12
University Daily Kansan / Wednesday, February 26, 1992
SPORTS
Kansas eying conference title
By Lyle Niedens
Kansan sportwriter
After playing three games in six days, the No. 3 Kansas Jayhawks now have a five-day break to contemplate their rematch with No. 14 Oklahoma State on Monday in Allen Field House.
And they will have more time to contemplate a possible Bie Fight Conference Championship.
Monday's 84-65 victory against Oklahoma improved the Jayhawks' record to 21-3 overall and 9-2 in the conference. Since Oklahoma State, which at one point was 20-0, has lost four of its last five, the run to the conference title has become a two-leam race.
Kansas point guard Adonis Jordan, who scored 22 points against the Sooners, said the Jayhawks were exactly where they wanted to be at this point in the season.
Those two teams are the first-place Jayhawks and No. 6 Missouri at 7-8 trials Kansas by a conference.
"We always wanted to be in the driver's seat. We wanted other people to have to worry about us, not for us to worry about other people."
"We always wanted to be in the driver's seat," Jordan said. "We wanted other people to have to worry about us, not for us to worry about other
Adonis Jordan Kansas junior guard
people. We just want to worry about ourselves."
Kansas seems to have the inside track to the conference title. In addition to a one-game lead, the Jayhawks will play two of their last three conference games. The Wildcats face a race for road game is at Iowa State next Wednesday.
The Tigers, on the other hand, play three of their four remaining conference games on the road, beginning with tonight's game at Iowa State. Missouri then will travel to Kansas State on Saturday, will play Oklahoma at home next Wednesday and will finish the season in Allen Field House against
the Jayhawks on Sunday, March 8.
That game could decide the conference championship, but only if Kansas loses against either Oklahoma State or Iowa State and Missouri wins its next three.
However, senior forward Alonzo Jamison said
the Jayhawks were just waiting to see what happens the next week and a half before thinking about a conference title.
"We're going to take it one day at a time," he said. "Actually, I think being in first place puts more pressure on us. Everyone will be wanting to knock us off. It keeps us on our toes."
The Jayhawks did not practice yesterday and have a full five days to prepare for Monday night's game against the Cowboys. The game, which will be televised nationally on ESPN and will be a chance for Kansas to redeem one of its two conference setbacks, a 64-56 loss earlier this month against then-No. 2-ranked Oklahoma State.
"It's good for us," junior guard Rex Walters said about the week without a game. "We have a whole week to work on Kansas basketball. We're still trying to improve."
"We need a lot of practice right now," he said. "These next few practices will show what this team is all about."
Jayhawks to face stingy Oklahoma defense
Victory would guarantee at least share of league title for women
By Cody Holt
Kansan sportswriter
Although only two regular season games remain for the Kansas women's basketball team, its season is far from over.
Kansas will face a huge task tonight in Norman, Okla. in a battle against
the Oklahoma Sooners at 7 p.m.
Tenight's game is a rematch of the Big Eight Conference's stingiest defense and most explosive offense. In the first clash, Kansas prevailed 75-56 at Allen Field House.
Kansas coach Marian Washington said a conference championship was very important to her team.
A Kansas victory would clinch for the Jayhawks at least a share of the conference title.
"It's not only important for this team but it helps with recruiting in
The Big Eight race has been narrowed to two teams:10-2 Kansas and 9-3 Colorado.
The Jayhawk defense, ranked
the future," she said. "It brings recognition to our program and the conference.
"We're in a battle with every conference to see which one is best."
defense. Ranked second in the nation by limiting opponents to 55.4 points a game, held the Sooner offense to its second-lowest point total of the season. Oklahoma averages 82.1 points a game.
The conference race has been narrowed down to two
teams: Kansas and Colorado.
The Sooners are led by senior guard Carin Stites who averages 14.8 points a game. Stites, who was the conference's fourth leading scorer last season, scored 14 points in the teams' first meeting.
The Jayhawks, 10-2 in conference play, have a one game lead over Colorado, 9-3 in the Big Eight, with only two games remaining.
Washington said her team was ready for the challenge of maintaining their conference lead.
"I like our chances," she said. "These final two games will make us or break us."
Women's basketball probable starters
Game time: 7 tonight at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla. The game will be broadcast on KJHK 90.7 FM, KLWN 1320 AM, and KMAJ 1440 AM.
Kansas 21-4 (10-2) Position Year Height PPG RPG
23 Daniels Shareef F Sr. 5-10 9.1 5.9
23 Terriben Johnson F Sr. 5-11 7.1 9.0
23 Angela Aycock F Fr. 6-2 10.1 4.6
20 Jolo Witherspoon G Jr. 5-7 2.8 1.2
33 Kay Kay Hart G Sr. 5-7 9.7 3.5
Oklahoma 15-10, (6-6)
24 Share Mitchum F Fr. 5-10 4.2 2.6
44 Angi Guffy F Fr. 6-1 14.2 6.7
45 Mandy Wade F Fr. 6-3 10.5 7.3
22 Angie Alexander G Str. 5-11 10.4 4.6
23 Carin Sites G Str. 5-9 14.8 2.2
Source: Kansas Sports Information Department
Kansas' senior forward Terrilyn Johnson shoots as members of the Kansas State women's team attempt to block her.
'Hawks aim to toughen mindset against Sterling
By Jerry Schmidt Kansas sportswriter
After the Kansas baseball team's 4-1 victory against Arkansas on Sunday, sophomore center fieldar Darryl Monroe took it upon himself to warn his teammates about the ramifications of taking tomorrow's home opener with tiny Sterling College too lightly.
"Arkansas was a big series," Monroe said. "In the past we've lost concentration after big wins. We can't play that game." We have to focus on playing the game."
Kansas coach Dave Bingham said Monroe won the team after Sunday's game that a lackluster perforation would be deadly for the Jawahaws.
Sterling, which plays in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference, is a NAIA Division II school with an enrollment of 475 students.
Kansas will play Sterling College at 3 p.m. tomorrow at Hoglund-Maupin Stadium.
"He cautioned the team that we need to be prepared to play them and not take them lightly." Bingham said.
Bingham said he preached to his teams not to take any opponent lightly.
"In our program we try to approach every team the same way," he said.
Sterling coach Hadley Hicks said the game with Kansas would be a learning experience for the Warriors.
"This is a real honor for us," Hicks said. "Our kids are real excited. We want to see how Division I teamsplay, how they hit and how they pitch. It's going to be a learning experience regardless of the score."
Kansas, 3-2 overall, will start a four-game homestand starting with tomorrow's game. The Jayhawks will play Southeast Missouri State on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
One change will be with sophomore Kent Mahon. Afterstarting four of the first five games at designated hitter, Mahon will catch tomorrow. Junior Jeff Niemeyer, Kansas' regular catcher, will be the designated hitter.
The game will give Bingham a chance to shuffle the lineup and see who can play where.
Junior outfitier Rory Tarquinio, who broke the little finger on his right hand last week, will have surgery to repair the injury this morning at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. He will be out two to four weeks.
"It will give me an opportunity to experiment and to see some different things," Bingham said.
Sophomore Chris Corn will be the starting pitcher tomorrow.
Starting lineups
Kansas (3-2) vs.
Sterling College (0-0)
tomorrow at 3 p.m. at
Hoglund-Maupin Stadium.
Kansas
1. Dan Rude- RF
3. Darryl Monroe- LF
2. Kent Mahon-C
Sterling College
7 Prent Wilhelms R
Chris Corn-P
4. Jeff Niemeier- DH
5 John Wovebeck JK
8. Jimmy Walker-LF
Whycheck
2 Hermie Padilla-3B
1. Dennis Toia-SS
2. Hermie Padilla-3B
3. Ted Webster-LF
4. David Delk-CF
5. Greg Stewart-RF
4. David Deik-CF
6. Jett Berblinger-2B
7 Eddi Padrono C
8. Brian Stephens-2B
9. Gregg Yurevich- DH
Shawn Carey-P
Seven 'Husker players named in house fight, will go to court
The Associated Press
LINCOLN, Neb. — Seven Nebraska football players have been cited for assault, trespassing and other violations in what police say was a fight with members of the school's baseball team at a house party.
The seven are scheduled to appear in Lancaster County Court over a three-day period beginning March 11. City Attorney Bill Austin said yesterday that no formal charges had been filed.
Police LT. David Beggs said a group, including some baseball players, forced two football players to leave a house party Friday night because they would not付 a cover charge for beer.
Six members of the baseball team and one former player were injured, Beggs said. Several of them were treated and released from Lincoln General Hospital.
The two came back later with other members of the football team and a fight allegedly ensued, Beggs said.
Police identified the football players as:
Brian Havens, 19, cited for disturbing the peace and trespassing. Havens, a scholarship linebacker, is from Los Alamitos, Calif.
Lance Gray, 21, cited for assault and disturbing the peace. Gray, a walk-on linebacker, is from Oswego, N.Y.
Jeffery Hughes, 20, cited for assault and trespassing. Hughes, a walk-on receiver, is from Norfolk, Neb.
Zach Wiegert, 19, cited for trespassing and assault. Wiegert, a scholarship lineman, is from Fremont, Neb.
Raymond Reifenrath, 23, cited for assault and criminal mischief. Reifenrath, a walk-on lineman, is from Dakota City.
Todd Gragnano, 20, cited for trespassing. Gragnano, a scholarship quarterback, is from Fountain Valley, Calif.
Lt. Lee Wagner said he did not know which two players initially visited the party.
Terry Connealy, 19, cited for trespassing. Connealy, a scholarship lineman is from Havannis.
Osborne said the players would be punished but would not elaborate on how.
"This is embarrassing to the program, to the team and to me," he said. "There will be some pretty severe discipline."
New team is average, not Royal
David Mitchell staff columnist
spring training began this week, and the 1992 Kansas City Royals are beginning practice — whoever they are.
If you make it out to Royals Stadium this spring, buy a scorecard. You'll need it.
Cy Young award winner Bret Saber-hagen was dealt to the New York Metls. Outfielder Jim Eisenreich is a man without a position. And free agents Kurt Stillwell and Danny Tarttabul signed with new clubs.
After a lackluster 75-86 season in 1990, the Royals improved to 82-80 last year. The team's mediocrity resulted in drastic changes this winter. Unfortunately, general manager Herk Robinson may have created more damage than damage control.
Joyner and McReynolds seem tailor-made for the gaps of Royals Stadium. And Jefferies, who floundered under the pressure of New York, might flourish in Major Leauge Baseball's smallest market.
In return for Saberhagen, the Royals received sluggier Kevin McReynolds, underachieving infielder Greg Jefferies and utility man Keith Miller. The Royals also signed free agent, first baseman Wally Joyner.
But despite these offensive additions, the club does not look like a legitimate contender. Remember — if you can—when the Royals ruled the West. Kansas City's great teams of the late '70s and mid '80s were nothing like Kansas City of 1992.
In the old days, Royals outfielders such as Amos Otis hit for power and average, stole bases and played solid defense. Don't expect McReynolds to burn up the base paths.
In 10seasons, the Royals won six division crowns with pitching, defense and speed. Power hitters do not win pennants in spacious Royals Stadium. Bo Jackson and Tartabull should have proven that. To win in Kansas City, a team needs gap hitters and speed. Shortstop Freddie Patek and Willie Wilson both took a turn leading the American League in stolen bases in the late '70s. Today, the Royals' only speedster is Brian McRae.
The Royals also have sacrificed defense. The successful clubs of the past had players as second baseman Frank White, an eight-time Gold Glover winner who could also crank out 20 home runs a year. Today, the Royals defense is a joke. Second baseman Terry Schumpert is not quite White's equal at second, and he couldn't hit his way out of a wet paper bag last season.
Most importantly, the Royals of today lack what their predecessors lived and died with — great pitching. In the mid 80%, the Royals assembled one of the best young pitching staffs in the game. The trade of Saberhagen was the final blow to the short-lived staff. Every pitcher who started for Kansas City in the 1985 World Series is gone Danny Jackson earned a World Series ring with the 1990 Cincinnati Reds Charlie Leibrandt helped the Atlanta Braves to the Series last fall.
Even worse, the Royals have received little in exchange for endangering their future. For Jackson, the Royals got stillwell, who has already moved on. For Liebrand, they got first baseman Gerald Perry. They got another backup first baseman, Pat Tabler, for Bud Black. All three piters are left-handed. This spring the team is so desperate for lefties they have invited Curt Young and Jerry Don Gleton to camp.
The only remaining survivor of the 1985 staff is Mark Gubica, who is coming off his worst season ever. He struggled with arm problems and a 5.68 earned run average. After Gubica, it does not get any prettier. Tom Gordon had a record of 9-14 for 1991. Mike Boddicker was 12-12.
until Davis was inspired move the club made was unloading Storm Davis. Unfortunately, they still have one Davis left over. Multi-millionaire Mark Davis was such a flop in the bullpen he was promoted to the starting rotation. Don't expect Davis to replace Sabes.
Furthermore, the fans will pay the price for the moves that have made the Royals what they are today. Joyner will make $4.2 million in 1992. All ticket prices were raised a dollar. So was parking. That means a fan will pay a minimum of $10 before he gets to his seat. And if you want to eat at the game, take out a loan beforehand.
And don't try to adjust your television set when you watch the Royals on the road. The beautiful powder blue uniforms with royal blue lettering that they have worn since 1973 will be replaced with gray road uniforms to conform with the rest of the league-which just goes to show they aren't the Royals any more.
David Mitchell is a DeSoto senior majoring in journalism.