JAYHAWK
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Basketball
Inside Sports today
Planning on going to Kansas football games next fall? After yesterday's KUAC meeting, football ticket prices will be a bit more costly. SEE PAGE 3B
Yesterday's game - Kansas vs. Baylor
KANSAS
23-3,7-1
RANKED NO.5 94
BAYLOR
10-8, 5-3
UNRANKED
SECTION B, PAGE
47
WWW.JHAWKBBALL.COM
THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 1998
Jayhawks declaw Baylor Bears
LaFrentz grabs another double-double; aggressive defense stymies Skinner
By Tommy Gallagher
tgallagher@kansan.com
Kansas sportwriter
for Baylor, the results were unbearable.
For Baylor, the results were unbeatable. No. 5 Kansas suffocated Baylor 94-47 last night in Allen Field House and recorded the third-largest conference win in school history. The Jayhawks have won their past two
games by an average of 43 points, in part because of the return of forward Raef LaFrentz.
LaFrentz, who had 21 points and 11 rebounds last night, put on a show for the 14 NBA scouts in attendance.
LaFrentz: His return has helped spark the team's defense
Guard Billy Thomas, who scored 18 points, said the Jayhawks had shown steady improvement on defense during the past few games.
"Defense will always
While Kansas cruised throughout the game, the Bears fought to keep the score close during the first half.
help you win games." Thomas said. "But we've been playing at home, and the true test will be to play this type of defense on the road the next couple weeks."
The Jayhawks trailed 9-8 early in the game, but they recovered. Kansas outscored Baylor 41-8 during the final 17 minutes of the first half, turning what had been a close game into a 32-point halftime lead. The Jayhawks scored the first eight points of the second half, extending the run to 49-8.
With 9:30 remaining in the first half and Kansas ahead 23-12, Kansas coach Roy Williams benched his starters because he said he was not pleased with the lack of intensity they were showing. Williams said that from then on, the results were astonishing.
"The first six to eight minutes of the game ticked me off." Williams said. "We weren't doing what we were supposed to do defensively. (The Bears) passed the ball where they wanted. They shot the ball where they wanted. But we began trapping and forced some turnovers, and that helped us regain
KANSAS 94 BAYLOR 47
BAYLOR (10-8)
Kendrick 2-6 0-0 5, Morris 4-6 0-0 10, Skinner 6-14 1-4 13, Sellers 3-6 5-6 1, Miller 8-0 0-0 0,
Jones 0-0 0-0 0, McCasland 0-2 1-2 1, Perkins 0-5 2-2 2, Gipson 0-0 0-0 0, Ramirez 1-3 2-3 4.
Totals 16-50 11-17 47.
Pierce 6-9-3-14 5, LaFrentz 9-15-3-32 1, Pugh 2-2-2-2 6, Robertson 3-5-0-1 8, Thomas 7-12-1 1 18, Earl 2-4-0-4 0, Nooner 0-0-0 0, Gregory 7-9-2-1 28, Bradford 0-2-0-0 0, Janisse 0-0-0 0, McGrath 0-0-0 0-0, Martin 0-1-0 0-0, Chenwith 2-3-0-0 4. **Totals** 38-62 11-139 4.
KANSAS (23-3)
Halftime —Kansas 49, Baylor 17. 3-Point goals —Baylor 4-20 (Kendrick 1-2, Morris 2-3, Sellers 1-2, Miller 0-5, McCasland 0-1, Perkins 0-5, Ramirez 0-2), Kansas 7-14 (Pierce 0-2, Robertson 2-2, Thomas 3-7, Gregory 2-3, Bradford 0-1, Martin 0-1). Fouled out —Miller. Rebounds —Baylor 27 (Skinner 9), Kansas 37 (LaFrentz 11). Assists —Baylor 9 (Miller 4), Kansas 26 (Robertson 6). Total fouls —Baylor 15, Kansas 18, A—16,300.
the momentum."
Baylor starting point guard Patrick Hunter did not play because of a hip injury. His replacement, B.J. Sellers, scored 12 points but recorded eight turnovers and no assists.
The Bears committed 29 turnovers, including a season-high 19 steals by Kansas and shot 32 percent from the field. The Jayhawks shot 61.3 percent from the floor against the Bears, who, coming into the game, had the No. 1 field-goal percentage defense in the Big 12 Conference.
Baylor coach Harry Miller said backcourt pressure was crucial to the Jayhawks' defensive success.
"There was not a whole lot we did well." Miller said. "I thought that when they went to a trap it rapidly changed the complexion of the game. With an inexperienced point guard, we had too many turnovers and we just could not find a rhythm."
Forward Paul Pierce had 15 points, four rebounds, four steals and three assists, and guard Kenny Gregory scored 18 points.
Kenny Gregory flies through the air on his way to another slam dunk. With their defensive dominance, Gregory and the Jayhawks were able to turn the offense loose. Photo by Steve Puppe/KANSAN
Coach Roy Williams enjoys a laugh on the bench with Ryan Robertson, Raef LaFrentz and Billy Thomas. While animated at times, Williams still had time to enjoy the game. Photo by Dan Elvasky/KANSAN
GAME NOTES
Kansas' 19 steals were the most in a game since a Dec. 18, 1995, victory against Pittsburg State at Allen Field House.
- Baylor's 29 turnovers were the most by a conference opponent and Baylor's 47 points were the fewest points by a conference opponent since Kansas beat Colorado on Feb. 15, 1992.
Forward Raef LaFrentz started for the 118th time in his career. Only three Kansas players have started more games in their careers.
LaFrentz recorded a double-double for the ninth time during the last 10 games he has played. It was his 11th double-double of the season and the 48th of his career.
Forward Paul Pierce passed Tony Guy for 11th place on Kansas' all-time scoring list. He now has 1,491 points.
In the past two games. Kansas has outscored its opponents 93-31 in the first half. Saturday against Texas Tech, the score at halftime was 44-14.
Guard Billy Thomas has made two or more three-point field goals in 23 of 26 games this season and 67 times in his career. Thomas played in his 127th game last night, the most of any present team member.
Kansas is 4-0 all-time against Baylor.
- Last night was the 39th time that the Jayhawks have shot better than 60 percent in the Roy Williams era.
Kansas guards get ferocious, tame Bears
Billy Thomas, Kenny Gregory unload on Baylor
By Erin Thompson
Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas shooting guards had no problems shooting last night against Baylor.
Billy Thomas and Kenny Gregory combined for 36 of the Jayhawks' points in their 94-47 trouncing of Baylor at Allen Field House.
"Billy really gave us a lift tonight," coach Roy Williams said. "He made his first three, then I took him out and Kenny Gregory really did some nice things."
Each scored 18 points, were a combined
Thomas had 13 points in the first half, passing four players to move into 31st place on the Kansas all-time career scoring list.
Thomas said, "I know I have the capabilities; it's just a matter of getting off to a good start."
14 of 21 from the field and were perfect from the free-throw line.
Thomas is the lead-
img career three-point shooter at Kansas with 249. Terry Brown, who played at Kansas from 1990-92, ranks second with 200 three-pointers.
Thomas: Moved into 31 place on the KU all-time career scoring list
"I've always liked to shoot from way out, even when I first started in the fourth grade." Thomas said. "I think it's smarter
Thomas was credited with only one assist, but it was an assist worthy of highlights. Thomas had the ball on the baseline, stopped to shoot, faked, and passed it to Raef LaFrentz who finished with a dunk.
than driving the lane."
"That was probably my favorite pass Billy's ever made," Williams said.
Gregory: Scored 18 points in 13 minutes during the game last night
Gregory came off
the bench and scored 18 points in only 13 minutes. He improved his 27 percent three-point shooting average, hitting two of three from outside.
"It was a good win for the team and was a confidence builder from me personally," Gregory said. "I just don't want to
"Bill really stepped up. He had a great game. He was far and away the player of the game."
Raef LaFrentz
kansas forward
go back to where I was."
In the middle of the first half, Thomas scored eight points in less than two minutes, boosting the Jayhawks to a 15-0 run. The Bears could not recover and scored only five points for the remainder of the half.
Larentz said Thomas had a great game. "Bill really stepped up. He had a great game. He was far and away the player of the game," LaFrentz said.
Student-athletes excel in class, set new records in academics
By Jason Pearce Kansan sportswriter
University of Kansas student-athletes set three records last semester—in the classroom.
Until last semester, the record for Kansas teams reaching a 3.0 GPA in one semester was five.
Nine different Jayhawk teams posted combined team grade point averages of 3.0 or higher, and 223 student-athletes earned at least a 3.0 GPA and were named to the Jayhawk Scholars list. Thirty-four athletes earned a 4 GPA.
The women's cross country team led the way with a combined team GPA of 3.27. Other teams with a GPA above 3.0 included women's tennis (3.26), men's tennis (3.24), rowing (3.17), women's golf (3.13), softball (3.12), women's track (3.11), volleyball (3.10) and women's basketball (3.02).
The football team was at the bottom of the list with a combined average of 2.27, and the men's basketball team was second to last with a 2.62 combined GPA.
Student-athletes had a combined GPA of 2.73 last semester, up from 2.67 in Fall 1996. In Fall 1997, the GPA for all University women was 2.93, and the Fall 1997 average for all University men was 2.76.
Paul Buskirk, associate director of intercollegiate athletics, said the records were some of Kansas' best.
Buskirk said each sport at Kansas had its own study program and guidelines.
Freshmen on the women's cross country team are required to attend regular study hours, said Gary Schwartz, women's cross country coach.
"We are pleased at the amount of Jayhawk Scholars and 4.0 students last semester." Buskirk said. "These students have done an exceptional job."
Schwartz said the coaching staff monitored classroom progress all year to make sure study habits and grades remained a high priority.
"The big thing is that the athletes buy into a philosophy of being a student-athlete, and you just have to study." Schwartz said. "We stress that the kids live up to the responsibility as students and athletes."
In addition to the required study time, student-athletes can use the services at the Hale Achievement Center located in the Wagon Student-Athlete Center.
The services include a computer lab, tutoring services and degree and counseling programs.
Jason Benavides / KANSAN
FANS' POLL
With the 100 year anniversary of Kansas basketball just around the corner, the Kansan is curious about what the fans think. Compile your list of the top five players, teams, and games in Jayhawk history and e-mail us at sports@kansas.com.