JAYHAWK
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Basketball
Inside Sports today
The Denver Broncos were crowned Super Bowl XXXII champions yesterday in San Diego after beating the Green Bay Packers 31-24. See page 3B SEE PAGE 3B
Saturday's game - Kansas vs. Texas Tech
KANSAS
22-3, 6-1
RANKED NO.3
88
F
TEXAS TECH 8-8,2-4 UNRANKED 49
SECTION B, PAGE 1
WWW.JHAWKBBALL.COM
MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 1998
Road to a record
IN ALLEN FIELD HOUSE
FLORIDA
Dec. 7, 1994
Jerod Haase and the 'Hawks top the Gators 69-63 in win No. 5 of the streak.
In the books
IOWA ST.
Feb. 4, 1995
The Cyclones later beat the 'Hawks in the Big Eight Tournament finals.
COLORADO Feb.15,1997
56 CONSECUTIVE WINS
Calvin Rayford helps the 'Hawks top the Tigers 87-65.
Jacque Vaughn and the Jayhawks hurt the Buffaloes, 114-74.
WESTERN KENTUCKY
Nov. 19, 1997
Paul Pierce leads the
'Hawks to victory in
the Pre-season NIT.
The old record
1984
1. Oklahoma St. 91-70
2. Oklahoma St. 75-58
3. Detroit 86-64
4. South Dakota St. 85-72
5. Abilene Christian 84-72
6. South Carolina St. 81-54
7. Houston 87-75
1985
8. Texas Southern 78-74
9. Western Carolina 79-62
10. Iowa St. 76-72
11. Missouri 70-68
12. Colorado 88-69
13. Oklahoma St. 84-72
14. Memphis St. 75-71
15. Kansas St. 75-64
16. Oklahoma 82-76
17. Nebraska 70-65
18. Nebraska 74-69
19. SIU-Edwardsville 86-71
20. Western Carolina 101-79
21. South Alabama 72-48
22. Kentucky 83-66
23. Arkansas 89-78
24. George Washington 94-71
1986
25. Southern Methodist St. 72-56
26. Oklahoma St. 95-72
27. Oklahoma 98-92
28. Louisville 71-69
29. Colorado 85-69
30. Missouri 100-66
31. Nebraska 79-61
32. Kansas St. 84-69
33. Iowa St. 90-70
34. Tennessee-Martin 88-69
35. Southern 87-69
36. Washington 82-68
37. Colorado 59-56
38. Texas Tech 82-52
39. The Citadel 74-71
1987
40. Temple 67-64
41. Miami 82-47
42. Missouri 71-70
43. Nebraska 86-65
44. Iowa St. 72-48
45. Oklahoma St. 88-63
46. Notre Dame 70-60
47. Oklahoma 86-84
48. Kansas St. 84-67
49. Pomona-Pitzer 94-38
50. St. John's 63-54
51. Appalachian St. 73-62
52. Rider 110-72
1988
53. American 90-69
54. Missouri 78-74
55. Hampton 95-69
Lost—Kansas St. 61-72
kaet LaFrenz holds the ball in celebration of Kansas' 56th consecutive home win Saturday. The win over Texas Tech broke the school record for consecutive home wins. Photo by Dan Elasawy/KANSAN
The new record
1994
1995
1. Colorado 106-62
2. Iowa St. 97-79
3. San Diego 83-65
4. Coppin St. 91-69
5. Florida 69-63
6. Santa Clara 80-75
7. Rice 71-57
8. Fort Hays St. 93-55
9. East Tennessee St. 106-73
10. Kansas St. 78-74
11. Nebraska 84-67
12. Colorado 99-77
13. Iowa St. 91-71
14. Oklahoma 93-76
15. Missouri 88-69
16. Oklahoma St. 78-62
17. UCLA 85-70
18. Pittsburg St. 103-48
1996
1997
19.50
19. Cornell 100-46
20. East Tennessee St. 108-73
21. Southern Methodist 83-61
22. St. Peter's 85-71
23. Oklahoma 72-66
24. Oklahoma St. 84-66
25. Kansas St. 72-62
26. Iowa St. 89-70
27. Colorado 85-70
28. Nebraska 81-71
29. Missouri 87-65
30. San Diego 79-72
31. George Washington 85-56
32. N.C.-Asheville 105-73
33. North Carolina St. 84-56
34. Washburn 90-65
35. Brown 107-49
36. Texas 86-61
37. Niagara 134-73
38. Iowa St 80-67
39. Texas A&M 89-60
40. Nebraska 82-77
41. Oklahoma St. 104-72
42. Colorado 114-74
43. Missouri 79-67
44. Kansas St. 78-58
45. Santa Clara 99-73
46. Rice 88-61
47. Western Kentucky 75-62
48. UNLV 92-68
49. Emporia St. 102-50
50. Massachusetts 73-71
51. Middle Tennessee St. 103-68
52. Pepperdine 96-83
1998
53. Nebraska 96-76
54. Colorado 111-62
55. Kansas St. 69-62
56. Texas Tech 88-49
LaFrentz returns, leads team to record win
Kansas surpasses 55-home-game winning streak
By Tommy Gallagher
tgallogher@kansan.com
Kansas sportwriter
The No. 3 Jayhawks defeated Texas Tech 84-9 Saturday afternoon, breaking the record for the most consecutive homecourt victories with 56. The old mark had been 55, held by Kansas teams in 1984-88.
Take a bow, Kansas. You just made history.
Coach Roy Williams said of all the records, he never thought this one would be approached when he first came to Kansas in 1989.
"I remember 10 years ago, looking through the record books, I thought that record was one that wouldn't be touched." Williams said. "
Bob Frederick, athletics director, gave the game ball to the team's seniors, forward RaeFlaFrentz and
guards Billy Thomas and C.B. McGrath, after the game. LaFrentz held the ball high, and then the Jayhaws lined up and bowed to each of the four sides of Allen Field House.
"It was our way of thanking the fans." Williams said. "The field house is a tremendous place to play, and the fans are a large part of it. It's not the building, the seats, the banners or the team that makes the field house what it is. It's the fans. And we just wanted to say, 'Thank you.'"
Williams said he and the team wanted to show how much they appreciated the fans' support during the streak.
Forward Raef LaFrentz said that he hoped to end his career at Kansas without a loss at the field house.
The last loss for Kansas at the field house was to Missouri on Feb. 20, 1994.
"The record was something that, when I got here, I didn't really understand," LaFrentz said. "Only last year did I realize that we haven't lost here, and I don't want to lose here. And now that we got the record, hopefully we will stay on top and continue the streak."
"It's not the building, the seats, the banners or the team that makes the field house what it is. It's the fans. And we just wanted to say, 'Thank you."
Roy Williams Kansas men's basketball coach
Nine games off don't leave rust on All-American
tgallagher@kansan.com
By Tommy Gallagher
Kansan sportswriter
Pity Texas Tech, which lost 88-49 as Kansas set a new homecourt winning streak at 56 consecutive games.
Forwards Reaf LaFrentz and T.J. Pugh returned to the starting lineup Saturday, as No. 3 Kansas played with a complete roster for the first time this season
LaFrentz, who had missed nine games with a stress fracture, had not played since Dec. 23, 1997, said he was eager to play on he prove a point.
"I felt this was a big game for me," LaFrentz said. "I felt that I needed to come out and play well to try and make a statement that I'm here, I'm strong and I'll be able to go 40 minutes."
LaFrentz had 31 points in a 13-for-18
shooting performance, including the Jayhawks' only two three-point goals. He added 15 rebounds and three steals desite playing just 24 minutes.
Pugh was 4-for-5 from the floor and finished with 10 points and six rebounds. He had missed one month before playing against Texas A&M on Jan. 14, but this was his first start since breaking a bone in his foot Dec. 13.
Coach Roy Williams said after the game that Pugh was the most consistent defensive player that he has ever coached at Kansas.
"He's not going to score 30 points every night, but T.J. allows Raef and Paul to have more freedom on offense," Williams said. "He does things that might not show in the box score, but do on the scoreboard when the game is over."
The Jayhawks stormed to an early 16-0 lead. The Red Raiders missed their first 10 shots and were held scoreless until more than seven minutes had elapsed.
Texas Tech pulled to within 20-7,but
See LAFRENTZ on page 4B