University Daily Kansan / Monday, December 1. 1986
7
Sports Monday
Players help bring top basketball recruits to Kansas
Kevin Pritchard, left, freshman guard, decided to play at Kansas in part because of its friendly players. He met them on a recruiting trip to the University.
By NICOLE SAUZEK
A video game war between KU basketball players Mark Turgeon, Chris Piper, Richard "Scooter" Barry and then-recruit Kevin Prichard during his visit to the University last year played an important role in the outlook of Kansas basketball. Who won the contest?
Sports writer
Men's basketball head coach Larry Brown.
During that video war, Pritchard, Tana freshman, decided to sign with KKU.
"I had a great visit here," Pritchard said. "It was different from visiting any other school. They didn't try to wine and dine me. Instead, we went out and dined a video game contest."
The lack of winning and dining at Kansas is a philosophy the men's basketball department swears by. Instead, the idea is for recruits to spend time with the most important people in KU's program, the players.
"I think some schools try to conceal players," Pritchard said. "KU dum. It's a good idea. I'll be living in them, if these guys for the next four years."
Player involvement composes many of the coogs in KU's wheel of recruiting, even though the long and hard-fought process is initially started by KU's assistant coaches.
The first step in KU's recruiting process is to look at players during summer basketball camps, usually from Gentry. Gentry KU basketball assistant coach
After scouting prospective players, the basketball office will send out questionnaires to the players' coaches.
Then, once a player shows an interest in Kansas, the coaches will set up home visits from Sept. 1 to Oct. 10, for visiting dating sites for college coaches.
Gentry says the coaches look for players who are intelligent on and off the court, unselfish players who are willing to sacrifice individually, and players who come from a winning program so that they'd know how to win.
"We like to have a situation where they feel they fit in well with our pre-requisites," he said.
'I think some schools try to conceal players. KU didn't. It's a good idea.I'll be living with some of these guys for the next four years.'
- Kevin Pritchard Freshman guard
our roster, you'll see that most of our players came from successful programs."
Getting the players interested in KU's program, though, is where the competition becomes intense.
"It's not easy to get the good players when there's the Big Ten, the ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) and other good conferences," Brown said. "TV coverage of other colleges makes it difficult, too."
Coaches also must get a grip on a player long before his senior year in order to be competitive with other colleges.
"Years ago, you could get good athletes their senior year," Brown said. "Now, you have to start going before or you'll never get them."
"We sell KU because we're a basketball school with a good academic reputation." Gentry said. "We are one of the best coaches in the country."
So, how does Kansas keep up in the race for the best athletes in the country?
"He's brutally honest with the recruits. He didn't even tell Danny (Manning, KU forward) that he would be playing."
With an impressive B3-22 record in three seasons at Kansas, a trip to the Final Four last season, and three consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, a first in KU history, Brown shouldn't have to make much noise to get noticed in the world of high school basketball.
But, the responsibility is still there even though Brown would rather stay at home than go on the road.
"I wouldn't mind not having to recruit," he said. "I don't like becoming a nuisance. I don't think I make a very good salesman."
In return, his players give back that responsibility in helping the coaches recruit the better players.
Gentry agreed. "He realizes that it's something he has to do. It bugs him, I know. He thinks recruiting is artificial. He doesn't think he gets to know them."
During the recruiting period. Brown will not put off his coaching duties to the team.
"We give our players background on the guys before they visit," Gentry said. "They want to have a good team, so the players work as hard as we do to get good recruits."
"I won't miss practice to recruit," he said. "I have a responsibility to my kids, I only go if I have time."
So hard, in fact, that much of the players' spare time is spent communicating with prospective players.
"It can be tough." Gentry said. "Everyone wants to spend time with Danny. He's a great help, though."
According to Gentry, Pritchard already has become involved in the recruiting process this year by calling players Kansas is interested in, including ones who recently signed letters of intent to play at Kansas next year.
"Kevin will be a great recruiter for us," Gentry said. "He'll phone kids without us asking him to."
So, for Kansas, the fate of banner recruiting years rests mainly in the players themselves and Brown's reputation.
There are no special treatments. No sparkling promises. Only the simple, honest concept of friendship.
"I know that Coach and I will become friends," Pritchard said. "He's a great guy. And not only are the guys on the team great players, they're quality people. I love this place."
KU falls in finals to Louisiana Tech
Sports writer
By BRIAN SNYDER
Kansas students could have predicted what would happen during the Thanksgiving break
Turkey would be served Thursday, Santa Claus would bring up the end of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Louisiana Tech women's basketball team would win the Dial Classic Basketball Tournament.
The Techsters, who were ranked second in the country in pre-season polls, took first place in the tournaments in Texas and Kansas Friday and Saturday.
Kansas finished in second place, Michigan State took third and Central Missouri State was fourth.
Louisiana Tech's depth, height and superior skill was too much for the other teams.
In the final game of the tournament, luck wasn't on the side of the Jayhawks. Kansas hit only 27 percent from the field and lost 56-40.
Louisiana Tech used the same formula against Kansas that it used to reach the championship game.
A fast tempo and three six-footers proved to be too much for the Jayhawks. Marian Washington, women's head basketball coach, didn't want her team to run with the Techsters, and the Jayhawks often delayed before running their offense
"We worked the ball well," said Kansas guard Lisa Braddy. "We slowed it down but the ball wouldn't fail."
Washington was pleased that her team kept Louisiana Tech to 56 points.
"He's (Louisiana Tech)'s head coach Leon Barmore) got one of
the best inside games in the country and a good perimeter game." Washington said. "They're a potential Final Four team."
To reach the championship game, Louisiana Tech beat Michigan State 79-57.
The Spartans hung tough in their first half, trailing by only six at halftime. Michigan State forward Sue Tucker kept the Spartans close with 18 first-half points and eight rebounds. The Techsters were led by 6-foot-4 Tori Harrison's 15 points in the first 20 minutes.
In the second half, Barmore substituted liberally, keeping the game at a fast pace. In the end, Michigan State was out-shot, outrun and out-rebounded. Five Tech players scored in double figures, led by Harrison with 16. Tucker paced the Spartans with 24 points.
In KU's first-round game against Central Missouri State, the Jayhawks came back from a loss to Minnesota, deficit to beat the Jenkins ff.63
For the first 15 minutes, the Jayhawks and Central Missouri State exchanged the lead. Kansas led 25-21 when the Jennies scored 12 unanswered points. KU didn't score in 3 minutes, 14 seconds and Central Missouri State led at the half 38-35.
Led by forward Jackie Martin's eight points and four rebounds in the final eight minutes, KU got back into the game.
"It was a tough decision to play her," Washington said after the game. "We needed a spark and I needed to be there." For reference for us, She does so much
Martin had injured her left ankle Tuesday at practice and wasn't expected to play.
Susie Bishop/KANSAN
Kansas guard Evelite Ott struggles to bring the ball downcourt as Louisiana Tech guard Teresa Weatherspoon treasures block her. The Jahawks lost in the finals to Louisiana Tech 40-56 Saturday in the Dial Classic at Allen Field House.
for us inside."
With 8:04 left in the game and KU down 50-48, the Jayhawks outscored Central Missouri State 12-1.
the leading scorer for the Jayhawks with 14 points while Tammy Wilson had 19 for the Jennies.
Martin said after the game that her ankle didn't bother her after
Kerri Hawley, KU forward, was
she got in the game
In the consolation game Saturday, Michigan State beat Central Missouri State 68-45. Sue Forsyth scored on a long run, and Michigan Willemaced the Jennies with lt.
By a Kansan sports writer
Kansas senior guard Toni Webb was dismissed last week from the women's basketball team for disciplinary reasons by head coach Marian Washington, according to a KU Sports Information release.
Toni Webb dismissed from team
Webb, a three-year letterwinner and co-captain of this year’s team, averaged 8.4 points and 2.6 rebounds a game last season.
"This is a matter which is unfortunately a part of sports," Washington said in the release matter which is personal to the team."
Washington would not elaborate yesterday on the situation.
Webb said yesterday that she wanted to comment on her dismissal because she thought Washington's announcement was too vague.
Webb said she was dismissed from the team during a Nov. 24 meeting with Washington.
"She (Washington) wasn't pleased with the effort I was given to relate to the coaching staff," Webb said. "I don't outwardly relate to any of them. I did what I was told to do."
The issue of getting along with the coaching staff was brought up by Washington. Webb said, Washington had heard about complaints Webb had vocalized away from the court and wanted to discuss them with Webb. Webb refused and was dismissed
"What I do off the court is my business," Webb said. "I felt my privacy was being invaded."
Lowery misses last-minute kick as Bills defeat Chiefs
United Press International
KANSAS CITY. Mo — Nick Lowery, selected by former Kansas City coach Marv Levy to replace Jan Stenuerd or the Chiefs' kicker, missed a field goal in the final minute yesterday, allowing Levy's current team, the Buffalo Bills, to escape with a 17-14 victory.
The Bills, who hired Levy to replace Hank Bullough earlier this season, benefitted from Lowery's 44-yard miss into a swirling wind. The kick slipped just wide to the left and enabled the Bills to snap a 22 game losing streak in road games, one short of the NFL record held by the Houston Oilers.
"Certainly to come back and win where you had coached before (is special)," said Lewy, who coached Kansas
City from 1788 to 1982. "But really, every game is very important. I don't feel anything other than the good feeling you get out of winning any game.
"This one maybe had a little extra meaning to it, but I hope not for the all the wrong reasons."
The most recent previous win on the road for the Bills, 4-9, occurred on Dec. 4, 1983, in Kansas City. Houston also ended its record losing string in Kansas City.
More NFL results p. 8.
While coaching the Chiefs, Levy made the controversial decision to replace Stennerud with the unknown Lowery. Since then, Lowery has compiled one of the highest conversion percentages in NFL history.
But Lowery missed two field goals on Sunday as the
Chiefs' third straight loss dropped their record to 7-6 and severely damaged their playoff chances.
"It itd not make it, that's simple enough," Lowery said. "I tried to aim it two feet inside the left upright because of the incredible wind. I missed it only by a few inches. I should have made it."
Levy said, "I didn't feel it was going into overtime.
There was the wind and the snap has to be perfect.
"You don't have mixed emotions when he's kicking against you, you just don't want to get into position where he has to kick against you. To me he's the premier kicker in the NFL."
Andre Reed led the Bills' offense with seven receptions, including touchdown passes of nine and 10 yards from Jim Kelly. Robb Riddick rushed for a career high 118
yards on 25 carries for Buffalo.
Kansas City scored on its first possession but did not score again until Herman Heard's one-yard touchdown run with 4:34 left. Heard's touchdown capped an 80-yard drive that pulled the Chiefs within three points.
The Chiefs quick got the ball back when Pete Metzelaars fumbled and Kansas City's Kevin Ross recovered at the Bills' 38. But on the first play, Buffalo cornerback Charles Romes intercepted Bill Kenney's pass in the end zone for his second interception of the game.
Kelly hit Reed with five first-half passes for 74 yards,
including a nine-yard touchdown pass.
The Bills answered Kansas City's first touchdown with a 14-play drive that ended with a 47-yard field goal.