JAYHAWK
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Basketball
Inside Section B today
Sometimes grades don't go as planned — especially for freshmen. Learn how to avoid a GPA downfalls.
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Yesterday's game - Kansas vs. Texas A&M
KANSAS
20-2, 4-0
NKED NO.3
83 A TM
TEXAS A&M
6-8, 0-4
UNRANKED
SECTION B, PAGE 1
WWW.JHAWKBBALL.COM
65
THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 1998
Jayhawks agonize A&M
ABOVE: Kansas forward Paul Pierce dunks the ball in G. Rolle White Coliseum. Pierce scored 15 points in last night's B-35 victory against Texas A&M by Geoff Kreeger/KANEAM
By Tommy Gallagher Kanson sportswriter
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Center Eric Chenowith turned in a career game as No. 3 Kansas crushed Texas A&M 83-65 last night.
Chenowith had his best game as a collegiate — 16 points and a career-high 20 rebounds — as the No. 3 Jayhawks held the Aggies to just 29 percent shooting in the second half and 40 percent for the game.
Chenowith said he had no idea about the kind of game he was having.
"I had no clue," Chenowith said. "I did a good job of boxing out and anticipating where the ball was going to go. I made sure my guy had no chance to get the rebound. I really don't like to get caught up with statistics."
And while forward Lester Earl had only five points on 2-for-8 shooting, he had 15 rebounds, including 10 in the second half. The Jayhawks outrebounded Texas A&M 56-40.
LEFT: Kansas forward Lester Earl fights for the back between Agel defenders Jerald Brown and Aaron Jack (21) as Aaron forward Paul Pierce looks on. Earl and center Eric Chenowith combined for 35 rebounds last night, the most by a duo in the Roy Williams era. Photo by Geoff Krieger/KANSAN
Kansas coach Roy Williams said that his team played well but that there were vast improvements that could be made as the season progressed.
"We're glad to have two road wins in the conference, but we realize that there's a lot of basketball to be played yet," Williams said. "We crashed the boards and were aggressive on defense, but we had a lot of mistakes tonight. We were just the more gifted team. We had more talent than they did."
What had been a nip-and-tuck game entering halftime turned into a rout in the second half.
With Kansas leading 39-37 less than two
minutes left before halftime, the Jayhawks went on a 6-0 run, including four points by forward Nick Bradford.
The eight-point lead was extended to 17 less than three minutes into the second half after a 7-0 run.
Kansas led by as many as 21 points during the second half, and the Aggies hardly helped their cause.
Texas A&M made only two of its first 20 field goal attempts in the second half and never made a serious rally. Texas A&M guard Brian Barone said the Jayhawks punished the Aggies throughout the second half.
"Coach told us to come out with reckless abandon in the second half," Barone said. "After all, (the Jayhawks) are just people. There's no reason why they should be able to take us out in an alley and beat us up. But in the second half, that's what they did."
Forward Paul Pierce scored 15 points, including seven in a row during a 9-0 run midway through the second half. He also had three rebounds and four assists.
Bradford had 11 points and six rebounds, and guard Kenny Gregory had 13 points, hitting all three of his 3-point attempts. Guard Ryan Robertson recorded 13 points, eight assists and four rebounds with just one turnover.
But the Jayhawks rallied as Earl scored inside and Robertson hit a three-point shot. The Aggies tied the game at 23-23, but Kansas regained the lead and never relinquished it.
The Aggies took their first lead when forward Shanne Jones scored on a layup, and they extended the lead to 21-18 after guard Steve Houston nailed a jump shot with 10:59 left before halftime.
No. 3 KANSAS 83, TEXAS A&M 65
KANSAS (20-2)
Earl 2-1-8 4-1-5, Pierce 5-12 3-4 1-5,
Chenowith 6-12 4-7 1-4, Robertson 5-10 1-4 1-3, Thomas 3-7 0-6 0, Nooner 0-0-0-0,
Gregory 5-7 0-0 1 13, Bradford 4-9 2-2 1-1,
Janisse 1-1 0-0 2, McGrath 0-0 0-0 , Martin 0-0-0-0 , Pugh 1-2-0 0 2. Totals 32-68
11-21 83.
TEXAS A&M (6-8)
Davis 0-6 0-0 0, Jones 5-12 1-2 11, Thompson 7-14 0-2 14, Houston 1-9 0-0 2, Brown 1-6 3-4 13, Barone 0-2 0-0 0, Schmidt 6-9 3-4
16, Jack 3-6 1-3, 78 Brown 0-1 0-0, Richards
1,2-2,2,2. Tailors 26-76 10-17 65.
Haltime—Kansas 45, Texas A&M 37. 3-Point goals—Kansas 81 (Gregory 3-4), Pierce 2-3, Robertson 2-4, Bradford 1-4, Thomas 0-2), Texas A&M 3-14 (Brown 2-7, Schmidt 1-3, Barone 0-1, Houston 0-3). Fouled out—Jack. Rebounds—Kansas 56 (Chenwith 20), Texas A&M 40 (Thompson 12). Assists—Kansas 23 (Robertton 8), Texas A&M 18 (Barone 6). Total fouls—Kansas 14, Texas A&M 21. A—6,548.
Baseball team fields veteran roster
By John Wilson
Kansan sportswriter
Randall's squad still was outgunned. Despite a 327 average, the team gave up 5.79 earned runs per game while posting a 30-26 record.
University of Kansas baseball coach Bobby Randall led his team to the highest batting average in school history last season.
"When you have teams like Texas and Oklahoma State and Oklahoma in your conference, you have to play sound baseball in terms of hitting, fielding and pitching," Randall said. "Our pitching and defense just couldn't keep us competitive with the big boys last year."
This is not good enough to contend in the Big 12 Conference, Randall said.
Randall said his team had worked harder than ever in the
Last year, the team struggled to the conference's lowest fielding percentage (.947) along with the highest ERA.
"Our pitching staff was very young last year — the top two ERA's on our staff were freshman," Randall said. "We also return starters at three of four positions on the infield. These players should all improve with experience."
off season, both in the weight room and on the field.
"We improved natural talents like throwing strength through conditioning and lifting." Randall said.
Sophomore pitchers Rusty Philbrick (3-1 record, 4.71 ERA) and Mark Corson (2-3, 4.86) are the early favorites to lead the rotation,
Randall sees improvement stemming from experience and preparation.
but pitching coach Wilson K il m e r stressed the depth of his staff.
"The guys who had a bunch of appearances for us last year have looked solid through fall ball and winter break."
Kilmer said. "But we do have newcomers and other veterans who have a strong chance to contribute."
Senior Casey Barrett looks to return to 1996 form with which he saved eight games and earned All-Big Eight injuries. Honors limited
Randall: Led team to highest batting average in school history last year.
Barrett to just 12 appearances last season.
Junior Andy Juday (.365 average, 10 home runs, 3RBI) will anchor a veteran infield along with returnees Chad King and Sparky Wilhelm.
Senior Josh Dimmick (.313, 5,
38) will handle the catching.
The outfield spots still are up for grabs, with transfers Cliff Bryson and Clint Wyrick pushing for spots.
Randall said he thought improved pitching and fielding coupled with the extensive off-season preparation would translate into success.
"I told the guys the other day that we are finally at a point where we should expect big things," Randall said. "Nothing is guaranteed, but they have worked hard and put themselves in a position to excel."
JAYHAWK BASEBALL
- Kansas finished 30-26 overall and 12-18 in the Big 12 Conference last season.
Sophomores Rusty Philbrick (3-1 record, 4.71 ERA) and Mark Corson [2-3, 4.86] lead a more experienced pitching staff this season.
Junior second baseman Andy Juday (.365 batting average, 10 home runs, 37 RBI) and senior catcher Josh Dinnick (.313, 5, 38) lead an experienced infield that returns four of six starters.
The team's nonconference schedule includes national powers Creighton, Arkansas and Wichita State.
Junior college transfers Cliff Bryson and Clint Wryrick may start in the outfield.
Conference championship is in the bag; NCAA is not
Will a real Big 12 opponent please show up?
After another dominating performance last night, the Kansas Jayhawks proved once again that they are the best team in the conference.
However, this year a conference championship will be even less of an accomplishment, considering that the coaches are conceding the regular season to the Jayhawk.
This is news to no one, except maybe those of you living in a cave. Roy Williams and company will have no problem winning the Big 12 Conference title this year.
Oh, haven't you heard?
That's the right attitude, coach. Boy, that will fill your team with confidence. I thought that part of a
"I'll admit it," said Oklahoma State coach Eddie Sutton last Monday during the Big 12's weekly conference call. "I don't think anybody is going to beat Kansas."
Adam
Herschman
aherschman@kansan.com
coach's job — just listen, party people — was to prepare the team for a victory against every opponent.
After losing to Kansas by 30 points Saturday, Texas coach Tom Penders devalued a regular-season conference championship.
Granted, I like the honesty of Sutton. But it is not a comment that should be shared publicly. Comments like that make the conference look pathetic.
"The way it is today, nobody remembers who wins league championships anymore," Penders said. "It's what you do in the tournament."
That may be true to some extent, Tom, but people also do not remember a crybaby coach who does not consider winning a 16-game conference schedule memorable.
The Big 12 Conference is weak because so many talented players either graduated or left for the NBA after last season. Among those players were Reggie Freeman, Tony Battie, Nate Erdmann, Dedric Willoughby, Kelvin Cato, Jason Sutherland, Chauncey Billups, Scot Pollard and Jacque Vaughn.
Recruiting is tough for most Big 12 schools because the conference is not considered a basketball Mecca, like the Pac-10 and the ACC. For example, who wants to take road trips to Ames, Iowa, and Waco, Texas?
Up to this point, fans are dine dancing and practicing complicated high-five drills as a result of the Jayhawks' performance. But I am not.
First of all. I do not line dance.
Second, I cannot tell if the team is playing well or if the competition is so pitid that it makes this team look better than it really is.
There is no denying that some players stepped up their play after Raaf LaFrentz was sidelined — most notably Eric Chenowith and Billy Thomas.
But my memory is decent, and it was not too long ago that Kansas got upset up by a smaller, less physical team in Hawaii. We will not know for a few months if the easy conference schedule will benefit this team or hurt it.
The pessimist may think that Kansas will be overwhelmed by the change in competition and the sense of urgency that results from the single-elimination format of the NCAA Tournament.
The optimist would consider Kansas' conference schedule a relief. If the team continues to win by large margins, Williams will have the luxury of resting his starters. Giving the reserves more experience likely would help the team in the NCAA tourney.
The real battle in the Big 12 is for second place.
Baylor coach Harry Miller said, "Man, if we finished in second place, there'd be a ticker-tape parade."
That's too bad for the Big 12 Conference.
As for Kansas' future this season, let's hope the optimist is right.
If they are, I may have to learn to line dance.
Basketball Roundup:
No. 1 North Carolina goes down; Missouri upsets Oklahoma State. Top 25 and Big 12 men's basketball stories.
See page 4B