SPORTS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Wednesday, February 24, 1993
13
Dedication pavs off for alumnus
Randall adjusts to reserve role with Detroit
By David Dorsey
By David Dorsey
Kansan sportswriter
While the Kansas men's basketball team battled Kansas State on Satur day, a former Jyahawk sat behind the Kansas bench in support of his former teammates.
KANSAN file photo
Mark Randall, a 6-foot-9 reserve forward with the Detroit Pistons, returned to Allen Field House during the NBA's All Star break.
Randall's role as a player changed during his transition from the college to professional ranks. In college, he led the 1990-91 Jayhawks to the NCAA Final Four. The Jayhawks defeated North Carolina before losing to Duke in the championship game. A starting forward/center, Randall finished as the sixth all-time scorer in Kansas history.
"I didn't get a chance to come back last year," Randal said. "I'm really excited about being here and getting a chance to watch a game."
As a professional, he's moved to the small forward position and gets little playing time. He has logged only 210 minutes this season, compared to team leader Joe Dumars' 1,810. And Randall averages only 2.3 points a game, down from his 12-point college average.
Despite his lack of playing time, Randall said he loved his new home and team.
"If you would have told me four years ago that I was going to be a
Mark Randall protects the ball during a game at Allen Field House. Randall, who was an All Big Eight forward at Kansas, is now a reserve with the Detroit Pistons in the NRA.
Detroit Piston, I would have been upset," he said. "I didn't like what they stood for or what they represented. Now that I'm on the inside, my perceptions have charged."
Randall said he resented the "bad boy" image that the Pistons had — an image perpetuated by the sometimes rough play and antics of forward Bill Lambeer.
Now that Randall and Laimber have become acquainted, they enjoy each other's company on the court as well as on the golf course.
"Bill's a great guy," Randall said "The first day that I got in there, he asked me about my handicap in goof."
In his second NBA season, Randall is on his third team. The Chicago Bulls selected Randall as their first-round draft pick in the summer of 1991. Randall was released in December. The Minnesota Timberwolves signed him in January 1992. The Timberwolves traded him to Detroit a month into this season.
"I learned to rent, not buy," Randal said.
Bill McKinney, a scout for the Pistons, played for the Denver Nuggets when Randall was growing up in Englewood, Colo. The two have known each other since then, and McKinney said he was glad Randall could join the Pistons.
"Mark has done a great job," McKinney said. "We wanted a guy that we knew would play hard and not make mistakes. Everybody likes him not just as a person, but as a player."
Randall said he held a lot of respect for teammate Dennis Rodman. Rodman leads the NBA in rebounding and plays in front of Randall.
"He's going through a divorce and has got some problems in his personal life that affects him off the court,"
Randall said. "But when the guy gets on the court, there's nobody who works harder."
Randall's playing time went up when Rodman and center olden Polynice were out with injuries in December and January. Randall said he averaged about 22 minutes a game during that stretch. Now that the players have returned, his playing time has dwindled.
"I knew going into the league that I wasn't going to average 25 points and 15 rebounds a game. "Randall said. "I
knew I wouldn't get the playing time to do that. I do hope to get some more minutes in the future, but I understand my role."
McKinney said that reserve players who understood their roles had a better chance at staying in the league longer than others.
"There's nothing wrong with being a role player," he said. "I played seven years, and I wasn't a great talent. I think Mark's done a good job of being enthusiastic and improving his game."
Doug Hesse / KANBAN
Former Kansas forward Mark Randall signs an autograph before Saturday's Kansas-Kansas State game at Allen Field House. Randall led Kansas to the Final Four in the 1990-91 season.
Doug Hesse / KANSAN
If this were a mirror, she'd see fat.
And she'll turn down meal after meal to get rid of fat that isn't there.
Or clean out half the refrigerator, then make herself vomit.
Or become dangerously obsessed with exercise.
Eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia are psychological problems that can be physically dangerous - even deadly. The Eating Disorders Clinic located at Charter Lawrence is specifically designed to get at the underlying psychological problems, while teaching healthy new eating habits at the same time.
If you suspect any of the above signs of an eating disorder call Charter Lawrence at 832-0111 Treatment is usually covered by insurance
(913) 832-0111
1012 Massachusetts St.
Lawrence, Kansas 60044
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