Tuesday, October 31, 2000
The University Daily Kansan
Section B · Page 3
Eager students camp out for good seats to opener
By Michael Rigg sports@kanson.com
Kansas sportwriter
Mike Nichols, Anthony freshman,
headed to Allen Fieldhouse yesterday
morning and couldn't believe
what he saw.
Or more specifically what he didn't see.
Nichols wandered into the fieldhouse at 6 a.m. to get his camping group in line for good seats for tomorrow's contest against the California All-Stars. Nobody else was at the fieldhouse, making the group the first of the new season.
"I kind of thought there would be more people here," Nichols said.
After Nichols signed his group up on the top of the list, a member of another group — the Shirttess Roy's Boys — wandered in, and the first contest for seats was underway.
Camping for seats is not unheard of at Kansas — students have been camping for more than 10 years. But because the Jayhawks are playing a meaningless exhibition game against the ragtag California All-Stars, it makes Nichols' enthusiasm unique.
Nichols said it even drew surprise
from Kansas assistant coach Ben Miller, who saw the campers and asked, "You guys are camping already?"
Nichols isn't deterred by the game's perceived lack of meaning.
"This is my first game, and it's the first game of the season," he said. "I'd do it again."
Alan Patterson, Anthony freshman, agreed.
"I just want to see basketball." Patterson said. "I've never been to a game. I also grew up watching Oklahoma State, and I kind of wanted to see how this compared."
Ross Cleveland, a member of the Shirtless Roy's Boys and Anthony freshman, said the early start was necessary to land good seats.
"You want to get the best seats you can," Cleveland said. "It's Kansas basketball."
The game will start at 7:05 tomorrow night.
Kansas Basketball Notes
Miles Away From A Decision One of the Jayhawks' top recruits, point guard Aaron Miles of Portland, Ore., wasn't any closer to making a decision yesterday.
Miles visited Arizona last weekend and said he would decide between Kansas and Arizona this week. Miles enjoyed his trip to the desert city and said the decision of Michael Lee, Miles' best friend who already committed to Kansas, might play a part in his decision.
But Miles said one of the biggest factors was playing time, particularly being a starter.
Another Kansas recruit, Keith Langford, a 6-foot-4 guard/forward from Crowley, Texas, visited Cincinnati last weekend.
He will visit Kansas this weekend.
"I have never been on the Kansas campus before," Langford said. "But I have relatives in Kansas."
The early signing period starts Wednesday, Nov. 8.
- Ticket Gaffe Student tickets for tomorrow's game list 8:05 p.m. as the starting time, but the tip-off was changed to 7:05 p.m.
Roy Live Kansas coach Roy Williams will have his first press conference of the season at 2:30 p.m. today. Fans can listen on the Internet by logging onto www.kuathletics.com and clicking on the Jayhawk Radio Network link.
Ross Cleveland, Anthony freshman, and Justin Becker, Danville freshman, wait in line at Allen Fieldhouse yesterday. The men's basketball season will start tomorrow night with an exhibition game. Photo by Tara Kraus/KANSAN
New coach revives 'Huskers
By Chris Wristen
sports@kansan.com
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
After tumbling into the ranks of Big 12 Conference basketball mediocrity last year, Nebraska needed a new plan.
The answer was Barry Collier, who replaced Danny Nee as coach last spring after the Cornhuskers struggled to an 11-19 record and a tie for eighth place in the conference. Collier said he was analyzing every aspect of the program and planned to rebuild it as he did to the program at Butler, where he compiled a 196-132 record during 11 years.
"One of the things we've tried to do is break down our team physically, skill wise and then attitude," Collier said. "We certainly have some players back that will offer quite a bit and be able to hold their own in the Big 12. Those same players have to have the skill and, most importantly, the attitude. It's easier said than done."
Senior and four-year starter Cookie Belcher, returning from a medical redshirt because of wrist surgery last year, will assist in the rebuilding process. Belcher is the 'Huskers' dominant leader who succeeded on two 20-win Nebraska
teams and set team fitness records this fall.
Another strong point to build on is senior center Kimani Friend. Ffriend is a preseason Big 12 first-team selection at center after averaging 12 points and 8.8 rebounds per game in 1999-2000. His most eye-popping statistic is that he had 85 blocked shots last year, which led the conference.
In addition to Belcher and Ffriend, the returning nucleus is even stronger. Senior forward Steffon Bradford and senior guard Rodney Fields both started for the 'Huskers. The team will need to replace graduate Larry Florence. He led Nebraska in scoring last year with 13 points per game.
"I want to help the team in any way I can," Friend said. "Me being a shot-blocker makes us that much more dangerous as a team. We are a hunterteam than a year before."
The 'Huskers don't have a dominant scorer on the roster, so Collier said his team would rely on its defense to win games. Ffriend's shot-blocking skills are the focal point, but Collier said it would take a team effort to be successful.
Women hope to improve ranking
"Right now, players are executing a combination defense where two of them play defense and three of them don't," Coffler said. "We have to be a good half-court defensive team first."
By Zdc Humer
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
By Zac Hunter
After finishing fifth in the Big 12 Conference last season, the Nebraska women's basketball team has dropped to seventh in the preseason rankings.
"Being picked seventh is not fun for anybody, but it is realistic based on what we lost," said coach Paul Sanderford.
Sanderford said he was looking to the ranking as inspiration for the season.
"I go to work every day knowing that I don't want to finish in that position," he said. "I think it serves as a motivation everyday for me."
The Cornhuskers are hoping to make a difficult jump into the top of the conference.
Nebraska lost much of last season's starting talent to graduation, and only one starter is returning to the team this season. The team's biggest loss was Nicole Kubik, who was the conference's fourth-best scorer, averaging 17.4 points per game, and was named to the All-Big 12 team.
The numerical total of Nebraska's lost starters is 48 points and 20.5 rebounds per game.
The lone returning starter is senior center Casey Leonhardt. Leonhardt averaged nearly 10 points and brought down 6.2 boards per game last season. She also was a dominant defensive presence by blocking 37 shots — seventh highest in the Big 12.
Stepping into a starting position this season is senior guard Amanda Went. Went averaged 5.8 points per game last year, but said she saw herself becoming more actively involved as a scorer and a leader.
"I think it will be hard for a freshman or sophomore to step up for us, but I see myself in that role and I will do my best to fit that role." Went said.
The biggest key for Nebraska's success will be protecting its home court. Last season, the Cornhuskers lost five games at home and only two in the Big 12.
"If a team can keep their home court and win some on the road, then the team will also be playing in March," Sanderford said.
Edited by Sara Nutt
Iowa optimistic despite turnover
By Chris Wristen
Kansan sportswriter
Graduation and an early exit for the NBA tore through the Iowa State basketball team like, well, a cyclone.
Despite the graduation of starters Michael Nurse and Stevie Johnson and All-American Marcus Fizer's early departure for the NBA, Iowa State will still fight to defend its 2000 Big 12 Conference championship. The task will be tougher this year, though, and experience is the crutch on which the team will lean.
"We do have a lot of players back," said Paul Shirley, senior center. "There is a certain amount of experience back, and we know how each other plays as well and that will be key."
Senior forward Martin Rancik, a part-time starter last year, also said returning players would play an important role on the team.
"We are anxious to get out there and show that we can play basketball and that we are good, and not just one guy can do it all." Rancik said.
The Cyclones will get their chance to prove that they are more than just Fizer when they take the floor for their season opener Nov. 21 against Morningside. They will be turning to a variety of contributors to fill the number losses caused by the lack of Fizer's 22.8 points and 7.7 rebounds per game.
One such contributor is Shirley, who backed up Fizer last year. Shirley averaged 7.7 points per game and will see increased time as a senior captain.
Iowa State's top leader, senior point guard Jamaal Tinsley, could have been a draft choice had he gone to the NBA last year. As a preseason All-American, Eustachy said Tinsley's improvement during the past year had been dynamic.
That's good news for the Cyclones because they were picked to finish fourth in the Big 12 by the conference coaches. They may need Tinsley and backcourt partner Kantril Horton, also a senior, to help them win some extra games and get back into the NCAA Tournament.
("Being picked that high) is quite a compliment," Eustachy said. "That means you should be an NCAA Tournament team. I'm sure if you look at some of these magazines, we're in some polls. I read a magazine where if Marcus Fizer was coming back we might be picked first. Now we're kind of off the charts. That gets me fired up."
Cyclones voted to recapture title
By Zac Hunter
sports@kansan.com
Kansas sportswriter
Life is good at the top.
After finishing first in the Big 12 Conference regular season and winning the Big 12 tournament, the Iowa State women's basketball team was voted to win the conference yet again.
All of the preseason accolades came after losing All-American Staci Freese, who averaged 13.8 points and five assists per game. Also departing the Cyclones was forward Desiree Francis.
Coach Bill Fennelly said he was flattered by the Big 12 coaches selecting Iowa State as the preseason favorite.
"It (the Big 12) has a totally different look than last year, but that is what will make it fun," he said. "Preparation will be very hard because of the new players since they will be a very big part of the conference this year."
Fennelly said he was looking forward to a productive season.
"We lost two great players to the pros, but I have a
lot of confidence in what we have coming back and we are going to give it our best shot," he said.
The Cyclones' best shot is to give the ball to last year's leading scorer and honorable mention All-American Angie Welle. Although Welle is a junior, she has been tabbed the preseason player of the year by the Big 12 coaches.
"It's weird not having those players around, but we will be ready for the season." she said.
In charge of getting Welle the ball will be junior guard Tracy Gahan and senior guard Megan Taylor. Both are returning starters from last year's Big 12 Championship team, and both will have to provide outside support for Welle in the paint.
While Iowa State was rolling through the Big 12, it ran into a tough Connecticut team in the NCAA tournament and lost by a single point, which kept the Cyclones from going to the Final Four.
"Losing by a point in the NCAA Tournament really stinks," Taylor said. "I personally want to do well because this is my last season and I want to go as far as we can and make a run at the title."
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