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SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WWW.KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
16A
THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2003
'Hawks wrangle Wyoming
Williams wins 400th fourth fastest to net feat
By Doyle Murphy
dmurphy@kansan.com
Kansan sportwriter
Winning 400 hundred games never looked so easy.
Kansas coach Roy Williams reached the milestone by way of 98-70 blowout of Wyoming last night.
His 400-96 career coaching record makes him the fourth fastest coach to accomplish the fete in Division 1 history. Only Adolph Rupp, Clair Bee and Jerry Tarkanian were faster.
"It's nice." Williams said of the plateau after the game. "But (Tennessee women's coach) Pat Summitt reached 800 last night. Bobby Knight (Texas Tech coach), sometime next week he'll reach 800. I'm still like the little boy looking for a cookie."
The milestone was never in doubt as the Jayhawks knocked the Cowboys out of contention early with first-half scoring runs of 7-0, 8-0 and 10-0. Senior forward Nick Collison led Kansas to a 48-32 halftime advantage with 17 points and six rebounds before the break. He continued to have his way with the Wyoming big men in the second half, connecting on 12 of 14 shots. He finished the night with a team-high 28 points and 11 rebounds.
Covering the other forward position for the Jayhawks, junior forward Jeff Graves recorded his highest point total at Kansas, 14, on his way to his third double-double in four games. He also set up the most exciting play of the night.
With eight and half minutes left in the first half, Graves stole a Wyoming pass, and fed Hinrich. A few steps behind the half court line, Hinrich heaved an alleyoop pass to a leaping Keith Langford. The sophomore guard caught the pass well above the rim and slammed the ball through the hoop, drawing a roaring ovation from the capacity crowd.
Along with Graves and Collison, all five Kansas starters scored in double figures. Kirk Hirnich scored 19 points and made 4 of 6 three-pointers, Langford added 14 points and sophomore guard Aaron Miles scored another 14 while tossing 8 assists.
The starters' efforts ensured a Kansas victory early enough for a slightly premature celebration.
When Kansas called timeout with 3:53 seconds left to play to substitute its reserves, a message flashed across the scoreboard announcing Williams' 400th victory. When Williams realized what was happening, he took a moment to shake the hands of each member of the coaching staff and team. He then waved to the cheering crowd and signaled to the referees to return to the game.
"I'm human, it felt good," Williams said of the crowd's response.
When the final buzzer sounded, making it official, Collison and Hinrich presented Williams with the game ball.
"It's good to be a part of it," Collison told reporters. "There is probably going to be guys that are part of 500 and 600."
— Edited by Amber Byarlay
Photos bv Eric Braem/Kansan
Above: Sophomore guard Aaron Miles slips past Wyoming center Uche Nsonwu-Adami in the second half. Miles had 14 points and eight assists in yesterday's 98-70 victory over the Cowboys.
Left: Kansas coach Roy Williams barks orders during the second half of last night's game against Wyoming. The Jayhawks' victory secured Williams his 400th career victory.
Graves dunks, Niang back on court
By John Domoney
jdomoney@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
It took 15 games into his Kansas career, but junior forward Jeff Graves ended a dubious streak for a 6-foot-9-inch basketball player—he dunked the ball in a game.
Early in the first half, Graves ended doubts about his jumping ability when he took a pass in the lane and finished the play with a two-hand slam that brought a loud roar from the capacity crowd in Allen Fieldhouse during last night's 98-70 defeat of Wyoming.
"It felt pretty good," said Graves about his first dunk in a Kansas uniform. "I felt like I should have done it earlier, but I was waiting for the perfect time."
After being chastised by Kansas
Niang, who returned to the team after missing the last two games while he traveled back to Senegal for his father's funeral, said he was impressed with Graves.
coach Roy Williams earlier in the season for his weight, Graves' numbers have been on a steady rise since he entered the starting lineup for injured Wayne Simien during the Jan. 4 game against the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
In that game Graves played 25 minutes and registered his first double-double of his jayhawk career with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
Before last night's game against the Cowboys, Williams told reporters after the game he had challenged the team and Graves to respond to the challenge presented by Wyoming.
Williams said he was impressed with the performance of Graves and his increasing ability to grasp the Kansas offensive and defensive systems.
"Wayne (Simien) called me and left me a message on my cell phone while I was gone to tell me how he's been playing well," said Niang about Graves. "He's a good player and tough around the basket."
"For Jeff Graves, it was his best game of the year for us," Williams said. "Jeff
SPORTS COMMENTARY
got a couple of steals and when they threw it in the post, he blocked some shots."
Graves had a career high 14 points on 5 of 9 shooting from the floor to go along with 10 rebounds including five rebounds on the offensive end. The junior college transfer also had three blocked shots and three steals on the defensive end during this 26 minutes of playing time.
Graves' defense played a big part in limiting Wyoming senior center Uche Nsonwu-Amadi to 10 points after the Nigerian product entered the game averaging 14 points per game.
"I'm feeling a lot more confident around the basket and doing more things on defense," Graves said. "I've been sliding my feet more because coach told me I have quick feet."
layhawk freshman forward Moulaye
"I wasn't getting the boost from the crowd earlier in the season," Graves said. "Once you fall into the program and execute, you get that boost from the crowd."
The points and the rebounds are fine with Graves, but he said he was the most pleased with how the fans have started to become his best encouragement.
Jessica Tims jtims@kansan.com
Section adds more depth to coverage
There are many ways to start the first column of the year, but I prefer to cut the crap and get right to it.
Let me introduce myself. I am Jessica Tims, Spring 2003 sports editor. Yeah, that's right, there's a chick in charge.
This semester things are going to be a little different on the sports page. Associate Sports Editor Matt Gehrke and I realize there is more to sports than gamers and game previews, so our goal is to bring you, the reader, more in-depth coverage of all Kansas sports. We plan to include more features on your favorite teams and players in every issue. You can expect every game-day preview of the Jayhawks to include when and where you can see or hear the game. Every preview of the 'Hawk's opponents will be accompanied by a list of probable starters, the first off the bench and stats for both teams.
The section's page two will also be undergoing some serious reconstruction. The Inside Front will feature a second column by a Kansan sports staffer, a Kansan.com poll question, a calendar of Kansas sporting events and everyone's favorite — Sports Free for All. You can also find briefs and updates on Kansas basketball recruits. The day before each away game we will bring you travel information including detours, speed traps, places to eat and attractions to see along the way.
For all you Doyle Murphy fans — hey Mr. and Mrs. Murphy — or just those of you who enjoyed watching the big guy get beat in Kick the Kansan, a new basketball-style contest is currently in the works. Although 'h' the specifics of the contest are still being ironed out, Murphy had this warning for anyone willing to take him on: "I'm back, I've been training and I am ready to embarrass a few readers."
LaMarr Russell/Daily O'Collegian
Although it's been promised every semester, Gehrke and I are committed to better coverage of KU club and intramural teams. We will be sending photographers and Kansan correspondents to games but we need your help. If you are on one of these teams, drop off a copy of your team's schedule at the Kansan sports desk, 111 Stauffer-Flint Hall. Our clubs and intramurals writer, Ryan Copeland, is also looking for fun features. If you think your team or one of its members is worthy of a story in the Kansan, give Copeland a call at 864-4858.
We welcome your feedback, so don't hesitate to call Gehrke or me with any comments, questions or ideas. We can be reached by phone at 864-4858 or by email at jtims@kansan.com or mgehrke@kansan.com.
Tims is an Arma senior in journalism. She is the Kansan sports editor.
Freshman forward Temara Ransburg muscles her way around the Oklahoma State defense.
Second half rally not enough for women's basketball team
By Ryan Greene
rgreene@kansan.com
Kansan Sportswriter
This season's Kansas women's basketball team may have already eclipsed the victory total put up by last year's squad, but getting a conference victory is not as easy.
With a 60-56 loss last night at Oklahoma State, the Jayhawks fell to 7-7 overall on the season and dropped to 0-3 in conference play. It has now been 670 days since the women's team has won a conference game, but by losing the last two contests by a total of six points, they are closer and closer to a
Big 12 victory.
Despite outscoring the Cowgirls 28-25 in the second half in front of 1,757 fans at the Gallagher-Iba arena in Stillwater, Okla., Kansas was never able to recover from inconsistencies early in the game.
The young team showed heart in the loss by rallying from a deficit as large as 20 points, but rebounding and free-throw shooting was what eventually did the jayhawks in.
Freshman guard Erica Hallman led the way for Kansas, contributing with 17 points. Freshman forward Tamara Ransburg added 10 points and four rebounds, but eventually fouled out of the game. Sophomores Aquanita Bur-
ras and Blair Waltz each added nine points in the effort.
For the Cowgirls, junior center Trisha Skibie dominated inside with 21 points and eight rebounds. Senior guard Thia Willis came off the bench to chip in 12 points and four rebounds in her 19 minutes of play.
Kansas will continue its seemingly endless search for a conference win on Saturday when Colorado visits Allen Fieldhouse. Colorado boasts a 12-2 record overall and a 2-1 mark in conference play. Tip off is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.
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— Edited by Andrew Ward
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