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SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WWW.KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
6A
THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2002
COMMENTARY
Andy Davies adavies@kansan.com
Kansas fans have reasons to dream of wins, titles
By Andy Davies Kansan columnist
Kansas has one of the country's top men's basketball teams.
I know, I know. This is not exactly a brilliant observation, but it's worth pointing out because this season is the first time KU fans can say that since Paul Pierce and Raef LaFrentz carried the 1997-98 squad to a 35-4 record, a Big 12 regular season and tournament titles, and to the No.2 ranking in the final regular season poll.
That year ended a spectacular fouryear run that saw the 'Hawks go 123-17 overall. It was an awesome time in the Roy Williams era, producing four All American picks, six all-conference selections and four straight topfive finishes in the final AP polls.
That four-year run created high expectations that the following years weren't able to fulfill, making the 20 win-seasons and three NCAA tournament appearances that came after them seem ordinary.
Still, those seasons were marred by puzzling losses to Kentucky, Saint Louis, Nebraska, Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma State, Texas and Wake Forest. Throw in five consecutive losses to Iowa State and Jayhawk basketball seemed to be in a slump.
But this year Kansas appears to have righted itself. The 'Hawks are No. 2 in the country and have put together a 13-game winning streak early in the season, even though KU has the toughest scheduled in the nation based on the RPI rankings. Last night the team ended its losing streak against Iowa State.
Kansas' talent is certainly one reason for its success. Forwards Drew Gooden and Nick Collison are the best interior players to suit up for Williams since LaFrentz patrolled the paint at Allen Fieldhouse. Kirk Hinrich and Jeff Boschee give the Hawks an outside presence. Add four talented freshmen and veteran post player Jeff Carey and it's easy to see why Williams' squad has played so well.
But talent isn't the only thing driving the 'Hawks to victory. Led by Hinrch, Gooden, Collison and Boschee, the 2002 Jayhawks possess more mental toughness and greater hunger for victory.
Recently, Kansas used to struggle in big, pressure-filled games. But this squad seems to relish the big games. Kansas jumped on Arizona early, stunned a frenzied OSU crowd in Stillwater and rallied to win at Iowa State in the final three minutes. A defeat at UCLA — a game that Kansas looked flat in — is the only loss that stains this season.
But all is not perfect in Lawrence. The 'Hawks have a few things to work on, mainly inconsistent free throw shooting.
Still, it's not hard to see why this team is the Big 12 favorite and why fans expect it to make a run in the NCAA Tournament that exceeds last year's visit to the Sweet 16.
But that's down the road. The Jayhawks now must concentrate on winning games against its much-improved Big 12 opponents. A top-five team is back to Lawrence, and the Jayhawks could be on the verge of back-to-back seasons like 1996-97 and 1997-98 . Life is good again for Kansas basketball fans.
Contact Davies at sports@kansan.com.
Hawks win big in Ames
By Doug Pacey
Kansan sportswriter
AMES, Iowa — Drew Gooden doesn't know if it happened at Allen Fieldhouse or at Hilton Coliseum.
He can't even remember if it occurred during his freshman or sophomore season. Gooden said he thinks former Cyclone All-Americans Marcus Fizer and Jamaal Tinsley are to blame, but he's not really sure.
Details, details, details.
The only thing the Big 12 Conference's leading scorer knows — or cares about — is that after an Iowa State game in the last two seasons, one of the Cyclones slammed the ball down at mid-court after the final whistle.
This time.it was Gooden's turn.
"I thought it was just payback, revenge," Gooden, who finished with 23 points and 11 rebounds, said after the game. "I felt like I wanted to slam the ball on their court and it felt good. Just let all the frustration out of losing (to Iowa State) all the time."
The No. 2 Jayhawks (16-2 overall, 5-0 Big 12) stopped a five-game losing streak to the Cyclones (9-11, 1-5) with a down-to-the-wire 88-81 win Wednesday night at Hilton Coliseum.
Jeff Bosche, who scored 14 points and made 4-of-4 three-pointers, hit a three with 36 seconds left that gave Kansas an 84-81 lead.
Moments earlier, Cyclone forward Tyray Pearson missed two free throws after being fouled by Kansas junior forward Nick Collison.
"The score was tied we were very fortunate they missed two free throws and we come down and get a huge three by Jeff Boschee," coach Roy Williams said.
The Jayhawks had jumped out to a 62-50 advantage, the biggest lead for either team, six minutes into the second half. The edge was short-lived as Kansas, which was plagued by foul trouble the entire game, relaxed into a zone defense and Iowa State made the Jayhawks pay with a 20-4 run over the next seven minutes.
"We had a good start at the beginning of the second half but then it seemed like we couldn't buy a basket for about six or seven minutes," Collison, who finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds, said.
SEE MEN ON PAGE 5A
Kansas junior forward Drew Gooden stretches to the basket at Iowa State. Gooden logged his 14th double-double of the season in a 88-81 win over the Cyclones.
CHRISTINA NEFF/KANSAN
Iowa State guard stands out despite loss
By Brent Wasko
Kansan sportswriter
AMES, Iowa — Iowa State guard Jake Sullivan seemingly couldn't miss shots from behind the three-point line last night against Kansas, scoring a season-high 27 points.
But the point total was little consolation for the sophomore, whose team failed to pull out a victory in an 88-81 loss against the Jayhawks at Hilton Coliseum.
"I feel as low as I've felt all year," said Sullivan, who also committed nine turnovers against Kansas. "This game could have been a huge building block for us. I left it all on the floor tonight, but my turnovers were disappointing."
Sullivan's 27 points tied for the second most by an individual against the Jayhawks this year.
kansas had no answer for Sullivan's offensive explosion. He swished five of his seven shots from behind the arch. He was 8-for-12 inside the three-point line and 6-for-6 from the free-throw line. He also tallied a career-high six assists.
Kansas coach Roy Williams said Sullivan, who is averaging 16.2 points per game this season, was tough to contain.
"Jake Sullivan was unbelievable." Williams said. "The focus of a whole practice was getting a hand in Jake's face, and we didn't do a very good job of shutting him down tonight. We tried putting different people on him, but he just kept making shots."
Last night was not the first time the Jayhawks struggled to guard Sullivan.
In Ames, Iowa, last year, he racked up 22 points against Kansas.
SEE SULLIVAN ON PAGE 5A
Kansas women can't catch K-State
By Jessica Scott Kansan sportswriter
MANHATTAN—On paper, last night's game at No.11 Kansas State was one of the Jayhawks' best games of the season.
Senior guard K.C. Hilgenkamp attempts to drive around Kansas State's Kendra Wecker. Hilgenkamp scored 18 points in the Jayhawks' 72-59 loss to the Wildcats on Wednesday at Bramlage Coliseum.
Unfortunately for the Jayhawks, Goliath proved to be too much for them to knock out as Kansas remained winless in the Big 12 Conference, losing 72-59.
AARON SHOWALTER/KANSAN
Kansas (5-15, 0-7 Big 12) out-rebounded K-State (18-2, 6-1) and dished out more assists but was outscored 20-6 at the free throw line by the Wildcats.
"Overall, when I look at the field goals and the three point shots that were made, this difference in this game was at the free throw line," head coach Marian Washington said.
Kansas looked like a different team in the first half. Trailing by 11, Jayhawk seniors took over with sharp shooting and tough defense. A basket by senior guard KC Hilgenkamp started the run, and two consecutive baskets by Selena Scott, also a senior guard, cut the lead to six. Senior center Kristin Geoffroy sandwiched a bucket between two
Hilgenkamp threes to end the half with Kansas down 33-30.
"Coach gives me the green light and she always expects me to shoot," said Hilgenkamp, who ended with a team-high 18 points and five assists. "I guess today was one of those days where your shot feels really good."
Although the 8,000-plus fans at the game were shocked by Kansas' play in the first half, Washington said she had expected it.
"I thought that we executed pretty well in the first half. I'm sure we surprised a lot of people." Washington said.
A dry spell on the offensive end struck Kansas after the break as the jayhawks failed to score for nearly six minutes. During this span, Kansas State freshman forward Kendra Wecker was unstoppable, hitting four straight baskets to extend the Wildcats' lead to 18.
"Wecker probably surprised me more than any of them," Washington said. "She's just a phenomenal athlete and is extremely strong. I'm amazed at what she's doing for them."
In a rare incident, Washington was charged with a technical foul with 4:32 remaining in
the game.
"I've never used foul language, a foul word," she said.
"So I get technicals I guess because of my intensity. I simply asked 'Was the particular player on our back?' It happens — you can't worry about it."
Kansas will face Oklahoma State at 2:05 p.m. on Saturday in Lawrence.
BOXSCORE
No.11 Kansas St. 72, Kansas 59 KANSAS (5-15)
**KANSAS (8-10)**
Spencer 2-1-20 0-4, Geoffrey 4-7-1-0
Hilgenkamp 6-14-2-1-8, Hannon 3-7-0-8, Scott 2-8-1-5, Beachem 0-2-0-0, Menguco 0-2-0-0, Thompson 2-3-0-5, White 3-6-3-9,
McGinest 1-2-0-2. Totals 23-53 6-
10.5).
KANSAS ST. (18-2)
Mahoney 4-71-2-9, Wecker 8-11 4-4
23, Olhide 4-87-915, Koehn 6-10-4-6
21, Rethman 4-0-4-4, Armstrong 0-
0-0-0, Booker 0-1-0-0, Domenico
0-1-0-0, Madden 0-2-0-20, Totals
22-44-20-27.72
Contact Scott at jscott@kansan.com. This story was edited by Molly Gise.