FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2003
BASKETBALL
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 3B
Kansan file photo
Former Jayhawk forward Drew Gooden will return to Allen Fieldhouse on Saturday to have his jersey retired at halftime. Gooden skipped his senior year to play professionally for the Memphis Grizzlies this season.
Gooden comes back to retire jersey
By Doyle Murphy
dmurphy@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
One of the best basketball players to walk onto the court tomorrow at Allen Fieldhouse won't be wearing a uniform.
Former Jayhawk standout Drew Gooden will take a break from his day job as a member of the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies to have his jersey retired at halftime of the 7 p.m. game against Kansas State.
If Kansas fans had their way, the 6-foot-10 forward would have his number 0 announced during starter introductions, not in a halftime ceremony. After being named an All-American and co-national Player of the Year with Duke's Jason Williams, Gooden elected to skip his senior season and enter the NBA draft early.
So far, it seems to have been a good decision. The Grizzlies made him a millionaire at age 20 when they selected him with the fourth pick in the draft. Gooden has responded by averaging 13 points and 5.8 rebounds per game this season, and he has been mentioned in the media as a candidate for NBA Rookie of the Year honors.
Gaudy numbers are nothing new for Gooden. In three seasons at Kansas, he became only the second player in Kansas history, along with former NBA All-Star Danny Manning, to record at least 1,500 points, 900 rebounds, 100 blocks and 100 steals. He ranks No. 12 on the Jayhawks' all-time scoring list and fifth on the rebound list.
More than the statistics, his former teammates remember Gooden for his vocal leadership
"I expect a lot of jokes. That's all he does is make a lot of jokes and have a good time."
Kirk Hinrich Senior guard
and colorful personality. Kansas senior guard Kirk Hinrich was already looking forward to Gooden's return after Wednesday's victory against Wyoming.
"I expect a lot of jokes." Hinrich said. "That's all he does is make a lot of jokes and have a good time."
Gooden has not abandoned his education. When he made his announcement to forgo his senior season, he said that would graduate from the University some day. He moved closer to that goal
when he completed nine hours in the fall semester, Kansas coach Roy Williams said during his weekly radio show.
Gooden will be the fifth player to have his jersey retired this season. Jacque Vaughn of the Orlando Magic had his jersey retired at halftime of the California-Los Angeles game on Dec. 21. Tus Ackerman, Gale Gordon, Fred Pralle and Al Peterson all participated in a ceremony to retire their numbers during Wednesday's game. There will be four more ceremonies this season honoring former Jayhawks, including Boston Celtics small forward Paul Pierce during a Jan. 25 game against Arizona and Dallas Mavericks forward/center Raef LaFrentz on Feb. 16 against Iowa State.
Kansas eyes narrow lead against Colorado
— Edited by Christy Dendurent
Shane Mettlen
smettien@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas women's basketball team will try to hold on to the all-time series lead when they host Colorado tomorrow.
The Jayhawks hold a slim 25-24 series lead over the Buffaloes and have won 12 of the 21 games played in Lawrence, but have dropped four straight against their Big 12 rival. Despite recent troubles with the Bufs, and the Big 12 in general, coach Marian Washington sees the tides turning for her team.
"We're trying to find ways to get better as a team," Washington said. "We've been in ball games with teams, like Iowa State and Oklahoma State, that beat us up last year."
Colorado was one of those teams that beat up on Kansas last season.
The Buffaloes pounded the Jayhawks 70-35 in Lawrence and routed them 80-41 in Boulder. Last season Colorado was by far the more experienced of the teams, but this season that gap has narrowed.
"We are very young, but this year they are just about as young as we are." said former Kansas player K.C. Hilgenkamp, who played against Colorado the last two seasons. "But, they are still a bunch of players who will get at you and work hard."
Where they will get at the Jayhawks is on the defensive end of the court.
"You'll see a team that will focus on
defense," Washington said. "They are very strong defensively and you have to be very patient against them. Defense and rebounding are the key areas."
Colorado isn't exactly a slouch offensively either. They have three players averaging double figures in scoring including junior center Tera Bjorklund, who is scoring 16.3 points an outing.
"They run a three post offense," Washington said. "Bjorklund, she knows what to do with the ball down low."
The Kansas guards will need to step up defensively. The Buffaloes are No. 8 in the nation in three point percentage.
— Edited by Amber Byarlay
KANSAS VS. COLORADO
KANSAS (7-7)
F No. Player Ht. Jr. YP Rpg
P2 N2 Tamarra Ransberg 6-4 Fr. 10.6 RPG
F3 Blair Waltz 6-0 So. 82 2.6
F33 Nichole Roberta 6-1 Fc. 5.4 5.0
G44 Aquaina Burruc 5-9 So. 11.8 5.5
G42 Lela Menaurus 5-9 Sh. 3.4 2.5
G41
Top Reserves
F 40 Crystal Kamp 6-2 Fr. 10.2 5.9
G 23 Encia Hallman 5-8 Fr. 9.5 2.2
G 20 Stacey Becker 5-9 So. 4.3 1.0
P No. Player Ht. Yr. PPG RG
S2 Sabrina Scott 6-2 Sr. 10.5 6.8
F54 Randy Bicklund 6-2 Jr. 4.9 4.4
F54 Tera Wirkland 6-5 Jr. 16.3 6.2
G1 Kate Fagan 5-9 Jr. 12.8 3.0
G3 Sreya Staffea 5-5 So. 10.5
F2  Amber Metoyer 5-11 Fr. 4.9 4.4
G10  Maria Billingley 6-6 Jr. 3.0 0.8
G13  Linda Lappe 6-0 Sc. 7.5 3.4
Kansan File Photo
Kansas City MVP Sophomore guard Aquanita Burras enters the weekend leading the women's basketball team in points, averaging 11.6 per game.
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