was pleased with the way his team performed in the second half, but that didn't mean the team had reached its full potential.
"I challenged them in the locker room after the game, saying, 'You should be able to play like that every game if you work your tails off every day in practice and use your brains.'" Williams said. "We were awfully good in the second half, but I challenge them to play like that for 40 minutes."
Jayhawk junior forward Nick Collison said it allows the players' style of play that allows them to be so efficient in the second half.
Kansas' ability to finish off teams should come as no surprise to opponents — the Jayhawks have been dominant in the second half of games all season. The only team able to come back against them, Tulsa, erased a 15-point deficit on Dec. 29 and still lost by 8 points, 93-85.
"We've tried since day one to work on getting the ball quickly up the floor for baskets," Collison said. "That's just how we play. We figure, if we can go hard for 40 minutes, the team we're facing is going to get tired, maybe miss a man or two, and we can get some baskets that way."
"I challenged them in the locker room
after the game, saying, 'You should be able to play like that every game if you work your tails
off every day in practice and use your brains."
Missouri coach Quin Snyder agrees with Collison. He said the Jayhawks' fast-tempo offense wore down his team in the second half on Monday, especially the Tigers' big men, center Arthur Johnson and forward Travon Bryant.
"A. J. and Travon had to do wind sprints with (Drew) Gooden and Collison just to keep up with them," Snyder said. "When you have that against Kansas, it can turn around and mean a 10-0 run."
Despite the Jayhawks' second-half success this season, Williams said Kansas was not about to become overconfident.
Roy Williams Kansas basketball coach
"This team is too smart for that to happen," he said. "They are not going to get fat and happy. I am not the greatest coach in the world, but I can still find fault in the way we play."
Contact Wasko at
bwasko@kansan.com. This story was edited by Laurie Harrison.
BASKETBALL
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B
Baylor, an undefated Big 12 season is a possibility, but it won't be easy.
Kansas hasn't had an undefeated conference season since Ted Owens' 1970-71 squad went 14-0 in Big Eight play — not to
"That would be pretty tough," junior forward Drew Gooden said. "We know what we're capable of and we've showed people. We're playing the best basketball we can play."
Williams has had two seasons with just one conference loss. During the 1996-97 season the lone loss was a 96-94 double overtime thriller at Missouri. The same thing happened the next season when the Tigers downed Kansas 74-73 in Columbia.
mention the three wins they had against Missouri, Iowa State and Nebraska in the Big Eight Holiday Tournament — and went to the Final Four.
know better than to take any games off.
"This team's too smart," he said. "They're not going to get fat and happy. I'm not the greatest coach in the world, but I can find fault with a lot of things. When we come to practice Wednesday we're going to get after it.
Williams knows the game at Missouri will probably be the toughest game before the post-season, but he said his players
"They're bright. They know it's just seven games out of a 16-game schedule."
Contact Pacey at
ContactABCby dpacey@kansan.com. This story was edited by Justin Henning.
WOMEN
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B
both ended with two points and a combined seven rebounds.
Sophomore Keila Beachem was the lone bright spot for the 'Hawks. She broke into the starting lineup again after a lengthy absence but was hampered early by foul trouble. Beachem tied a
career-high with six points and grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds to lead the Jayhawks.
Senior guard K.C. Hilgenkamp fought through flulike symptoms to end with 14 points, the lone Jayhawk in double-digits.
Fatigue was an issue for Hilgenkamp, who appeared to be lacking leg strength, contributing to her 26 percent shooting for the game. As a team, the Jayhawks shot 24 percent in the contest.
Kansas will face Oklahoma at 1 p.m. Saturday in Norman, Okla.
McFALL
— Kansan staff report.
http://cubuffs.fansonly.com contributed to this story.
"They come all the time," McFall said of her family members. "They're my fans. My aunt and uncle live in Lawrence. And then they have two little girls. And then my grandpa, and my dad is coming out. They've been good fans all four years."
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B
The diver has big plans for her final season, and hopes to break the 500-point mark in the 3-meter diving event.
Robinson Center natatorium.
"I've been close," McFall said.
"I'm going to enjoy having some newfound freedoms." McFall said. "Getting to do the things I've always wanted to do but never had time to do."
For now, the senior diver is focused on having her best season because of a lack of nagging injuries.
referring to the point mark. "I would love to be top three in the conference on the 3-meter."
After this season, McFall has another year of school to finish her degree in psychology.
"I guess I just want to finish strong and have a good time,"
McFall said. "And it's kind of all coming together this year. I've got my confidence back, and I'm just enjoying it a lot more.
"I'm going to enjoy having some newfound freedoms."
senior diver
Contact Brox at abrox@kensan.com. This story was edited by Justin Henning.
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Happy Horse Year
馬年行大運
KU Taiwanese Student Association(TSA) is proud to present the Chinese New Year celebration banquet. Come and celebrate the Horse year with us! With delicious authentic Chinese food and great entertainment, the event will bring you a great Chinese New Year experience here at KU without all the traveling!
When? February 9,2002 Saturday Where? ECM Church (1204 Oread Ave) Price? $7 for members and Friends of TSA $10 for non-member $5 for children aged 3-10
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For more details, please visit http://www.ku.edu/~tsa/upcoming.htm
Tickets may also be purchased via email: tsa@raven.cc.ukans.edu
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For more information and to sign up, contact:
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22 Strong Hall • Monday-Friday • 8a.m.-5p.m.
www.ku.edu/~etwrc • 864-3552
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