SPORTS UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Friday,April 2,1993
9
Mirror, mirror, in New Orleans
Similar styles come together in Superdome
By David Dorsey
Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas men's basketball team will encounter its mirror image at 4:42 p.m. tomorrow at the Superdome in New Orleans. North Carolina awaits the Jayhawks in the semifinals of the Final Four, and the players said they were ready for the challenge.
"They're a lot like ourselves," said Kansas senior guard Adonis Jordan. "They have Eric Montross, and we have Greg Ostertag, and they even look a lot alike."
Montross, North Carolina's 7-foot starting center, is a second team All-American. He will match up with Kansas senior center Eric Pauley. The 7-2 Ostertag will come off the bench for the Jayhawks.
Pauley said that the teams were almost even. "It's going to be an interesting match." Pauley said. "I don't see any dominance on either end."
North Carolina's backcourt combination of point guard Derrick Phelps and shooting guard Donald Williams impresses the Kansas guards.
"Donald Williams is a great, great player," Walters said. "And I watched Phelps play, and he's one of the best defense players that I've ever played." But not just saying that because Dick Vitale says it.
"He's great on the ball, he creates a lot of havoc. The only weakness that I see in his game, and hopefully he won't hear this, is his shooting. But he's a great point guard. Adomis has a big challenge, and I've got a big challenge."
Kansas senior guard Rex Walters keeps the ball away from an opponent. Walters, who leads Kansas in scoring at 15.2 points a game, will try to help the Jayhawks defeat North Carolina when the teams meet Saturday at the Superdome in New Orleans.
"Derrick Phelps puts a lot of pressure on the ball, and they have Rodl coming off bench," he said.
Henrick Rodl, a 6-8 senior, comes off the bench and is the second on the Tar Heels in assists.
Jordan said that each Kansas player would be challenged tomorrow.
"I think the key matchup in the game will be between Richard Scott and George Lynch," Jordan said.
See Kansas and North Carolina lineups on page 11.
Scott, the Jayhawks' starting power forward, averages 10.7 points and 5.4 rebounds a game.
"They're a lot like ourselves. They have Eric Montross,and we have Greg Ostertag,and they even look a lot alike."
Adonis Jordan Kansas seniorguard
Lynch, the Tear Heels' starting power forward,
leads the team in rebounding with 9.6 game. He is the team's second scoring scorer behind Montros,
with 14.8 points a game.
North Carolina, 32-4, is the top-seeded team from the East Regional. Kansas, 29-6, is the only No. 2 seed to make the Final Four. No. 1 seeds and Kentucky will meet in the other semifinal.
Walters and Jordan both said that they did not mind being 4% point underdogs. Pauley, however, disagreed.
met by the riverbank before tipoff.
"Personally, it would be nice if someone thought we had a chance," he said. "But that takes some pressure off us. Maybe that will help us."
Kansas coach Roy Williams said the team again would visit the banks of the Mississippi River. The team spit in the river for good luck in St. Louis before winning the Midwest Regional.
"Maybe we can have a spitting contest before the game," Walters said. "We can get Greg Ostertag and Eric Montross together and see who can spit the farthest."
Walters said that doing it felt awkward at first, but that he and the rest of the team would be at it again tomorrow. He also speculated about what would happen if the Jayhawks and Tar Heels
BOYS BASEBALL WINNING THE MASTER. When Williams was an assistant at North Carolina under Coach Dean Smith, the Tar Heels spit in the river before playing Georgetown for the 1982 National Championship, also in New Orleans. North Carolina won.
"In high school, I was hoping I could just go to one," said Jordan, who along with juniors Steve Woodberry, Patrick Richey and Richard Scott played in the 1991 Four. Six Tar Heels also return for a second meeting.
Despite the superstition, the players said they realized that the work had be done on the court.
"This is my last go around," Jordan added. "I want to make the best of it."
Stephen Pingry / KANSAN
Jeff Berblinger, senior second baseman, slides into second base safe. Berblinger was three for five at the plate in last night's game. He also scored two runs and had a pair of RBI.
Jayhawks rock Shockers 10-6
Kansas overcomes first-inning deficit, beats Wichita State
By Brady Prauser
Kansan sportswriter
Forget about the rankings.
Kansas baseball coach Dave Bingham said the Jayhawks approached last night's game here between No. 18 Kansas and No. 16 Wichita State as more of an intrastate rivalry than a contest between nationally ranked teams.
"This was playing basically for bragging rights," Bingham said.
Fornow, Kansas earned those rights after beating the Shockers 10-6, the Jayhawks' first victory in the past eight meetings with the former national champions.
Behind the starting pitching of senior Tom Stewart, 5-1, and senior reliever Jimmy Walker, Kansas built on its best start in history, improving to 19-5.
Kansas is 15-1 at home, already equaling last season's home victory total.
But three pitches into the game,
things did not look good for Kansas.
Wichita State dropped to 18-8. Starting pitcher Shane Banyan, 5-1, suffered a torn ACL.
Wichita State right fielder Carl Hall tripled on Stewart's second pitch of the first inning and scored one pitch later when shortstop Jason Adams doubled off the center field wall. First baseman Toby Smith then singled, driving in Adams and giving the Shockers a 2-1 lead.
"They put a lot of pressure on me early." Stewart said.
But Kansas struck back in its half of the first inning.
RB1 singles by senior second baseman John Wuycheck and junior center fielder Darryl Monroe tied the score at 2-2. After another RB1 single by sophomore third baseman Brent Wilhelm, senior designated hitter David Soul drove in two runs with a single, giving the Jayhawks a 5-2 lead.
Kansas, however, scored once in the bottom of the that inning, twice in the seventh and twice in the eighth for a 10-4 lead. The Shockers managed two runs in the top of the ninth, completing the 10-6 score.
Wichita State climbed within one run of Kansas in the fifth inning when it scored two runs, making the score 5-4.
"That was big for us to respond that way, saying, 'We're not going to take that,' said senior second baseman Jeff Bollinger.
Kansas plays host to Northeastern Illinois at 7 tonight, the first game of a four-game weekend series.
Kansas 10, Wichita State 6
WICHITA STATE (18-8)
CRIMSON GIRLS
| | ab | r | h | rbi |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| rf Hall | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| ss Adams | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| cf Taylor | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| bJ Smith | 4 | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| Jackson | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| dv/Pdrefort | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 3b Babcock | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| ph/IlTima | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| c Anderson | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| c Wheeler | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| If Mills | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 3b Blake | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | 40 | 6 | 11 | 5 |
| | ab | r | h | rbl |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 2b Berlinger | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| cf Monroe | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 1b Wuycheck | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| c Niemeyer | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| g Koehler | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| if Tarquino | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| bWilhelm | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| ds Soult | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| pr Turney | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| ss Rude | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| | 37 | 10 | 16 | 10 |
KANSAS (19-5)
Wichita St. IP H I R ER BB SC
Bryan 1.0 5 5 5 2
Diefort 2.1 5 5 3 2
Blum 2.1 5 3 2 3
Bluma 1.2 4 2 2 1
E Wheeler, Smith, Rude, Wuychcow PD Wichita State 2, Kansas 1 LOB Wichita State 8, Kansas 13. 28 Adams, Smith, Jackson, Rude 3B Hall 5B Beringer (2), Roger
Tournament evokes emotions
Walking through the underground entrance of The St. Louis Arena, the anticipation and excitement of the game was overwhelming. Straining to hear the security guards over the rumble of the crowd, we were told of many rules and limits that had been placed upon us.
Due to tight security and an atmosphere that was not welcoming, we missed the Allen Field House camaraderie. Yet, as we approached the Kansas band, alumni and fans, smiles came to our faces as we heard the Rock Chalk chant. During pregame we not only struggled with stretching because of the ice beneath the flooring, but also with cheering against the Indiana crowd. Both of us lost our voices and hope that they return in time for the first game in New Orleans.
Just before tip-off, sitting on the court, an array of emotions filled our hearts. We kept reminding each other that we had not only made it to the Elite Eight, but were about to play our toughest competition yet.
Having been at the 1991 regional final against Arkansas, we could remember the desire for the team to win. And this desire had doubled because this was a second once in a lifetime chance — and as seniors, possibly our last game ever. Being close enough to hear and feel the battle on the court, we felt as if we were a part of the team, experiencing every high and low.
As the team has its superstitions and rituals of every game, we have also performed tactics from the beginning of the year. Although this may sound unimportant, we would never change the way we support the team. While other fans can relax to watch the game, we are constantly working for the players, fans, crowd and each other. From day one of the trip we represent the University of Kansas and take this responsibility seriously. Sometimes it's hard to remember that we are in front of thousands of people and need to act accordingly. We must monitor our reactions to bad referee calls, obnoxious fans and opposing players.
But in the Kansas-Indiana game, nothing was on our minds except the overwhelming hope for the team to play its best game ever. Although our job is to keep the fans roaring, the crowd was already ecstatic. When Kansas won, everyone went crazy and began chanting "Final Four."
As we joined with the crowd, we hugged each other and knew how lucky we were to once again be a part of the Final Four and a possible national championship.
Leaving for New Orleans, the same emotions we felt in the Indiana game arise again. We have been away for two weeks, and catching up with schoolwork has been a tough struggle — yet even the fear of not graduating will not keep us from cheering our Jayhawks on to victory.
Shannon Hull is an Oatle senior majoring in sociology.
Debbie Adams is an Overland Park senior majoring in English.
Injuries hurting softball team
By Mark Button
Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas softball team will begin Big Eight Conference play tomorrow, taking on Oklahoma in doubleheaders tomorrow and Sunday in Norman, Okla.
The Jayhawks were ranked 13th last week but dropped to No. 20 after a 4-3-1 California road trip during spring break
Coach Kalum Haack said that he knew the team would drop in the standings, and that he was surprised it was still in the top 20.
"If you don't go out and play well from day to day, you need to drop," he said.
Haack said in order for the women to be successful, they would need to overcome some injuries to key players.
Freshman shortstop Katie Morgan was hurt in the last game when she broke her right-hand ring finger. Haack labeled her as questionable to play in the four-game series. However, because of the other injuries, she most likely will play.
Sophomore first baseman Krissy Carpenter will not play in the Oklahoma series because of a shoulder injury.
"I think I'll do fine," Morgan said. "I just have to get tough and suck it up."
In the outfield, senior center fielder Shanna Cole, who has played all season with a nagging injury to her right ankle, sprained her left ankle in Wednesday's practice. Haack is also uncertain whether Cole will play this weekend.
"I thought at the beginning of the season that it (the conference race) would come down to our series with OSU at the end of the season," Haack said. "But with our injuries, each series becomes more important."
On top of the injuries, the 'Hawks are yet to play a home game, as their first two games have been postponed because of inclement weather. Haack said playing on the road and battling injuries required the team to stay mentally tough.
It seems like every time we get ready to play a game, we're coming out of a hotel or eating fast food," he said.
Haack said this series would be especially important because it was the start of conference obay.
Kansas will hold its third attempt for its home opener on April 7 when it plays host to Wichita State at Jayhawk Field.
BRIEF
Rugby club wins Heart of America
Kansan staff report
The Kansas rugby club's collegiate team claimed the Heart of America Union title last weekend, defeating Kansas State and Northeast Missouri State.
The Jayhawks will face Air Force in two weeks at the Big Eight tournament in Houston. It features the winners of each of the eight unions of the Western territory, one of four territories in the nation.
Kansas coach Jeff Hoobler said it had been three years since Kansas last won the union.
"It means we're one of the 32 best teams in the nation," he said.
The Jayhawks defeated K State on Saturday and Northeast Missouri State on Sunday.
Player looks to improve golf game
By Matt Doyle
Kansan sportswrite
Kansas golfer Brad Bruno is waiting for himself and his teammates to put together great rounds of golf at the same time.
"The team as a whole has not played well yet," he said. "I can only remember a couple of rounds where we all played decently.
"Hopefully, we can all come together and play our best rounds in the same tournament and same round," he said.
1
Jayhawk golfers have had to put up with bad weather this spring.
"He has been one of the leaders on the team, and he's done well this spring considering what happened in Texas."
Kansas men's golf coach Ross Randall appreciates what the senior means to the program.
Bruno has the best scoring average for the men's golf team this spring with a 74.8 stroke average per round. He also led the team in the fall with a 72.9 average.
Snow and cold weather kept them off of the Alvamar Country Club courses for most of the
"The weather has really hampered our play this spring," Bruno said. "You need to play golf
every day to get better."
Bruno said the weather had been tough on him because it forced him to become patient and concentrate more when he was on the golf course.
It must have worked for him at the Baylor/Dr. Pepper Intercollegiate, where he finished tied for third place with a 71.
Bruno won his first career individual tournament championship last November at the Rice University Invitational in West Columbia, Texas, with an even-par score of 216 for the three-round event. He almost won the tournament just before the Rice Invitational, the University of Washington Husky Classic.
"The last tournament we had played some guy chipped in a shot for eagle on the 18th hole to beat me by one shot," he said. "I knew going into the Rice tournament that I could win it."
Bruno will not play in Monday and Tuesday's Wichita State Shocker Classic. Randall is using that tournament to give other team members some playing experience.
Bruno, though, will continue to work on his game.
"I'll do what I can do, probably go out for an hour and a half and work on my chipping and putting," he said.