Tell us your news. Contact Levi Chronister or Jessica Tims at (785) 864- 4858 or itims@kansan. SPORTS THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN 1B WWW.KANSAN.COM/SPORTS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2002 SPORTS COMMENTARY Ryan Malashock rmalashock@kansan.com Kansas lacking in threes What would be the effect on football if a field goal of more than 45 yards counted for four points instead of three? How about a slap shot in hockey from beyond the blue line counting for two goals instead of one, or a home run of more than 450 feet putting two runs on the scoreboard rather than the customary one? Those proposals seem quite unfair, a travesty to the integrity of those sports. But in 1986, the NCAA followed the precedence of the NBA by inflicting such a rule on college basketball. In that year, the three-point field goal was introduced. The idea was novel at the time. Fire up a jump shot from beyond 19 feet, 9 inches, and you're rewarded with an extra point. Reaction to the rule went both ways. Regardless, the three-pointer may have been the most influential change to college basketball since the bottoms of peach baskets were removed. And throughout its 17-year history, Kansas has utilized the three-pointer to the fullest. Proponents of the rule said the three-pointer brought a fresh element to college basketball, supplying increased excitement and ticket sales. Advisaries said the three-pointer supplied an unfair advantage to teams willing to build their squads around shooters. From old-school long-distance bombers Terry Brown, Billy Thomas and Adonis Jordan to new-age sharp-shooters Jeff Boschee and Kirk Hinrich, Kansas coach Roy Williams always has had the weapons in his arsenal to keep up in college basketball's ongoing three-point war. Williams' past teams also have shown the intensity needed to keep opposing teams' three-point games at bay. But this season, the three-point tables have turned. In a frustrated rant after Division II Central Missouri State burned Kansas for ten three-pointers, sophomore forward Wayne Simien delivered a one-liner that every Jayhawk should cement in his head, Williams included. "In college basketball, you live by the three and you die by the three," Simien said. In Simien's comment is taken to heart and applied, it's easy to see that while the Jayhawks may not be dead, their pulse in regards to the three-point game is surely at a standstill. Last season, Kansas knocked down three-pointers at a 41.8 percent success rate. Though its defense was by no means remarkable — opponents shot 36.1 percent from beyond the arc — Kansas won the three-point battle via Hinrich and Boschee because both shot better than 46 percent. Boschee's absence this year is far more hampering than expected. It's no argument that last year's team went when Drew Gooden went. Somehow or another, Gooden affected every Kansas possession, offensive or defensive. But Boschee had a different, subtler effect. He was never flashy, but he was Kansas' rock. Need a big shot? Well, we'll just find Jeff off a screen and he'll knock it down, Williams would think. Williams always said he was confident that every Boschee three-pointer was going in when it left the North Dakotan's right hand. Now, with Boschee gone and Hinrich struggling through injury, Kansas' three-point game has become anemic, practically non-existent. The Jayhawks are shooting a mere 29 percent from three- SEE MALASHOOK PAGE 3B Spirit of the beast But is the beast abused? Jessica Melvin and Midnight Matador are the latest installments in the 56-year tradition of the Masked Rider. Melvin was selected from 25 riders to lead the Texas Tech team onto the football field. By Doyle Murphy - Contributed art They are as common on Saturday afternoons as tuba players, cheerleaders and even their counterparts in the fuzzy suits. But they wouldn't know a football if one landed in their feed bowls. "it's as much an educational program as an athletic program," said Larry Brumley, associate vice president of external relations at Baylor University. Five Big 12 Conference schools — Texas, Colorado, Baylor, Texas A&M and Texas Tech — use live animal mascots to excite crowds and draw fans, but some of these schools have also drawn the irie of animal rights' groups. Baylor sends one of its two live bears to home football and basketball games, elementary schools and alamni events. Together the bears, Joy and Lady, make about 80 appearances a year. Proponents of using live animals as mascots said the animals provided an experience for fans that a costumed mascot could not. A human in a suit cannot connect with young fans as effectively as the Texas' longhorn, Bevo V, said Patrick Ryan, Texas senior. Ryan is president of the Silver Spurs — the organization responsible for handling Bevo. "It's really for kids across the state," he said. "It really indoctrinates the kids into being true Longhorn fans." But, animal rights' groups, such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, believe the live mascots shouldn't be forced to perform for humans' entertainment. "We're not alleging that people are intentionally being cruel to these animals." said Amy Rhodes, animals and entertainment director for PETA. "The bottom line is that these are not willing participants." Jessica Melvin doesn't share Rhodes' opinion. The Texas Tech graduate student in physical therapy serves as this year's Masked Rider. A costumed Melvin leads the Red Raiders onto the football field on the back of Midnight Matador, a 3-year-old quarter horse. "I personally think he enjoys it," Melvin said. "He gets really excited before we run." Melvin and two assistants are responsible for the training and daily care of the horse. She was selected from a field of 25 applicants through a rigorous qualifying process. "This horse really does get great care," she said. He gets more pampered than I do." SEE MASCOTS PAGE 4B Women look for experience By Ryan Greene By Ryan Greene rgreene@kansan.com Kansan'sswriter At times last weekend, the Kansas women's basketball team (4-1) looked like a group of upcoming stars. At other times the team looked like a group of youngsters suffering from growing pains. Tonight against Wichita State (4-2) they hope to find a happy medium. The layhawks will travel to O'Shaughnessy Hall in hopes of returning to their early winning streak. In last weekend's Holiday Inn Jayhawk Classic, the team shot only 19-of-33 from the free-throw line and was out-rebounded 79-60. That was one of the concerns that coach Marian Washington took away from the tournament. "We've been working on our free throw shooting," Washington said. "We've also been working on our half court game and our rebounding." Tonight, the team wants to benefit from focusing on its weaknesses in practice. The Jayhawks also have to know what type of game to expect from the Shockers. "Strong and powerful post game," freshman forward Tamara Ransburg said. "It's our time to shine and show them that we're strong and physical even though we're young." Burras has led the way for the Jayhawks this season, averaging 15.2 points per game. She is complemented by sophomore guard Blair Waltz and freshman forward Crystal Kemp, who are both averaging in double figures as well. Ransburg has been the most solid performer inside, averaging 8.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and four blocks per game. For Wichita State, the majority of its scoring comes from Ransburg's territory. Junior forward Carlesa Dixon is leading the team with 19 points per game, including a team high of 20 points in its win against Northern Arizona on Saturday. The Shockers' starting center, junior Angela Buckner, has averaged a doubledouble per game so far for the team, with 14.3 points and 11.7 rebounds per game. With eight newcomers on the Kansas roster, the obvious advantage that Wichita State will have is its experience. Instead of using her team's youth as an excuse, coach Washington wants her team to upgift fast for their own benefit. "Just about every game we're going to be facing teams with more experience than us," Washington said. "We have the potential, but we still have to get the experience." - Edited by Sarah Hill Eric Braem/Kansan Marian Washington, women's basketball coach, instructs her players in the squad's game vs. Texas Southern University. The 4-1 Jayhawks will face Wichita State in Wichita tonight. Kansas to face tough test at Tulsa Senior forward Nick Collison drives the lane versus Central Missouri State. The men's basketball team enters tonight's game against Tulsa with Collison averaging 18.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Eric Braem/Kansai By Jessica Scott jscott@kansan.com Kansan sportswriter It would have be easy for the Jay hawks to stroll down to Tulsa tonight, boasting an undefeated record, but to Roy Williams, that would mean stepping outside of the program's reputation. "I can schedule us to be 6-0," Williams said. "But that's not what I want to do, that's not what Kansas wants us to do, that's not what we've ever done." With losses to North Carolina, Florida and Oregon, it is possible that Kansas could fall at the hands of another ranked team tonight at No.17 Tulsa (4-0). Four starters return for the Golden Hurricane, and Williams said this was a team more than prepared for a home game against the Jayhawks. "They've been looking forward to this game for a long time," Williams said. "They don't get that many Top-25 teams to come in and play them at their place." "Kansas basketball has been about winning, and when we don't win, it affects you because that's what we strive to do." Hinrich said. The layhawks hold a 5-0 all time record against Tulsa, defeating them 93-85 last December at Kemper Arena in the Morse Chevrolet Shootout. Senior Kirk Hinrich said his morale was a little punctured after losing half of his team's first six games. The strength of Kansas' schedule, although it punched three holes in the season, is a decision made voluntarily, said Williams, and going undefeated could had been an easy option. "If you look around the country there are some teams that can schedule themselves into that," Williams said. "We've chosen to go the very difficult schedule route. We've played some good basketball teams." — Edited by Christine Grubbs ( )