JAYHAWK
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Basketball
Inside Sports today
The Kansas women's basketball team defeated Missouri 74-62 on Saturday at the Hearnes Center.
SEE PAGE 3B
Yesterday's game - Kansas vs. Missouri
KANSAS 73
21-3
RANKED NO.3
SECTION B, PAGE 1
WWW.JHAWKBBALL.COM
MISSOURI
10-7, 3-3
UNRANKED
74
TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 1998
MISSOURI 74, KANSAS 73
KANSAS [21-3.5-1]
Earl 1-2 2-2 4, Pierce 8-15 7-10 23,
Chenowith 0-8 2-4 2, Robertson 5-11 4-6
18, Thomas 6-12 0-2 16, Gregory 3-4 0-9,
Bradford 0-2 0-0 0, McGrath 0-3 0-0 0,
Pugh 2-0 3-0 0, Totals 25 50 12 54 73.
MISSOURI (10-7.3-3)
Thames 4-13 4-14 12, White 9-20 2-2 23,
Hardge 3-6 1-2 7, Grawer 3-5 2-3 9, Hafer
1-1 2-2 4, Lee 2-6 3-3 8, Decker 1-2 1-1 3,
Ray 1-1 0-0 2, Parker 1-2 1-2 4, Woods 1-4 0-
0, Totals 26 60 16 19 74.
Halftime —Kansas 41, Missouri 36.
Three-Point goals - Kansas 8-17 (Robertson 4-6, Thomas 4-8, Pierce 0-3), Missouri 6-16 (White 3-8, Lee 1-1, Parker 1-2, Grawer 1-3, Woods 0-2).
Rebounds—Kansas 45 (Chenowith 11),
Missouri 30 (Hardae 6).
Assists—Kansas 11 (Roberson 5), Missouri 17 (Graver 7).
Fouled out—White.
Technical foul—Missouri coach Norm Stew art.
Total fouls - Kansas 18, Missouri 19.
Attendance - 13.330
AP Men's Top 25
The top 25 teams in The Associated Press' men's basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Jan. 18, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote, and previous ranking:
rank team rec pts pvs
1.Duke (50) 16-1 1,729 2
**2.N. Carolina (14)** 18-1 1,672 1
3.Kansas (3) 21-3 1,550 3
4.Utah (2) 15-1 1,501 4
5.Fanford (1) 16-0 1,466 7
6.Arizona 15-3 1,447 5
7.Kentucky 16-2 1,391 6
8.Connecticut 16-2 1,235 10
9.UCLA 13-3 1,082 8
10.Iowa 15-2 1,028 13
11.Princeton 13-1 1,013 12
13.Purdue 15-4 976 9
13.Mississippi 12-2 838 11
14.South Carolina 11-3 718 14
15.Syracuse 15-2 696 15
16.Michigan 14-4 681 19
17.New Mexico 13-3 627 15
18.Arkansas 14-3 478 22
**19.Xavier** 11-4 399 18
20.Florida State 13-5 394 17
21.Cincinnati 13-2 344 —
22.Rhode Island 12-3 305 20
23.West Virginia 15-3 302 21
24.Hawaii 12-2 225 24
25.Clemson 11-6 120 —
**Others receiving votes:** Others receiving votes: Maryland 98, Indiana 92, Georgia Washington 82, Texas Christian 47, Michigan State 38, Windelle 25, Tennessee 22, Georgia Tech 17. *Okahoma* 15, Murray 14, Colarboro 20. Massachusetts 10, Gonzaga 8, Santa Clara 7. Arkansas 6, Missouri 6. Marquette 4, Miami 4. Oklahoma State 6, Arizona State 3, Baylor 3, Ill-Chicago 2, Utah St. 2, Washington 2, Saint Louis 1, Temple 1
AP Women's Top 25
The top 25 teams in The Associated Press' basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Jan. 18, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote, and previous ranking:
rank team rec pts pvs
1.Tennessee (39) 19-0 975 1
2.Old Dominion 14-0 936 1
3.Connecticut 16-1 893 3
4.Louisiana Tech 14-2 853 4
**5.Texas Tech** 12-2 **825** **5**
6.Illinois 13-4 723 8
7.Arizona 11-3 690 9
8.N.Carolina St. 15-1 685 10
9.Vanderbilt 14-2 680 6
10.Florida 13-4 550 12
11.N.Carolina 15-2 522 7
tie Virginia 13-3 522 15
13.Stanford 8-5 480 11
14.Utah 14-0 421 17
15.Washington 11-3 360 13
16.W.Kentucky 15-4 344 18
17.Wisconsin 14-4 323 14
18.Georgia 11-5 294 19
19.Clemson 14-3 219 23
20.SW Missouri St. 12-2 209 16
**21.Nebraska** 14-5 **207** **20**
22.Fla. International 14-1 186 21
23.Purdue 12-5 133 24
24.Duke 11-5 91 25
25.Stephen F. Austin 13-2 86 —
Others receiving votes: Hawaii 70, Auburn 67, Manatee 63, Akron 45, Arkansas 36, Ocala 34, N.C. C-Valley 18, N.C. C-State 18, N.C. C-State 18, Michigan 11, Colorado 10, Kansas 10, Tulane 9, St. Louis 9, Oklahoma 9, American U. 2, Youngstown 18, 2, Oakland 18.
Tigers claw their way past Jayhawks
Kansas drops third straight at Missouri
By Tommy Gallagher
Kansan sportswriter
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Kansas forward Pierce scored 10 of his team-high 23 points in the final 4 minutes, 14 seconds, but that was not enough as No. 3 Kansas lost at Missouri for the third consecutive season, 74-73.
The Jayhawks led 73-72 with 24.2 seconds left, but center Eric Chenowith failed to make either of his free throws. Guard Ryan Robertson was whistled for a foul with 11.4 seconds remaining and Missouri guard Tyron Lee made the game-winning free throws.
Pierce had the ball stripped by a Missouri defender and time ran out.
Chenowith said he wanted to erase some of Kansas' memories from last season's game at the Hearnes Center, a 96-94 double-overtime loss, but he could not do it.
"Last year I was watching the game on TV, and (the Jayhawks) made a great comeback, but they lost," Chenowith said. "This year I had the game in my hands, and I couldn't do it. It was disappointing."
Kansas outrebounded the Tigers 25-11 in the first half, and shot 50 percent to Missouri's 39 percent. Yet the Jayhawks, who led by as many as 11 points, clung to a 41-36 halftime lead.
Robertson extended the lead to 44-36, but the Tigers rallied for a 10-0 run and took the lead four minutes into the second half. 46-44. Both teams exchanged blows, but Koreas still led 53-51 midway through the half.
Forward Paul Pierce dives for a lose ball. The Jayhawks 74-73 loss to Missouri in collisions, Mo., last night is the third time in a row that Missouri has won at home against Kansas. Photo by Steve Puppe / KANSAN
The Tigers responded with a 6-0 run and led 57-53 when their bench was called for a technical foul. Robertson, a St. Charles, Mo., native, missed both attempts, and the Tigers' lead eventually grew to five points.
Robertson, who finished with 18 points, four rebounds and five assists, said he wished he had another chance to make those free throws.
"I think I played pretty well with the exception of those free throws," Robertson said. "That was a big play. But you have to give the Tigers credit because they made the big plays and the free throws when they needed to."
Pierce, who sat out for crucial moments of the second half because of foul trouble, rallied Kansas, which led until Lee's free throws in the final minute.
Robertson said he had no answers for why Missouri played so well against the Jayhawks but seemed mediocre against its other competition.
"They play like an average team when it's anyone else," Robertson said. "They play like a Top 10 team when they play us, especially when it's in this building. I don't know why it's like that, but you have to give them credit."
Guard Kenny Gregory gets tangled with a Missouri player. Kansas lost to Missouri 74-73 last night at the Hearnes Center. Photo by Steve Puppe
Wil Chamberlain talks with fans in Allen Field House. Chamberlain's jersey was officially retired Saturday at hattime of the Kansas-Kansas State basketball game. Photo by Steve Puppe/KANSAN
The Big Dipper's star now shines from inside of Allen Field House
By Tommy Gallagher
tgailagher@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Wilt Chamberlain said he would not become emotional when his No. 13 jersey was retired Saturday during halftime of the Kansas State game. He was wrong.
When his banner was unfurled, and when he spoke in front of 16,300 fans in Allen Field House, Chamberlain shed some tears. He had been overwhelmed by the fans and the emotion.
"A little over 40 years ago, I lost the toughest battle in sports in losing to the North Carolina Tar Heels by one point in triple overtime." Chamberlain said. "It was a devastating thing to me because I thought I let the University of Kansas down and my teammates down.
Chamberlain choked up when he spoke about the devotion that Jayhawk fans had toward the Kansas program and its players.
"But when I come back here today and realize not the simple loss of a game, but how many people have shown such appreciation and warmth, I'm humbled and deeply honored," he said.
The loud reception caught Chamberlain by surprise. So he told Bob Frederick, director of athletics, that he wanted to sign autographs after the game, an impromptu move to show how much he
Forward T.J. Pugh said he was in disbelief of Chamberlain's 7-foot-1-inch frame and small feet.
"He made Rafe (LaFrentz) and Eric (Chenowith) look small, and they're big men," Pugh said. "But he has a size-14 shoe. I have a size-14 shoe and he's got eight inches on me."
appreciated the fans' support.
Chamberlain stayed for more than two hours signing posters, cards, books, programs and other items, and he did not leave until he had worked his way back to the last person in line.
Guard Billy Thomas said that he noticed a change in the crowd because of Chamberlain's presence.
"There were more older people in the crowd, more people from his generation," Thomas said. "You could hear a difference in the crowd. When we came out for the shoot-around, the crowd was really into it."
"I've learned over the years to take the bitter with the sweet, and how sweet this is." Chamberlain said. "I'm a Jayhawk, and I now know why there's so much tradition here."
At the end of his speech, Chamberlain spoke about the significance of having his banner hung from the rafters.
"Some wonderful things have come from here, and I'm now very much a part of it by being there," he said. "I'm very proud of that. Rock Chalk Jawhawk."
LaFrentz to return to play on Saturday
LaFrentz broke his hand Dec. 26 during practice in preparation for the Rainbow Classic in Honolulu. He was cleared to play for the Jayhawks' 69-62 victory against Kansas State on Saturday, but Kansas coach Roy Williams said he did not want to take any chances with the injury.
"The doctors said there was a small risk involved with letting him play today." Williams said after the game. "If the doctor said he has no reservations about playing him next Saturday, then I'm comfortable with that."
LaFrentz now wears a splint on his right index finger, and the splint could be removed after a week or two. He had been expected to miss at least six weeks because of the injury, but he will have missed only four weeks if he plays Saturday.
Kansas forward Raef LaFrentz had the cast from his right hand removed Friday, although the wait to play probably will last until this Saturday's game against Texas Tech.
By Tommy Gallagher
tgallagher@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
LaFrentz returned to practice Friday after receiving medical clearance to play. He saw only limited action, participating in non-contact offensive drills.
At the K-State game, LaFrentz practiced with the team during warmups. He participated in passing and catching drills, and he shot the ball from close range. LaFrentz did the same last night when the Jayhawks played at Missouri.
"At this time I feel comfortable that Raef will be playing one week from today."
Williams said he wanted to see how LaFrentz could perform various basketball skills — such as dribbling and passing — before allowing him to play during any game.
LaFrentz, who has missed the last nine games, said his absence from the starting lineup may have helped Kansas in the long run.
LaFrentz: Will return this week after injury.
Williams said in a press release Friday. "But, I don't feel comfortable about anything else."
"Maybe this was a blessing in disguise." LaFrentz said.
"Some of my teammates became better players while I was out. There were a lot of holes on this team when I got hurt, especially on defense.
On Saturday, Kansas tied the school record for consecutive home court victories with 55. The Jayhawks also won 55 straight at home from 1984 to 1988.
Basketball notebook
Now those holes aren't there because we are a much better defensive team."
They have not lost a home game since Feb. 20, 1994, against Missouri. Kansas can break the record Saturday against Texas Tech.
Kansas guard Billy Thomas scored his 1,001st point Saturday against K-State when he connected on a three-point shot early in the second half. He is the 37th Jayhawk to score 1,000 points and the second player to reach that mark this season — forward Paul Pierce scored his 1,000 point Nov. 14.
Pierce tied Wilt Chamberlain at 1,433 points on the Jayhawks' all-time scoring list against K-State with Chamberlain watching in the field house. Pierce passed Chamberlain's mark during last night's game at Missouri.
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