SPORTS UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Tuesday, February 1, 1994
7
Missouri defense shuts down Kansas
Tigers take a commanding conference lead with victory
By Gerry Fey
Kansan sportswriter
COLUMBIA, Mo.- An unlikely Missouri player helped end a six-game losing streak against Kansas with a 79-67 upset last night at the Hearnes Center.
No, it was not Missouri senior guard Melvin Booker. Although he led the team with 16 points, it was below his average of 18.2 points a game.
The defeat dropped No. 3 Kansas' record to 19-3 overall and 4-2 in the conference, while No. 20 Missouri solidified its lead in the conference at 15-2 and 6-0.
It was not senior center Jevon Crudup, who has the Big Eight Conference's ninth best shooting percentage. He shot a dismal four for 12 and ended with 14 points.
Instead, it was junior forward Lamont Frazier who surprised Kansas with 13 points, five rebounds and five assists. Frazier had previously averaged 7.5 points a game.
"I think Lamont really gave them some scoring and leadership in the first half," Kansas coach Roy Williams. "Missouri's a club that's got
five, six and seven guys that can score. It was just a tough night for us."
Missouri coach Norm Stewart gave a lot of credit to Frazier in the Tigers victory. It was Missouri's first victory against Kansas in seven consecutive meetings.
"It was his best game as a Tiger," Stewart said. "He gave us a start early on. Defensively he knows the game, and his experience has added to it."
This is the first time this season that Kansas has lost on the road. The Jayhawks were coming off an 87-53 victory Saturday at Colorado, and Williams said that he knew two road games during a three-day span would be tough.
"I was concerned about it, but that was not an excuse," he said. "They outplayed us."
Williams said the Jayhawks' defense, usually their strong point in games, did not plav up to its potential.
"The key to the game was that their defense was better than our defense," Williams said. "They were by far the more active team tonight."
Kansas fell behind early in the first half when Booker and Crudup doube-treated Kansas freshman guard Jacque Vaughn in the back court. The plan caused two turnovers and the Tigers went on a 6-2 run.
Although the Tigers did score points off eight Kansas turnovers, the Jayhawks were able to answer Missouri's runs with outside shooting by Kansas senior guard Steve Woodberry and sophomore forward Sean Pearson. However, Kansas only shot 30 percent from the field. Missouri held on to a 34-29 lead at halftime. Pearson finished with nine points, while Woodberry led all scorers with 19.
Pearson said the second half was a different story for his shooting.
"I wasn't pleased personally," he said. "They picked up their defense a little bit, and I think we were trying to go inside more.
"We weren't as aggressive as they were. We made a run, but they hung on."
Kansas started the second half with a 13-6 run, capped off by a jump shot from the left side from Kansas junior center Greg Ostertag. Missouri would not crack though, and Williams noticed that.
"They're an_experienced team." Williams said. "The leadership was important to them because they were not alarmed when we made our run."
Stewart said he was happy with his team's performance.
"I think our ball club came back realy strong and withstood the run they made," he said. "We were very intent from the start defensively."
"It's just that he's mentally tough enough to say that, 'I can try to do it,'" Williams said. "They were aiming their defense at Steve, and yet our offense was still going to him. I'd like to have five guys that can score, but I don't. We aren't a bad basketball team."
As Kansas tried to come back from a 69-56 deficit late in the game, Woodberry frequently got the ball from his teammates. Williams said that Woodberry wanted the ball.
Williams said that the season was not lost after last night's defeat.
"Missouri is in the driver seat now, but there is still the second half of the season to go," he said. "Hopefully we will be able to have a meaningful game when they come to Lawrence."
MISSOURI 79 KANSAS 67
KANSAS (19-3, 4-2)
Player fgm/fga ftm/ta tp
Woodberry 7-16 3-4 19
Scott 3-3 0-5 6
Ostertag 5-9 3-4 13
Vaughn 2-5 2-2 7
Richey 7-8 10
Williams 0-1 0-0 0
Pollard 1-4 1-1 3
Pearson 4-8 1-2 9
Rayford 0-4 0-0 0
Gurley 0-3 0-0 0
Weichbrodt 0-0 0-0 0
Totals 23-60 17-26 67
MISSOURI (15-2, 6-0)
Crupid 4-12 6-8 14
Winfield 1-2 0-0 2
Thames 5-11 4-4 14
Booker 4-13 8-9 16
Frazier 5-7 3-4 13
Atkins 0-3 3-4 3
O'Liney 4-8 3-5 13
Finner 1-3 0-0 2
Heller 1-1 0-0 2
Sutherland 0-0 0-0 0
Totals 25-60 27-34 79
Halftime Missouri 34, Kansas 29 point
goals Kentucky 4,14 (Woodberry 2,6, Vaughn
1,3, Richey 1,3, Pearson 0,2, Rayford 0,1,
Gurley 0,3) Missouri 1,28 (Oline 2,4,
Kearney 1,1) Missouri 1,28 (Oline 2,4,
Missouri 1,28 (Oline 2,4)
Ostertagt 8), Missouri 38 (Crudp 6)
Anaconda Kansas 12 (Vaughn 6), Missouri
12 (Frazier 5) Total fouls Kansas 25, Missouri
24 Attendance 13,349
Lawrence senior heading for Kansas
By Andrew Gilman Kansan sportswriter
Sitting in the bleachers in the high school gym and putting a baseball cap on his head, Jason Thoren puts football into perspective.
Football is football, whether it be high school or college, he explained.
That's how Thoren, a 6-foot-2, 215 pound Lawrence High School senior puts it, as he remembers his high school success and looks to his future
at Kansas.
Thoren has made a verbal commitment to play for the Jayhawks. The signing period begins tomorrow.
Thoren, who played on three state championship teams for the Lions.
Jason Thoren
gained more than 1,200 yards rushing as a senior. He also was named the most valuable player in the Kansas City metro area.
"He's a guy we're definitely going to miss next year," Lawrence football coach Dick Purdy said.
Although he has accomplished more running the ball, Thoren, who also has played linebacker, will focus his attention on stopping the ball for the Jayhawks.
"That's one of the reasons I came to Kansas," he said. "A lot of other
schools wanted me to run the ball."
Thoren was recruited by Kansas State, Missouri, Boston College and Arkansas mainly for running, but he preferred defense.
"I wanted to be a linebacker," Thoren said. "I remember going to Lawrence football games watching Charlie and Clint (Bowen) and seeing them at KU. I've always wanted to play for them."
Although he was heavily recruited, his role at Kansas has yet to be determined.
Kansas coach Glen Mason was unable to comment under NCAA rules. Mason cannot talk about players until he receives a written commitment.
"I doubt I'll play my first year," Thoren said. "I'll just try to learn from the guys that are there."
Thoren also will be adjusting to playing in front of crowds of up to 60,000 people instead of 6,000.
"It'll be different," he said. "I'm sure that I'll be in awe the first time I walk into Memorial Stadium."
For now, Thoren is content on enjoying his senior year and remembering his days at Lawrence.
"The most memorable part is winning the state championship my senior year," he said. "We all worked so hard."
"I just have to wait and see," he said. "I really don't know what to expect. I just want to go out there and play."
Kansas and Thoren may be a perfect match.
Tom Leininger / KANSAN
Let the games begin
AP Top 25
Stacy Feldman, Buffalo Grove, III., sophomore; Adam Shaf, Highland Park, III., freshman; and Wes Friedman, Wilmette, III., freshman, watch one of the first games of the intramural basketball season at Robinson Center. The Air Up There defeated Almost Anything 52-34 during yesterday's game. Yesterday was the first day for intramural basketball.
Intramural basketball includes three weeks of regular season games followed by a single elimination tournament. Teams with names such as The Aerial Display, What's an Icthus?, Body Fat, Stephenson Vertical Burrito and Harding's Hitmen, will compete for the championship in 10 different divisions of play. Each team is guaranteed at least four games, and the divisions include men's, women's and co-rete teams.
The Kansas men held their ground in the poll at No. 3 despite a blowout victory Saturday day at Colorado.
Others receiving votes: Marquette 131, Xavier, Ohio 116, West Virginia 103, Illinois 53, Boston College 47, Georgia Tech 22, Virginia 17, Mississippi St. 13, Alabama 9, mississippi 9, Penn 9, Texas 7, Michigan 6, Brigham Young 5, Kansas St. 5, Oklahoma St. 4, Tulsa 4, Washington St. 3, DePaul 1, Miami, Ohio 1, Oklahoma 1, Providence 1, SW Louisiana 1.
Source: The Associated Press KANSAN
AP Top 25
rank team record pts. pts. pr
Record Pts Pts
1. Duke (51) 15-1 1,587 2
2. UNC (3) 17-1 1,429 4
3. Kansas (2) 19-2 1,425 3
4. UCLA (1) 14-1 1,401 1
5. U Conn.(7) 18-1 1,358 6
6. Arkansas 18-1 1,293 5
7. Kentucky 16-3 1,170 9
8. Purdue 17-2 1,088 7
9. Louisville 16-2 1,074 12
10. Temple 13-2 1,072 10
11. U Mass. 13-2 997 8
12. Arizona 16-3 944 13
13. Michigan 13-4 799 15
14. Indiana 12-4 796 11
15. Syracuse 13-3 582 14
16. Wisconsin 13-3 540 16
17. Ala.-Birm. 13-2 502 20
18. St. Louis 16-1 361 23
19. California 16-1 338 —
20. Missouri 14-2 328 24
21. Maryland 12-4 313 18
22. Minnesota 14-6 305 17
23. New Mex. St. 16-1 204 25
24. Florida 16-3 188 —
25. Cincinnati 14-5 138 —
The Kansas women moved past Colorado after two victories last week. The Jayhawks face the Bufaloes Friday in Boulder.
rank team record pts. pr
| Record | Pts | Pv |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 1. Penn State (61) | 16-0 | 1,740 1 |
| 2. Tenn. (9) | 18-1 | 1,686 2 |
| 3. UNC | 17-1 | 1,546 5 |
| 4. Texas Tech | 16-2 | 1,485 6 |
| 5. Southern Cal | 15-1 | 1,409 8 |
| **6. Kansas** | **18-1** | **1,403 7** |
| 7. Colorado | 16-3 | 1,379 3 |
| 8. Iowa | 13-2 | 1,309 4 |
| 9. Connecticut | 15-2 | 1,112 11 |
| 10. Virginia | 15-2 | 1,057 12 |
| 11. Vanderbilt | 15-4 | 1,053 9 |
| 12. Purdue | 15-3 | 967 13 |
| 13. Louis, Tech | 13-3 | 891 14 |
| 14. Stanford | 11-5 | 810 10 |
| 15. Alabama | 15-3 | 785 15 |
| 16. Florida Int. | 15-1 | 709 16 |
| 17. Washington | 15-3 | 597 18 |
| 18. Seton Hall | 16-2 | 446 22 |
| 19. Rutgers | 16-3 | 288 25 |
| 20. Auburn | 13-5 | 272 23 |
| 21. Boise State | 15-3 | 245 21 |
| 22. Ohio State | 11-6 | 231 17 |
| 23. Montana | 15-1 | 199 20 |
| 24. S. Miss. | 15-1 | 198 — |
| 25. W. Kentucky | 13-5 | 164 24 |
Others receiving votes: Toledo 117;
Florida 98; Northwest 97; N. Illinois 80; Indiana 65; Brighton 60;
Texas 55; Mississippi 317; ULM 25;
Hawaii 17; Texas A&M 15; New Mexico St. 14; Oklahoma St. 14; UCLA 14;
Georgia 13; San Diego St. 9; SW Missouri St. 8; George Washington 7;
Notre Dame 7; NW Louisiana 6; Pittsburgh 5; Ala.-Birmingham 4; Oregon 3;
Minnesota 2; Oklahoma 2
Source: The Associated Press KANSAN
SPOTREEBOKSHOT
In conjunction with Schick Super Hoops on Feb. 5th Men's & Women's Divisions Available ENTRY DEADLINE:Wednesday, February 2nd 5:00 pm 208 Robinson
Tournament will be held February 5,1994 Details in Robinson Available Room 208 Sponsored by KU Rec Services
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