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The University Daily Kansan
Yesterday in sports
Sports
Romanian gymnast Andreaa Raducan's appeal to reinstate her gold medal was denied. Raducan's medal was stripped after officials discovered she had taken cold medicine containing a banned substance.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2000
Inside: The Oklahoma Sooners football team is putting up impressive statistics this season.
SEE PAGE 3B
Inside: The Kansas soccer team will play two home games this weekend, Iowa State today and No.3 Nebraska Sundav.
SEE PAGE 5B
For comments, contact Melinda Weaver or Jason Walker at 864-4858 or e-mail sports@kansan.com WWW.KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
Sports Columnist
Shawn Hutchinson
"He's somebody that everyone likes to be around," Norwood said by phone from his office at Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, where he is the men's golf coach. "He's got a great work ethic. You don't have to tell him what to do. He'll get out and do it."
sports@kansan.com
Recruit brings fresh attitude to basketball
I caught up with Wayne Simien's summer-league coach yesterday afternoon.
Norwood has been Simien's summer-league coach since the senior forward was 12 years old. Simien's AAU team, the Kansas City 76ers, won the national title when he was a junior and placed sixth nationally this year. Other players on that team included Kansas high school players Jamar Howard and Jeff Hawkins, whom the Jayhawks have shown some interest in.
Just read what Lafayette Norwood, Simien's summer-league coach, had to say about the Kansas recruit.
If you have been living on an isolated planet or been sniffing glue for the past six months, Simien orally committed to play basketball at Kansas last spring. Simien, a 6-foot-8 and 245-pound senior forward at Leavenworth High School, remains the only known recruit to have committed to play for the Jayhawks next season.
So instead of focusing in on Alan Anderson and Erroll Knight — two high school players who were once interested in Kansas but decided to commit elsewhere — why not write about the guy who decided to come to Lawrence?
Norwood gave a lot of the credit for the 76ers' success to Simien, who averaged 16.9 points and 9.7 rebounds last year at Leavenworth.
Notchanson is an Overfed Park senior in journalism.
"He has such a personality." Norwood said. "He's very outgoing. He knows exactly what direction he wants to go."
That direction is toward Kansas, and Simien said he would sign his letter-of-intent when the fall signing period rolls around in November. And when Simien lands at Kansas, Norwood said that there was no doubt he would succeed.
"Personality-wise they are both the same," Norwood said, referring to Simien and Valentine. "But Darnell has already proven what he can do. Now it's up to Wayne to prove what he can do.
Norwood should know. He is a former basketball coach at Wichita Heights High School, and he once coached ex-Kansas guard Darnell Valentine.
"I'll probably be an extended parent," Norwood added. "He'll have to get the job done academically."
Of course, I'll write a column and tell you all about it.
While Simien's stock rose during the summer when he played in tournaments around the country — The Sporting News ranked him one of the top prospects in the nation — Norwood said that Simien would keep a level head about all his success.
"I have no doubt," Norwood said.
"His folks will be right with him to make sure he does those types of things. He's that type of kid."
I've talked to Simien once before and came away with pretty much the same conclusion. I called Simien at home for an interview last Easter, and he seemed like a good kid. After fielding all my questions, he finished our conversation by saying, "I hope you have a nice Easter."
Having spoken to several recruits in the past, let me tell you that was definitely a surprise to hear such a well-wishing sentiment. So, I'm wishing Simien all the best as he enters his senior year at Leavenworth, and I'll catch up with him sometime when the basketball season begins.
Two alleged attackers surrender
The Associated Press
BOSTON — Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce walked out of a hospital yesterday, three days after being stabbed nearly a dozen times, and said he was looking forward to returning to basketball.
A couple dozen onlookers cheered as Pierce, accompanied by his mother and two brothers, walked to a podium outside the New England Medical Center and greeted a gathering of reporters with an unbeat "Hi."
"I'd just like to tell everybody I feel good," said Pierce, who was wearing dark sunglasses over a swollen right eye and a black Celtics cap that nearly covered a bandage on his forehead. "I can't wait to get back on the basketball court and join my Celtics teammates."
Pierce thanked God, his family, the hospital staff and fans for what he called an unbelievable outpouring of support.
The Celtics begin training camp Monday, but Pierce did not indicate if he would be there. He said he hoped for a
Meanwhile, two of the three men police believe attacked Pierce on Monday morning at a Boston night club pleaded not
fast recovery.
guilty to charges or assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and were ordered held on $15,000 cash bail.
Prosecutors say Tony Hurston, 31, also known as Tony McCrary, initiated the fight with Pierce in a pool room at the club by coming up from behind him, punching him and hitting him on the head
with a bottle as Pierce lay on the ground. At some point, prosecutor John Pappas said yesterday, Trevor Watson, 34, and William Ragland, 28, joined the fray and stabbed Pierce in the face, neck and back
Pierce: was stabbed nearly 11 times Monday morning.
Prosecutors said the motive remained under investigation.
with a knife.
Ragland, who also is charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, remained at large yesterday.
Hurston's attorney, John Swomley, said Hurston was the victim of a mistaken identity by police. He concedes Hurston was at the club but says he left when the fight began. Hurston was working in New York when he learned late Tuesday of a warrant against him and returned to Boston to surrender, Swomley said. Hurston has no prior criminal record, he added.
"My client has never met Mr. Pierce, does not know Mr. Pierce and has no vendetta against Mr. Pierce," Swomley said.
All three of the men charged reportedly have ties to the rap group Made Men, whom Swomley also represents.
Watson was with Made Men member Raymond E. "Ray Dog" Scott when the
rapper was arrested and pepper-sprayed at the Braintree Mall by police who questioned the two men after a store employee reported that Scott had made large credit card purchases. The card turned out to be Scott's — and Scott filed charges against the police, who were later acquitted.
A judge denied the request by prosecutors to demand a $250,000 cash bail from Watson, who was out on supervised release after a July 1999 conviction for weapons possession.
Pierce, 22, had surgery to repair his damaged lung. Hospital officials said the other wounds were mostly superficial. Pierce was able to walk into the hospital's emergency room after being driven there by friends.
He left yesterday in a white stretch limo. The 6-foot-7, 220-pound Pierce averaged 19.5 points and ranked second in the NBA in steals with 2.08 a game. Pierce, an All-American at Kansas, was drafted in the first round in 1998 after his junior season.
Secondary leery of Oklahoma attack
Bv Jason Franchuk
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Need clues?
This week's trivia question — what team currently has the best pass defense in the country?
It's amazing, yes, but after this Kansas football team finished last in the Big 12 Conference and No. 10 nationally in pass defense in 1999, the team heads to Oklahoma to try to maintain its top ranking against the Sooners at 2 p.m. tomorrow.
The Jayhawks have done well so far in their secondary. Cornerbacks Andrew Davison and Quincy Roe have pleased Kansas coach Terry Allen with their ability to guard receivers. Safety Carl Ne Smith, since returning from a one-game suspension that caused him to miss Kansas' opening-season loss to the Southern Methodist, has gathered 18 tackles in the last two games. The last three games, the Jayhawks have surrendered a Division I-best 84 yards passing per game on their way to a 2-1 record.
"We haven't faced a passing attack like the one we'll see on Saturday," Allen said. "But of what we've asked of our secondary."
Kansas defensive back Quincy Roe trips Southern Methodist running back Jason Pipkins in the first game of the season. Kansas coach Terry Allen has been pleased with Kansas' cornerbacks and their ability to contain receivers this season. KANSAN file photo
they've performed very well and have been doing a good job in practice. Our cornerbacks have done a very good job."
All the positives from the last two wins,however,are set aside as Big 12 play begins. Allen has been slow to give the secondary acclaim until it faces a stronger team,such as Oklahoma
KANSAS
FOOTBALL
When: 2 p.m.
tomorrow
Where: Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla
Radio: Live broad cast on the
Jayhawk Radio
Network
Even Davison, a confident junior, is the first to concede that Kansas has not seen anything this season that comes close to resembling Oklahoma's attack.
TELEVISION: Tape delay at 10 p.m. on channel 6
Kansas' success in defeating Alabama-Birmingham and Southern Illinois can offer little comparison to Oklahoma's possibilities.
UAB opted to run the ball, and the Salukis, a Division I-AA team, were lucky if they could accomplish anything.
"We're going to have to be ready," Davison said. "They're going to come out passing and we need to be prepared."
"Really, we should have shut them down," Nesmith said. "Now is the real test."
The answers might not come as easily this time for the Jayhawks, who are facing
an All-America candidate at quarterback and a bevy of firepower to back him. Oklahoma brings a 3-10 record and a No. 14 national ranking to the game.
What lies ahead for Kansas is a team that ranks third nationally in points per game (47.3) and fourth in total offense (491.3 yards per game).
Allen is focusing on a nickel package that will involve five defensive backs in the game on many plays. Allen also said he needed aggressive defensive line pursuit on Oklahoma quarterback Josh Heupel.
"We've been doing some different things scheme-wise, but you'll look a lot better in
the defensive secondary when the quarterback is on his back." Allen said. "The pressure we've put on the quarterback is instrumental in our success."
So much emphasis has been placed on Oklahoma's nature to throw the ball that Nesmith was asked if the Jayhawks would even be ready for the run. He said he did not think the exam Oklahoma would present to the 'Hawks would be multiple choice.
"They can rush the ball." Nesmith said. "But they don't want to run the ball. They'll want to throw a lot."
Edited by Shawn Hutchinson
Volleyball to face tall challenge
By Sarah Warren
Kansan sportswriter
It'll be David versus Goliath in the Horejsi Family Athletic Center tomorrow, and 6-foot-2 Danielle Geromvno will be David.
When the match starts at 7 p.m., the senior middle blocker and her sophomore counterpart, Kyle Thomas, also 6-2, will find themselves face-to-neck with Texas Tech's Colleen Smith, a 6-7 senior middle blocker.
Kansas coach Ray Bechard said Smith had averaged 5.06 kills per game.
The Red Raiders are 14-1, 3-1 in the Big 12 Conference, with their only loss coming to Baylor, the team that downed Kansas in five games Wednesday night.
"They're 14-1 and she's had a lot to do with that." be said.
Geronymy said she wasn't worried about Smith's height or stats, although she had never battled someone of that size while playing the middle blocker position.
"I've never faced anyone that tall and it'll be a challenge," Geronymo said. "Height matters, but when it comes to the game I
"Height matters, but when it comes to the game I don't worry about height or how strong a player is. I'm just worrying about what Coach is saying."
Danielle Geronymo senior middle blocker
Smith isn't the only reason that Texas Tech is hovering atop the Big 12 stands. While the senior had a team-high 26 kills Wednesday night when Texas Tech beat Missouri in five games, sophomore outside hitter Melissa McGehee recorded 24 kills herself.
don't worry about height or how strong a player is, I'm just worrying about what Coach is saying."
But the Red Raiders' skills in throwing off their opponent's play-making ability that may be their biggest threat, and they do it with their dominant serving style.
"They serve extremely aggressively,"
And the last time Kansas saw a team with such a threatening serving style, they were looking across the net at the best team in the country. Nebraska. Kansas fell to the No. 1-ranked "Huskers in three games.
"You have to be really focused and quick on your feet," Geronym said about defending a hard serve. "You just have to get the setter a nice ball."
Bechard said. "They make some errors but they'll wreak havoc on you if you don't pass the ball well."
"Tech has a good opportunity to break into the poll next week after beating Missouri in five games and then if they beat us," Bechard said. "But maybe we can keep that from happening."
This is the difficult part, as Kansas showed when they faced Nebraska, limiting setter Molly LaMere to 36 assists when the junior averages 39 assists per three-game match. Although LaMere is only three sets sub-par, to Bechard those are three kills that could make a difference if needed anytime, especially against an aggressive team such as Texas Tech.
Senior middle blocker Danielle Geranymio will track to blackier this year. At 6-2, Geranymio will have a tall task at hand tomorrow when she and the kayhawks take on Texas Tech's 6-7 middle blocker. Photo by Aaron Lindberg/KAN-SAN
— Edited by Kaitryn Moore
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