Friday, February 6, 1998
The University Daily Kansan
Section B · Page 9
Iowa State's growing pains linger
Experienced Jayhawks too much for youthful inexperienced Cyclones
The Associated Press
AMES, Iowa — Iowa State's growing pains keep coming back to sting the Cyclones, and they're even more glaring against good teams. They like Kansas, for instance.
Tampa Bay Kansas, for balance:
Iowa State was able to hang with Kansas when it had older players. In fact, the Cyclones defeated the Jayhawks twice in the 1994-95 season, when Fred Hoiberg, Loren Meyer and Julius Michalik were seniors.
"Our freshmen were probably in a little bit of awe," said Iowa State coach Tim Floyd, who starts two freshmen and a junior college transfer.
But the teams' latest meeting was no contest. No. 3 Kansas defeated the youthful Cyclones 83-62 on Wednesday night, the Jayhawks' biggest margin in Hilton Coliseum.
The Cyclones were especially flustered in the first half, when they committed 13 turnovers. Freshman point guard Lee Love turned the ball over seven times, had only three assists and didn't score.
Love had been fairly steady in recent games.
But Kansas' traps and double teams by 6-foot-5 Ryan Robertson, 6-4 Billy Thomas and 6-7 Paul Pierce swallowed up the 6-1 LOVE.
"When you're making (turnovers) from the point guard position, it's obvious you're not going to have a point guard back to protect the basket," Floyd said. "So when those seven turnovers occur from that spot, they're more critical than an inside player turning it over."
"Typically, it's top of the key to wing passes that lead to cheap baskets on the other end," he said.
The Cyclones have given up a lot of baskets
like that this season and they're not getting many of their own. That is one reason they are 10-12 overall and 3-6 in the Big 12 Conference heading into a game at Colorado tomorrow.
Last year's team, which started five seniors, averaged 6.3 steals in Big 12 play and forced an average of 13.3 turnovers. This season's team is averaging 4.8 steals in conference play and forcing an average of 12 turnovers.
The Cyclones also haven't found a defensive stopper in the mold of Shawn Bankhead, who filled that role the two previous seasons.
"Paul Pierce is a guy we're trying to take out of the game," Floyd said of the Kansas junior who led the Jayhawks with 19 points. "There's a real difference in where we were at this time last year with Shawn Bankhead out there trying to nullify.
Floyd said he thought it was no coincidence that one Iowa State player who stood out in his eyes Wednesday night also is the team's most experienced player, 6-9 forward Klay Edwards.
Edwards scored 10 points on 4-for-7 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds.
"It was apparent to me that he was one guy where there was a carryover from our teams that played Kansas in the past," Floyd said. "He really had a great belief system in what he needed to do to play."
Floyd also liked the way 6-10 sophomore Paul Shirley batted inside. Shirley made 11 of 13 free throws in scoring 15 points and also grabbed seven rebounds. He said the Cyclones learned some hard lessons.
"I think it shows us again that we really have to maintain our concentration level." Shirley said. "Because we were in the game for a while and then all of a sudden, they jumped out to a 20-point lead.
"And I think that was just because we broke down a couple of times," he said. "Especially against Kansas, if you break down once or twice, they're going to take advantage of it and go with it."
Center Eric Chenowith and guard Ryan Robertson trap Iowa State guard Lee Love. Kansas defeated the Cyclones on Wednesday. Photo by Steve Prupe / KANSAN
Kansas coach Roy Williams said his team took advantage of the Cyclones' inexperience, which had been the plan going in.
"We're playing veteran players against some very young players for them." Williams said. "You go down the line, (older players) are going to be able to handle the double teams better than they did.
Kansas State adds youth to veteran team
Snyder not overjoyed by recruiting effort; spots still need filled
The Associated Press
"I'm happy with the youngsters we have committed," Snyder said. "I'm not overjoyed with our recruiting."
MANHATTAN — Kansas State increased its team speed with its new recruits but did not get needed players at fullback and linebacker, coach Bill Snyder said yesterday.
K-State returns a veteran team that went 11-1 and defeated Syracuse in the Fiesta Bowl.
The Wildcats likely are a top-10
presseason team because of experience, but it's a double-edged sword. Some of those veteran players will be gone after this season, and some of the players Snyder had hoped to get this year may have been scared off by knowing they would not get to play right away.
"I can't tell you the impact (the Fiesta Bowl) had this year," Snyder said. "With some of the youngsters that we did get, that may have been a significant factor. For some of the youngsters that we didn't get, the fact that we're returning 18 starters may have had an impact."
Kansas State had a powerful line-backing group last year and returns key players Travis Ochs and Mark Simoneau. But Ochs is a senior this year, and Simoneau is a junior, so Snyder was hoping to
begin developing young players to take their places.
The Wildcats also lost running backs Mike Lawrence and Eric Hickson, and Brian Goolsbly will
be a senior at fullback this year.
City Community College and high school back Josh Scobey out of Del City, Okla.
But Snyder was able to get running back Frank Murphy from Garden
Murphy is already on campus and will participate in spring practice. Snyder said.
"For any juco, that puts him miles ahead to be here for spring football," Snyder said. "We're talking about a youngster that can run exceptionally well. By being here in spring, it obviously gives him an opportunity to compete."
Quincy Morgan, a big and quick wide receiver who played with Wildcats quarterback Michael Bishop at Blinn (Texas) Community College. also sigmed.
Dale Hall, who is a cornerback, signed from Miami Southridge High School and is hoped to continue what is becoming a tradition of hard-hitting defensive backs at Kansas State.
Snyder said he also was pleased with recruits for the offensive line and signed one more lineman than planned because of the quality.
The new class includes 12 high school players and four junior college players.
"Most distinguished about this class may be the position by position speed," Snyder said.
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