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No horse had won the Triple Crown for a quarter of a century. Then, in 1973, this longlegged splendor did it with ease. SEE PAGE 2B
Inside: Kansas bowler Glenn Harrison bowled the Jaybowl's first perfect game in 30 years October 30.
SEE PAGE 6B
Inside: The No. 1-ranked Oklahoma Sooners survived a scare, beating Oklahoma State 12-7 on Saturday.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2000 For comments, contact Melinda Weaver or Jason Walker at 864-4858 or e-mail sports@kansan.com WWW.KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
SEE PAGE 6B
Sports Columnist
Derek Prater
sports@kansan.com
Win proves 'Hawks rule fieldhouse
It wasn't pretty. It wasn't par ticularly exciting.
But it was historic.
With a ho-hum 99-56 thumping of Division II Washburn on Saturday night, the Jayhawks delivered an Allen Fieldhouse milestone — victory No. 500. In just more than 45 years, 500 wins — not too shabby.
Since its dedication on March 1, 1955, the fieldhouse has grown into an icon of hardwood domination. Just check out these quick Allen Fieldhouse stats:
Kansas 'all-time record.
500-98 (836).
Record under Roy Will 10.15 (00)
- Undefeated seasons at home: 12.
Between 1994 and December 1998: 62 consecutive wins.
"Beware of the Phog" is an understatement. This "phog" has been like a cloud of sarin gas for visiting teams.
Of course, no fieldhouse mystic was needed against the woefully overmatched Ichabods this weekend. No. 500 was more a tribute to Roy Williams' charitable nature toward in state schools than it was to good basketball.
In fact, this one was pretty darn ugly, or as Williams said,
"really an unusual game."
"Unusual" is an apt characterization for a game in which Kansas hit 57 percent of its field goals but only 18 of 35 free throws.
“Pretty darn ugly” describes any game in which the referees toot their horns to the tune of 47 personal fouls.
Despite the aesthetic deficiencies of this game, it provided more evidence why this team is a legitimate threat to make this its 13th season with a perfect home record.
Reason No. 1 — Kirk Hinrich is stepping up both as a leader and a scorer. After a private chat with Williams about smart decision-making, Hinrich had a near flawless game with six assists to only one turnover. He also knocked down seven of eight shots (five of six from three) and led the team with 22 points.
But Williams will tell you that in the end they all count the same — "They're all great wins as far as I'm concerned."
Reason No. 2 — Eric Chenowith is playing with confidence and aggression — two attributes he sorely lacked last year. Chenowith, it seems, is on a mission to make his critics eat all those disparaging words they wrote last year (mmm... tastes like chicken). After Saturday's 17-rebound performance, Chenowith is averaging 10.2 boards a game so far. Anything else he does — so far he's averaging 13.6 points — is gravy (mmm... chicken and gravy).
Praeter is a Lawrence graduate student in Journalism.
Reason No. 3 — Points, points and more points. This team can score. So far the 'Hawks are averaging 94.6 points a game, and the scoring is coming from all around the floor. Five players are averaging double-digits, and the team is hitting nearly 58 percent of its field goals.
The team will need that kind of production because teams a lot tougher than Washburn will attempt to rise above the phog in the near future. The toughest test will be the Senior Day game against rival Missouri. No doubt the atmosphere for that game will be much more electric than Saturday's game.
Kansas junior guard Jeff Boschee snags a steal from Washburn's B. J. Ross, who slipped on the Allen Fieldhouse floor Saturday night. The Jayhawks went on to defeat the Ichabods 99-56. Photo by Nick Krug/KANSAN
Jayhawks nail November games
Red-hot team plows through weak schedule
By Michael Rigg sports @kanasa.com
Kansas sportwriter
Any overmatched opponent Kansas hauls into Allen Fieldhouse — from North Dakota to Boise State
It just doesn't matter who the Jayhawks play these days.
- falls prey to Kansas as the Jayhawks (5-0) continue their march toward another undefeated November.
The Jayhawks have done it by beating up the teams in one of their weakest nonconference schedules in recent memory. On Saturday night, Kansas finished Thanksgiving break by feasting on Washburn 99-56. Tonight, they could do much of the same to Middle Tennessee State. The recipe for success has been easy — physically dominate whichever foe steps in Allen Fieldhouse.
Kansas followed this recipe against the ichabods, using its superior height in 7-foot-1 senior center Eric Chenowith and athletic ability from senior forward Kenny Gregory
and sopnomore guard Kirk Hinrich to run away with a blowout victory. "Our goal coming into the game was to get the ball inside and get to the free-throw line," said Kansas
"I nailed the first couple, and they kept on going," Hinrich said. "I wanted to finish perfect, but when I missed the last three-pointer, all I could do was laugh."
Trailing Hinrich in the scoring category on Saturday was Chenowith, who amassed 19 points and 17 rebounds, and Gregory, who continued his consistent November pace by racking up 18 points.
Chenwah said he hoped his performance sent Williams a message.
coach Roy Williams. "We had such a size advantage. If you look at Kirk's shooting, Eric's rebounding, and Kenny's defense, then there were some pretty good plays."
"I wanted to finish perfect, but when I missed the last three-pointer, all I could do was laugh."
Indeed, the Jayhawks rode the red-hot shot of Hinrich to Saturday's victory. The sophomore point guard started off the game by hitting his first five three-point shots en route to a career high 22 points.
Kirk Hinrich sophomore guard
"In practice yesterday, I ripped down a rebound from Bryant (Nash) and kind of gave him this mean look," Chenowith said. "C o a c h Williams said I can only do that if I get 20 rebounds. So
that's what I tried to do."
Things won't get much tougher for Chenowith and the Jayhawks tonight. Chenowith towered over the Ichabods on Saturday — Washburn's tallest player was 6-8—and he will do the same against the Blue Raiders, who have only one player taller than 6-8.
The game will reunite Middle Tennessee State coach Randy Wiel
Kansas 99 Washburn 56
For more about the Washburn game and a preview of tonight's game against Middle Tennessee State,
See page 38
For more pictures from the Washburn game,
See www.kanesn.com
and Williams, who both served as assistants at North Carolina under Dean Smith. It will mark the end of a three-game series between the two schools. Kansas has won both previous matchups.
Kansas senior center Eric Chenowith dunks the second half of Saturday night's game against Washburn. Chenowith had a season-high 19 points and shot 75 percent from the field against the Ichabobs. Photo by Nick Krug/KANSAN
Tonight's game will tip off at 7 and be televised on the Jayhawk Network.
Kansas Basketball Notes
The Jayhawks will be without freshman point guard Mario Kinsey for the next few games. Recent surgery, which alleviated pain caused by too much stress on his left leg, will sideline Kinsey for ten more days.
Kinsey had a similar surgery before the season on his right leg but didn't miss any playing time. A native of Waco, Texas, Kinsey is averaging 2 points and 2.3 assists per game for the Javahawks.
Go ahead and scratch out "walk-
on" from the titles of junior forward Chris Zerbe and junior guard Brett Ballard. Both Zerbe and Ballard were given scholarships by Williams at the beginning of Thanksgiving break, and Ballard showed his gratitude by nailing two three-pointers against the Ichabods.
One of the few Jayhawks who struggled against Washburn was sophomore forward Nick Collison.
Collison didn't hit a shot from the floor on Saturday night and fouled out after collecting three fouls in one minute in the second half. Williams told the gathering of media after the game that it was just one of those days for Collison.
Maybe the moon, it wasn't right. Williams said. It was just a bad day. Believe it or not, you guys write bad articles sometimes.
— Edited by Clav McCusition
'Hawks take third in holiday tournament
By Zac Hunter
sports@kansas.com
Kansas sportswriter
By Zac Hunter
Two scoring bursts helped the Kansas women's basketball team win the consolation game of the Lady Blazer Classic against the University of Louisiana-Monroe 73-60 vesterdav.
The Jayhawks started the game with a 13-2 run, and it looked as though they would demolish the Lady Indians. The spark plug for the 'Hawks was senior forward Brooke Reves, who had seven points in the first four minutes.
But Kansas saw its lead steadily dwindle toward the end of the first half as the Lady Indians eventually tied the game. The 'Hawks took back the lead after a steal and layup by senior forward Jaclyr Johnson with just seconds remaining on the clock.
Coach Marian Washington said she wasn't surprised the Lady Indians had such a run, since opposing teams came out fighting because of Kansas' reputation.
"It's a real indication of the respect people have for our program." Washington said.
The key to the second half was Johnson. First, she drew the fourth foul on Louisiana-Monroe forward Terri Butler, who was the driving force behind the Lady Indians' offense. Butler had 15 points to lead Louisiana-Monroe.
Kansas responded by coming out of the blocks strong in the second half, stretching its three-point lead to nine with three quick baskets.
"All our post players are playing really well right
Jennifer Jackson
senior guard
After Butler picked up her fourth foul, Johnson took advantage. She scored at will in the final 20 minutes, as Butler played passive defense because of foul trouble.
Senior guard Jennifer Jackson said the 'Hawks knew their inside
In addition, Johnson tied a careerhigh with 25 points, with 16 coming in the second half. Johnson also brought down 10 rebounds for her second double-double of the season.
play would be the key to the game, and they were ready for the challenge.
"Jaclyn and Brooke are extremely seasoned post players," Jackson said. "All our post players are playing really well right now."
While Johnson dominated in the paint, sophomore guard Selena Scott made things happen with her quickness and passing.
"I'm just delighted with Selena. She's playing as well as anybody," Washington said. "We've just got to use her in the most effective way possible."
It appears Washington's use of Scott was effective, because she scored a career-high 14 points.
Kansas notes
Kansas wound up in the conso
lation game after losing to the University of Alabama-Birmingham 67-62 on Saturday. The 'Hawks went on an 18-1 run late in the second half but couldn't get the win to advance to the championship game of the Lady Blazer classic.
The Jayhawks got 13 points each from juniors Fernald Bosi and KC Hilgenkamp against Alabama-Birmingham.
The 'Hawks won the first game of their three-game road trip against Arkansas State 62-51 last Tuesday in Jonesboro, Ark. Arkansas State had won the two previous games, but Kansas allowed only 25 points from the Lady Indians in the second half.
— Edited by Megan Phelps
Myatt breaks kill record, leads team to victory
Smack, smack, smack went the volleyballs as Kansas senior outside hitter Amy Myatt broke the record for the most kills in a season in the Jayhawks 3-0 rout of the Oklahoma Hawkers, 15-13, 15-8, 15-12, Saturday night in Norman, Okla.
Win against Sooners boosts volleyball team to a winning record
By Sarah Warren sports@tanson.com Kansan sportwriter
Myatt led the Jayhawks with 14 kills, bringing her single-season total to 457, which surpassed Judy Desch's 1987 mark of 450 kills in a season. Going into the
Oklahoma game, Myatt needed only seven kills to tie the record, so when she scored her eighth of the night the Kansas bench exploded. *
"The entire team started screaming when I scored the first point of the second game," Myatt said. "I think that everyone at Oklahoma must have thought we were crazy, because we were just going nuts and it was only the first point. At first I didn't know why they were so excited but then I looked at the scoreboard and figured it out pretty quickly."
Myatt's record led the way for another total team celebration after the match, because the Hawks clinched their fifteenth win of the season to finish with a winning 15-14 record.
"Nobody wanted to finish
the season under 500. It was a good win."
Nancy Bell
senior outside hitter
"Nobody wanted to finish the season under .500," said Nancy Bell, senior outside hitter. "It was a good win."
The 7-14 Sooners tried their best to keep the Jayhawks from recording a winning record. Four Sooners registered double digits for kills, with Lindsay Hoyt and Cathy Cook leading the way by scoring 13 each.
"They played really well this time around," Bell said. "It was
their senior night, so I think that really helped them. They had a lot of emotion going in."
But the Jayhawk seniors proved too forceful for Oklahoma to reckon with. Bell followed Myatt in kills, scoring 10 of her own. Senior middle blocker Danielle Geronymy brought down 13 kills and scored four of Kansas' seven service aces. Senior outside hitter Sara Kidd led the Jayhawks in digs with 10.
"We out-dug them and I think we executed at times when we needed to," Bell said. "They made mistakes when they couldn't."
Younger Jayhawks also proved to execute well. Freshman middle blocker Jordan Garrison added nine kills and junior setter Molly LaMere added 41 set-assists, four kills and eight digs.
Kasnaa 3 Oklahoma 0
(15-13, 15-18, 15-12)
"I owe her a lot," Myatt said of LaMere. "She got me the record by setting to me."
Record and winning season aside, the Jayhawks were just happy to wrap up the season with a victory.
"Ending on a good note is really important moving into next season." Bell said. "That win can set the tone for the next year."
For the seniors, going out with a win was obviously invaluable too. "You want to remember your last game fondly," Myatt said. "It was a really big deal to have a winning season and to win the final game."
— Edited by John Audleholm