WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2002
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 5B
Wright shines at Texas A&M
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Texas A&M seems to be winning those close games it used to lose, and a major reason has to be freshman Antoine Wright.
The 6-foot-7-inch swingman, one of the most highly sought recruits to sign with the Aggies, has been named Big 12 Conference freshman of the week for the second week in a row.
"That says a lot about his ability to play the game," coach Melvin Watkins said yesterday in the Big 12 coaches' weekly conference call. "But it also speaks to his ability to bring
some confidence to the team. Any good player has a way of helping other players bring their game up another notch. That's saying a lot for a freshman."
The native of San Bernardino, Calif., averaged 18.7 points, 9.7 rebounds and four assists in three victories last week. He had back-toback double-doubles against Tennessee and Prairie View. He had a career-high 12 rebounds against Prairie View and blocked the would-be game-winner at the end of regulation.
"He's such a talented player," said Watkins. "But
more importantly, he's a good teammate. He gets along with his players and is in position to help guys out. Those intangibles that may not show up in a stat sheet are things he's brought to this team, and we sure embrace."
"I'm sure I'll have a lot of dissenters in this thought, but college football is the most important college sport," Bliss said.
As Baylor continues to struggle with its football program in an effort to become competitive in the Big 12, a very interested observer has been basketball coach Dave Bliss.
Gooden takes Memphis to victory
Grizzlies 107. Heat 96
MIAMI - Drew Gooden scored 25 points and Wesley Person and Pau Gasol each added 24 as the Memphis Grizzlies won their first road game of the year, 107-96 over the Miami Heat on yesterday.
Eddie Jones broke out of a scoring slump for the Heat, finishing with a season-high 33 points.
Tied at 84, the Grizzlies ran off eight straight points for a 92-84 lead with 5:23 left in the fourth. Gooden hit a pair of baseline jumpers, and Lorenzen Wright and Gasol each scored during the stretch.
Gasol's jumper pushed the lead to 95-84 with 3:43 left.
The Grizzlies led by as many as 13 points in the first half, but the Heat closed with a 12-2 run to close within 54-51 at the break.
Memphis opened a 65-53 lead early in the third, but Miami, led by Jones' 13 points, finished on a
25-11 run to lead 78-76 at the end of the period.
Trail Blazers 98. Wizards 79
WASHINGTON - In his first game against Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen had one of his best games of the season.
With a lively bounce to nearly every step, Pippen had 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists as the Portland Trail Blazers took a quick lead and led easily from start to finish to beat the Washington Wizards 98-79 yesterday.
Pippen made six of seven shots and tied for Derek Anderson for the team-high in scoring. All five Portland starters were in double figures before the end of the third quarter.
The Trail Blazers outhustled and outworked the Wizards, outscoring them 50-28 in the paint and 20-8 on fastbreaks. They were ahead by 11 at the end of the first
quarter, and the Wizards never got within single digits again.
Knicks 97. SuperSonics 80
NEW YORK - Allan Houston scored 25 points, Kurt Thomas had 22 and New York's point guards combined for 24 in a 97-80 victory over the Seattle Super-Sonics on yesterday night.
Howard Eisley and Charlie Ward scored 12 points each for the Knicks on a night when Latrell Sprewell struggled and scored only nine points.
Gary Payton had 20 points but only four assists _ more than six below his league-leading average. Vladimir Radmanovic added 17 and Desmond Mason, making his first start of the season, had 12.
Baylor athletic director will replace coach soon
The Associated Press
DALLAS — Kentucky coach Guy Morris is set to become the second Southeastern Conference football coach in a week to jump to the Big 12 Conference.
Morriss may be introduced as the replacement for fired Baylor coach Kevin Steele during a news conference yesterday in Waco.
Morriss was on the Baylor campus Monday before returning to Lexington, Ky., where he announced his resignation as the Wildcats' coach.
Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart confirmed the resignation Monday night, saying only that Morriss, a Texas native, resigned to take another coaching job.
Barnhart said he wanted a replacement for Morriss hired by Christmas. He said he had a list of possible replacements, though he did not identify any candidates.
"Baylor comes along and puts together a package that's outstanding," Barnhart said at a news conference Tuesday. "If you're in Guy's shoes, you've got to look at those kinds of things for your family. He's been in the game for an awfully long time. Those opportunities don't come along very often and for him to have the opportunity to do that for his family, my hat's off to him."
"I want somebody who's not afraid to come in and win a championship," he said. "I want somebody who can talk about competing annually in the top half of this
conference. I want someone who can talk about taking our kids to bowl games and letting them experience what it feels like to be in postseason play.
Dennis Franchione left Alabama — which like Kentucky is on NCAA probation — last week after a 10-3 season to become the new coach at Texas A&M, where he replaced fired 14-year coach R.C. Slocum.
Like Morriss, Franchione returned to Texas, having previously coached TCU for three seasons.
Steele was fired Nov. 3, but coached Baylor's last three games, all losses to cap a 3-9 season. Steele was 9-36 over four years and 1-31 in the Big 12.
The Bears lost their first 25 conference games under Steele before a 35-32 win over Kansas on Oct.5.
The 51-year-old Morriss was 9-14 in two seasons as Kentucky's coach. He replaced Hal Mumme when the former coach resigned in February 2001 amid internal and NCAA investigations.
Kentucky was 7-5 this season, but wasn't eligible for a bowl because of NCAA sanctions.
it was the Wildeats' first sevenwin season since 1998, the final season for quarterback Tim Couch.
After the Wildcats won their first four games this season — their best start in 18 years — Barnhart rewarded Morriss by adding two more seasons to his contract, through the 2007 season.
The UK Athletics Association had expected to discuss Morriss' contract, and a possible raise, during its scheduled meeting yesterday.
Morriss made $400,000 a year at Kentucky, including a base salary of $170,000 plus compensation for his radio and TV shows and the school's endorsement deal with Nike.
While details of his Baylor contract weren't known, Morriss could make about $1 million annually at the Big 12's only private school.
Morriss was on the losing end of one of the most bizarre finishes when LSU won 33-30 at Kentucky on a deflected 75-yard touchdown pass Nov. 9.
As the final play was still unfolding, Morriss was sopping wet — already doused with Gatorade — while fireworks were exploding from the scoreboard and Wildcats fans were attacking a goal post.
Morriss is a native of Colorado City, Texas, and played offensive guard at TCU from 1969-72. He played 15 NFL seasons for the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots, appearing in two Super Bowls.
After several assistant jobs in college and the pros, Morriss became Kentucky's offensive line coach under Mumme in 1997.
Morriss is expected to bring most of his Kentucky staff with him, including two former Baylor assistants — defensive coordinator John Goodner and offensive line coach Chris Lancaster.
Red Lyon Tavern
944 Mass. 852-8228
A touch of Irish in downtown Lawrence
*Free breakfast * EA Sports video games * Free food & prizes
* Gingerbread house decorating contest *Free bowling
THURSDAY, DEC. 12TH 8PM - MIDNIGHT KS UNION
Sponsored by Organizations & Leadership, the City of Lawrence STUDENT SENATE &
Legal Services for Students wants to wish you a safe & happy winter break! Our office will close Friday, December 20, 2002 at 5pm and reopen on Thursday, January 2, 2003 at 8am.
梦
静
心
乐
148 Burge·864-5665 Jo Hardesty, Director
STUDENT
THE UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGOS
SENATE
Get More $ ^{\mathrm {SM}}$
From Your Career!
T-Mobile USA is Coming Soon!
T-Mobile USA is one of the fastest growing nationwide wireless carriers, providing voice, messaging and high-speed wireless data services to more than 8 million customers. Our high-spirited entrepreneurial environment offers lots of growth and opportunity to those who enjoy a fast pace.
We're looking for enthusiastic, professional salespeople who want to become part of a remarkable team of professionals who will help strengthen our image, foster our growth and promote our highly successful track record at our new KU STUDENT UNION LOCATION!
Retail Sales Representatives/Retail Sales Associates Full Time and Part Time
Want to excel in a fast-paced, fun work environment? On our team, that's the name of the game. In order to provide the utmost in customer satisfaction, you'll be trained in our complete line of products and services so that you can be confident as you consult with customers and increase sales. Must possess customer relationship building skills. Commission sales experience or experience as a retail clerk in a customer service industry required. Must be able to maintain a flexible schedule.
Your dedication will pay off with, great pay and benefits including health, life, dental insurance, company-matched 401k, generous vacation time and educational assistance.
Log on to
www.t-mobile.com/jobs/
to submit your resume.
All applicants need to apply to Req #8854.
While you're there you can set up a career agent, search additional opportunities, even create your own candidate profile. EOE M/F/D/V
Get more from life'
[Mobile is a registered trademark of Deutsche Telekom AG ©2002