"The only thing I always say is I'd like to go someplace warmer." Kansas coach Roy Williams on possible locations the Jayhawks will play opening round games in the NCAA tournament
Inside Sports
2B • THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY,MARCH 11,2003
Joey Berlin
jberlin@kansan.com
'Miracle'shot against Tigers will linger in memories
So now we all know what it takes for Aaron Miles to become a dominant long-range shooter. He has to be off-balance, 25 feet from the basket and with no other options than heaving the ball at the rim over one shoulder.
over one shoulder. Miles' ridiculous three-pointer that pulled the Kansas men's basketball team even with Missouri late in Sunday's game was more than just a lucky shot from a 27 percent three-point shooter. Even though it was Kirk Hinrich's three-point shot one minute later that clinched a 79-74 victory and sole possession of the Big 12 title for Kansas, Miles' shot was the play to remember. Not just this week, but forever.
Sure, Jayhawk fans have seen a few minor miracles here and there. Some of them have even happened this year. For example, on Dec. 14, Moulaye Niang hit a free throw. But in terms of major miracles, the cupboard is pretty bare.
I'm not a religious person, but Miles' shot was a miracle. In fact, it ranks among the biggest miracles in Kansas basketball history. Kansas basketball hasn't had many miracles, or improbable, unforgettable events that have changed the history of the program.
The 1986 Midwest regional semifinal game against Michigan State — when the clock froze late in the game just long enough for the Jayhawks to tie it in regulation — probably qualifies. Kansas won the game in overtime and later advanced to the Final Four.
The 1987-88 team's run to the NCAA title with Danny Manning and a cast of future gym teachers qualifies. That team still owns the record for the most losses during the season — 11 — by an NCAA Tournament winner.
Even if you dig deep into the record books, you won't find many others. There haven't been many buzzer-beating shots, controversial calls or obscure rules invoked at crucial points that swing a game or a season.
Watching your favorite team regularly blowing out opposing teams is good fun. But the occasional heart-stopping, jaw-dropping, pants-wetting miracle gives you another level of enjoyment and a reminder that anything can happen.
On Sunday, Aaron Miles, or possibly some other force we can't see, gave us one of those. I'll never forget it.
Berlin is a Leawood senior in journalism.
JAYHAWKS IN THE PROS
By Ryan Greene rgreene@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 whom we haven't included, email requests to rgreene@kansan.com. Because of the amount of responses, we will run two updates per week.
Paul Pierce - Boston Celtics
After slipping on some ice and hurting his back in a New England winter storm, Pierce sat for two games. He returned March 3 to
post 31 points and 11 rebounds in a 111-110 victory against Memphis. Pierce scored 24 points in a victory against the Knicks two nights later but sat out of Friday's contest against the Lakers because his back was hurting again. Pierce returned again in Sunday's loss to San Antonio, scoring only 10 points.
Drew Gooden - Orlando Magic
Another week goes by and Gooden continues to resurrect his rookie season following the trade from Memphis. Gooden had his best
game with Orlando in Wednesday's victory against Milwaukee, with 26 points and 16 rebounds. Gooden's 9 points Sunday marked the first game he has played with Orlando in which he did not
score in double figures. The Magic are 7-2 since trading Mike Miller and Ryan Humphrey to Memphis for Gordan Giricek and Gooden.
Jacque Vaughn - Orlando Magic
Vaughn had his same old steady week as he remains Orlando's starting point guard. His biggest highlight this week was scoring 10
points in Friday's 111-102 loss to the Knicks. It marked the 12th time Vaughn has scored in double figures this season.
RaefLaFrentz - Dallas Mavericks
LaFrentz is not seeing the minutes that Dallas envisioned for him this season and his production has taken a dive. In three games this week,
LaFrentz scored in double figures only once. That once was his 10 points in Friday's 91-89 victory at Miami.
Ostertag is still having trouble consistently contributing on offense, but back-to-back 8 point games this week were well above average for
Greq Ostertag - Utah Jazz
him. Ostertag's big game this week happened when he scored 8 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in Friday's 108-105 loss to Sacramento.
Pollard is working his way back from numerous injuries this year. Pollard scored 2 points in his first game back
Scot Pollard - Sacramento Kings
March 3 in a victory against Philadelphia Then Pollard sat two games, and returned to go scoreless Sunday against Indianapolis.
Danny Manning - Detroit Pistons - Did not play (Coach's Decision)
READER REQUESTS
Rex Walters - Kansas Guard 1991-1993
After helping lead the Jayhawks to the Final Four in 1993, Rex was a first-round pick by the New Jersey Nets. In seven NBA seasons, Walters amassed 1,547 points and 569 assists while playing with New Jersey, Miami and Philadelphia. He recorded a career-high 27 points in 1997 in a game against Boston. In his NBA career, Walters started 67 games. He has played with the Kansas City Knights of the American Basketball Association, where he averaged 14.5 points per game last season. Walters is now pursuing a new career, either in radio or in coaching. He is an assistant coach at Blue Valley Northwest High School in Overland Park.
Ryan Robertson, Kansas Guard, 1996-1999
Robertson ranks 37th on the Kansas all-time scoring list with 1,055 points in his four seasons as a Jayhawk. After graduation, the Sacramento Kings selected Robertson in the second round of the 1999 NBA Draft. In his rookie season, Robertson played a total of only 25 minutes for the Kings and in 2000 landed with the Kansas City Knights of the ABA. After only one season, Robertson went overseas and is now playing basketball professionally in Holland.
against Nebraska's defense or K-State's defense. They'd get their ass kicked.
Hey Ryan Wood, you're forgetting something. I'd like to see Lawrence High's running back score
I'm pretty sure Ricky Clemons is the most selfish basketball player ever.
Free forAll
town Terry Brown-ing that three-point shot.
Mizzou sucks, Kirk Cameron is preaching on television and I love you, Aaron Miles.
town Terry Brown-ing that three-point shot.
Somebody has to let the Missouri scorekeepers know that when your foot's on the line, it doesn't count as a three-pointer.
I could kiss Aaron Miles for down
town Terry Brown-ing that three-point shot.
-
Missouri has more porn than peace.
-
I'm sitting in Jayhawk Towers, and I just got saluted by Nick Collison.
The KU game just made my day. Missouri was undefeated at home until the big, bad Jayhawks came into town and beat their butts.
-
Where will the Kansas men's basketball team finish in the Big 12 tournament?
kansan.com
POLI
Kansas Athletics Calendar
First
Second
Third
Fourth or lower
Log on to www.hansam.com to cast your vote.
TODAY
Men's golf. University of Louisiana-Lafayette Louisiana Classics, all day, Oakbourne Country Club, Lafayette, La.
THURSDAY
TOMORROW
FRIDAY
Baseball at Arkansas, 4 p.m., Fayetteville, Ark.
Women's golf. University of California- Irvine Anteater Classic, all day, Coto de Caza, Calif.
Tennis at Missouri, 3 p.m., Columbia, Mo.
Diving, Zone Diving Championships, all day, Austin, Texas
Baseball, Texas
Vas. Oral Roberts, all day, Austin,
Diving, Zone Diving Championships, all davin Austin,Texas
Track, NCAA Indoor Championships, all day, Fayetteville, Ark.
SATURDAY
Baseball at Oral Roberts, 4 p.m., Tulsa,
Okla.
Diving, Zone Diving Championships, all day, Austin, Texas
Track, NCAA Indoor Championships, all day, Fayetteville, Ark.
Softball, double header vs. New Mexico State, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., Stillwater, Okla.
Tennis at Oklahoma, 1 p.m., Norman, Okla.
Men's Basketball Big 12 Tournament American Airlines Center Dallas, Texas
THURSDAY
Game 1—No.9 Iowa State vs. No.8 Texas A&M, Noon
Game2 — No.12 Nebraska vs. No.5 Missiou.2 20 p.m.*
FRIDAY
Game 3 — No.10 Baylor vs.No.7 Texas Tech
6 p.m.
Game4 — No.11 Kansas State vs. No.6 Colorado, 8:30 p.m.*
Game 5 — Winner Game 1 vs. No. 1 Kansas, Noon
Game 6 — Winner Game 2 vs. No. 4 oklahoma State, 2:20 p.m.*
**Game 7** — Winner Game 3 vs. No. 2 Texas, 6
p.m.
**Game 8** — Winner Game 4 vs. No. 3 Okla-
homa, 8:20 p.m.*
Game 9 — Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6,1 p.m.
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
Game 10 — Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8,3:20 p.m.*
*Denotes specified time or 30 minutes following the conclusion of previous game on ESPN. Other games can be seen on ESPN+ channels 4 and 13 on Sunflower Broadband.
Game 11 Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10,2 p.m.
Women's Basketball Big 12 Tournament Reunion Arena Dallas, Texas
TOMORROW
Game 1 No.9 Kansas vs.No.8 Iowa State, Noon
Game2 — No.12 Nebraska vs. No.5 Oklahoma, 2:30 p.m.
Game3—No.10 Texas A&M vs.No.7 Baylor 6 p.m.
Game4 —No.11 Oklahoma State vs. No.6 Missouri, 8:30 p.m.
WEDNESDAY
Game5 — Winner Game 1 vs. No. 1 Texas.
Noon
Game 6 — Winner Game 2 vs. No. 4 Colo-
THURSDAY
Game9 Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 6 p.m.
Game 10 Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 8:30 p.m.
SATURDAY
radio, 2:30 p.m.
**Game 7** — Winner Game 3 vs. No. 2 Kansas
State, 6 p.m.
**Game 8** — Winner Game 4 vs. No. 3 Texas
Tech, 8:30 p.m.
Game 11 — Winner Game 9 vs. Winner
Game 10, 6 p.m.
rado,2:30 p.m.
*Denotes games to be broadcast on Fox Sports Network,
Sunflower Broadband channel 51. Check local listings
from our facility Kansas.
"**Denotes game's broadcaster TBA.**
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