"I'd have left with them" Roy Williams on what he would have done if Kirk Hinrich and Nick Collison had left for the NBA before their senior season
B = THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS COMMENTARY
Andy Samuelson asamuelson@kansan.com
Collison Hinrich go for victory
Kansas wouldn't be in New Orleans tonight without Keith Langford.
Inside Sports
The Jayhawks probably wouldn't have the opportunity for jubilation if the oft-criticized Aaron Miles wasn't running the show.
If Jeff Graves hadn't shaped up, err, slimmed down, forget about him filling in when Wayne Simien went out with an injured shoulder.
Michael Lee might be the best sixththman in America.
Even Bryant Nash has had his moments this season. Good and bad.
But make no mistake — this is Nick and Kirk's, or Kirk and Nick's (if you prefer) team. Without those two, Kansas wouldn't have one game left.
And that game is why they're still at Kansas and not in the NBA, still playing for the dream instead of the pay.
"That's why Nick and I came back — to accomplish this goal," Hinrich said of winning tonight's title game against Syracuse.
They came back for tonight, but then came November — perhaps the worst month of Nick Collison and Kirk Hinrich's lives, let alone basketball careers.
Having shunned the riches of NBA, the two began their triumphant farewell tour.
But a 3-3 start not only devastated Kansas fans, but personally peeved the pair of seniors.
"That's the common thread — how competitive they are and how much they want their team to win," said Kansas coach Roy Williams of his dynamic duo.
That's also why they won't let Kansas lose.
Collison practically willed Kansas to victory with his 33-point, 19-rebound effort in Kansas' Sweet 16 victory against Duke when Hinrich scored just two points.
Hinrich returned the favor, scoring 28 points as Kansas edged Arizona 78-75 in the West Regional final when the Wildcats' collapsing zone corralled Collison.
"We're really a totally different team than we were in November," said Collison, who along with Hinrich were as solid as needed in the Jayhawks' spectacular stomp over Marquette on Saturday combining for 30 points and 16 rebounds.
And tonight Collison and Hinrich won't cheat themselves out of claiming the one thing they came back for — the championship.
Samuelson is a Wichita senior in journalism
Tennis suffers loss to Colorado
By Jonah Ballow
jballow@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
The ninth Big 12 Conference match for the No. 75-ranked Kansas tennis team ended in a 5-2 loss to the Colorado Buffaloes yesterday.
"I knew this was going to be a tough match," coach Kilmery Waterman said. "We have to work on our doubles so that we can take the pressure off of our singles matches."
The match against Colorado was scheduled to be played at the Robinson Courts, but the rain moved the match to Topeka's
At No.1 doubles juniors Courtney Steinbock and Kristen Steinbock took a 6-4 lead, but lost to Lia Dimingo and Dominique Lemperle.
Wood Valley Racquet Club. Kansas could only win one doubles match, which resulted in losing the doubles point.
At the No. 2 doubles position, junior Emily Haylock and sophomore Paige Brown won a close match over Sarah Burrows and Jessica Vanderdys, 9-8.
In singles play, the Jayhawks won two matches while the Buffaloes won four and clinched the victory.
Freshman Christine Skoda defeated Kendra Strandemo 7-5, 6-3 at No.4 singles. Brown fought hard to earn a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Katherine Anne Lutgert in the No. 2 singles match-up.
"I thought everybody fought really hard," Brown said. "I think when we lose the doubles point it really affects our mind set."
The Jayhawks were supposed to play against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane on Saturday, but the match was canceled because of the weather and no available indoor facility.
Next for the Jayhawks is a home match Saturday against the No. 39 ranked Kansas State Wildcats at the Robinson Courts.
Edited by Erin Chapman
Bourbon and basketball
Steve Gordon, Overland Park junior, and Bret Bates, Newton sophomore, celebrate on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. The Jayhawks defeated Marquette 94-61 and will play Syracuse tonight for the National Championship Title.
Aaron Showalter/Kansan
Free for All
I find it pretty pathetic that a truck driver that spends six days a week on the road can report better statistics and better breakdowns of KU basketball games that he doesn't watch than our awesome journalism crew at the UDK.
waffles, so go KU.
I don't know why Al Boht and Roy Williams don't get along, but give Roy whatever he wants.
waffles, so go KU.
Syracuse reminds me of syrup, and I hate
I was wondering why North Carolina can't find their own coach, why they have to try and steal our coach?
I'd just like to let everyone know that Dave Letterman just said, "How' bout them Jayhawks?"
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Al Bohl must be fired.
Jayhawks 99, Terrapins 1
waffles, so go KU.
Does anyone find it strange that there's a war going on and we're obsessing about basketball?
behind the players.The team is not complete without her.
behind the players.The team is not complete without her.
So I hear classes are canceled if we win the basketball game. That's ridiculous. It's just like high school. All we need is a pep assembly to top it all off.
--behind the players.The team is not complete without her.
I don't like it when Roy Williams says that I'm not his grandson.
behind the players.The team is not complete without her.
I don't care what anyone says. Roy Williams is my grandpa.
Yeah, I'm watching the Marquette game right now, and all I can say is, amazing Rock chalk, Jayhawk.
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We're beating the you-know-what out of Marquette right now, and I guarantee you Dick Vitale has exploded somewhere and they're mopping him up right now. Go 'Hawks!'
MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2003
behind the players.The team is not complete without her.
--behind the players.The team is not complete without her.
Marquette Golden Eagles? More like Marquette Golden Clowns.
I'm watching the game, and I'm wondering why Shannon is not sitting on the bench
behind the players.The team is not complete without her.
vacancy at North Carolina?
Did you see the cheerleader from Marquette crying? Go Jayhawks!
I know a shock-and-awe campaign when I see one. KU!
图
vacancy at North Carolina?
Kansas basketball is en fuego.
If we win Monday, goal posts are going down. I repeat, goal posts are going down.
Silly Eagles, championships are for Jayhawks.
--vacancy at North Carolina?
(thorns honking)
I'm looking at my Bud Light can, and the colors are red and blue. Coincidence? I think not.
vacancy at North Carolina?
I'm on Bourbon Street, and I just married a Louisiana state trooper. I love it!
vacancy at North Carolina?
--vacancy at North Carolina?
I have two words: suck Fyracuse.
vacancy at North Carolina?
vacancy at North Carolina?
Forget about Lord Wad, let's make Roy Williams kung of KU.
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I just wanted to thank the people who are cleaning up Mass. Street today.
POLI
kansan.com Will Roy Williams fill the coaching
No, he stayed last time; he will stay this time.
He will consider it after the tournament excitement dies down.
No, North Carolina won't pursue him after he said no last time.
- Yes, Nick and Kirk are gone; so is Roy.
Log on to Kansan.com to cast your vote.
LAST WEEKS POLL RESULTS
Where would you rather be for Kansas' Final Four game?
At the game in New Orleans — 552 votes for 50 percent
In Lawrence watching in a bar or restaurant — 335 votes for 31 percent
With a friend at a game viewing party—162 votes for 15 percent
I'm not watching the game - 46 votes for 4 percent
1095 votes were cast
This week in Kansas Athletics
TODAY
Men's basketball, NCAA Tournament championship game, 8 p.m., New Orleans Women's golf, Susie Bernax Maxwell Invitational, Norman, Okla.
Men's golf, 57th Western Intercollegiate, Patasiemany Golf Club, Santa Cruz, Calif.
TOMORROW
Baseball vs Baker, 6 p.m., Hoglund Ballpark
Women's golf, Susie Maxwell Berning Invitational, Norman, Okla.
Men's golf, 57th Western Intercollegiate, Pasatiempo Golf Club, Santa Cruz, Calif.
WEDNESDAY
Softball at Creighton, 5 and 7 p.m.
Omaha. Neb.
Baseball vs. Creighton, 6.p.m., Hoglund Ballpark
THURSDAY
Softball at Nebraska, 5 p.m., Lincoln, Neb.
FRIDAY
Baseball at Texas Tech, 7 p.m., Lubbock,
Texas
SATURDAY
Tennis vs. Kansas State, noon, Robinson Tennis Courts
Softball vs. Texas A&M, 2 p.m., Kansas softball field
Soccer vs. Arkansas, 11 a.m., Tulsa, Okla.
Soccer vs. Tulsa, 5 p.m., Tulsa, Okla.
Rowing, Knecht Cup, Camden, N.J.
Men's golf, The Intercollegiate 2003,
UNC-Finley Golf Club, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Track, McDonnell Invitational, Fayetteville, Ark.
Baseball at Texas Tech, 2 p.m., Lubbock,
Texas
Meet the Author.
Joint Eagles a suspense novel of nuclear terrorist threat against the United States
Robert C. Hagan
KU Graduate
served in the Nuclear Navy, followed by a career in nuclear engineering and safety He retired from management st Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant in 1996.
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