SPORTS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Thursday, January 21, 1993
9
Truitt leaves basketball squad
Senior guard to continue school work
Senior guard Stacy Truitt has left the Kansas women's basketball team.
By Jay Williams
Kansan sportswriter
Kansas coach Marian Washington made Truitt's decision public yesterday. Washington said in a prepared statement that Truitt left the team for personal reasons.
Truitt refused to comment on her reasons for leaving
Trutt practiced with the team Tuesday but did not practice yesterday, Washington said. Washington declined to comment further about the situation.
The 5-foot-8 guard, named to the preseason All Big Eight Team, averaged 8.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists for the Jayhawks in 14 games this season. Trutti started 12 games this year for Kansas.
Truitt's departure leaves Kansas with just two seniors on the roster, reserve guard Shannon Kite and reserve guard Jo Witherspoon. Washington said earlier this season that lack of experience was a problem for the Jayhawks, who lost five players from last year's Big Eight Conference Championship team.
Washington said. "But we will adjust and continue to move in a positive direction."
"it's difficult any time you lose a player midway through the season"
Truitt spent the beginning of the 1982-93 season at point guard after playing off-guard for
most or her previous three seasons.
"I am confident that other players will step forward and help offset the loss," Washington said.
Two that might be expected to step up are junior guard Michelle Leathers and freshman guard Charisse Sampson. Both started against Iowa State on Sunday.
Trutt finished her career at Kansas eighth in all-time in assists with 219 and 10th in career scoring with 919 points, a 9.1 average. She led the Jayhawks in scoring her sophomore and junior seasons and was a Big Eight All-Tournament Team selection last season. She was on pace to become only the ninth Kansas woman to score 1,000 points in a career.
Associate sports information director Ginger Miller said Truitt would continue to attend classes at the University.
"We appreciate the time and effort Stacy put forth through the past three and one-half years and understand her decision in leaving." Washington said. "We wish her the best in continuing her academic endeavors at the University of Kansas."
Truitt highlights
Stacy Truitt was in her fourth year Kansas women a basketball before leaving the team yesterday. A list of some of her career accomplishments follows.
1992-93 Preseason All Big Eight selection
... started 12 of 14 games, averaging 8.9
points a game.
points a game ... 1991, 192; Kansas Big Eight Conference Championship team in scoring at 13 points a game , named to the Big Eight All Tournament Team . was second on the team with 7 assists .
1990-91. Led Kansas in scoring with 10,6 points a game. named honored mention All Big Eight. started every game as a sophornette . named to the Dial Classic and Big Eight Tournament all tournament teams.
1989-90; played in 23 games and started four.
Road games sting women's record
KANSAN
By Jay Williams
Kansan sportswriter
When the Kansas women's basketball team has hit the road, the road has hit them back.
The Jayhawks, 1-4 in games away from Allen Field House this season, are trying to figure out how to get more victories on the road. The team will get two more chances this weekend with games at Oklahoma on Friday and Oklahoma State on Sunday.
Kansas, 2-2 in the Big Eight Conference and 9-5 overall, has won three consecutive games at home. Coach Marian Washington hopes the momentum will carry over into the games in the state of Oklahoma.
"I think we've built some confidence playing in front of our fans," Washington said.
They have shot 48.7 percent from the field at home, but only 36.6 percent away from the field house. At home, the Jayhawks have made more free throws a game (16) than they have attempted on the road (14).
Statistically, the Jayhawks love Allen Field House — they have scored 22 points more a game there than on the road.
Sophomore forward Alana Slatter said it was difficult to pinpoint the team's exact road problems.
"Everybody has road games, so we don't like to use that as an excuse," she said.
"We've got to think of their court as our court," she said. "The thing is to just go out and play."
No place like home
Kansas' lone road victory was against Southwest Missouri State, a Final Four team last season. The Jayhawks lost the next four games they played, including one at home against Creighton and back-to-back games against Missouri and Colorado.
Washington called the Missouri Colorado swing the toughest road trim
The women's basketball team has struggled with road games. The Jayhawks have been outscored away from home and have been less effective in shooting and rebounding on the road.
Average home statistics
Freshman guard Charisse Sampson said the team was more focused now than during their early-season losing streak and were ready to win away from home.
■ Field goal % 48.7
■ Rebounds 44.7
■ Fouls 18.7
■ Turnovers 19.5
■ Points 86
HOME RECORD (8-1)
Average road statistics
Field goal % 36,6
Rebounds 34,8
Fouls 29
Turnovers 21,4
Points 64
ROAD RECORD (1-4)
Source: Karasas Sports Information
Katherine Manweller  KANSAN
in the conference's new travel-partner system. Kansas lost at Missouri 64-62, and then lost at Colorado 80-71 less than 48 hours later.
Under the system, schools are paired geographically and travel to another pair of schools to play a weekend series. The conference paired Missouri and Colorado together, even though the two schools are separated by half of Colorado, half of Missouri and the entire state of Kansas.
Washington said the team's lack of experience also had hurt it on the road. With the departure of starter Stacy Truitt, Kansas has just two seniors on its roster.
Senior guard Shannon Kite concentrates on a lay-up during practice. Kite and the rest of the Jayhawks will concentrate on winning three road games in the next 10 days. They will play at Oklahoma on Friday, at No. 22 Oklahoma State on Sunday and at Kansas State the following Sunday.
Ezra Wolfe/Special to the KANSAN
Swimmers training for speed
By Matt Doyle
Karisan sportswriter
Kansas swimming coach Gary Kempf wants his swimmers to improve their speed in hopes of better results at the end of the season.
Kempf is implementing more speed training in practices this week as the Jayhawks move toward the latter part of the schedule and the Big Eight Championships in March.
"We are preparing for the end of the season," Kempf said. "Everything we do here is awaived the end of the season."
This program is the third phase of Kempf's four-phase training program for the season. The first phase consisted of eight weeks of aerobic training followed by the second phase — six weeks of competition. The final phase will consist of three more weeks of competition.
The emphasis on shifting from aerobic to speed training is an idea Kempt is using for the first time, and he thinks it could prove to be beneficial.
He added that speed training should make his swimmers sharper and smoother.
"If you use the same system year after year, you'll expect the same results," Kennf said.
"I want them to go out smoother and not have to labor coming in," he said. "Against Drury we were not fast. Everything we did well was done at the back half of the race.
"Once we get our speed and the first half of the race starts going well, we are going to be really tough."
Marc Bontrager, a sophomore freestyle spinner and backstroker, said the program will help him and his teammates the rest of the season.
He hopes the training can slice off about a second on his time in the 100-yard freestyle. His top time in that event this year is 45.81 seconds against Southern Methodist.
Aimee Brainard, a senior freestyle sprinter, said she and her teammates are tired now. However, she added that freestyle sprinters are always tired at this point of the season.
"We are learning to swim tired right now," she said. "But I am an end-of-the-season swimmer. I love the big meets and love to swim fast."
Brainard believes in Kempf's training program and hopes it brings success for the Kansas swimming program this year.
"I trust him completely," she said. "If we finish the way we started, then we'll be successful."
SPORTS BRIEFS
Quarterback wins service award
Karisan staff report
Former Kansas quarterback Chip Hillary was named to the College Football Association's inaugural "Good Works Team," which recognized 11 athletes for involvement in community service.
Hilleary is active in Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Douglas County and has spent time as a celebrity reader for a third-grade class in Lawrence
Each CFA institution was asked to nominate one candidate who had made a favorable impression in the industry.
North Carolina trounces Virginia
The Associated Press
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Seventh-ranked Virginia's 16-game winning streak ended last night as No. 3 North Carolina took an 80-56 victory at home.
The Cavaliers — who had the nation's longest current winning streak of 16 games — couldn't take advantage of North Carolina's occasional dry spells in the first half. In the second half, the Tar Heels led by as much as 29 points.
The Tar Heels,15-1 overall and 5-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, extended their own winning streak to seven games.
Player's death delays Iowa games
The Associated Press
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — No. 14 Iowa's game against Penn State on Saturday night has been postponed because of the death of Iowa forward Chris Street.
Street was killed Tuesday night in Iowa City, Iowa, when his car collided with a snowplow. A makeup date will be discussed with Big Ten Conference officials next week, Penn State athletic director Jim Tarnan said.
Dedication earns player varsity spot
Hard work pays off for former JV player
By Mark Button
Kansan sportswriter
On Dec. 22, Kansas coach Roy Williams called Weichertbock into his office and informed him that he was being moved to the varsity team for the remainder of the 1992-93 season.
For Blake Weichbrodt, a three-year Kansas basketball junior varsity veteran, perseverance paid off.
Weichbrodt, a 6-foot 2 forward, had his first taste of varsity action in the Jahwahires' 103-54 victory against Wichita State. He entered the game with two minutes remaining and promptly scored the first points of his varsity career, making two free throws.
"I knew there was a spot open, " Weichbrodt said,
"I hoped I would get moved up."
More recently, the walk-on saw five minutes of action in the 140-72 victory against Oral Roberts. Weichbrodt made ESPN's highlight film when he received a behind-the-back pass from sophomore guard Calvin Rayford, made the layup and was fouled. He then protected his 100 percent free throw by converting the free throw.
Junior varsity coach Steve Robinson said Wich brodt, a junior, earned his spot on varsity with dedication and hard work in the JV program.
Welchbrodt said it was an honor to be playing varsity at Kansas and he wanted to do anything he could to make the other Jaiyawah players better.
"I push them as hard as I can in practice," he said. Before Weichböhm moved up to vapancy this season, he played in all five of the IV team's games. Until this year, the IV had played a 24-game school.
ule. A 1992 NCAA rule limited teams to four basketball coaches, and former JV coach Mark Turgeon left to become an assistant coach at Oregon.
Robinson, who has served as Kansas basketball academic coordinator and recruiter since 1988, inherited the program. He said the cut to five games was necessary so he could continue to focus on his varsity responsibilities.
"I wish we had more time for more games," Robinson said. "But due to the reduced staff and recruiting, we just don't have time."
Weichrodt said he had mixed feelings about the *JV season this year*. He said the players did not get to know each other as well because of the shortened season, but he was still glad he played.
"In previous years we were more of a team — we were closer," he said. "But just being out there and staying competitive was good."
The Kansas JV was 3-2 this season, but with the drastically shortened schedule, the emphasis was more on learning than winning.
Sophomore charge Trey Myer, a two-year IV member, said that as long as the team did what Robinson taught them in practice, winning wasn't important.
Though the season was cut short, Myer said, playing JV was still worth it.
"A lot of people dream about playing on the floor of Allen Field House," he said. "And I got to put on a Kansas uniform and go out there and play basketball almost every day. That, in itself, made it worth playing."
Sophomore center Peter Robbins, a first year JV member, agreed with Myer.
"I went into trusses with an open mind, just want to play in Allen," Robbins said. "Once I made the team, I got to play in a Kansas uniform and get coached by college-level coaches. That's something that many people can't say."
Annotated Answer 444444
Junior forward Blake Welchbroft, the newest member of the Ranax varsity basketball team, goes up for two points in the Jayhawks' 140-72 victory against Oral Roberts University.