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SPORTS
WWW.KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
1B
THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2003
SPORTS COMMENTARY
Ryan Malashock rmalashock@kansan.com
Hinrich to avenge loss with Duke
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Deep down in the bowels of the Arrowhead Pond yesterday, Kansas senior point guard Kirk Hinrich and Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski crossed paths, exchanged brief pleasanties and went on their ways.
Little did Hinrich know, Krzyzewski had just left his session with the media,a question-and-answer period that concluded with the longtime-head Dukie exuding his admiration for Kansas' scrappy leader.
"I love Hinrich," Krzyzewski said. "He has tremendous competitive courage. He revels in moments that other people would shy away."
Krzyzewski knows best after all. He saw first-hand the birth of Hinrich into Kansas lore. Three years ago, as a railthin freshman, the 6-foot-10an threw the lavihawks onto his back.
The date was March 28, 2000. The site, Winston-Salem, N.C. The challenge, a top-seeded Duke team in the second round of the NCAA Tournament that had lost only four games all season. And not much was going to plan, except for the shaggy-haired, no-name newcomer.
Kenny Gregory, shooting guard, and guard Jeff Boschee were missing shots left and right, shooting guard Nick Bradford was throwing the ball into the stands, power forward Nick Collison was getting tossed around like a rag doll, Drew Gooden, power forward, was making his oh-so intelligent freshman decisions and center Eric Chenowith was being, well, Eric Chenowith.
But there was Hinrich, the constant, the hope for Kansas' future, willing the Jayhawks into the final minutes. He tied a career-high with 12 points. He converted 3-of-5 three-pointers and dished six assists.
Oh, and in his spare time, he hounded Jason Williams, Duke's stud freshman, into a pathetic 2-for-15 shooting, eightturnover, six-point debacle.
Kansas led 64-63 with less than 2 minutes to go, but Duke rallied behind its experience, stole the lead back and watched as Hinrich's potential gametying three-pointer in the final seconds glanced off the rim.
That day brought the first of three years of postseason disarray for Hinrich and Kansas. But three years later, on the country's opposite coast, Hinrich can atone for the loss in his only previous battle with the Blue Devils.
Glancing back, the names of the two institutions on the fronts of each team's
SEE MALASHOCK ON PAGE 3B
Kansas to face pesky Duke
By Doyle Murphy
dmurphy@kansan.com
Kansan senior sportswriter
Kansas needs to exorcise some demons.
Technically, they're Blue Devils, but whatever you want to call Duke's basketball players, they have been nightmarish figures to Jayhawk fans.
Duke has beaten Kansas in six out seven meetings between the teams, and coach Roy Williams has never triumphed in a game against the Blue Devils in his 15 seasons at Kansas, a note he will try to erase when his No.2 Kansas squares off against No.3 Duke in the Sweet Sixteen at 9 tonight.
But Williams knows all too well that Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski is an imposing opponent. Not only has Coach K dominated Williams in game competition, he has won nearly every recruiting battle between the two, an edge that Williams attributed to a variety of factors.
"I guess the two big things are the academic side of it is really difficult," Williams said at a press conference. "And then the people, particularly in the East Coast, still think we go to class in covered wagons and stuff like that. The perception of Kansas is not as good as it should be out there."
While Krzyzewski enjoys a definite advantage in recruiting, Williams hasn't been totally defeated. Kansas All-American forward Nick Collison chose the blue uniform with the crimson trim, marking the first time Williams beat Krzyzewski head-to-head. Duke was not easy to turn down, Collison said.
"They make it seem like it's the obvious choice with all the things that they tell you. I think bottom line was I just trusted coach Williams a little more, got to know him a little more," Collison said.
It wasn't long before Kansas' senior forward got a first-hand look at what might have been. The Jayhawks and Blue Devils met in the East Regional of the NCAA Tournament in 2000; Collison and senior teammate Kirk Hinrich's freshman season. Hinrich led the Jayhawkes with 12 points and Collison added 8 in the 69-64 loss. The game still doesn't sit well with Collison.
"They were the No. 1 seed, and we played pretty well, but in the end they were too experienced and we made too many mistakes," Collison said. "It was a game where we were happy we played well, but it was probably one of the most disappointing losses because we didn't get it done in the end."
While disappointed in his first meeting with Duke, Collison said he knew he made the right decision.
"I probably would have been happy there," he said. "They would have got a national title, so I think it would have been great to have two, but you know we'll try to get that done this year."
Kansas senior guard Kirk Hinrich and the Jayhawks play the Duke Blue Devils at 9tonight. Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski praised Hinrich's "competitive courage" at a media conference yesterday in Anaheim, Calif.
Courtney Kuhlen/Kansan
- Edited by Andrew Ward
Bars provide fun for Jayhawk fans
By Jesse Newell
jnewell@kansan.com
Kansas省 writer
After the Kansas basketball team defeated Arizona State Saturday, student Joe Staton came to the same realization as many Jayhawk fans.
He was not going to Disneyland.
"I've got some friends going to Anaheim to watch the 'Hawks," Staton said. "I'd love to be there, but I have some other stuff to do."
So the Salina junior will do what he feels is the next best thing: watch the game at a local restaurant.
"We have fun here. We do the Rock Chalk chant and other Jayhawk cheers. It's kind of like being at the game. People really get into it."
Many Jayhawk fans will flock to the
Shannon Norwood Molly McGee's general manager
bars tonight, enjoying the atmosphere and specials that go along with the NCAA tournament as Kansas takes on Duke in the Sweet Sixteen.
As for Staton, a few key factors separate Jefferson's Restaurant at 743 Massachusetts St. from the rest.
"They have a flat-screen wall TV and also have pretty big shots there," Staton said.
Jefferson's owner, Jeff Webb, said despite limited seating, the restaurant enjoyed heightened business during games.
"We have people lining up for seating an hour and a half before game time," Webb said. "We bought the highest-definition TV, and it worked out well for us. Any game day is busy for us."
Webb said Jefferson's would run its normal game specials, including 30-cent wings and $1 draws.
The Granada, located at 1020 Massa-
chussetts St, will try to draw in students with no cover charge.
It also boasts a 25-foot projection television, which co-owner James Radina thinks will bring a good turnout.
"I think we have the biggest TV in town, and there will also be other TVs around the building." Radina said. "We can hold more people than any other bar, so we'll probably have the biggest crowd."
Molly McGee's, located at 2429 Iowa St., provides an Allen Fieldhouse-like atmosphere for fans during game nights.
SEE BARS ON PAGE 3B
Strong indoor season means success in outdoor season
By Chris Wintering
cwintering@kansan.com
Kansan sports writer
Junior Leo Bookman finished the indoor season on a high note by winning the 200-meter dash at the NCAA Indoor Championships. He was the only Jayhawk to qualify for nationals. The rest of the team has not competed since March 8.
The Kansas track and field team will start the outdoor season at the Vortex ESU Spring Twilight meet today at Emporia State University.
Freshman Angela Pichardo put her name in the Kansas record book by running the third-best-thousand-meter run in school history. She said her strong performance in the indoor season should translate into success outdoors.
"I think I shocked myself and a lot of
other people with my performance this season," Pichardo said. "The indoor season should give me the confidence I need in outdoor."
"All the runners and the field events had a great indoor season, and that should help in the outdoor season." she said. "We have a lot of depth and a number of very strong girls."
Pichardo helped the women's team finish fourth at the Big 12 Championship its highest showing since 1996.
The men's team, on the heels of Bookman's All-American indoor season, also looks to improve during the outdoor season. It finished the season 5-3 overall, 2-2 in conference, and ninth at the Big 12 Championships.
The men's and women's teams prepared for the new season by cross-training for almost a month between seasons.
"All the runners and the field events had a great indoor season,and that should help in the outdoor season." Pichardo said. "We have a lot of depth and a number of very strong girls."
Angela Pichardo Kansas track freshman
Today's meet begins with the field events at 1:00 p.m. The running events start at 2:00 p.m. No team scores will be kept in the meet.
Edited by Melissa Hermreck
Golf tournament led by Hall
Golf tournan Women's golf places last at Betsy Rawls Classic
The men's golf team shot a final round 301 to finish at 895 and a twelfth place finish, out of fourteen teams, at the Stevinson Ranch Invitational in Stevinson, Calif., Tuesday.
Pacific University won the tournament with an 866 and was followed by Kansas State, 872, and Wichita State, 875.
Junior Tyler Hall led the Jayhawks with an eighth place finish. Hall sandwiched first and third round 71's with a second round 74. The even-par finish for was Hall's first top ten finish this season.
The Hawks were rounded out by sophomore Andrew Price, who shot a 225, freshman Andrew Price, 232,
Senior Chris Marshall just out of the top 25 in 26th place. Marshall shot rounds of 73 and 71, before finishing with a final round 78.
The team will next compete April 7-8 in the Western Intercollegiate in Santa Cruz, Calif.
freshman Ryan Ranier, 235 and sophomore Kevin Ward, 236.
Men's golf takes 12th place out of 14 teams in tournament
The women's golf team finished in 12th place at the Betsy Rawls Classic in Austin, Texas, out of twelve teams. The three-round tournament ended Tuesday with the Jayhawks at 1013.
Oklahoma State won the tournament with 896. Texas at 902 and Ohio State at 931 finished the top three.
Senior Tiffany Kruggel finished in 42nd place with a 248. Other golfers competing were: senior Heather Rose, 255; freshman Chelsey Pryor, 256; junior Jennifer Bawanan, 260; and senior Jill MacDonald, who did not finish because of an injury.
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— Paul Kramer
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