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SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
1B
TUESDAY,MARCH 4,2003
SPORTS COMMENTARY
Ryan Greene
rgreene@kansan.com
Fieldhouse experience rejuvenates love of game
By Ryan Greene rgreene@kansan.com Kansan sportswriter
In my nearly 21 years on this earth, sports have been my life. To get even more particular, basketball has been my life.
Over the years, my love for the sport has grown, but yesterday may have provided me with my greatest experience with the game.
I made my way down to Allen Fieldhouse yesterday in the late afternoon with the original intent of interviewing some of the women's basketball players about their upcoming game against Iowa State. Unfortunately, practice ended a little earlier than expected, and I made the trip for what I thought was nothing.
With the Fieldhouse practically empty, I joined a couple of the guys from media relations to go shoot some hoops. After about 10 minutes, the other guys left to either go home or back to their offices, leaving me on my own with one ball, two baskets and the ghosts of basketball greatness.
To understand where I'm coming from, you have to understand me a little bit.
I grew up as a lifelong Michigan fan. When coming to Kansas, I never appreciated the tradition of Kansas basketball, and my status as a fan had all but dwindled to being a critic. My experience as a journalist and the rumors afloat over the past three years about those in the Kansas basketball program had changed my outlook on sports from being a spectator to a critical snob. Basically, I had been involuntarily stripped of my innocence as a fan.
Kansas basketball, until yesterday, had never really meant much to me other than going to watch the Jayhawks play from the student section or covering games and not being allowed to be a fan.
As I began to shoot, all of the reasons why I used to love basketball came rushing back to me. As I dribbled the ball through my legs and started to hit some shots, I was suddenly back to being an 11-year-old kid on the driveway pretending to be Michigan legend Jalen Rose. I could see in front of my old best friend, Adam Goldkind, who would always beat me at one-on-one.
When I was left to myself in the house that Phog Allen built, I grabbed the ball at center court and just looked around. It was like the first time I saw Soldier Field or Wrigley Field with my dad. It makes you feel so insignificant in the world, but as though you are in the presence of greatness.
I hit 3-pointers from the same spots where Paul Pierce did. I brought the ball up across the same half-court line as Jacque Vaughn. I hit hook shots in the same places on the floor as Wilt Chamberlain had.
It was mv 45 minutes in heaven.
Before I knew it, I could feel perspiration going through to my collared shirt. I looked at the clock and saw that my deadline at the Kansan was nearing, but none of that mattered.
Kansas sophomore guard Aaron Miles and junior forward Bryant Nash put the defensive pressure on Texas Tech senior guard Will Chavis. Kansas defeated Texas Tech 65-56 last night at the United Spirit Arena in Lubbock, Texas.
Jayhawks raid Raiders
There will be many high points of my life. Eventually I will be married and settle down with my family in a nice suburban home, hopefully with a job that doesn't make me dread heading to work everyday. No matter what joys lie in my future, nothing will bring the sensation as seeing one of my long jump shots hit nothing but the bottom of the net at Allen Fieldhouse.
Jaime Tomás Aquilar/Texas Tech University Daily
SEE GREENE ON PAGE 6B
By Doyle Murphy
dmurphy@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
LUBBOCK, Texas - It's official. Kansas is king of the Big 12 Conference once again.
Whether the Jayhawks rule solo or bv committee remains to be seen.
Kansas earned a share of the title yesterday, on the virtue of its 13th league victory, a 65-56 triumph against Texas Tech (16-10 overall, 6-9 conference). Entering the game, Oklahoma and Texas trailed No. 6 Kansas (23-6, 13-2) by one game and needed the Jayhawks to lose one of their final two league games — against the Red Raiders last night or in Missouri on Sunday — for a shot at the crown. But after a slump-busting performance by Kansas sophomore guard Keith Langford, that shot looks longer than ever.
Heckled by fans from his home-state throughout the game, Langford was nearly perfect in the first half, draining seven of nine shots, leading all scorers with 14 points in the first 20 minutes.
"Little do they know," Langford said of the crowd's taunting. "It gets me motivated."
In the second half, he picked up where he left off, opening with two of the Jayhawks' first three baskets. His game-high 20 points were the most he's scored since he dropped 27 on Arizona.
Despite Langford's efforts, the Jayhawks could not build a comfortable lead over the Red Raiders. Kansas demolished Tech 90-50 last year in the Big 12 Tournament, but the Red Raiders refused to let the Jayhawks embarrass them in their final home game.
When the Red Raiders sliced the Jayhawks' lead to 7 points with eight minutes to play, Kansas coach Roy Williams knew just what his team needed.
"I told Steve Robinson 'We need Kirk to make a three-pointer,'" he said.
Seconds later, Hinrich nailed the long-range shot, giving Kansas a 10-point advantage and ending a 6-2 Tech run. The Red Raiders took one more shot at the Jayhawks, but Hinrich had taken the momentum from their charge.
After the game, Hinrich said he would hold off on a championship celebration for a while longer.
"We're going to wait until Sunday," he said. "We want the rings. We don't want to share them with anybody."
Edited by Leah Shaffer
JAYHAWKS IN THE PROS
By Ryan Greene
By Nyan Greene
rgreeen@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 who 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
In two of the Celtics'fourgames this week, Pierce was relegated to the bench because of injury. After struggling from the field early in the
week, Pierce sat both of the Celtics' back-to-back games with Toronto. Pierce's condition is being reevaluated on a day-to-day basis.
Drew Gooden — Orlando Magic
Drew's name has resurfaced in discussions of who should be Rookie of the Year, especially since his trade to Orlando. In five
games with the Magic. Gooden has recorded four double-doubles. The highlight of Gooden's rookie season came Friday night in a double-overtime loss to the Knicks. Gooden posted 20 points, 18 rebounds and three blocked shots. Those 20 points included a layup late in regulation to send the game to overtime.
Jacque Vaughn — Orlando Magic
The Magicare 4-1 since their deadline trade with Memphis. Vaughn is not scoring, but he's doing what coach Doc Rivers has asked of him —
dish the ball and don't turn it over. Vaughn averaged five assists per game in three games this week.
Raef LaFrentz — Dallas Mavericks
LaFrentz's turbulent week was a perfect example of the inconsistency that has plagued him all year. He went scoreless on Tuesday in a loss at Orlando but bounced back with 14 points and eight
rebounds in Thursday's loss to Sacramento. LaFrentz then fouled out Saturday after only 15 minutes on the floor in a victory over Memphis.
Greg Ostertag—Utah Jazz
Ostertag had a solid week, but the Jazz limped to a 1-3 record. Ostertag posted back-to-back 10-rebound performances in road losses on Monday, Feb. 24, and Wednesday. He then had 7 points, six rebounds and seven blocked shots in Sunday's dramatic last-second win at New Jersey.
Danny Manning — Detroit Pistons
Manning saw his only action of the
Manning saw his only action on the week in Sunday's loss at Portland, scoring 4 points in eight minutes on the floor. The Pistons have lost a seasonhigh seven straight games as they head back home after a West-Coast road trip.
Scot Pollard — Sacramento Kings Did not play (broken right hand)
Billy Thomas, guard, 1995-1998
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Thomas graduated from Kansas as the school's most prolific three-point shooter of all-time. His records were eventually broken by Jeff Boschee, but Thomas is still a fan-favorite. Since college, Billy has seen playing stints just about everywhere. Thomas has played professionally in the Philippines and
Scooter Barry, guard, 1985-1988
Argentina. He also played in Salina with the Kansas Cagerz. This past summer, Thomas played with the New Jersey Nets in the Shaw's Pro Summer League but failed to make the regular season roster. Thomas is still close to capturing his NBA dream, as he is playing in the National Basketball Developmental League with the Greenville Groove in South Carolina. Thomas is the Groove's leading scorer, averaging 14.5 points per game. Most recently, Thomas scored 13 points to lead the Groove to a 73-70 win against Fayetteville on Saturday.
Barry was a member of the Jayhawks' 1988 national championship team, and his lineage is enough to make him notable. Barry is the son of former NBA great Rick Barry, and his three brothers: Brent, Drew and Jon, have all made the NBA. After averaging 6.3 points per game as a senior, Barry's shot at the NBA with the Boston Celtics never panned out. The desire for competition has kept Barry going, having played on multiple occasions with the Continental Basketball Association in the United States and overseas in France, Germany and Spain. Barry is in his second season with Pitch Cholet Basket in France. Barry was named a league all-star this season; he is averaging 12.8 points per game. His average is down from the 16.7 of last year.
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