Inside Sports
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Sports
The Kansas swim team was swept by Nebraska in their final home meet of the year. See story page 5B
Monday
February 2, 1998
Section:
B
Men's Tennis
The No. 24-ranked Jayhawks had a full slate of matches during the weekend.
SEE PAGE 4B
Women's basketball
Page 1
The women dropped a close one to No. 10 Arizona Saturday when Lynn Pride's last second shot was blocked.
SEE PAGE 3B
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Red Scare
Nebraska keeps it close for a while
Kansas forward Paul Pierce reaches back to block a shot by Nebraska's Venson Hamilton. Kansas defeated Nebraska 8-71 yesterday in Lincoln. Neb. Photo by Geoff Griffin/KANSAS
KANSAS 82, NEBRASKA 71
KANSAS (24-3)
Pierce 9-18 8-8 27, LaFrentz 8-15 8-12 25,
Pugh 1-4 0-0 2, Robertson 1-3 1-2 3, Thomas
4-11 1-2 10, Earl 0-1 0-0 0, Gregory 1-4-2 2
5, Bradford 0-1 2-2 2, McGrath 2-2 0-0 4,
Cenowith 0-2 0-4 0, Tailors 2-8 1-2 18 28.
NEBRASKA (13-8)
Florence 3-7-3-4, Markowski 1-3-2-5-4,
Hamilton 4-11-4-8-12, Lue 5-17-3-3-17, Belcher
2-8-3-6-7, Johnson 1-5-2-2-4, Piorkiwski 6-10
1-1-18. Tailors 22-61 18-29 71.
Halftime—Kansas 36, Nebraska 31. 3-
Point goals—Kansas 5-18 (Thomas 2-8,
LaFrentz 1-1, Gregory 2-1, Pierce 1-5, Roberts
0-2), Nebraska 9-16 (Piatkowski 5-8, Lue
4-7, Belcher 0-1). **Fouled out**—Pugh, Hamilton,
Belcher, *Rebounds*—Kansas 40
(LaFrentz 13), Nebraska 44 (Hamilton 14).
*Assists* 20 (Robertson 11), Nebraska
20 (Belcher 12). *Total fouls*—Kansas
23, Nebraska 22. *Attendance*—14, 484.
tgallagher@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
By Tommy Gallagher
Number@kansan.con
LINCOLN, Neb. — No. 3 Kansas slithered past the Nebraska Cornhuskers in a fever-pitched 82-71 victory yesterday in the Devaney Sports Center.
The Jayhawks were led by forwards Raef LaFrentz, who had 25 points and a team-high 13 rebounds, and Paul Pierce, who recorded a team-high 27 points and seven.
recorded a team-high 27 points and seven rebounds
Kansas coach Roy Williams said the 'Huskers, who had a season-high 14,484 people attend the game, had a chance to win and failed.
"We knew to win here, we would need a great effort," Williams said. "That was not so since we did not have a great effort out there tonight. But (the Huskers) didn't help themselves by missing their free throws when the game was still in doubt."
LaFrentz: had 25 points and a team high 13 rebounds.
Kansas and Nebraska were tied at 51 with
12:30 left to play when the Jayhawks made an 8-2 run. During that run, Nebraska missed five consecutive free throws and an opportunity to keep the pace with Kansas.
Nebraska made 62 percent of its free-throw attempts, including a six-for-15 performance in the second half. Kansas shot 75 percent from the free throw line. They were 16-for-20 in the second half.
Nebraska kept the game close with a barrage of three-point shots from forward Troy Piatkowski, who scored 15 of his team-high 18 points in the second half.
Pierce said the Jayhawks lacked the defensive intensity that helped them win their previous two games by a total of 86 points.
"On defense, we would have four guys do their jobs but one guy would break down," Pierce said. "They got some open looks and
Thomas: hit a crucible three-point shot to help seal the victory.
some turnovers, and that enabled them to stay in the game. But fortunately, we had enough to overcome those problems."
Trailing 67-61 with just 3:30 left to play, the 'Huskers battled back. They scored four straight points and pulled to 67-65 with less than three minutes remaining.
Nebraska then had the Jayhawks' offense on the ropes.
Kansas, which was confused on the next possession, called a timeout with six seconds left on the shot clock. Guard Billy Thomas, who had struggled during the game, nailed a three-point shot as the shot clock diminished, giving Kansas a 70-65 lead with 2:27 left.
Guard Ryan Robertson, who had three points, 11 assists and no turnovers, said that Thomas's shot helped seal the game.
Robertson:scored little, assisted a lot.
"That was the play of the game," Robertson said. "We knew that time was winding down, and that we were in a bad position. I was supposed to penetrate down low and dish the ball, but I saw Billy open and passed the ball in his direction."
Lue had 17 points, five rebounds and five assists but shot just 5-for-17 from the floor. He was four-for-19 in Nebraska's first meeting against Kansas on Jan. 3.
Kansas again shut down Nebraska guard Tyronn Lue, a leading contender for first team All-Big 12 Conference honors.
Kansas sophomore Julia Sidorova returns a serve. Sidorova won her singles match 6-0, 6-0 and her doubles match 8-3 against Missouri yesterday at Alvamar Raquet Club. Photo by Steve Puppe/KANSAN
Women's tennis team serves up weekend wins
By Erin Thompson
Kansan sportswriter
On Friday night the No. 27-ranked Jayhawks defeated Wichita State 9-0 in their first match of the season. The Shockers took both the No.1 and No.3 singles to three sets.
The Kansas women's tennis team beat Missouri 7-0 last night at Alvamar Racquet Club to complete an opening-weekend sweep.
"It usually takes a couple of matches to get into the competitive mode, and it's usual to have prematch nerves to a certain extent." Kansas head coach Roland Thornvist said.
Kansas did not lose a set against Missouri, which only brought five players.
"We were more comfortable competing today," Thornqvist said last night. "Some of the little things we didn't do very well Friday we were able to execute better today."
Last night the Jayhawks were led by sophomore Brookie Chiller, who won her singles match 6-0, 6-2. Chiller teamed up with freshman Christine Sues for the No. 1 doubles match. They won 8-2.
The Jayhawks were glad to play a few matches before they take on third-ranked Duke on Feb. 13, Thornqvist said.
when I scheduled Wichita State and Missouri, I did so to get used to competition for when we had the big teams like Duke." he said.
The Jayhawks need to improve their doubles play to compete against Duke. Thormvick said.
"That's going to be key," he said. "Both teams are going to be strong in singles, and I think the match is going to come down to doubles."
Last night the Jayhawks played without their top singles player, Christie Sim. Sim is competing in the Rolex National Indoors Tournament Wednesday in Dallas. The tournament gave her too many days of competition according to NCAA rules, and Thornqvist decided she would miss the Missouri match.
Gov. Bill Graves presents Kansas basketball coach Roy Williams with the Kansan Excellence Award for the Native Sons and Daughters of Kansas. The award was presented Friday night in Topeka.
Photo by Eileen Bakri/KANSAN
Kansas award honors Williams
By Ashley Gough
Kansan sportswriter
Although Roy Williams isn't from Kansas, he still was the recipient of the Native Sons and Daughters Distinguished Man of the Year award.
Although Roy Williams is the Native Sons and Daughters Distinguished Man of the Year awarded on Friday, the 80th Annual Meeting of the Native Sons and Daughters of Kansas took place at the Ramada Inn, Downtown Torpeka. ___
The purpose of the meeting was to honor the man and the woman who won the Distinguished Kansan of the Year awards.
Speaking in the Regency Ballroom of the hotel in front of a packed room, Williams said, "The reason why we have winning seasons is firstly the players I coach and secondly, and most importantly, it is the fans. It means so much to me accepting this award. The No.1 reason why this award means so much to me is the people of Kansas. You all make Kansas such a great place and a joy to coach at."
Trying to keep his remarks brief, Williams expressed his gratitude to Dean Smith, with whom Williams served as an assistant coach for 10 years at North Carolina. Smith, who was unable to attend the meeting sent a letter of congratulations which was read at the meeting.
Roy Williams
kansas men's basketball coach
"I accept this award gratefully and I am not lying when I say humbly."
sity of Kansas campus was on July 8, 1988. He had never known what the campus looked like except from a painting given to him by Dean Smith back in North Carolina. Williams said, "I was so amazed at how much better it looked in real life."
Roy Williams
Later that night in 1988, Williams was given the job of head coach of the men's basketball team by Kansas Athletic Director Bot Frederick. Since Williams came to Kansas nine seasons ago, he
Williams said that the first time he ever set foot on the Univerhas been named the Big Eight and Big 12 Coach of the Year or co-Coach of the Year five times and National Coach of the Year three times. Kansas has played in the preseason NTT twice under Williams and both times Kansas came away with the title. In the 1990s, Kansas produced more victories (289) than any team in the Division I ranks.
'y's basketball coach As head coach of Kansas, Williams has lead his team to two Final Four appearances,eight competitions and has won five of the last six Big Eight con-
NCAA tournaments and has won five of the last six Big Eight conference crowns. as well as the first ever Big 12 Conference title.
j
"I accept this award gratefully and I am not lying when I say humbly," Williams said. "Also, I would like to accept this award on behalf of Jacque Vaughn, Raef LaFrentz and the many others whom I have coached who have made me look great."
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