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SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
10A
WWW.KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2002
Senior golfer takes swing at PGA tour appearance
By Ryan Greene
rgreene@kansan.com
Kansan Sportwriter
For thousands of KU seniors, May 18, graduation day, signifies the end of college life and entrance into the real world. For Chris Marshall, however, it means the last step towards his lifelong dream of playing professional golf.
Chris Marshall
Jayhawks ready to cross Crusaders after close call
Marshall, Stanley senior, completed the fall portion of his final season on the Kansas men's golf team. Not only is he the team's emotional leader and the lone senior, but he has been the backbone for the squad on the course.
Marshall has set an example this season in his senior campaign, showing his teammates how things get done.
"On the course, I just try and lead by example," Marshall said. "I believe that hard work pays off, and I feel like it's not just about how you work at it, it's how you turn the bad days into good days."
Marshall is on target to have the best year of his Kansas career. Last season he finished as a first-team All-Big 12 golfer and an All-American honorable mention. To finish this year's fall season, Marshall notched his first individual win of the season at The Prestige 2002 in La Quinta, Calif. To go along with the victory, he was named the Big 12 golfer of the month for October.
"When we're on the road, I really try and pick the brains of the younger guys," Marshall said. "I give them the advice that I've learned along the road."
The win and accolades have helped Marshall also achieve his new personal best in the latest Golfweek college rankings, placing him at 18th in the country heading into the winter.
Karson File Photo
The leadership role is something that coach Ross Randall says Marshall has assumed with great success both on and off the course this year.
Michael Lee, sophomore guard, drives toward the basket past Washburn freshman guard Jerad Head. The Jayhawks will take on Holy Cross tonight at 8 p.m. at Allen Fieldhouse.
"He's doing fine, and we talked about that during the summer. He wanted to be the leader," Randall said. "If everyone else can work as hard as he does, then everything's going to be okay. His work's paying off."
This spring, Marshall will look to lead the team to the NCAA Finals, which the team missed last season by one stroke. Not only would an appearance there add another honor to his illustrious Jayhawk career, but he wants to make sure he leaves a bigger impression on his teammates through the words of his coach.
"Coach always says if you play well everything takes care of itself, and I believe in that," Marshall said. "The more you're willing to put into it, the more you're going to get out of it."
Edited by Christine Grubbs
By Jessica Scott and Jessica Tims
jscott@kansan.com and
jtims@kansan.com
Kansan associate sports editor and Kansan sports-
writer
When Kansas faced Holy Cross in the opening round of last year's NCAA Tournament, Jayhawk fans prayed that divine intervention would not allow Kansas to become the first ever No.1 team to lose to a 16-seeded squad.
Kansas trailed the Patriot League's runner-up 37-35 at halftime. When guard Kirk Hinrich excited the game in the first half with a severe ankle sprain, the "Oh no, not again" sentiments from previous tournaments quickly returned.
"At that point, we were just trying to survive," said Kansas coach Roy Williams. The Jaj Hawks did.
Behind a combined 32 points from former players Drew Gooden and Jeff Boschee, Kansas turned a nail-bitter into a 70-59 victory and advanced to the next round.
"It was a heck of a game," Williams said. "It was one of those games that was in doubt until the last three or four minutes of the game. I was really impressed by how much better I thought they played than we played."
Sophomore Keith Langford said he didn't expect Kansas would need quite
the same crusade in today's 8 p.m. season-opening and Preseason NIT contest at Allen Fieldhouse.
"I think, back in March, we didn't play our best game, and they were having their A-game," Langford said. "This time we are playing them in the Fieldhouse, so we have the advantage."
With four returning starters, 10 letter winners and a 2-0 exhibition record. Holy Cross could come to town with a better team than last year - a scary thought for Williams.
"Not only do they have confidence, they've been successful, they've been to the tournament, they're not in awe of Kansas by any means," he said.
Freshman guard Jeff Hawkins, who watched his team struggle from the sidelines during last year's meeting, said he looked forward to helping his team this time.
SEE BASKETBALL PAGE 6A
"I just know now that I actually have a chance to contribute to the team, so I am really looking forward to it," Hawkins said. "I just don't want the game to be like it was last year, because I know we did not play that well."
Holy Cross coach Ralph Willard will bring the Patriot League's 2003 Preseason Player of the year, Tim Szatko.
Kansan File Photo
Jeff Graves, junior forward, makes a lay-up in Kansas' 101-66 victory over Washburn. Graves shot 100 percent, making all three of his shots, against the Ichabods and posted a total of seven points last Tuesday. He added four rebounds and two blocked shots in the contest. Graves is likely to be Kansas' first forward off the bench in tonight's game against Holy Cross.
JAYHAWKS IN THE PRO'S
By Ryan Greene
NBA
By Ryan Greene
rgreene@kansan.com
Kansan sports switer
The regular seasons for both the NFL and NBA are now officially in full swing. Each week, the Kansan will run updates on former Jayhawks now in the pro ranks. If you would like an update on any former Jayhawk athletes, e-mail your requests to rgreene@kansan.com.
Drew Gooden — Memphis Grizzlies
Another week and no victories for Memphis. The Grizzlies tabbed Hube Brown as their head
coach last week after Sidney Lowe resigned, but they still haven't won. Gooden averaged 14 points per game in three contests this past week. He has been
the league's most impressive rookie, leading all rookies in points per game and ranking second in rebounds per game.
Paul Pierce — Boston Celtics
The Celtics six-game winning streak was snapped last week, as the team finished the week with two losses, leaving them at 6-4 overall. Pierce scored 35 points Nov. 11 in a win over Utah, and recorded a double-double with 28 points
and 12 rebounds Saturday in a loss to Milwaukee. Pierce is seventh in the league with 23.6 points per game.
Jacque Vaughn — Orlando Magic
The Magic hit the skids last week, losing four of their five outings.
JEE JAYHAWKS PAGE 6A
Loose standards turn honored jerseys into wallpaper
Drew Gooden worked hard here for three years.
He transformed from a freshman with lots of potential and no discipline into the recipient of one of college basketball's greatest honors — the NABC co-player of the year, along with Duke's Jay Williams.
It showed just how special of a player Gooden was. He would have been just the ninth player in the storied history of Kansas basketball to have his jersey hang alongside legends.
When Gooden was honored as being the best collegiate player in the country, coach Roy Williams proudly boasted that Gooden's jersey would hang on the south wall of Allen Fieldhouse.
Williams and two associate athletics directors expanded the criteria. They
Then, Kansas officials got greedy.
Ryan Wood
rwood@kansan.com
Now, instead of the nine men and Lynette Woodard who qualified under the old criteria, the number doubled to 18 men and tripled to three women, and it will certainly increase significantly in the next couple of decades.
wanted more jerseys up there. But they ended up watering down and diluting just how prestigious of an honor it is.
Now, the requirements are much easier. Before, one had to be either the national player of the year, MVP of the NCAA tournament or a four-time All-American.
"I like it." Williams said.
Now, a two-time All-American is good enough. Even a one-time All-American will do, as long as you were a consensus pick.
I don't.
COMMENTARY
There's also what I like to call the
"Jacque Vaughn qualifier," which allows a very good (but not legendary) career on the court to combine with a very good (but not unheard of) career in the classroom to reserve your spot.
Vaughn earned GTE Academic All- American of the Year in 1997, qualifying him for immortal status.
His jersey will hang alongside those of mid-90's teammates Raef LaFrentz and
Paul Pierce, who won great individual achievements but whose teams won absolutely nothing.
Others were added with the easier formula. But I'm willing to guess that officials lightened up on the requirements with the intention to get Pierce, LaFrentz and Vaughn up there, and not older legends like Tus Ackerman, Howard Engleman and Al Peterson.
"It's not like we're giving these things away." Williams says.
Nick Collison and Kirk Hinrich have
True, but let's think about it. With all of the great players that Williams brings to KU, with all the tradition, with all the talent that does play and will play here, how long will it be before all those jerseys look like bad wallpaper on Phog's south wall?
an excellent chance to join the list after this season. Wayne Simien could very well be a consensus All-American before he's done. Heck, even Keith Langford and Aaron Miles have an outside shot down the road.
Imagine how cluttered that wall could become in time. There could be 15 more numbers hanging there 35 years from now. How elite would that look? Is there even room?
Poor Drew Gooden. He worked really hard to be one of those elite nine that are now lost in the shuffle.
True, they aren't giving these things away. But they did put them on the sale rack right after Gooden secured his.
- Wood is a Lee's Summit, Mo., senior in journalism.