"Right now I feel like I'm on cloud nine. If there's a cloud 20, that's where I'd be, too." Kansas forward Jeff Graves after Kansas' victory against Arizona Saturday
Inside Sports
2B • THEUNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY,APRIL1,2003
Reputation of Jayhawks as 'chokers' uninformed
Roy Williams and the Kansas men's basketball team have some critics to silence this weekend. Now headed for their second straight Final Four, the Jayhawks need just two more victories to, as Williams might say, shut up all the idiots out there.
The uninformed morons who ignore recent history and, apparently trapped in 1998, believe the Jayhawks are chronic NCAA Tournament chokers.
That's right—even if you believe that choking is a "skill" possessed by coaches and players who don't know how to win in the postseason, Williams and his lajfawhaks don't fit the profile. There was a time when they did, but that's in the past.
"Choking" is losing when you're supposed to win, right? Between 1995 to 1998, Williams' teams embodied the word. Every year in that span, the Jayhawks earned a No. 1 or 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Each of those years, the Jayhawks were eliminated by a lower seed in their region.
But the 'Hawks haven't lost to a lower-ranked team since 98. In fact, Kansas is the only team to play to its seed in the tournament each of the last five years. What does that mean? When the NCAA selection committee gives a team a No.1 seed in a region, it expects the team to win that region. A No.2 seed is expected to reach the regional final before losing. Third and fourth seeds are expected to reach the round before that, and so on.
So right now, the Jayhawks are the most consistent "non-chokers" in college basketball.
With that, you'd think Kansas would have lost its reputation for choking by now. But once average sports fans form opinions, they're not interested in changing them, even if there's excellent evidence that they're wrong. And in their minds, once a team chokes, they're always going to be chokers — unless they win a championship.
If Kansas gets two more victories and finally gives us that Massachusetts Street parade we've been anticipating for 15 years, fans across the country will say, "Wow, they didn't choke. Amazing."
But that's perception, not reality. As the record shows, the Hawks have been a consistently good tournament team in recent years.
Berlin is a Leawood senior in journalism.
JAYHAWKS IN THE PROS
By Ryan Greene
rgreeeen@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
With the NBA regular season in full swing, each week the Kansan will bring updates on all of your favorite former Jayhawks. If there are any former Jayhawks we haven't included who you would like an update on, e-mail requests to rgreene@kansan.com.
Paul Pierce - Boston Celtics
While the Celtics ended a six-game losing streak to cap off the week, it came against the NBA's worst team, as Boston downed Cleveland
both Friday and Saturday night. In Saturday's 110-106 victory, Pierce not only scored 34 points but finished one rebound and one assist shy of his second triple-double of the season. Boston's recent woes have led to a plummet in the Eastern Conference standings. With only eight games left in the regular season, the Celtics are currently the sixth-
seed but are only a half-game ahead of Orlando.
As the Magic climb their way up the Eastern Conference playoff standings, Vaughn has certainly picked up his play in the past week.
Jacque Vaughn - Orlando Magic
A statistically sound week was capped off with 12 points in Thursday's 110-107 victory against Western power, Minnesota
The Mavericks kept themselves atop
Raef LaFrentz - Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks to the Western Conference by going 3-1 in four road contests last week. LaFrentz averaged 10 points per game, including 14 points in a victory.
against Denver yesterday and 15 in Sunday's victory against Minnesota.
The Kings are quickly closing in on
Scot Pollard - Sacramento Kings
another Pacific Division Championship, and the return of Pollard has been huge for a team that has had to force younger players into the game plan because of injuries.
Pollard had another solid effort in Saturday's victory at Chicago with 11 points and 13 rebounds.
Greg Ostertag - Utah Jazz
On Saturday, in a
Ostertag has surprisingly continued to boost production down the season's stretch run.
101-81 loss at San Antonio, Ostertag matched a season-high with 16 points and then added 10 rebounds for yet another double-double.
Danny Manning - Detroit Pistons - Did Not Play (Coach's Decision)
Rookies shine on opening day
Drew Gooden - Orlando Magic - Did Not Play (Sprained Big Toe)
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The young Kansas City Royals were hoping for this kind of start.
Runelvys Hernandez allowed two hits in six innings and rookie Angel Berroa drove in the go-ahead run as the Royals beat the Chicago White Sox 3-0 yesterday — Kansas City's first opening-day victory in five years.
"We have a lot of young guys, no doubt about that." Harvey said. "But us young guys have proven ourselves in the minor leagues. Once we get over being in awe of the major leagues, we'll be fine."
Kansas City got key contributions from its rookies: Mike MacDougal pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to complete a three-hitter, designated hitter Ken Harvey doubled twice and Berroa made a fine defensive play at shortstop in the ninth innings.
Hernandez, given the opening-day start over Jeremy Affeldt by winning a coin flip, struck out five and walked only one.
"I feel so great, so very, very happy about that," said the 24-year-old right-hander, 4-4 last year as a rookie. "Thev
have confidence about me and I don't want to lose that."
Jason Grimsley gave up one hit in two innings, and the sellout crowd stood for MacDougal, who threw a called third strike past Frank Thomas for!
Frank Thomas for the second out
"Their young kids pitched well," said Thomas, who was also thrown out at the plate by third baseman Joe Randa in the seventh. "Hernandez hit his spots. We were all shocked he threw four pitches for strikes. He did whatever he wanted, and we started chasing."
A sellout crowd of 40,302 was at Kauffman Stadium, and the temperature was 73 at gametime. A stealth bomber flew over the stadium after the national anthem.
Mark Buehrle, 19-12 last year, became the first left-hander to make consecutive opening-day starts for the White Sox since Wilbur Wood from 1972-76. Buehrle gave up two runs and six hits in seven innings.
"Tip your hat to Hernandez," Buehrle
said. "Except for one inning, I settled down."
Chicago, expected to contend for the AL Central title, opened on the road for the 13th consecutive season.
Kansas City, coming off a 62-100 season, went ahead in the second. Brandon Berger, given the start in right field because half of his eight career homers have come off Buehrle, walked and went to third on Harvey's first double.
Berroa singled and Brent Mayne followed with an RBI double—with Berroa out at the plate on a strong relay throw from second baseman D'Angelo limenez.
Mike Sweeney doubled in the eighth, went to third on a passed ball and scored on Tom Gordon's wild pitch.
Harvey was cut down at the plate in the sixth by third baseman Joe Crede. Notes:
The White Sox won last year's series 11-8, outscoring Kansas City 83-19 in their 11 wins. ... Aaron Rowand made a good play in center, diving to snare Randa's drive with two outs in the seventh. ... Sweeney is wearing a "C" on his uniform as the Royals' captain.
Broncos quarterback joins team
Plummer was among 38 Broncos who took part in the morning workout, which included sessions with a yoga instructor.
DENVER — Quarterback Jake Plummer joined his new teammates yesterday, running and lifting weights at the opening of the Denver Broncos' offseason strength and conditioning program.
Broncos last month, hoped to make a quick adjustment.
Plummer, the former Arizona Cardinals quarterback who signed a six-year, $40 million free-agent deal with the
"As I was getting ready to leave Arizona, I
felt like a kid getting ready to go to junior high or high school," he said. "I was excited, I had a smile on my face. I was ready to come up here and make a fresh start and get things going."
"It went well, but it's not done yet," Imer said. "I've still got to go upstairs for a couple of hours and get into the playbook."
Plummer was impressed with the number of players at the workout.
"To see that many guys out here for the first workout was awesome," he said.
"Some of them are in good shape, some of them not, but they're here and they're here to work hard. That's what I'm here to do, too. Everyone was trying to get me scared with the elevation thing, but I think I did all right today running-wise."
Plummer had hoped to begin some light throwing to wide receiver Rod Smith, but Smith begged off yesterday.
Plummer said he had put on weight and was at about 210 to 215 pounds.
Tight end Shannon Harpe, uncertain about returning for another season, was not at the workout, but Harpe usually does his own drills at his home in Georgia during the offseason.
The Associated Press
POLL
kansan.com
Where would you rather be for Kansas' Final Four game?
At the game in New Orleans
- in Lawrence watching in a bar or restaurant
I'm not watching the game.
With friend at a game-viewing party
Log on to www.kansan.com to cast your vote.
Kansas Athletics Calendar
TODAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
Softball at Wichita State, 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Baseball vs Southwest Missouri State, Hoglund Ballpark, 6 p.m.
Track at Texas Relays, Austin, Texas, all day
FRIDAY
Baseball vs. Nebraska, Hoglund Ballpark 7 p.m.
rack at TexasRelays, Austin, Texas, all day
SATURDAY
Basketball vs. Marquette, Louisiana
Supperdome, 8 p.m.
Baseball vs. Nebraska, Hoglund Ballpark,
2 p.m.
Track at Texas Relays, Austin, Texas, all day
Softball at Texas Tech, Lubbock, Texas, 2
n
SUNDAY
Baseball vs. Nebraska, Hoglund Ballpark,
1 o.p.
Softball at Texas Tech, Lubbock, Texas, 5, p
Tennis vs. Colorado, Robinson Outdoor
Tennis Cups, 11 a.m.
Free forAll
explore north america
It's as simple as this: Nick Collison and Kirk Hinrich are my heroes.
Hey Arizona, do you like apples? Well we beat you and we're going to the Final Four. How do you like them apples?
explore north america
I was just looking at Mr. Peanut's College Hoops Daily Poll, and it was, "Which Final Four team will win the 2003 NCAA championships?", and I'd just like to let everyone know that KU is in first place with 33 percent of the votes. Go KU!
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