SPORTS UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Friday, February 11, 1994
11
Records point to victory against Cyclones
Tom Leininger / KANSAN
Kansas guards Charise Sampson and Angie Halbleib reach for a ball under the watchful eyes of Coach Marian Washington. The team practiced yesterday for tonight's home game against Iowa State.
By Matt Siegel
Kansan sportswriter
On paper, it looks like a ruismatch when the No. 10 Kansas women's basketball team faces Iowa State at 7 p.m. tonight in Allen Field House.
Iowa State is 7-14 overall and 2-7 in the Big Eight. Conference. Kansas is 16-3 and 7-2. The Jan. 16 meeting at the James H. Hilton Center saw Kansas sophomore guard Charisse Sampson score 21 points in an 84-71 Kansas win.
Kansas coach Marian Washington isn't taking Iowa State lightly, though.
"I think Coach Becker has done an outstanding job trying to turn attitudes around," Washington said. "I think Iowa State plays hard, and as a result of that, they upset Oklahoma State, which is one of the favorites in the conference."
If Iowa State is going to upset Kansas, the Cyclones will need to contain Kansas' potent offense, which is producing 80.2 points a game, the second highest output in the conference. Three players are averaging double-figure scores.
Iowa State ranks last in scoring offense, averaging 55.4 points a game. None of the Iowa State players are averaging in double figures.
Iowa State coach Theresa Becker said that equally important for Iowa State would be containing Kansas junior forward Angela Aycock, who is averaging 17.7 points a game. The preseason All-American candidate has led the team in scoring on 10 separate occasions. She ranks in the top 10 in the conference in scoring, steals, field goal percentage, rebounding and free throw percentage.
I don't know if anybody can stop her," Becker said. "I was fortunate enough to be involved in the recruiting process of Angela when I was an assistant at Nebraska, and I've
watched her develop. I still don't know if she has played a game to her entire potential because she has so many outstanding players around her."
Aycock, who once scored 50 points in a high-school game, was a starter on the U.S. Junior World Championship Team in August. She is coming off a 20-point performance Sunday that left Missouri forward Desiree Wallace impressed.
"She is a great athlete, a great player and she's got a great attitude," Wallace said.
Aycock, who averages 9.1 rebounds a game, has had seven games in which she has grabbed more than 10 rebounds, which is yet another area of concern for the Cyclones. Iowa State consistently has been outrebounded by its opponents this season. The Jayhawks are 13-1 when they outrebound their opponents.
"It's not going to turnaround overnight," Becker said. "I would have liked to say that we could have won the Big Eight Conference this year, but that's not realistic. We have 12 freshmen, 10 of whom suit up. I am not conceding defeat by any means. All I'm concerned about is if we play well and are competitive"
The Kansas Courtsiders, a booster club for the Jayhawks, will be selling tickets for a trip to the women's game against Kansas State. Tickets cost $10 and will be available before the tipoff of both the Iowa State and Nebraska games this weekend in the field house. The price includes tickets and transportation to and from the game. The bus will leave at 4 p.m. Feb. 26.
Kansas also plays Nebraska at 2 p.m. Sunday at Allen Field House. The Cornhuskers are 13-10 overall and 4-5 in the conference. Nebraska is led by senior forward Nafessa Brown, who is averaging 21 points a game.
Swim teams hope to shuck 'Huskers
Kansan sportswriter
By Andrew Gilman Kansas sportswriter
Kansas swimming coach Gary Kempf put tomorrow's dual meet against Nebraska into perspective.
"There's 25 yards of wet stuff, and we've got to get through it faster than they do," he said.
That wet stuff will be at Robinson Natatorium at 1 p.m., when the No. 13 men take on No. 21 Nebraska, and the No. 16 women take on the No. 21 Cornhuskers.
There will be some streaks that are intact when the two teams face off.
The women have beaten Nebraska four consecutive times in dual competition, but the men have not been as successful.
"This team has been asked to step up," Kempf said. "We've got to swim the way we know how."
"The team philosophy is different this year," said senior spinner Curts Taylor. "It may be more, maybe it's just because I'm a senior."
The men have not beaten Nebraska in dual competition since the 1981 season, a run that has included 13 consecutive losses, but the swimmers think that this could be the year for a turnaround.
Whether or not things have changed, the 13th ranked men will be competing against a Nebraska team that Kempf considers a strong one.
"I expect Nebraska to be completely ready," Kempf said. "There's a lot of attitude between the two teams. I expect them to have their best dual in the last five or six years."
The No. 13 position, the Jayhawks' highest ranking ever, may have some impact on the way Kansas will approach the meet.
us swim better."
"We want the challenge of proving that we're worthy of our ranking," Taylor said. "That challenge makes
Taylor will be swimming the 50-yard freestyle and the breaststroke in the 400-yard individual medley, and he will be part of the 400-yard freestyle relay.
Another streak on the line is the men's 400-yard relay. The team that includes Taylor has not lost all season, and he is confident that the streak will continue.
"If it comes down to that last relay, we won't lose," he said. "They don't have the depth that we do. We just put four good swims together and do it for the team."
The women, who remained at No. 16 for the second consecutive time, are extremely confident about this weekend. But junior distance swimmer Frankie Hanson was not one for predictions.
"There are no guarantees," she said. "But we're aware that this is the key dual meet of the season. If we achieve what we know we can, we'll win."
"I don't care who wins the events," Taylor said,"as long as it's KU first, KU second and KU third."
The women are undefeated this year in dual competition, putting together a 7-0 record, but said they were ready for the big meet.
"We love to hate them, and they certainly don't love us," Hanson said of the Cornhuskers. "If we didn't, then it wouldn't be as much fun."
The Jayhawks will have to maintain their composure this weekend when they look to the Big Eight Conference championships.
"I don't think any one person has to step up," Kempf said. "The whole team has got to perform."
Kempf said that Kansas was not looking for individual performance, but a total team effort.
Taylor agreed.
Kansas wants to avenge home loss to rivals
'Hawks set to face Wildcats
By Gerry Fey
Kansan sportswriter
The bitter aftertaste that Kansas State left in Lawrence three weeks ago still has not worn off for the No. 5 Kansas men's basketball team.
K-State upset then-No. 1 Kansas on Jan. 17. A last-second shot by K-State senior guard Anthony Beane won the game for the Wildcats 68-64.
Kansas freshman guard Jacque Vaughn said the team still felt bitter about that defeat at Allen Field House. The two teams rematch at 8 p.m. tomorrow, but this time the setting is Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan.
Despite this statistic, Kansas coach Roy Williams said the team seemed to have a hesitant attitude about the K-State game. He said some of his past teams had a cocky attitude when going to Manhattan.
"To me, it's just one game we need to win," Vaughn said. "The loss is kind of a bad taste in our mouths."
"It'll be interesting to see what their mood is in the locker room before the
The defeat snapped a 12-game winning streak for the Jayhawks and dropped them from No. 1 in the polls. With the time between games though, both teams have faltered slightly.
Kansas lost to Missouri Jan. 31 and enters the game at 20-3 overall and 5-2 in the Big Eight Conference. K-State has lost three consecutive games, dropping its record to 14-7 and 3-6. In K-State's last game, Nebraska defeated the Wildcats in Manhattan 76-68.
Manhattan may be a safe haven for Kansas on the road. The Jayhawks have won 10 consecutive games at K-State, dating back to 1984.
game," Williams said. "We're going out there a little bit wounded and not as confident."
Williams said the team finally realized that senior forward Richard Scott's injury on Jan. 24 was indeed serious. Scott rejuvenated his left shoulder against Nebraska on Sunday and did not play the second half.
Scott is listed as questionable for the game, but Williams said that the assessment was on the generous side. That may put more pressure on Kansas senior guard Steve Woodberry, who averages a team-high 15.7 points a game.
"When Steve has played well, we've been hard to beat," Williams said. "It would become more of a key with Richard out of the game. They will have their defense geared toward Steve and so will the next team."
On the defensive end for the Jayhawks, Vaughn said Woodberry was the Jayhawks' best defensive player.
"Right now, he's really everything for us," Vaughn said. "He's our leader and our motivator. On defense, he knows some of the other players better than I do, and he is more alert."
The Jayhawks will have to deal with a quick point guard in Beane. Kansas freshman center Scot Pollard said Beane seemed to enjoy playing against Kansas.
File Photo/KANSAN
"We have to do a really good job of controlling Beane," Pollard said. "His style is similar to Jacque's style in that he can drive by people and create a play so well."
Kansas senior forward Patrick Richey drove past Kansas State's Askia Jones during the Kansas 68-64 loss to K-State in Allen Field House. The Jayhawks will face the Wildcats tomorrow at Bramlette Field House in Manhattan.
"We've got to stop Askia's outside shooting or at least make him shoot a smaller percentage," Pollard said. "Another thing we're going to have to do is shut out the crowd. I've heard it's pretty hostile."
One of the players Beane passes to after penetrating is senior guard Askia Jones. Jones averages a teamhigh 22.5 points a game and scored 26 points against Kansas in the last game.
Vaughn said he had heard many
things about K-State's home court
"I've heard some rumors, good and bad," he said. "Some of them I can't tell you about. It's a place where the college atmosphere is definitely in full effect."
If Vaughn is referring to last season's adventure for Kansas, the rumors are true. When Kansas traveled to Manhattan, some fans in the crowd threw pennies at Kansas players. One coin hit former guard Rex Walters in the head and cut him.
Williams said that he did not hold any grudge against K-State or the crowd for last year's incident.
"It could happen in Allen Field House," he said. "I hope it doesn't, but it could. It only takes one imbecile in the crowd to give you a bad taste. But I'm not mad. I made seven cents on the bench before the game."
Returning 'Hawks dominate lineup for baseball opener
The Jayhawks, coming off a trip to the College World Series last season, will take on North Carolina State at 1 p.m. They will play Tennessee at 4:30 p.m. and Central Florida at 1 p.m. Saturday before playing in the consolation game or the finals Sunday.
The No.25 Kansas baseball team begins its season today in Kissimmee, Fla., at the Olive Garden Classic.
The Jayhawks return 14 lettermen from last year's team, including All-Big Eight senior pitcher Chris Corn, and senior outfielder Darryl Monroe and sonho.
sophomore pitcher Jamie Spittorr, both second-team All-Bight Flight players.
The Jayhawks finished 45-18 last year, finished second to Oklahoma State in the Big Eight Tournament and won the Mideast Regional of the NCAA Tournament.
Men's tennis in tournament
The No. 33 Kansas men's tennis team travels to Minneapolis, Minn., this weekend to compete in the Ice Vollies Tournament. The team will take on Washington at 6:30 p.m. today. Kansas enters the four-tournament with a 5-0 dual match record.
The two other teams, West Virginia and Minnesota, are ranked No. 43 and No. 27, respectively. The Jayhawks will be competing for the
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first time since Jan.21.
Reid Slattery, playing No. 1 for Kansas, is looking to rebound after losing two matches last weekend at the Rolex National Indoors in Dallas. Slattery is ranked No. 22 in the nation, and his overall record stands at 11-5.
Kansas tennis to face Notre Dame
Rolex National Intercollegiate Indoor Championship in Dallas.
Juniors Nora Koves and Rebecca Jansen upset the No. 1 ranked doubles team in the country.
The No. 15 Kansas women's tennis team travels to South Bend, Ind., this weekend for two dual matches. On Friday, the Jayhawks tangle with the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, and Saturday, they play William & Mary. In the Jayhawks' only dual match so far this season, they defeated the Utah Utes 9-0.
Kansas is coming off a highly successful
According to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association poll, Koves and senior Mindy Weiner are ranked No. 17 and No. 35, respectively. Weiner has compiled a singles record of 17-5 and Koves is 9-1.
The women will return home and immediately be tested by No. 1 Texas at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Alvamar Racquet Club. The Longhorns are the defending national champions.
Volleyball gains three recruits
Compiled from Kansasn staff reports
The Kansas volleyball team signed three new players for the upcoming season.
Kendra Kahler, Maggie Mohrfeld, and Leslie Purkeypile have signed letters of intent to attend Kansas.
kahler, who was born in Lawrence, lives in Ottawa, where she lettered in volleyball for three years. She was the 1993 class 5A player of the year and was named to the first team all-area and all-state teams.
Mohlrief, West Point, Iowa, lettered in volleyball at Marquette High School for three years. This year she was named to the first team all-state and was named the Hawkeye Plaver of the Year.
Purkeypile, who is 6-feet tall, is from Wamego, where she lettered in volleyball for four years. She was named the Kansas High School Volleyball Player of the Year.