Inside Sports
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Sports
Wednesday March 11, 1998 Section: B Page 1
The NCAA Tournament begins tomorrow. Check out the men's and women's tournament coverage in the Kansan.
Pro Baseball
The Los Angeles Dodgers are counting on pitcher Chan Ho Park to continue to improve.
SEE PAGE 3B
Pro Basketball
After receiving death threats, Utah Jazz forward Karl Malone says that he will carry a gun on the road.
SEE PAGE 4B
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Kansas forward Raef LaFrentz goes up for a rebound over Kansas State forward Manny Dies. The Jayhawks defeated the Wildcats 68-61 Friday at the Big 12 Conference tournament. Photo by Steve Puppe/KANSAN
Two'Hawks named All-Americans
Pierce, LaFrentz not only teammates picked for first team
By Tommy Gallagher
igallgher@kansan.com
Kansas sportwriter
Kansas forwards Paul Pierce and Raef LaFrentz were named first team All-Americans yesterday, but they were just one set of teammates that made the team.
Arizona guards Mike Bibby and Miles Simon also earned spots on the first team, as did North Carolina forward Antawn Jamison, who was voted to the team on all but one of the 70 ballots.
Kansas coach Roy Williams told The Associated Press yesterday that he thought both players deserved the recognition.
Kansas forward Paul Pierce grabs a rebound. The Jayhawks beat Nebraska Saturday 91-5 at the Big 12 Conference tournament. Pierce was named the Big 12 tournament MVP. Pierce and Kansas forward Raef LaFrentz were named to first team All-American. Photo by Steve Puppe/KANSAN
LaFrentz is the only returning All-American from last season, and he became the third repeat selection of the 1990s. Wake Forest's Tim Duncan and Louisiana State's Shaquille O'Neal were the other repeat members to the first team.
"I am ecstatic that both Raef and Paul are receiving this great honor," Williams said. "They are both having fantastic seasons and, needless to say, that have been instrumental in our great record."
LaFrentz became the first Jayhawk in 27 seasons to average double figures in points (19.7) and rebounds (11.2).
he is the No. 2 scorer in Kansas history and trails Danny Manning for the school's career rebounding record by only 41 despite missing nine games this season because of a broken right hand.
Pierce provided the team with a consistent scorer and go-to guy in LaFrentz's absence, averaging 20.3 points and 6.8 rebounds this season.
He shoots 51 percent from the floor and has scored in double figures in 49 consecutive games.
Pierce earned Most Outstanding Player honors at the Big 12 Tournament last weekend and has led the team in scoring in eight of the last nine postseason games, dating back to last season.
Bibby averaged 17.2 points, 5.9 assists and 2.4 steals for the Wildcats during the regular season, and he led them with 67 three-point shots.
Simon averaged 17.3 points this season, and he joined Damon Stoudamire and Sean Elliott as the only Arizona players to total 1,500 points and 400 assists in a career.
Arizona coach Lute Olson told The Associated Press yesterday that his players' individual recognition was a tribute to his entire basketball program as much as to the players themselves.
"I am very pleased for three of our guys and what they've accomplished, not only this season but their entire careers." Olson said. "These honors are a reflection of their individual play and a reflection on our program as a whole."
Jamison was the first Tar Heel to be named ACC player of the year since Michael Jordan in 1984. He shot 61 percent from the floor and averaged 22.9 points and 10.2 rebounds for the Tar Heels, who jumped back to No. 1 in the final Associated Press poll before the NCAA Tournament.
North Carolina coach Bill Guthridge told The Associated Press yesterday that Jamison always had a team-first mentality.
"I am ecstatic that both Raef and Paul are receiving this great honor. They are both having fantastic seasons and, needless to say, that have been instrumental in our great record."
Roy Williams
Kansas men's head basketball coach
"He has worked hard to improve his skills and used his talents within the framework of helping our team win basketball games," Guthridge said. "He has always put team goals ahead of the individual accomplishments."
AP All-American Teams
First Team:
Mike Bibby, Arizona
Antwain Jamison, North Carolina
Raef LaFrentz, Kansas
Paul Pierce, Kansas
Miles Simon, Arizona
Second Team:
Vince Carter, North Carolina
Mateen Cleaves, Michigan State
Pat Garrity, Notre Dame
Richard Hamilton, Connecticut
Ansu Sesay, Mississippi
Third Team:
Third Team:
Michael Dickerson, Arizona
Matt Harpring, Georgia Tech
Trajran Langdon, Duke
Lee Naillon, Texas Christian
Boni Wells, Ball State
Field of snow may postpone field of dreams
By John Blakely Wilson
Kansan sportswriter
Kansas baseball was scheduled to play two games at Missouri this week, but Sunday's snowy tempest killed any chance of outdoor baseball in the Midwest for a few days.
Kansas is scheduled to play three games this weekend at Nebraska, but Coach Bobby Randall said options were being explored.
"They're still really snowed in up there." Randall said. "We have the option of moving the series down here, but I'm not sure what their coach wants to do."
Randall said a decision would be made today regarding weekend plans.
The snow forced practice back inside this week, and Randall said he worried about contiabout continued improvement in the indoor environment.
"We're lucky to have a great facility like Anschutz, but there's a different timing and rhythm involved in playing indoor and outdoors," Randall said. "You can't set up full-scale game situations without an outfield, which hurts our flow of play."
Randall said he had seen steady improvement throughout the squad, most notably in the pitching staff.
"Les Walrond and Chris Williams have been most consistent throughout the season," Randall said. "But guys like Pete Smart, Rusty Philbrick and Eric Bettis have really shown they can throw the hall. It makes our staff so much deeper."
Randall continues to praise the play of freshman shortstop John Nelson, who has taken the place of last season's Big 12 Conference batting champion Joe DeMarco.
"Yea, John's only hitting. 422 now, and Joe hit. 428 last year." Randall joked. "Seriously, this kid can hit and play some great defense too."
his first season in Lawrence. He is second on the team in batting averages and has committed just two errors all season as the starting stopup.
"The older guys are always encouraging and teaching me, and I just try to bring those things to the field," Nelson said. "I love the competition of playing at the Division I level."
Nelson was injured during his final two seasons at Denton (Texas) High School, but he has found health and success in
Randall said this midweek stretch indoors without games would offer rest time in the middle of their 56-game schedule.
"This week can be great as an academic break," Randall said. "During the season, these kids are on the road away from classes. This time can be beneficial because they can concentrate on school."
Women's tennis ranked No.17; men drop to No.50
By Erin Thompson
Kansan sportswriter
For the first time in two years, the Kansas women's tennis team cracked the top 20 of the Rolex Collegiate Tennis Rankings.
The Jayhawks jumped 10 spots from No. 27 to No. 17 after beating two top-20 teams. They upset No. 11 William & Marv on Sunday.
The-women are 8-2 this season with matches against seven ranked opponents. Their two losses were to top-10 teams.
Senior Christie Sim dropped from No. 25 to No. 28. Freshman Christine Sues fell 20 spots to No. 96.
Senior Kyle Hunt returned to the rankings for the first time this season. She
The men's tennis team did not fare as well as the women's team. They dropped from No.24 to No.50.
became the third Jayhawk to be ranked when she received a No. 25 ranking.
However, after a rough start, the men have won three of their last four matches.
Senior Enrique Abaroa moved up two spots to No. 34 despite not playing the last two weeks because of a back injury.
The men's team has struggled this season with injuries and has a 3-6 record.
Since the last rankings, Abaroa upset Kentucky's Cedric Kauffmann, the nation's No. 6 player.
Enrique back, we're going to start rising toward the top again," Kansas men's coach Mark Riley said.
Abaroa is ranked as a member of two doubles teams. He and junior Luis Uribe first were ranked after beating Georgia's Steven Baldas and John Roddick, who are ranked No. 7.
Abaroa and senior Xavier Avila fell seven spots to No. 32.
seven spots to win The men will have plenty of opportunities to move up in the rankings. Of 11 remaining matches, six opponents are ranked in the top 40.
Now that we have our doubles playing better together and once we get
"Now that we have our doubles playing better together and once we get Enrique back, we're going to start rising toward the top again."
Mark Riley
Kansas men's tennis coach
Kansas men recuperate before play
tgallagher@kansan.co
By Tommy Gallagher
Kansan sportswriter
Instead of playing Thursday in the first round of the NCAA tournament, the top-seeded Jayhawks will not have to play until about 9 p.m. Friday. The extra time could help Kansas players nurse some nagging
Coach Roy Williams described the Kansas locker room as a *M*A*S*H unit last weekend, but he said he hoped things would change with some rest.
injuries, Williams said.
Billy Thomas did not play in the Big 12 Conference tournament last weekend because of a left thigh bruise. Forward Raef LaFrentz
"I love the fact that we don't play until Friday, because we could use that time to rest our kids," Williams said. "We will hold some players out of practices and see whether they can play over the weekend."
LaFrentz: Will be held from practice to nurse shoulder.
Williams said that he would hold LaFrentz out of team practices until today or tomorrow but that there was no time set for Thomas' possible return. The Jayhawks will leave for Oklahoma City tonight after practice.
was hampered by a strained left shoulder, but still played and was named to the all-tournament team.
Williams said Thomas might not play against Prairie View A&M on Friday. He also said there was a legitimate concern that neither LaFrentz or Thomas would be 100 percent at
LaFrentz said he was content with playing in pain for the rest of the season. The outlook for Thomas — known by his teammates as Coach Thomas since his injury — is not as clear.
"Yes, it's a very real possibility, and sometimes I worry about it." Williams said. "It's unfortunate that the injuries have happened, but we do have to move on."
any time during the tournament
but we might not play this weekend, but there could be concern about letting him sit out two weeks.
"This game wasn't useful to us. This was just a basketball game." LaBrentz said. "We want to reach the Final Four and become national champions. I want to play and help us get there."
LaFrentz slammed his shoulder into the goal post while scrambling for a loose ball against Oklahoma on Sunday. Moments later, he dove for a steal and absorbed a harsh landing.
Williams said he took LaFrentz out of the game at the next timeout, but the player said, "Coach, I'm fine." LaFrentz returned at the next whistle and later said that he needed to play every game.
Softball team to break before tournament run
The Kansas softball team will take a week end break after its doubleheader against the Arkansas Razorbacks (2-10) in Fayetteville, Ark. at 2 and 4 p.m. today.
By Laura Bokenkroger
Kansan sportswriter
The weekend will give the Jayhawks time to rest after playing in four consecutive road tournaments.
The Jayhawks (1 1-11) lost three of four games in Fresno, Calif., last weekend to tie for sixth place at the Bulldon twins.
After the short break, Kansas leaves for an eight-day road trip to California during spring break. The Capital Classic tournament in Sacramento, Calif., begins March 19, putting Kansas against Hawaii, California and Arkansas.
The Joyhawks will leave Sacramento and finish the nonconference schedule at Pacific and Stanford before returning to prepare for their home opener on March 28.