University Daily Kansan / Friday. January 31. 1992
SPORTS
9
Jayhawks chase elusive Norman victory
Williams says Oklahoma up to speed
By Lyle Niedens
Kansan sportswriter
The No. 18 Oklahoma Sooners, despite their success during Coach Billy Tubbs' tenure, have not had a reputation for drawing sell-out crowds.
Since Tubbs' arrival in 1980, the Sooners have averaged more than 10,000 in season attendance in Lloyd Noble Center just five times. The arena seats 10,871. This season, the Sooners are drawing an average of 8,272 fans every game.
But the lack of a full house has not helped Kansas Coach Roy Williams, whose Jayhawk teams have never beaten Oklahoma on the road.
"If I had to choose, I would say its probably the loudest arena that we've played in during the four years I've been here," said Williams. "It's been a difficult place to play."
The Jayhawks' last victory in Norman, Okla., came in 1986, when the 'Hawks went 35-4 and went to the Final Four.
Williams, however, said he did not think that Oklahoma's recent dominance at home against the Jayhawks would have any effect on this year's Kansas team.
"Half of our squad doesn't even remember that we lost there last
year," Williams said, "and the ones that do not remember why or how."
In that game, Jan. 8, 1991, the 'Hawks lost 88-82 to an 11-2 Sooners' team. Oklahoma was decimated by injuries when they played in Lawrence a month-and-a-half later. Kansas pounded the Sooners 109-87.
The Sooners finished last season 20-15 and sixth in the Big Eight Conference. But Williams said that this year's Oklahoma team, 14-3 and 2-2 in the conference, was not the same as the team that faltered at the end of last season.
"This year they have been a healthy team," Williams said. "I do believe that experience is one of the most important characteristics in order to be successful, and they've really got that."
A significant returner to the Oklahoma team this season is 6-foot-8 senior forward Damon Patterson, who has honorable mention All-Big Eight in 1989-90. He was academically ineligible last season. This year, Patterson is averaging 22.1 points and 9.4 rebounds a game.
Senior guard Brent Price is averaging 21.2 points a game, and sophomore forward Jeff Webster, last season's Big Eight Newcomer of the Year, is tossing in 15.5 points a game. Junior college transfer Angelo Hamilton has
taken over the starting point guard position from two-year starter Terry Evans and is averaging 10 points a game.
In addition to the fact that Oklahoma is healthy, Williams said that the biggest difference for the Sooners was that junior center Bryan Sallier had improved. Sallier, who averaged 10.2 points and 5.6 rebounds, a game last week, have increased those numbers to 14.9 and 8.8 while shooting 51.9 percent from the field.
"They have five guys who can get 20 points off you," Williams said. "We're so lucky."
The 'Hawks are holding opponents to 42.6-percent shooting and have outscored opponents by 20 points a game. In Tuesday's victory against the Hawks, the defense held the Warriors to 44 percent shooting and forced 22 turnovers.
Saturday's game likely will feature two types of team defense. The Sooners' full-court, trapping defense counterparts' half-court, man-to-mane pressure.
Williams said that a closely-officialed game would benefit the Jawhaws.
"They come after you," Williams said. "They're aggressive. I've always said that the tighter the game is called down there, the better chance the other team has."
Kansas Basketball Game 17
(5) KANSAS JAYHAWKS Coach: Roy Williams Record: 15-1, (3-0)
(18) OKLAHOMA SOONERS Coach: Billy Tubbs Record: 14-3, (2-2)
Game time: 3:00 p.m. tomorrow at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla.
Probable Starters
Player/Position Ht. PPG RPG
24-F Alonzo Jamison 6-6 10.1 4.6
34-F Richard Scott 6-7 11.0 4.1
51-C Eric Pauley 6-10 8.1 2.7
23-G Rex Walters 6-4 15.7 3.2
30-G Adonis Jordan 5-11 13.9 3.3
Player/Position Ht. PPG RPG
31-F Damon Patterson 6-8 22.1 9.4
32-F Jeff Webster 6-8 15.5 7.1
40-C Bryan Sallier 6-8 14.9 8.9
35-G Angelo Hamilton 6-5 10.0 3.4
20-G Brent Price 6-1 21.2 4.1
**Game notes:** Kansas leads the all-time series with Oklahoma 113-51 and has a 38-36 series advantage in Norman, Okaia, but the Sooners lead the series 11-6 in Lloyd Noble Center. Jamison is a champion for the NABC/Embracer All-America game. Williams is slated to coach one of the teams in the game, which is scheduled for the Friday night before the Final Four, April 1, in Minneapolis. The Jayhawks next game will be on ESPN at 8:38 p.m. Monday night against Kansas State. Tomorrow's game will be televised on Raycom Network, Channels 9 and 13 in Lawrence, and will be broadcast on KLZR 105.9 FM.
Source: Kansas Sports Network
Sands works on catches for NFL
NCAA rushing record-holder shows versatility to pro scouts
Jeff Meesey, Daily Kansan
By Jerry Schmidt
Kansan sportswriter
Tony Sands knows he can run the football. TEAM teams want to know if he can play well.
Sands, the NCAA record holder for rushing yards and carries in one game, got a chance to prove that to NFL scouts in two all-star games earlier this month. He participated in the Hula Bowl in Hawaii on Jan. 11 and the East-West Shrine game in Palo Alto, Calif., on Jan. 19.
Sands said he was not intimidated by his teammates and opponents in the all-star games. He said television had a lot to do with some players being tabbed as "big-time." A talk show called Smith's Smith reinforced his belief that players from Kansas can compete nationally.
"We were saying that a lot of these guys were supposed to be 'big-time' players," Sands said. "A lot of people didn't think I or (Smith) could play with these guys because we come from Kansas and Kansas State, but we don't do duce ballplayers. Television time does a lot for a lot of people."
Although he caught only three passes in those two games, Sands said the games gave him the opportunity to prove himself as a running back who could catch the ball.
"I showed a lot of scouts that I can catch," Sands said. "A lot of them know I can run, it's the aspect of being a receiver, that I can catch the ball out of the backfield. They didn't see it on our game films."
Kansas, along with most other teams in the Big Eight Conference, does not use running backs as some of their opponents in some other conferences. Sands said.
of running back go into the draft,
that's been a question mark. Can this
running back catch? It was on Barry
or Eric Biename, on Ken Clark.
"it's a running conference and known as a running conference," he said of the Big Eight. "Watching a lot
But Sand's 'running ability should not be in question. His NCAA records of 58 carries and 396 rushing yards against Missouri earned him respect from teammates and opponents.
"They didn't think a guy my size could carry the ball or rush for that many yards," he said. "A lot of them were strong, and I name me and I can compete with the best."
The best would be the National Football League. But whether Sands gets the opportunity to play in the NFL is still a question mark.
Sands said that he did not have an agent and that he was not planning to participate in a scouting combine, in which players are invited to show off their skills to NFL scouts. He does plan on continuing his workouts with the Kansas quarterbacks on his team. He said Eichloff on returning kicks and punts. He said he knew it would not be easy to make an NFL club.
"A lot of things haven't come easy in my career," Sands said. "It's nothing in my afraid of."
Sands said he talked with scouts from Dallas, the Los Angeles Raiders, San Diego and Tampa Bay.
Kansas running back Tony Sands is hoping for a shot at the NFL.
"They told me to work on the pass," he said. "That's something they want to see. They said those are some of your teammates really need to boost your stocks."
"I think receiving is a skill than can be learned," Warner said. "He's surprised people his whole life, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him find a spot somewhere."
Kansas quarterbacks coach Dave Warner said Sands could become a good receiver out of the backfield and make an NFL club.
Sands said he would like to play for Dallas or Tampa Bay. Michael Irvin, Sands' uncle, is a receiver for the Cowboys, and Tampa Bay is close to his home in Ft. Lauderdale.
If the NFL doesn't work out, Sands said, he will turn to the Canadian
Football League, the World League of American Football or the FBI.
After this semester, Sands will be only six hours short of a degree in crime and delinquency. He said he would not mind a career with the FBI.
Jayhawks to face Salukis
Swimmers, divers will travel to Southern Illinois tomorrow
By Chris Jenson
Kansas sportwriter
The Kansas men's and women's swimming and diving teams are looking at fine tune their winning ways this week against Southern Illinois. The Jayhawks will tangle with the Salukis tomorrow in Carbondale, Ill.
"I never want to shortchange anyone," he said. "Their men's team is ranked 24th nationally, so we are going to go
Headcoach Gary Kempf said that he expected the meet to be excellent.
"I have a tremendous amount of respect for their program." Kemfet said.
Only the top 18 from the men's and women's teams can swim in the Big Eight meet. The rest of the team will swim for exhibition only.
He said that although the team was focusing on the Big Eight Championships, Feb. 13-15, the team could not afford to look past anyone.
In the latest poll, the Kansas men were ranked 25th, and the women were ranked 18th.
Kempf said the meet also would help determine who will compete in the Big Fight meet.
"We want to fine tune and make a final choice," he said. "I expect them to swim fast, but then I always expect fast
SWIMMING AND DIVING
The team has been working on a season-long goal of improving weekly, in hopes that it would get a peek at the conference championships.
swimming."
"We beat SIU earlier this year," he said. "And they have said they will be ready."
Kempf said that Kansas' approach would not change with the Salukis.
Mike Soderling, men's team captain, said that the team was excited about meet.
Women's team captain Bar Braranger said that an added incentive for the meet was the chance to swim faster times.
The Kansas men defeated Southern Illinois at the Illinois Invitational last November, 67-45. The Kansas women won 83-62.
"We need to be a better team on Saturday than we were on Friday," he said.
SPORTS BRIEFS
"All the other Big Eight teams are done," Pranger said. They don't have a chance to go faster, but we do. For seedning, they need to win.
"And you know, that's what happens."
"This is a big pretest. We need to focus on our team attitude. We need to get the whole team enthusiastic."
Emtman, a junior defensive tackle who helped lead the Huskies to a 12-0 record and a national co-championship, is expected to announce his intention to submit his name for April's NFL draft.
Heisman finalist may turn pro early
SEATTLE — Heisman Trophy finalist Steve Emmant has scheduled a news conference for today to announce whether he is going to the NFL or staying for his senior season at the University of Washington.
Bicycle race set for Sunday morning
The race is endorsed by the National Off-road Bicycle Association. Brochures can be obtained at area bike shops.
Mountain Bike Lawrence will play host to the first Hastie Hill mountain bike race Sunday at 11 a.m.
From staff and wire reports
Kansas track prepares for Big Eight competition
By Chris Jenson
Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas men's and women's track teams will welcome more than 1,000 athletes from 40 schools Saturday at the Jayhawk Invitational.
"We are trying to do what is best for our athletes," Schwartz said. "For some that means resting, and for others that means competing in only one event."
Head coach Gary Schwartz told the team would use the meet to polish its technique for coming meets at the Big Eight Indoor Championships.
Although the Jayhawk Invitalian is not scored, Schwartz said he did not want to downplay the meet or the competition.
The meet will begin at 11 a.m. at Anshutz Pavilion.
"We will still try to do quality things at this meet," he said.
Schwartz said he hoped the team would stay consistent.
"I have seen some nice progress from the first meet to the second," he said. "Hopefully we will see more than that."
Marybeth Labosky, women's team captain, said the meet would have a different atmosphere than last week's triangular, a three-team meet, in Columbia, Mo., with Missouri and Kansas State. Both men's and women's scores were combined.
"This meet has a different focus
on us, but so many people.".
Labosky said.
"I've been working on technique a lot so I'm looking forward to the competition." Blain said.
Men's captain Brandon Blain said that he was putting a lot of emphasis on the meet.
He said the team saw a lot of good things at the triangular meet last weekend and that they hoped to use their new knowledge.
"The team should be fired up after last week," Blain said. "It should be a really good meet."
Kansas women will face Wildcats in Manhattan
By Cody Holt
Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas women's basketball team will take a four-game winning streak, including two road victories, two conference and three Ieum, where it will face Kansas State.
The game will be featured on Prime Network as the Big Eight Conference Game of the Week.
No. 20 Kansas continues to boast the nation's best defense, limiting opponents to 52.9 points a game. Coach Marian Washington said defense would be a key in Sunday's game.
"We are capable of putting a lot of different defenses of the floor," Washington said. "When we do that we make the other team adjust to us."
Kansas State defeated the Jayhawks last year in the teams' two meetings, including a 74-73 victory at Allen Field House. Kansas State finished conference play8-6 last year in a tie for second with Colorado and Nebraska.
Kansas State, 5-13 and 2-3 in conference play, is led by senior guard Mary Jo Miller. Miller leads the Lady Cats in nearly every offensive category including scoring. She averages 15.1 points a game.
Miller led the conference last year averaging 6.5 assists a game.
Washington said she had great respect for Miller after coaching her
"She's one of the best guards in the conference," Washington said. "As a leader, she has really worked hard to keep that team afloat."
on the Big Eight Conference Select Team that toured Brazil this summer
"All we're trying to do right now is keep doing what we do best and get some of the younger players to give us quality minutes." Washington said.
Freshman forward Angela Aycock has been called on to pick up some of the scoring slack with the loss of the three starters, McCloud, Tanya Bonham and Lisa Tate. Aycock is the Jayhawks' leading scorer among starters, averaging 9.7 points a game.
Kansas will rely on its younger players to fill the holes left by injuries. Freshman forward Alana Slatter will be called on to fill the void inside caused by the loss of post-player Marthea McCloud. Slatter helped the Jayhawks to a 64-60 victory against Oklahoma State on Wednesday with seven points and three steals off the bench.
Kansas State lost 80-64 to Missouri in Columbia on Wednesday. The Jayhawks lost 57-56 to Missouri on Feb. 15 in Columbia. The loss to Missouri was Kansas' only loss in conference play this season.
Women's basketball probable starters
Game time: 2 p.m. Sunday in Manhattan at Bramage
Station will be broadcast on KJHK 90.7 FM
and Prime Network
Kansas 15-3, (4-1) Position Year Height PPG RPG
32 Danielle Shareef F Sr. 5-10 7.0 5.4
10 Jo Ijo Witherpoon G Jr. 5-7 2.7 1.4
13 Kay Kay Hart G Sr. 5-7 9.0 3.7
23 Terrilyn Johnson F Fr. 5-11 7.0 9.0
30 Angela Aycock F Fr. 6-2 9.7 4.2
Kansas State 5-13, (2-3)
13 Lynn Holzman F So. 5-11 5.3 3.3
32 Leah Honeycutt F n/a n/a 10.4 8.1
54 Jennifer Grebing F Sr. 6-2 7.9 5.2
21 Mary Jo Miller G Sr. 5-5 15.1 3.9
20 Gretchen Bertrand G So. 5-9 6.4 2.4