JAYHAWK
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Basketball
Inside Sports today
The Kansas Baseball team prepares for a weekend series against Illinois-Chicago.
SEE PAGE 3B
Yesterday's game - Kansas vs. Iowa State
KANSAS
21-7
UNRANKED
70
FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 1998
IOWA STATE
24-7
RANKED NO. 22
65
Commentary Conference tournament spoils fresh Kansas team
I'll explain what I mean after describing one of my grocery shopping habits.
Like milk, the Kansas basketball team is better when served fresh.
After picking up ice cream sand-wiches and peanut butter on a weekly run to Dillons, I point my cart toward the dairy section (a very underrated section of any grocery store).
Perusing the different choices of milk, I grab the freshest carton of 2 percent in the refrigerator. But whether you prefer skim, 2 percent, or Vitamin D, there's one thing most of us have in common — we examine the evapiration date.
What's the point of inspecting milk?
Well, the main challenge is to find a carton with the longest refrigerator lifespan. That's not always easy to do, but it's rewarding.
Let's face it,
fresh milk is
delicious! It's
cool, wholesome
Adam Herschman
sports@kansan.com
Just like milk, I would prefer to see the Kansas basketball team fresh for the NCAA Tournament. Unfortunately, the Big 12 Conference Tournament prevents the Jayhawks from entering the Big Dance well-rested.
If Kansas reaches the conference championship on Sunday, the Jayhawks will have played four games in eight days before leaving for the first round of the NCAA Tournament, which is next Thursday and Friday.
That's an intense schedule that includes three games in three days—before the most important part of the season begins.
Roy Williams answered a similar question about the conference tournament in a Feb. 23 teleconference.
What advantagezes doing winning the Big 12 Tournament give a team like Kansas that is already headed to the NCAA Tournament?
The following examples make some interesting correlations between conference tournaments and national championships. (Remember, these are not proofs, just food for thought).
"I think they are great for those teams who finish in the bottom of the league," Williams said. "But other than that, I've never been a fan of them. They take away so much attention and energy that could be better used down the road."
Herschman is an Bloomington, Minn., junior in journalism.
Since Williams has been coach, the Jayhawks have won two conference tournaments, but those years Kansas did not advance to the Final Four. The two years Kansas reached the Final Four under Williams, the Jayhawks lost in the Big Eight Tournament.
In 1988, under Larry Brown, Kansas lost to Kansas State in the semifinals of the conference tournament before winning the NCAA Championship.
Away from the Big 12 Conference, it's interesting that two of the previous three NCAA Champions were rested Pacific-10 teams (Arizona and UCLA). The Pac-10, along with the Ivy League, does not have a postseason conference tournament.
With the best conference record, what more does Kansas have to prove?
I just hope the Jayhawks' expiration date outlasts the milk in my fridge.
Kansas' overall record headed into today's game against K-State is 31-3, which includes 15 victories against Big 12 opponents.
I'm going to tune into today's game, sip my milk and chow on those ice cream sandwiches.
'Hawks storm Cyclones Women win with second-half run
By Kevin C. Wilson
Kansan sportswriter
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A second-half explosion helped the Kansas women's basketball team upset No. 2 seeded Iowa State 70-65 in the semifinals of the Big 12 conference last night at Municipal Auditorium.
Guard Jennifer Jackson scored eight consecutive points as the Jayhawks went on a 13-4 run in the first five minutes of the second half to take a 38-34 lead. Jackson recorded a career-high 20 points, and forward Lynn Pride scored all 15 of her points after the intermission. The Jayhawks led for the rest of the game.
"Kansas played very well in the second half," Iowa State coach Bill Fennell said. "They had a great game plan and they played very determined. We just couldn't match that."
The 22nd-ranked Cyclones also couldn't match up with Jackson, who made 8 of 15 shots, including 3 of 6 from 3-point range. Jackson said she needed to take on some of the scoring burden because Pride was struggling early in the game.
Lynn has carried us a lot this year," Jackson said. "I'm just happy I got some open shots and was able to knock them down."
Pride, the Jayhawks' first team All-Big 12Conference forward, missed all five of her first half attempts but came out in the second half with a new confidence.
"I just kept shooting," Pride said. "We ran several offenses that got me open inside, and my teammates got me the ball."
Fennelly said someone must have reminded Pride of her poor performance at halftime, because she was a different player in the second half.
"She's a hell of a player," Fennelly said. "She makes the big plays."
Both teams shot 10-of-30 from the field in the first half. Iowa State held a 28-25 lead at the break.
The Cyclones, 24-7 overall, came out firing from 3-point range in the first half, making 6 of 16. Center Jayme Olson was 2-of-3 from beyond the arc in the half, and guard Stacy Freese scored all nine of her first-half points from 3-point range.
Fresse paced the Cyclones with 20 points, Olson added 19 and forward Janel Grimm chipped in 13.
Jackson and reserve forward Shandy Robbins kept the Jayhawks close in the first half by scoring 17 of Kansas' 25 points. Robbins hit 3 of 4 field goals, including both of her 3-point attempts, for 8 first half points.
"They got some great play from Jackson and Robbins in the first half," Fennett said.
Kansas center Nakia Sanford scored 10 of her 12 points in the second half, and guard Suzi Raymant added 12 points as the Jayhawks improved to 21-7 on the season.
Kansas guard Suzi Raymond dribbles down the court against an Iowa State defender in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 tournament. Suzi Raymond had 12 points in the Jayhawk victory last night. Photo by Roger Noger/KANSAN
KANSAS 70. IOWA STATE 65
KANSAS (21-7)
Pride 1-5 3-4 1 5, Johnson 0-5 0-0 0, Sanford 5-10-2
2 12, Raymont 4-10-4 4-1 2, Jackson 8-15-1 3-0 2, Scott
0-0 0 0 0, Robbins 3-5 1-2 9, White 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 26-
63 11-15 70.
IOWA ST. (24-7)
Taylor 2-11 1-2-7 Grimm 7-9 1-3 15, Olson 6-9 4-9
19, Freese 6-16 3-4 20, Haugen 1-0 0-0, Bartz 1-7 1-3
4. Huelman 1-0 0-0, Tots 22-54 11-21 65.
**Halftime** — Iowa St. 28, Kansas 25. 3-Point goals — Kansas 7-14 Jackson 3-6, Robbins 23, Pride 24, Royant 0-1, Iowa St. 10-28 (Fresher 5-13, Olson 3-5, Taylor 1-4, Barts 1-5, Haugen 0-9) **Fouled out** — Johnson, Olson, Rebounds — Kansas 34 (Pride 8), Iowa St. 37 (Huelman 8), Assists — Kansas 16 (Raymont 7), Iowa St. 14 (Frere 6) **Total fouls** — Kansas 19, Iowa St. 17. A—N/A.
■ Kansas will play No. 6 Texas Tech in the championship game of the Big 12 Women's Tournament at 7 p.m. tomorrow in Municipal Auditorium.
Kansas coach Marian Washington said she was thrilled with her team's play and was looking forward to taking on No. 6 Texas Tech at 7 p.m. tomorrow.
"They are one of the best teams in the country." Washington said. "We're trying to get ready for the NCAA, and the better competition will help."
Kansas forward Nakia Sanford takes a shot from in the lane during the first half of the game against Iowa State in Municipal Auditorium. Kansas won the game 70 to 65. Photo by Roger Nomer/KANSAN
Kemper may be close, but it's no field house
tgallagher@kansan.com
By Tommy Gallagher
Kansan sportswriter
KANASAS CITY, Mo. — Among Big 12 Conference schools, Kansas is the closest to Kemper Arena. So while travel plans are far less taxing, there's a perception by other teams that the Jayhawks have a homecourt advantage.
An Allen Field House East, of sorts. Coach Roy Williams said top-seeded Kansas, which will open quarterfinals play at noon today against No. 8 Kansas State, does not have an advantage playing at Kemper Arena.
"The advantage here is absolutely zero," Williams said. "We've won two Big 12 championships in nine years, so I don't know what the advantage would be. I have yet to see a building be responsible for winning a game."
Kansas State guard Aaron Swartzendruber had a different opinion.
The Wildcats defeated Colorado 75-61 in the first round yesterday, despite playing without forward Manny Dies, who sat out for a third consecutive game. He averaged 16.3 points and 7.5 rebounds during the regular season.
"I think it's like a home court advantage," he said. "Kansas City is only two hours away from the K-State campus, and there are a lot of grads in the area. I always see a lot of purple in the arena here."
K-State coach Tom Asbury has yet to decide whether Dies would play in the tournament.
The Starting Lineup
Williams said he wanted treat this tournament like any other road game. He wanted his players to attend every class possible before missing classes during the next couple of weeks
Partly because of the proximity of the tournament, the Jayhawks arrived last night in Kansas City, Mo., one day after the other teams.
KANSAS vs. KANSAS STATE
- Kansas State leads the series 7-6 in con-
ference tournament play
- Kansas has won the last three meetings:
  61-55 in 1996, 90-45 in 1995, and 73-
52 in 1994.
because of the NCAA Tournament.
Despite four days' rest, a couple Jayhawks have been hampered by nagging injuries this week.
Guard Billy Thomas has been slowed by a leg injury. He did not finish the
team's running and shooting practice Tuesday night because of the intense pain.
Williams said the injury concerned him, but thought Thomas would be ready for today's game.
M. D. Bradshaw/KANSAN
The news is better for forward Raef LaFrentz, who had been bothered by a shoulder injury suffered Feb. 23 against Oklahoma. He practiced all week with less pain than in the previous week.
1
}
---