THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2003
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN - 11A
Miles needs to improve shot before NCAA Tournament
Before this season started, I said to myself, "Man, I hope Aaron Miles worked on his jump shot during the offseason to become a better shooter." Whatever he did during the offseason to become a better shooter, it hasn't worked so far this season.
Although he averages more points per game this year, his shooting percentages have noticeably dropped off.
Through 27 games last season, sophomore guard Aaron Miles shot 43 percent from the field and 39 percent from the three-point region. This year, with 27 games played, Miles is shooting 39 percent from the field and 23 percent from the three-point line, a drop of 16 percentage points.
SPORTS COMMENTARY
Not that it's intentional, but it's easier for Miles to hide his subpar offense behind his teammates — senior guard Kirk Hinrich, senior forward Nick Collison, sophomore forward Wayne Simien and sophomore guard Keith Langford
Jason Hwang jhwang@kansan.com
because they provide the vast majority of the scoring. But there will be a point in this season, especially in the NCAA tournament, where Kansas will need to count on Miles to rise to the occasion and help out the offense if his teammates don't have a good game.
Miles has shown flashes of brilliance. He helped the team defeat Texas, scoring 15 points and shooting 7-of-14 from the field. He shot 70 percent with 16 points against California. Last night, Miles shot four of eight from the field and earned 10 points, but went zero for one behind the arc.
Miles must use the next three games left in the regular season
and the Big 12 Conference men's tournament to build up his confidence and shooting touch for the NCAA Tournament, especially from the three-point arc.
Miles, who leads the team with an 82 percent free throw percentage, must pick his spots and be able to hit the open jump shot. If he improves, it will draw the defender's attention and put less pressure on his teammates. He also has to be more aggressive to draw fouls and capitalize on free throws — Miles's forte.
He leads the league in steals and is second in assists, but he can become a complete point guard by becoming a better shooter, not necessarily a great shooter. Miles can be a special point guard for Kansas. It's up to him to help out his team if Kansas is going to have a chance to win the NCAA title.
Hwang is an Overland Park junior in journalism.
Williams nominated for Naismith award
Kansas men's basketball coach Roy Williams is among 25 finalists for the Naismith College Coach of the Year award, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced yesterday.
BASKETBALL
Williams coached Kansas to three Final Fours, eight conference championships and 13 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances in his fifteen-year career in Lawrence. Williams is also the fourth-fastest coach to win 400 games, tallying 409 victories after last night's game against Texas A&M.
The award will be presented on April 11 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.
—Henry C. Jackson
Kansas Athletics Calendar TOMORROW
Softball vs. Penn State, Tuscaloosa,
Ala., 1:30 p.m.
Softball vs. Alabama, Tuscaloosa,
Ala., 4 p.m.
Baseball vs. Middle Tennessee,
Nashville, Ten., 3 p.m.
Track, Big 12 Indoor Championships, Lincoln, Neb.
Tennis vs. Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, 2 p.m.
Women's Golf at the Edwin Watts-Carolina Classic, Pinehurst, N.C.
SATURDAY
Men's Basketball vs. Oklahoma State, noon.
Women's Basketball at Missouri Columbia, Mo., 6 p.m.
Softball vs. Texas-Arlington,
Tuscaloosa, Ala., 11 a.m.
Softball vs. TBA, Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Baseball vs. David Lipscomb,
Nashville, Tenn., 1 p.m.
Track, Big 12 Indoor Championships, Lincoln, Neb.
Tennis vs. Iowa State, Ames, Iowa, noon
Women's Golf at the Edwin Watts-Carolina Classic, Pinehurst, N.C.
Baseball vs. Vanderbilt, Nashville,
Tenn. 1 p.m.
SUNDAY
Women's Golf at the Edwin Watts Carolina Classic, Pinehurst, N.C. Softball, 2003 Climson Classic games, hosted by Alabama Baseball, Music City Challenge, Nashville, Tenn.
Redskins release players
Washington Redskins running back Stephen Davis was cut yesterday and so was Pittsburgh quarterback Kordell Stewart, adding two attractive players to what was otherwise a lackluster free-agent class.
The Associated Press
The release of Davis, one of the NFL's top running backs for the last half-decade, had been expected. If he didn't renegotiate his contract, he would have counted $11.4 million against the Skins' cap this season.
So was the release of Stewart, who had an up-and-down career in Pittsburgh after becoming its starter in 1997. After leading the Steelers to the AFC title game in 2001, he lost his job to Tommy Maddox early last season.
Yet another big-time player, Emmitt Smith, continued to dangle as the free-agent deadline approached. All teams must be at or below the $75 million salary cap by midnight.
Among other veterans released yesterday were quarterback Jim Miller and offensive tackle James "Big Cat" Williams by Chicago and tight end Wesley Walls by Carolina. And Tim McGee, the agent for Buffalo wide receiver Peerless Price, said his client would accept the one-year, $5.01 million tender offer as the team's "franchise" player, then seek a trade.
Dallas owner Jerry Jones said yesterday that he would decide by the end of the week whether Smith, who passed the NFL career rushing lead last October, would return next season. If he stays, Smith would count $9.8 million against the cap.
That could set up an odd exchange — Smith to Washington and Davis to Dallas.
Even though Washington coach Steve Spurrier doesn't have a particularly good relationship with Smith, who left Florida the year the coach arrived there, Washington
owner Daniel Snyder loves to sign big-name players, particularly if they played for NFC East rivals.
Davis, meanwhile, would fit perfectly with the offensive philosophy of new coach Bill Parcells, especially since the Cowboys' starting quarterback is the inexperienced Chad Hutchinson.
As for Price, McGee said his client would not try to negotiate a long-term contract with the Bills, for whom he had 94 receptions last season. Instead, he said he would try to negotiate a deal with another team that would give Buffalo the first-round draft pick it surrendered last year when it traded for quarterback Drew Bledsoe.
"We're going to pursue what's in Peerless' best interest," McGee said. "And if there's nothing out there that could afford him an opportunity to be a free agent, we're going to take the tender and play for the Buffalo Bills next year."
Ohio State student sentenced
By Michelle Payne
The Lantern (Ohio State U.)
(U-WIRE) COLUMBUS, Ohio The student expelled from Ohio State University for his involvement in the post-Michigan game riots received his jail sentence Monday.
early morning on Nov.24.
Benjamin Salzman, along with another man, appeared before Judge Anne Taylor in the Franklin County Municipal Court.
Salzman, a freshman at OSU, received 15 days in jail, 40 hours of community service and two years of probation for his involvement in the riots that occurred
"My emotions just got the best of me," Salzman said to local media outside the courtroom.
Gary Ciapetta, one of the victims of the riot, spoke at the sentencing. His 1997 Dodge Avenger was one of many cars overturned on E. 13th Avenue during the riots.
"I don't understand why these kids think that they have the right to destroy other people's property." Ciapetta said.
In addition to his sentence, Salzman was ordered to pay $100 to help cover the $250 insurance deductible Ciapetta had to pay.
Seth Haley of Dayton, Ohio, also was sentenced Monday after pleading no contest to one count of rioting. Haley, who is not an OSU student, received 10 days in jail, 80 hours of community service and two years of probation. He was ordered to pay $100 to Ciappetta.
Bill Hall, vice president for Student Affairs, said he hoped the sentence served as a deterrent for other students.
"Nothing restores the damage caused by the riots. I think the sentence demonstrates how seriously the community and university regards these crimes," Hall said.
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