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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
1B
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2001
Commentary
Chris Wristen
Columnist
sportsansan.com
Bohl right on after semester at University
With semester No. 1 of The Al Bohl Show winding down, let's take a moment to reflect on how the new boss and his teams are stacking up.
Bohl has taken his time evaluating the department and establishing a solid foundation for the future of Kansas athletics.
Let's examine that foundation and the blueprints for the future as The Al Bohl Show continues into semester No. 2 and beyond. There'll be no grades, just honest evaluations of where the teams stand and where they are headed.
Football: The Jayhawks failed in nearly every way possible during the season. Benching the classier quarterback, having no fullback on most running plays and a run-first-pass-second-minded-quarterback in a designated passing offense that denied a talented defense the opportunity to shine for a complete game.
But hope remains. New head coach Mark Mangino brings the recruiting and attitude adjustment that the program needs. Mangino is intelligently taking his time to get the right staff so he can ensure Kansas football has a bright future.
Soccer. The team skyrocketed to a fourth-place Big 12 conference finish and barely missed a Top 12 ranking. It boasted its best record in school history and a first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. Eight starters will return next year and seniors Natalie Hoogveld, Hilla Rantala and Melanie Schroeder leave a legacy of perseverance and progress as their team continues to grow and improve.
Volleyball: Perhaps the greatest number of growing pains hit this team, but it still garnered a third-straight winning season. The Jayhawks, 16-15, overcame a mid-season slump and closed by taking a game from No. 15 Texas A&M, and upsetting Texas in the biggest win in coach Ray Bechard's four years at Kansas.
Sophomore outside hitter Sarah Rome is on pace to become Kansas' career kills leader after leading the team with 398 this year. Returners Molly Scavuzzo, Kylie Thomas, Abbie Jacobson, Dani McHenry and Ashley Michaels give Bechard the deepest and strongest group of hitters ever at Kansas. The foundation is set, but he must find a way to replace senior setter Molly LaMere who posted the three best season-assist totals in Jayhawk history.
Cross Country. Coach Stan Redwine's second year of resurrecting Kansas running had an injury-plagued men's squad that graduates five of its top runners. The women lose just two seniors and saw promise and progress from young runners, including freshman Diane Disher and sophomore Paige Higgins.
Al Bohl: Bohl's cameo appearances at volleyball and soccer games allowed him to keep a watchful eye on their progress. His gutsy move of firing Terry Allen mid-season raised some eyebrows but paid off with a patient, but thorough, coaching search that landed Mangino. Plus, his hefty pizza purchase for basketball campers prior to the win against Wake Forest made Bohl No. 1 in campers' hearts.
There's plenty of room to grow, but fall sports at Kansas have strong foundations to build on. The Al Bohl Show will ensure a bright future for many seasons to come.
Wristen is a Leawood senior in journalism.
Search starts with old friend
Offensive coordinator at Mississippi ponders possiblity of working with Mangino
By Jeff Denton Kansan sportswriter
John Latina, offensive coordinator at Mississippi and childhood friend of Kansas football coach Mark Mangino, said yesterday that he and Mangino had been talking daily about the possibility of coaching together at Kansas.
The two have discussed the idea of Latina becoming the offensive coordinator on Mangino's staff.
Mangino, who is on the road recruiting players and coaches, could not be reached for comment. But he stressed last week how crucial the
Mangino and Latina's friendship stems from their days in New Castle.
coaching staff would be for the Kansas program.
Pennsylvania, where they grew up in the same neighborhood and attended the same junior high school. Latina said he talked on the phone with Mangino almost
Mangino almost every day.
They worked on the same staff at Kansas State from 1991-93. But Latina said his family ties would probably keep him from leaving Ole Miss for Kansas.
"I am tickled to death for him," Latina said. "It's a perfect fit; he'll work
John Latina
hard to recruit the players and coaches to make KU an excellent football program. But he knows my family situation, and every decision I have ever made has been based on them."
Latina, 44, has two sons who are in high school. His oldest son will be a senior next year and is a friend of Mangino's 17-year-old son, Tommy. Latina also said his bond with Mangino had helped form a good relationship between their two families.
Latina has led the Ole Miss offense for three seasons. This year, the Rebels posted the No. 23 passing offense in Division I. His offense, which featured Eli Manning, the younger brother of Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, generated 31 touchdowns through the air. Ole Miss quarterbacks threw just nine interceptions. Its
offense averaged more than 35 points per game.
Kansas' highest scoring output came in October when the Jayhawks scored 34 points against Texas Tech in its lone Big 12 Conference victory.
Latina said he was "pretty sure" he would remain with the Rebels, but that it was his dream to one day be reunited with his friend on the same coaching staff.
"At this particular time, I am happy here," Latina said. "I think he'll do a great job recruiting coaches. But with the respect and friendship I share with Mark, I'd love to coach with him again."
Princeton hoping to slow down Kansas
Contact Denton at 864-4858.
Jayhawks ready themselves for up-and-coming Tigers look for win on the road
By Ryan Malashock Kansan sportswriter
Kansas and Princeton meet at 7 tonight at Jadwin Gym in Princeton, N.J., setting up a battle of two teams with completely contrasting styles.
No. 4 Kansas (6-1) has played at a faster pace than in years past and is averaging 91.1 points per game. On the contrary, Princeton has made a name for itself by slowing games down and playing tough defense. The Tigers normally run the 35-second shot clock down into the single digits before taking a shot.
Kansas coach Roy Williams said every possession wouldbe of greater importance tonight if the game was played at a slower pace.
Freshman forward Wayne Simien said he was familiar with Princeton's style of play in which the Tigers constantly screened their opponents. Simien said the Tigers impressed him because they were fundamentally sound. Coach John Thompson's team is 2-5, but has played challenging
SEE MEN PAGE 8B
100
Probable starters for tonight's game
No.4 KANSAS AT PRINCETON
Kansas
Jeff Bocchee, 6-foot-1 senior guard
Aaron Miles, 6-1 freshman guard
Kirk Hinrich, 6-3 junior guard
Nick Collison, 6-9 junior forward
Drew Gooden, 6-10 junior forward
Princeton
Kyle Wente, 6-foot-4 junior guard
Ahmed Ei-Nokal, 6-4 senior guard
Mike Bechtold, 6-6 senior forward
Andre Logan, 6-6 senior forward
Dominick Martin, 6-10 freshman center
LAURIE SISK/KANSAN
Kansas starters
Nick Collison and
Jeff Boschee trap
Missouri-Kansas
City guard Matt
Suther during Sat
urday's game.
Kansas takes on
Princeton tonight
in Princeton, N.J.
Kansas starters Nick Collison, Jeff Boschee and Drew Gooden surround Randall Atchison during Saturday's victory over UMKC.
'Hawks ready for a challenge
LAURIE SISK/KANSAN
Tigers' tough play at home will challenge Kansas tonight in New Jersey
By Ali Brox Kansan sportswriter
Men's college basketball teams don't like to play Princeton at home.
for knocking off big teams.
Maybe it's the Tigers' painstakingly slow offense.
"People just don't want to go to Princeton, play at Princeton," Kansas coach Roy Williams said. "I think you always have concern when you're going on the road, period, and when you're going on the road against a good team."
Princeton's 2-5 record may be deceptive, because the Tigers' schedule hasn't been easy. Kansas will be Princeton's third Top 10 opponent in its first eight games.
there's always the possibility of being embarrassed.
"I don't care what their record says, they've played a schedule that's not been very easy," Williams said. "Princeton has a way of embarrassing you. Everyone says 'you can't beat those guys, they're an Ivy League school.' I think it's just a fear of embarrassment. Same reason why no one wants to play Princeton in the first round of the NCAA tournament."
Princeton has won 10 straight at home. And when playing Princeton,
NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL
Or maybe it's Princeton's knack
SEE PRINCETON PAGE 8B
No.2 Maryland 91
Monmouth 55
NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL
No. 11 Boston Coreg
Iowa S 81
NBA
Boston 102
New York 93
NBA
Miami 99
NBA
Milwaukee
Washington 91
97
Memphis
81
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