SPORTS UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Friday, January 15, 1993
7
Jayhawks empty bench in 140-72 rout
Walk-ons Whatley, Weichbrodt contribute to victory
By David Dorsey Kansan sportswriter
With 5:54 remaining in last night's Kansas-Oral Roberts basketball game, T.J. Whatley, a walk-on freshman guard, sat on the Kansas bench and stretched his right leg. One minute later, he and junior Blake Weichbrot, another walk-on guard, would enter the game as Kansas coasted to a 140-72 romp against the Titans.
Seven Jayhawks scored in double figures, and three Jayhawks, led by junior forward Patrick Richey's 23 points, had career highs. Sophomore center Greg Ostertag scored 21 and sophomore guard Greg Gurley had 16. Ostertag also grabbed a career-high eight rebounds.
Kansas took a quick 24-1 lead allowing Coach Roy Williams to empty the box.
"I wanted to get off to a good start," Williams said. "There were several players I wanted to get a lot of minutes for. My goal is to try to make every player reach his full potential."
Sophomore guard Calvin Rayford was one of the players Williams wanted to get minutes for. Rayford scored only four points but excited the crowd with five assists. He also had five steals in 23 minutes.
Kansas junior forward Richard Scott started the game and scored four points but was replaced early by Richey. Scott played only five minutes because of a bruised tailbone. He was injured when he took a charge against Oklahoma on Monday. Williams said that Scott should be ready for more action tomorrow against Louisville.
"He limped around and tried it for a few minutes," Williams said. "Hopefully with some rest he'll be ready to play. We need Richard Scott against Louisville. He's been playing outstanding basketball."
Richey started the second half for Scott and finished the game with eight rebounds, tying a career high. He also had two slam dunks.
"Patrick's also been playing sensational basketball," Williams said. "This is the third or fourth game in a
row that he's gotten us an extra possession by diving for the ball."
Richey, who has been plagued with injuries in the past, including a knee injury earlier this season, was pleased with his performance.
"It's tough to go out there and compete how you want to compete when you're hurt," he said. "I'm not saying that I've been a terrible player since I been here. I just don't think I've been doing lately because I was hurt."
The Kansas batten scored 82 points,
10 more than the entire Oral Roberts'
team.
Kansas senior guard Adonis Jordan, who finished with 17 points, sat on the bench for much of the second half but said he enjoyed himself. It was Jordan who suggested to Thatlah that he had been told began chanting, "We want T.J."
"I told him to loosen up the elbows and legs," Jordan said. "I told him to get out there and to put it up."
Whatley finished with two points. Weichborn, who was one-for-two and the third in the playoff series.
Renee Knoeber / KANSAN
Darrin Hancock, junior forward, shoots over Oral Robers' Kenneth Bohanon. Kansas defeated the Titans 140-72, and Hancock finished with 12 points.
KANSAS 140, ORAL ROBERTS 72
KANSAS (13-1)
player fgm/fga ftm/ta tp
Scott 2-2 4-0 4
Baylor 4-7 4-7 12
Pauley 4-6 0-0 8
Watters 4-6 0-4 15
Jordan 4-7 7-7 17
Richey 10-13 3-4 23
Woodberry 2-3 0-0 5
Rayford 1-6 2-0 10
Reydon 3-7 2.4 24
Ostertag 6-11 9-12 21
Gurley 6-9 2-2 16
Whatley 1-1 0-1 2
Weichbront 1-1 1-1 3
ORAL ROBERTS (3-10)
Thompson 4-10 0-0 9
Jones 8-17 5-6 22
Ramos 0-0 0-0
Maraweva 2-7 2-4
Bohannon 7-22 7-8 22
Smith 0-4 0-0
Abbage 0-3 0-0
Minaweva 3-9 4-4
Kiaassen 0-0 0-0
Tierney 0-1 0-0
Crain 0-2 0-0
Manning 1-2 0-0
Totals 25-77 18-22
Hoffmann - Kansas 75, Oral Roberts 29, 3-point shot.
Snyder - Kentucky 86, Oral Roberts 41, 2-point shot.
Pearson - 2-Point Shooter 4, Oral Roberts 4-18,
Oxtagert 8, Oral Roberts 39 (Thompson 7),
Oxtagert 8, Oral Roberts 39 (Thompson 7),
Oxtagert 8, Oral Roberts 9, Total fouls 15, Oral
Robertss 9, Total fouls 15, Oral Roberts 15.
Swimmers to face NAIA champs
By Matt Dovle
Kansan sportswriter
Kansas swimming coach Gary Kempf likes to schedule some of the best swimming programs in the nation to face the Jawhaws.
"I want tough teams that will push us and make us better so, that we are ready for the conference competition," he said.
Both of the women's and men's teams already have improved their national rankings since the fall, as the women have moved up to No. 12, and the men are No. 19. It is the first time in school history that both squads have been ranked in the top 20 at the same time.
Drury College of Springfield, Mo., Kansas' opposition tomorrow, may not have the name recognition of a nationally-ranked Tennessee or does have the reputation of an excellent NAIA swimming program.
The Panthers are the defending NAIA champions in men's and women's swimming and should provide a good test for the Jayhawks in the 2 p.m. meet tomorrow at Robinia College. There is no charge for admission.
Despite the lack of name recognition, Kempri $k$, a lot of respect for Drury swimming coach Brian Reynolds and his program.
There is the possibility for a ledetown by the Jayhawks in going up the NAIA school. Kempf, though, will not allow such a thought.
"They are the best small college swimming program in the country," Kempf said. "They have won a lot of national championships."
Drury's men are five-time defending NAIA champions and winners of nine of the last 13 NAIA championships. The women's program won its first national championship last year in only its fourth year of existence.
Reynolds said the Panthers do not have the "super guns" as they have had in the past. But he does think he can win by giving them some good competition for Kansas.
"We have some individuals who have put in some good times this year," he said. "We're not going to back off from Kansas, though we might have to sacrifice a meet like this because our possible results later in the season."
"We're not as strong as we were last year," Reynolds said in a phone interview yesterday. "We lost some good years, and lost some at some semester this year."
"I don't believe in letdowns," he said. "Good teams perform their best."
Junior Tim Davidson practices his dives at Robinson Center. The team was preparing yesterday for Saturday's home meet against Drury College.
Rachel G. Thompson / KANSAN
Top 20 rankings excite swimmers down stretch
Bv Aimee Brainard
The University of Kansas' swimming and diving teams made history yesterday. For the first time, both the men's and women's teams were ranked among the NCAA's top 20 teams. It came as a pleasant surprise to me, for after four years with the program, people across the nation were viewing us as "ones to watch."
Guest columnist
The ones to watch? Indeed. Midway through the season, the ladies' team is undefeated, and the men have only lost close races to teams ranked higher in the polls. When the men raced Southern Methodist University, the margin of loss was merely the result
of close finishes in favor of SMU. The women have been fortunate enough to prevail in most of those close races, allowing us to remain undefeated.
dual meets left for the women and four for the men, our season is beginning to gain momentum. From now on, it's all downhill. This is when all the fun begins; when the elite get to step forward, strut their stuff, and play in the "bigs" at the NCAA championships. That is where the best get
Aimee Brainard
With only five
to race against each other and teams actually earn their national rankings
This year, I hope to see Gary do two somersaults.
For now, though, we are focused on a daily basis. By doing the little things correctly and working to better our selves each day, we are becoming better teams. We try to approach each meet wanting to take a step forward.
With only seven and a half weeks until the conference meet each meets become more important. Now is the time for us to correct our mistakes and avoid making new ones. There is something very special about these two teams. It is not just the great amount of talent that can be found on the squads — that speaks for itself. It isn't the tremendous work ethic that is evident among the squads. Instead
this unique quality comes from a deep-seated desire to succeed. Maybe that will make the difference between winning the Big Eight Conference Championship and finishing second
I have been in both situations, and I would definitely like to avoid the latter experience. Winning the conference meet is definitively our main goal for the season. Our coach, Gary Kempf, has promised for years to do a back somersault off the 3-meter board if we win the championship. Believe me, the sight is worth the wait.
'Hawks to seek 1,500th victory
By David Dorsev
Kansan sportswriter
No. 4 Kansas takes on Louisville tomorrow in Kentucky, giving the Jayhawks an opportunity not only to avenge last season's 85-78 loss at Allen Field House, but also to achieve all-time victory No. 1,500.
Victory No. 1, 1499 came last night against Oral Roberts. Kansas coach Roy Williams said he looked forward to the upcoming milestone. The Jaywalkers are ranked behind North Carolina and Kentucky in all-time victories.
"I believe in the history and the tradition we have here at Kansas," Williams said. "To say that of all the college basketball programs in the country that we're third on the all-time win list is important to me."
However, Williams said reaching the milestone at Louisville would not be easy.
"Dwayne Morton kicked our tail last
"Louisville plays very physically, but Kansas will have no problem with it," he said. "Kansas is better because of depth."
Oral Roberts guard Kenneth Bohan has played and lost to both Kansas and Louisville this month. He predicted after last night's 140-72 loss that Kansas would beat Louisville by 10. The Titans lost to the Cardinals 122-76 on Jan. 2.
Kansas senior guard Adonis Jordan said a victory at Louisville would mean even more because of what happened last year.
year," he said about the Cardinals' starting forward. Morton scored 20 points in last year's game.
The Jayhawks are on the road again on Monday when they resume Big Eight Conference play at Kansas State.
"In my four years here we've only lost at home twice, once to Missouri, and last year to Louisville." Jordan said. "It's payback time."
Kansas Jayhawks record:
head coach:
Marian Washington
Probable Starters:
Patrick Nancey
G Jr. 5# 6-24
Stacy Truitt
G Sr. 5# 8-21
Angela Aycock
F So. 6# 2-12
Caryn Shim
F So. 5# 4-25
Lisa Tate
C Jr. 6# 3-55
Allen Field House Lawrence, Kan.
record:
10-3
Nebraska Cornhuskers
Probable Starters:
   Meygan Yedsona
   Kate Galligan
   G Fr. 8-#11
   F Sr. 5-10 #25
   F Sr. 5-10 #22
   F Sr. 6-12 Jennings
   Sr. 9-21
Source: Kansas Sports Information
Andrew Hodges / KANSAN
Women's team set to face Cornhuskers
Jay Williams
Kansas sportwriter
Kansan sportswriter
Tonight's game against Nebraska is a big game for the Kansas women's basketball team, just ask the Jay-bawks.
"It's a must game," said junior guard Michelle Leathers. "It would help build our confidence."
The Jayhawks, 0-2 in the Big Eight Conference and 7-5 overall, play their first conference home game of the season against attackers at 7 tonight in Allen Field House.
A victory would help put Kansas back in the chase for the Big Eight athletic conference.
"For us to even have a shot to stay in reach, we need to take care of business at home," said Kansas coach Marian Washington.
The task tonight presents a difficult challenge for the Jayhawks. Nebraska, 1-1 in the conference and 10-3 overall, was picked third in the coaches' preseason poll behind No. 2 Kansas and No. 1 Colorado.
Senior center Karen Jennings leads the Cornhuskers, Jennings, last year's Big Eight Player of the Year, drew high praise from Washington.
Jennings is averaging 21.3 points and 7.8 rebounds a game this season.
"Everybody needs a go-to player, somebody who gets the ball in tough situations," Washington said. "For Nebraska, she's the one."
She was the Big Eight Player of the Week for the week of Dec. 14 and the preseason choice to win Player of the Year.
Both Kansas and Nebraska have slipped in recent weeks. After starting 8-0, the Cornhuskers have lost three of their last five games, and dropped out of the Associated Press top 25.
"I don't know what their challenges have been lately," Washington said. "I don't know."
The main challenge facing the Jayhawks is a lack of experienced leadership on the court, Washington said. The Jayhawks, still searching for a consistent leader and point guard, lost four consecutive games before beating 1-13 Oral Roberts University 109-53 Tuesday.
Kansas appears to have settled on a starting line-up. For three consecutive games, Washington has started sophomores Angela Aycock and Caryn Shinn at, forward, junior Lisa Tate at center, senior Stacy Truitt at off-guard and Leathers at point guard.
Leathers, a junior college transfer playing her first season at Kansas, said she was starting to adjust to the Jawkaws' style of play.
"it's a little difficult," she said. "I'm taking my time and trying to be patient."
Iowa State will play Kansas at 2 p.m Sunday at the field house.