Inside Sports
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Sports
Coverage from the NCAA men's Sweet Sixteen. No. 1 seeds North Carolina and Arizona were in action.
Texas troubles
SEE PAGE 2B
A radio station is being investigated after reading Luke Axtell's grade report on the air.
Friday March 20,1998 Section: B Page 1
SEE PAGE 4B
Kansas baseball
Page 1
It's no South Padre Island, but it's home. The team gets set to spend spring break playing ball in Lawrence.
SEE PAGE 3B
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Arkansas awaits KU women
Defense, guards worry Washington
By Kevin C. Wilson
Kansan sportswriter
Stunning athleticism, spectacular perimeter play and a frantic-pressure defense.
All of these things worry Kansas women's basketball coach Marian Washington when she thinks about playing Arkansas in the Sweet 16.
The Jayhawks will meet the Razorbacks at approximately 11:30 p.m. tomorrow in Oakland, Calif.
"We're going to be facing an outstanding program in Arkansas," Washington said. "They are a team which likes to run, which may or may not help us."
Arkansas, 20-10 overall, plays an uptemp style that results in 75.5 points per
game, compared to Kansas's season average of 66.2.
Washington said Arkansas had a strong outside game and all three of the team's main perimeter players were great spotup shooters. Three of the Razorback's top four scorers play at the guard position, with only forward Karyn Karlin (15.5 ppg) producing more than her backcourt teammates.
Sytia Messer (12.1), Christy Smith (11.2) and Wendi Willits (7.2) make up the potent Arkansas guard attack.
Washington said she was also impressed with the Razorbacks perimeter defense.
"Their pressure defense is what I think has created a lot of problems for most of their opponents." Washington said. "We're going to have to be ready for that."
The Razorbacks average 10 steals per game and their defense forces opponents into 28.4 turnovers per game.
need to maintain their composure if they were to survive the Arkansas press.
"We need to take care of the basketball and find a way to score." Washington said. "We are going to try and go inside on them and crash the boards."
Washington said her players would
Center Nikia Sanford said she knew the game would be tough.
"Both of our teams win with defense, so I know its going to be a defensive battle," Sanford said.
Guard Jennifer Jackson said the Jayhawks would be ready to play no matter what kind of a game Arkansas played.
"Having to play against a new team every night in the Big 12 has exposed us to every kind of team," Jackson said. "It prepared us well for the tournament."
And the Jayhawks are not ready to bow out of the tournament yet.
"We came in as a number five seed, so we were expected to lose in the second round," Jackson said. "Every game now is like a bonus."
The Dance: Round three
KANASAS JAYHAWKS
G Suzi Raymont 5-11 Fr.
G Jennifer Jackson 5-10 Fr.
F Lynn Pride 6-2 So.
F Jaclyn Johnson 6-1 Fr.
C Nakia Sanford 6-3 Fr.
ARKANSA SRAZORBACKS
G **Sytia Messer** 5-8 Jr.
G **Wendi Willits** 5-8 Fr.
G **Christy Smith** 5-6 Sr.
F **Karyn Karlin** 6-1 So.
C **Karen Jones** 6-1 Sr.
When: Approximately 11:30 p.m.
Where: The New Arena in Oakland, Calif.
Hours: Thursday/Duke
TV: ESPN (Channel 18)
Radio: 1320 KLWN
Kansas forward Jaclyn Johnson tries to keep up with a Tulane player. Johnson and other freshmen have made a big impact in what was thought to be a rebuilding year.
Photo by Geoff Krieger/KANSAN
Young players lead Jayhawks in Sweet 16
Kansan sportswriter
By Kevin C. Wilson
Instead, the Jayhawks are in the Sweet 16.
This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Kansas women's basketball team.
Kansas, 23-8 overall, has exceeded expectations despite having only one senior on the roster.
"I don't think we have peaked yet,"
Washington said. "We can still improve."
Washington said she did not even think that the Jayhawks had played their best basketball of the season.
"I am so happy and so proud of this young group," said coach Marian Washington. "In the beginning of the season, I had to face the reality that we had a lot of young, inexperienced people. For them to come through like this is unbelievable."
The Jayhawks, who start two freshmen and a sophomore along with two juniors, have even used their youth to their advantage this season.
"Sometimes I think it helps," Washington said. "They have been a team that has been very disciplined. There are so many new players on our squad. Now the rivalries that we've had over the years don't mean a lot to them."
Kansas guard Jennifer Jackson reaches in to strip the ball from a Tulane player. The freshman has had an immediate impact on the Kansas offense, starting every game as point guard. Photo by Geoff Krieger/KANSAN
Freshman guard Jennifer Jackson said her age had not affected her ability on the court this season.
"I've never felt like a freshman," Jackson said. "To be able to play this much my first year has been exciting."
At times it has also been confusing for some of the freshmen, as it was when they traveled to Colorado earlier this season.
"a few of my players came to me and asked me how to get to the court from the
locker room." she said.
Once they actually stepped on the court, the young Jayhawks had relatively few problems this year.
Junior center Nakia Sanford said a player's year in school was irrelevant to her performance on the court.
"Age doesn't have anything to do with how you play," Sanford said. "We all want to win—who wants to rebuild?"
According to Washington and her players, rebuilding was not an option.
"These women came to Kansas believing they were coming to a program concerned about winning," Washington said. "They could have played anywhere but they were convinced that this was a great place to play college basketball. I think they are probably happy about their decisions now."
All-American track stars vault into spring season
They have broken school records and have some of the top marks in the nation. They competed last weekend at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Indianapolis and are now All-Americans.
By Angela Johnson
"I really don't know what to think of it," Russell said of his All-American status. "I just concentrate on the next meet and shoot to do my best."
Kansan sportswriter
But it is not a big deal to Andrea Branson. Candy Mason and Scott Russell.
Russell said the accomplishments would be more significant after his collegiate career ended.
Right now, it is just beginning. Russell became Kansas' first All-American in the 35-pound weight throw. The Windsor, Ontario, freshman finished second, throwing 67-61/4.
"At nationals, Coach told me if I threw
anywhere near my personal best, I'd place in the top eight," Russell said. "I'm definitely happy with getting second at nationals, since I was ranked sixth in the nation going in."
Mason and Branson finished second and fifth, respectively, in the pole vault. Mason tied her school and con-
rence record, jumping 12-7 1/2. Branson, Leawood freshman, jumped her season-best. 12-1 1/2 inches.
"I went in with the goal of going at least 12 feet." Branson said.
Branson has been vaulting for four years. During her senior year at Shawnee Mission East High School,
Branson was named the Female Track Athlete of the Year by the Kansas City Star and the Overland Park Sun.
Branson said she competed in the pole vault because it was fun.
"I like the feeling of being upside down" she said.
The pole vault was an inaugural women's event at nationals this year.
Branson: Enjoys upside-down aspect if pole vaulting
"I think a lot of people were surprised to see women pole vaulters at nationals," Mason said. "There's a misconception that you have to have a lot of strength for the pole vault, but it's more in technique."
As a 5-foot-8-inch woman weighing 135
pounds, the All-
American is smaller
than most of her
competitors.
"A guy from the media came up to me at nationals and said, 'I see you haven't put on any weight,'" Mason said. "I've weighed the same since I was a sophomore in high school. I've tried so hard to put on weight, which is
Mason Doesn'ttet her size affect her pole vaulting
inheard of for a female."
This was Mason's second All-American performance — she was an outdoor All-American last spring in the heptathlon. Mason also holds the school record in the pentathlon, which she set earlier this year at the Big 12 Conference meet.
Guards are top priority for'Hawks next season
By Tommy Gallagher
tgallagher@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
With the season concluded, Kansas coach Roy Williams will continue recruiting high school prospects until Sunday night, when the last contact session for recruits ends.
Williams said the Jayhawks would search for another backcourt player, perhaps another point guard. The point guards set to play next season are recruit Jeff Boschee and seniors Rvan Robertson and Jelani Janisse.
"If we could add one more perimeter player for next season, I think we would be all right," Williams said. "We would not drop much from where we are now."
The top unsigned point guard is Brandon Dean, a 6-foot-1-inch guard from Monroe, La., who averaged 31 points and 10 assists this season at Quachita Parish High School.
Should Dean commit to Kansas, Boschee could be moved from the point to a shooting guard position.
Dean told local media nw would visit Cincinnati and Arkansas, and perhaps Kansas and Florida State. Kansas had been the leader for Dean only one month ago but it now travels Cincinnati and Arkansas.
Williams: Recruiting focuses on both guard positions
Nick Bradford backed Pierce this season, and although his shooting range improved, Bradford's outside shot (13.3 percent from three-point range)
remains suspect
Another concern for Kansas may come at small forward, should Paul Pierce forego his senior season for the NBA.
Inside, Kansas will return everybody but forward Raef LaFrentz. Jeff Carey, a 6-foot-10 forward/center, will play after redshirting this season.
But the Jayhawks still are searching for big men, which please center Eric Chenowith.
Other small forwards who have drawn the interest of Kansas coaches include Kevin Houston, a 6-foot-4 player from Seward County Community College, and Gordon Scott, a 6-foot-5 player from Barton County Community College.
"Any time we can add depth to what we already have, that's a positive," Chenwith said. "Why would I mind if we got another big man? That would just give us another weapon to throw at opponents."
The Jayhawks also have been recruiting Preston Shumpert, a 6-foot-7 forward from Fort Walton Beach (Fla.) High School. Shumpert averaged 28 points and 14 rebounds this season. He has narrowed his choices to Kansas, Connecticut and Villanova, which reportedly has offered him a scholarship.
Kansas has been recruiting John Salmons, a 6-foot-6 forward from Plymouth Meeting (Pa.) High School. Recruiting analyst Bob Gibbons said Salmons stood as the No.1 unsigned small forward.
Kansas has shown interest in Rashard Lewis, a 6-foot 10-forward/center from Elsik High School in Alief, Texas. He was named a McDonald's All-American this season.
Salmons also is being recruited by Michigan and Georgia Tech.
Lewis said his options included Kansas and the University of Houston, which hired Clyde Drexler of the Houston Rockets as its coach Wednesday.
Local media reported March 5 that Houston was Lewis's favorite until it fired its head coach. His mother said she favored Kansas, although it is uncertain how Drexler's hiring would affect Lewis's choice.
1
But nothing is certain in recruiting until letter-of-intent forms are officially signed. The late signing period will not begin until early April.
Williams said the recruiting process would help ease the pain caused by the Jayhawks' early NCAA Tournament exit.
"The only way I can handle the pain is to work as hard as I can." Williams said. "When I do that I can forget what happened and move on. I always though it was better to use time wisely rather than movero around feeling sorry for myself."