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SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WWW.KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
1B
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2003
SPORTS COMMENTARY
Andy Samuelson asamuelson@kansan.com
Classless trashers, stay home
The official attendance for Monday's game between Kansas and Texas was listed at 16,300.
And 16,200 or so fans indeed filled Allen Fieldhouse. The other 100 people privileged enough to witness what was arguably the best college game so far this season were fools.
Crude, crazed and classless, students soiled the sanctity of the most symbolic basketball setting in the world, and they nearly spoiled the Jayhawks' sensational 90-87 victory over the third-ranked Longhorns.
"I was a little disappointed in the fans for rushing the court," said senior Kirk Hinrich, who before scowling at the silly stormers scored 25 points and helped Kansas break its two-game losing streak. "I love that they're excited about the way we played and about college basketball."
"But we expected to win this game."
So should have the fans.
OK, so Kansas had suffered five losses before Monday. And, yes, the Jajahawks were in danger of suffering three straight setbacks — a feat that hadn't occurred in nearly a decade and one that would certainly cripple crimson and blue cheerers.
But storming the court for likely the first time in school history?
C'mon. Act like Kansas has won a game—let alone 1,785 of them.
"We don't do that at this school." said senior associate athletics director Richard Konzem, who personally strong-armed a couple of the rowdy rushers.
Idiocy won't be tolerated at an institute that has won two national titles or served as the nursery for James Naismith's new-born game.
Monday's win wasn't like Colorado breaking Kansas' 27-game win streak.
Or even a buzzer-beating benchmark like Oklahoma State beating in-state rival Oklahoma earlier this month in Stillwater, Okla.
Kansas had never lost to Texas in Lawrence. Nick Collison's 24-point, 23-rebound game certainly showed that the first time wasn't going to come on his watch.
But a select few fans who had just witnessed Collison's career game acted as Missouri did when it flogged Kansas this fall in football.
All that was missing was a few bottles of Wild Turkey flying in the direction of a Kansas tuba player, a couple of blackclad players hanging from the goal and volla — we have Tiger fans.
Storming the court is nothing new except at Kansas.
It's become a national trend where flocks of fans frolic to the court trying to
SEE SAMUELSON ON PAGE 6B
Kansas to take on Nebraska
Women aim to keep up conference momentum
By Ryan Greene rgreene@kansan.com Kansan sportswriter
For the Kansas women's basketball team (8-9,1-5). Saturday's victory against Texas A&M could be a sign of things to come as the Big 12 Conference season continues.
Tonight, the Jayhawks return to Allen Fieldhouse to host the Nebraska Cornhuskers (7-9, 0-5). The Huskers are looking to put a halt to their current sevengame losing streak. In her first year as Nebraska's coach, Connie Yoris has her team playing a different style than what has been seen in the past couple unsuccessful seasons.
"I think Nebraska, with their aggressiveness and their ability to get to the rim and get to the free throw line, I think those past few years have really hurt us as a team," coach Marian Washington said. "Hopefully, we will be able to do a better job against them on Wednesday."
For the Jayhawks, the two biggest keys to their recent success have been the reemergence offensively of sophomore guard Aquanita Burras and freshman forward Crystal Kemp.
In the team's victory on Saturday night, Burras and Kemp combined for 35 points after both had been suffering from recent scoring slumps.
Even though the two have ended their offensive woes,the best advantage for Kansas will be the momentum after ending a 21-game conference losing streak.
"The freshmen are not as sensitive about what happened last year as the sophomores and juniors are," Washington said. "You would have thought we had won the Super Bowl."
Washington said the team was working hard, and had been in a lot of ball games, but they just hadn't been able to finish.
"To be able to finish a game finally was just a real confidence booster," she said.
For the Jayhawks, a victory against Nebraska is achievable and would help the team's confidence with eighth-ranked Texas Tech coming to town Saturday.
— Edited by Leah Shoffer
Sophomore guard Stacey Becker and the women's basketball team, coming off their first conference victory of the season, face the 7-9 Nebraska Cornhuskers tonight in Allen Fieldhouse. Becker leads the Jayhawks in 3-point percentage at 36.
Courtney Kuhlen/Kansan
Nebraska seeks first conference victory
By Shane Mettlen
By Shane Mettlen smettlen@kansan.com Kansan sportswriter
The Nebraska women's basketball team is in a situation Kansas is all too familiar with.
The Huskers (7-9 overall, 0-5 in Big 12 Conference) will be desperately searching for their first conference win of the season when they come to Allen Fieldhouse to take on the Jayhawks at 7:05 tonight. Kansas had lost 21 straight in the Big 12 before winning at Texas A&M Saturday. Despite the struggles of both teams, tonight's game should be hotly contested.
"We did a lot of things better in the second half against Texas A&M," Kansas coach Marian Washington said. "All those things certainly will give us some momentum, but Nebraska's a very good ball club. They've got some players with good experience."
Despite her team's trouble, Nebraska coach Connie Yori is happy with some aspects of the Husker's play.
"Our effort was there, and that is why it hurts more," Yori said after her team's 58-53 loss to Iowa State Saturday. "We really came out and fought and scrapped. It would have been nice to come away with a win."
Washington expects to see a similar effort from the Huskers in tonight's contest.
"The team that will come in Wednesday will be a very good team looking for a win," Washington said.
For Kansas now, the test will be to find some consistency after finally being able to break into the conference victory column.
Courtney Kuhlen/Kansan
-Edited by Erin Chapman
Freshman forward Ebony Haliburton displays her approval for her teammates in the women's basketball game against Oklahoma Jan. 15. Coach Marian Washington said she wanted the Jayhawks' momentum will carry them to a second straight conference win.
Jared Soareg/Kansar
Norm Stewart, former University of Missouri basketball coach, listens to the Allen Fieldhouse crowd and sits down. Kansas coach Roy Williams presented Stewart with a rocking chair before Monday's game against Texas.
Jayhawk fans stand up as Tiger coach sits down
Shane Mettlen
smettlen@kansan.com
Kansan swagger
No, those were not pigs flying. Hell is as warm as ever, but yes, that was Norm Stewart receiving a standing ovation at Allen Fieldhouse Monday night.
Kansas honored the former Missouri men's basketball coach in a pregame ceremony before the Jayhawks' 90-87 victory over the Texas Longhorns. The heated rivalry between Kansas and Missouri was seemingly put on hold as Jayhawk fans rose to congratulate Stewart as he was presented a rocking chair, symbolic of the "Sit down Norm" chant nod
ular in Allen Fieldhouse during Stewart's coaching tenure.
The decision to honor the rival coach was not unprecedented. Former Kansas State coach Jack Hartman was presented with a set of golf clubs after retiring. The choice to recognize Stewart was about more than his coaching success.
Kansas coach Roy Williams said it was noteworthy for Kansas to recognize the accomplishments of a neighboring institution from the Big 12 Conference.
"And not just on the basketball court." Williams said. "Probably more important, what Norm did with the Coaches
SEE SIT ON PAGE 6B
Arizona's 'sweet' tooth chomps on local hotel
Three Arizona basketball players were allegedly involved in a theft Thursday at the SpringHill Suites by Marriott, said Lt. David Cobb of the Lawrence Police Department.
Stuart Schwartz, a guest staying at the hotel, 1 Riverfront Plaza, saw two African-American males, one of whom he identified as Selim Stoudamire, taking candy from a vending machine, Cobb said.
Schwartz was walking down the hallway at about 10:40 p.m. when he saw Luke Walton. As Schwartz continued walking, he saw two other players taking items out of the vending machine to his right. About 80 items and additional money in coins
were taken from the vending machine.
Lawrence police officers went to Allen Fieldhouse and contacted Arizona associate coach Jim Rosborough and assistant coaches Rodney Tention and Josh Pastner. Officers told them the hotel wanted an apology and monetary compensation for the stolen items.
Schwartz told assistant manager Michael Moore what he had seen when he checked out the next morning. Cobb said.
The coaches agreed to take care of the problem and did so immediately, according to the police report.
Moore said the players caused no additional disturbances.
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-Erin Ohin
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