SPORTS
The University Daily KANSAN January 13, 1984 Page 16
Sooners favored in tight conference race
The Big Eight basketball season began Wednesday and already there has been an upset. Oklahoma, which had looked so good on national television in beating Syracuse, lost to Iowa State, 74-68.
It's going to be one of those years.
Looking around the conference, there are only a couple of teams that haven't shown glimpses of being better than expected. In fact, the biggest surprise, at least at this point, is that the Kansas Jayhawks have already lost two starters.
KU opens its conference season tomorrow night when it plays host to the Colorado Buffaloes, CU, led by Coach Curtis.
JEFF CRAVENS
when Calvin Thompson's shot at the buzzer was not allowed.
I using the bottom three teams in the conference doesn't seem to be too difficult, but one could draw names out of a hat to determine the top five teams and eight teams in the order in which I think they will finish.
Sports Editor
OKLAHOMA — Although the Sooners lost their opener, they are still tough. Coach Billy Tubbs, back after his jogging injury last season, lost four starters off last season's squad. However, the one they have back is all everything player Wayman Tisdale, who is currently leading the nation in scoring.
To win, Tubbs will have to continue to get good play from his three freshmen starters; forwards David Johnson, a teammate of Thompson's at Kansas City's Wyandotte High, and Darryl Kennedy and guard Tim McCalister, the early season choice for Big Eight Newcomer of the Year.
MISSOURI — The Tigers were also hurt by graduation, losing Steve Stipanovich and Jon Sunvold in the first round of the NBA draft. But Norm Stewart seems to keep on winning. Two of last season's starters, Ron Jones and Greg Cavener, have improved to give Mizzou excellent leadership along with guard Prince Bridges, a part-time starter.
won guards. The veterans have also helped the squad, led by forward Malcolm Thomas. Thomas is averaging 21 points and 11 rebounds. Stewart doesn't go very deep on his bench, but hasn't had to yet.
NEHASKA — The Huskers bring back the conference's most experienced starting lineup, with four starters returning off last season's third-place NIT team. The Devaney Sports Complex is a tough place for any team to win and is sold out for all NU home games.
Dave Hoppen is still the big gun for Moe Iba's team. The 6-foot-10 center led the team in scoring last season and is averaging 19.4 points a game this season. But the Huskers are struggling somewhat and haven't played as well as expected.
KANSAS — The Jayhawks, led by head coach Larry Brown, have experimented all December, changing starting players regularly. All but one player on the squad has started at least one game. KU also lost forward Kerry Bogani, who quit the team, and guard Cedric Hunter for academic reasons.
IOWA STATE — The Cyclones have already proven that they will be tough to beat in Ames. Led by forward Barry Stevens, a threat to score 30 points on any given night, ISU turned in a strong defense effort against Oklahoma. After this weekend's upset, the Sooners will see if the upend over the Soopers was for real.
Seniors Carl Henry and Kelly Knight have been slowed by injuries and have been unable to play up to their capabilities. Greg Dreiling has steadily improved in the middle, which is a must if the Jayhawks are going to stay in contention. The Jayhawks must get consistent play from the backcourt, also.
The biggest check against ISU is height. Only one player in the starting lineup over 6-5. The bigger
teams in the conference might wear Johnny Orr's team down, but as long as Iowa State keeps shooting like they have been, they will stay close to every team in the conference.
COLORADO — The Jayhawks' foe tomorrow night, Tom Apkhe has his team playing well. But it seems that the Buffaloes always play well in the preseason, only to fade at the end of the season. Seniors Jay Humphries and Vince Kelley return to lead the CU attack. Humphries, who led the Big Eight in steals last season, should be one of the premier guards in the conference.
The Buffaloes beat the Jayhawks in Allen Field House last season, and a win in the conference opener could give them the confidence they need to finish in the top division.
OKLAHOMA STATE — Paul Hansen's Cowboys lost a lot of fire power from last season's team that went to the NCAA playoffs. Gone are Matt Clark, Leroy Combs and Lorenza Renata. The only starters back are Raymond Crenshaw and Bill Self, two role players off last season's squad.
The good news for Hansen is that Joe Atkinson, one of the top players in the conference, is back after a season in which he played 19 games.
KANSAS STATE — Although the Wildcats have one of the top coaches in the land, Jack Hartman, they will finish near the cellar for the second straight season. K-State had a tough time defeating a weak Texas team, then lost to Northern Iowa, squealing any confidence from the overtime loss at Indiana.
Ben Mitchell is Hartman's top player, with newcomers Eric Watson and Tom Alfaro also playing well. Center Eddie Elder is a worker, but is too small to battle the other conference centers. And Hartman may have much talent to bring off the bench. Ahearn may not be even sold over every game for the conference.
There are my picks, but they will probably be different next week. The winner of the conference willproblose five games, unless Tisdale goes wild. There will also be games where the must stay away from injuries to be a contender
Center Greg Dreiling and forward Carl Henry will lead the Kansas Jayhawks into their big Eight opener tomorrow night against Colorado in Allen Field House. Tip-off is set for 7:30. The Buffaloes, led by guard Jay Humphries, will try to beat KU at home for the second consecutive year.
KU women's team faces top AAU squad tonight
By PHIL ELLENBECKER Sports Writer
The Kansas women's basketball team will be in action for the first time in eight days when the Jayhawks take on Varsity Sports of Kansas City, Kan. in an exhibition game at 7:30 tonight in Allen Field House.
Although the Jayhawks, 4-8, haven't overlooked tonight's game, head coach Marian Washington admits that most of the focus in this week's practices has been on the Big Eight opener against the nationally ranked Missouri Tigers.
Washington said the exhibition was scheduled so that her team wouldn't have too big of a fill between games.
Varsity Sports is what Washington calls "one of the premier AAU teams in the Midwest." The team had a 27-6 victory over Oklahoma in the 1982 AAU National Tournament.
TONIGHT'S GAME marks the return to Allen Field House for Angela Taylor, who now plays for Varsity Sport. The 5-foot-9 guard-forward led KU in assists and steals last year. She also scored 20 points and 7.5 points overall in her two and a half seasons with the Jayhawks after transferring from Kansas State.
Washington has decided on at least four starters for tonight's game. Six-foot one sophomore Vickie Adkins, 6-0 junior Barbaina Burdicks and 5-10 junior Angie Snider are on the front line. A is 3-4 freshman Tom Web, at guard.
Washington said the fifth starter could be 6-2 freshman Renea Page, in which case, Snider would move to the other guard position.
Washington can also go to Valerie Quarles, who has started in six of KU's games, and either Cindy Platt or Ann Schel.
SNIDER IS RANKED 10th nationally in scoring in NCAA Division I and first in the Big Eight with an average of 26.1 points a game. She also leads the team in assists and steals and is second in rebounding, averaging 7.7 each game.
Vickie Adkins leads the team in rebounding with a 7.8 a game average and is second in scoring at 13.0 and closely by her sister Barbara at 11.1.
The Jayhawks, who were down to eight players during last week's Miami Dial Classic, will suit up nine tonight with the addition of 5-10 sophomore Marilyn Jenkins, a transfer from the Air Force Academy. NCAA transfer rules required Jenkins to sit out the first semester.
Two Jayhawks are out with knee injuries. Freshman Sherri Stoecker underwent surgery on Wednesday and is out for the season. Freshman Evelette Ott went through arthropostic surgery yesterday, but Washington is hopeful that she will return for the second half of the Big Eight season.
KU WILL ALSO be miss their big 6-6 senior center Philicia Allen, who has been declared academically ineligible. KU will also be without junior Mary Myers who has been suspended indefinitely. Myers had started in seven games this season before being suspended prior to the Miami tournament.
lacking in height and numbers, the Jayhawks will have to work hard for 40 minutes a game in order to be competitive in the tough conference.
MORE SPORTS pages 14,15
United Press International
John Riggins wins Bert Bell Award as top pro player
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Laker forward Jamaal Wilkes and Kansas City's Mike Woodson wrestle for a loose ball.
Los Angeles, led by Bob McAdoo's 10 fourth quarter points, edged the Kings 95-89 last night in Kemper Arena.
Lasalle Thompson scored 28 points and grabbed 20 rebounds in leading the Kings.
By United Press International
PHILADELPHIA — Washington Redskins' running back John Riggins, who set a league record by scoring 24 touchdowns during the 1983 season, yesterday was named winner of the Maxwell Club's Bert Bell Award as the outstanding player in the NFL.
huggins, the former KU All-American, led the Skippers to victory in Super Bowl XVII, gained 1,347 yards on 375 carries, good for an average of 3.6 yards per carry, as the Redskins went 14-2 during the regular season and then advanced to Super Bowl XVIII against the Los Angeles Raiders.
Riggins was selected as the 25th winner of the award from a group of finalists that included his teammate, quarterback Joe Theismann, who won last year's Bert Bell award; tight end Todd Christensen of the Raiders; and three rookies, rummer Joel Davis, and Angeles Rams, Curt Warner of the Seattle Seahawks and quarterback Dan Marino of the Miami Dolphins.
Riggins is fifth on the NFL's all-time rushing list with 9,436 yards, and is third in the number of rushing attempts with 2,413.
Riggins will join Maxwell Award winner Mike Rozier of Nebraska, picked as the outstanding collegiate player in 2013 by club's annual awards banquet on Feb. 22.
National champions featured in 2nd annual alumni classic
By GREG DAMMAN Sports Writer
KU's 1952 NCAA championship team will be honored this year. Every member of the 1952 team except Dean Smith and Clyde Lovellette will return.
The game will be played prior to the KU-Colorado basketball game. Admission for the 5:15 p.m. contest is included in the KU-Colorado ticket.
Jayhawk basketball greats of the past will be on hand tomorrow night for the second annual Kansas Old Timers Basketball Game.
Lovellette *All-American and NCAA tourney MVP in 1982. Smith is a top college basketball player.*
THE 1952 TEAM finished with a 28-3
record and defeated St. John, s 80-63
A luncheon for members of the 1952 team will be held tomorrow morning, and the players will be introduced at the halftime of the Colorado game.
The white team won last year's game. 70-56
Top scoreers in the game were former assistant coach Jo Jo White with 18 points and Bruce Sloan and Tommy Smith with 12 points each.
Mike Hamrick, administrative assistant to the athletic director, said he expected more than 70 former KU basketball players to return for the weekend.
Bridges is KU's career rebound leader and was an All-American in 1961. Schnellbacher led KU in scoring in 1943 and '48 and delighted the crowd last year by sinking two underhand free throws.
Last year's game was popular with the fans, Hamrick said, but an even bigger crowd is expected tomorrow night.
"Right now it looks like we will have 60 tow players, and I expect to 15 more by the end."
*Last year we had 5,000 to 6,000 people come early for the game, and I think it will work.*
FORMER JAYHWA STARS such as B.H. Born, Bill Bridges and last year's crowd favorite Otto the bachelor, will be on hand for the game.
... in an evening game, he said
THE INAUGURAL GAME was played in honor of KU's 1957 NCAA
tournament runner-up team. Because of the game's success, Hamrick said, it
has become an annual event.
"Last year was the first year we had it," Hamrick said, "and it was so successful we decided to turn it into an annual event."
Born did not play in last year's game, but Bridges and Schnellbauer will he.
because it's an evening game," he said.
Coaching the blue team will be Paul Endacott, an All-American and Helms Foundation Player of the Year in 1923 and Bob Allen, captain on the 1941 team and son of former head coach Phog Allen.
The white team will be coached by Bailour Jeffrey, a guard on the 1927-20 seam, and Mit Allen, also a son of Miles and later on KU's in 1944-35-38
The coaches will pick their own teams, with a coin toss to decide who
Another notable player in tomorrow night's game will be Monte Johnson, KU athletic director and member of the 1967 NCAA runner-up team.
Pierre Russell, who played on KU's 1971 NCAA Midwest Regional championship team, will join the roster, as well as Chris King. The 1966 team's leading scoreer.
Faces 5 ranked teams in Texas
Assistant swim coach Clayton Cagle said the Jayhawks were ready to handle what would be their biggest season yet. The meet is today and tomorrow.
The Kansas women's swim team will face its toughest competition of the year when it travels to Austin, Texas this weekend to compete in the Longhorn Invitational.
"The year so far has been soft, with not a lot of meets," he said. "This weekend will tell a lot about what the future will hold for the team."
Swim team ready for tough meet
By PHIL ENGLISH Sports Writer
The other five teams competing in the invitational — Auburn, Southern Illinois, Southern California, Texas and North Carolina — are nationally ranked. Cagle were the Jayhawks were upset they had been left out of the poll.
"WE WERE ASKED to be in the invitational, because of our past record," he said. "We were ranked seven in the nation last year and have
"This was the best swimming the girls did all season. They were very excited with the way it turned out," he
THEY WON THE Big Eight Invitational at Lawrence in November, placed third in the Saluki Standard Invitational and will be defending their ninth consecutive Big Eight championship in February.
The highlight of the season, Cagle said, was the SIU Invitational in Carbondale. Ill.
The Kansas women fared well in regular season competition. In dual meets, the lady Jayhawks were 3-0, defeating Nebraska and Colorado State in meets at KU's Robinson Natatorium, and Missouri last Friday in Columbia
been on the move for the last five years. Each year we also have more and more girls qualifying for the nationals
"We competed against SIU at the Saluki Standard Invitational, in Carbondale, Ill., late last year, and we wiped them off the map. This is the first time we have been asked to compete in this invitational, and these teams know that we will give them a good fight."
SOME OF THE TEAM's younger standouts include Colorado Springs, Colo., freshman Marie Herrold in the distance and butterfly events and sophomore spinner Tammy Pease from Rolla, Mo.
Cagle said the Jayhawks are a young team, led by NCAA butterfly and relays finalist Jenny Wagstaff. The Shawnee Mission mission is a three-time All-American, as well as an inspiration to members of the team, according to Cagle.
"We are having our hardest practices ever now, and we really need to be in shape physically and mentally for what lies ahead." Cagle said.
"We have a lot of depth this year, with many talented younger swimmers."
Atlanta pitcher Perez denies cocaine charges
Following the semester, the Jayhawks got a nine day Christmas vacation, but were told by head coach Gary Kemp to swim 1,500 meters a
and said. "It was a big step for everyone, and gave the team a great degree of confidence."
By United Press International
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — Atlanta Braves' pitcher Pascual Perez, arrested on charges of possessing half a gram of cocaine, said yesterday that he was not a drug user and that he would clear his name in court.
Perez said he had been given the drug by a woman in Atlanta and did not know it was cocaine.
in this cocaine that I have never consumed cocaine, neither am I a drug addict," Perez said in a telephone interview
The Braves' pitcher, who plays winter ball for the Cibao Eagles in his native country, was arrested by narcotics police as he left a beer parlor with a friend Monday night.
from the prison in which he has been held since Monday night in Santiago, 90 miles northwest of the Dominican capital.
Police said he pleaded guilty at a preliminary hearing to possession of 500 milligrams of cocaine. Having pleaded guilty, he now faces a trial in which all evidence will be brought before a judge to determine a sentence.
which could result in a five-year jail term or a fine of up to $5,000
Perez said the powder, which police confiscated from his wallet, had been given to him by a woman in Atlanta when he was in that city for a medical checkup and contract talks with the Eagles.
"I didn't even remember that I still had it in my wallet." Peres said.
"I am ashamed by this matter"
Perez said, vowing to defend himself in
the case.
The Braves' pitcher said members of the Atlanta team "are very worried at him."