MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2002
KANSAS BASKETBALL
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 9B
Confident sophomore a leading lady on court
By Doyle Murphy
dmurphy@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
It's easy to forget Blair Waltz is a sophomore.
Sophomores usually aren't the team's mouthpiece at press conferences.
Soph mores usually don't guide the team throug h workouts and practices.
Sopho mores usually aren't the most experienced players on the team.
Waltz
Aren't sophomores usually still learning the ropes?
Maybe so, still, there was Waltz, sitting in front of a room of reporters at the Big 12 Conference's media day, Wednesday.
She fielded questions as if she had been doing it for years, and the confident smile rarely left her face.
she usually is a leader.
It's not unusual for Waltz, because — regardless of her age she usually is a leader.
On a team without a single senior and eight newcomers, Waltz is the leading returning player this season. She played in 26 of 30 games last year and started 14.
She missed four games after suffering a stress fracture in her right foot.
"Blair has got to stay healthy for us. She left here after a summer session."
Marion Washington Kansas women's basketball coach
Returning healthier and stronger this season will make Waltz even more of factor this season, Kansas coach Marian Washington said in her annual preseason press conference.
"Blair has got to stay healthy for us." Washington said. "She left here after a summer session. Went to New York to work out, worked out with a professional there, and came back in good shape."
She is one of the only Kansas players with starting experience, and if you think the pressure will be too great for a young player to bear, you need only to spend a few minutes speaking with Waltz.
"I strive for that," she said.
"That's what I want to be. I want to be looked to as a leader."
She has had the training.
As a player at Blue Valley North High School in Overland Park, Waltz led four teams to the Kansas state playoffs, winning the title twice. She was selected to the All-state first team twice.
BLAIR WALTZ - #3
And the basketball court wasn't the only place Waltz excelled. In fact, it's not easy to find anything she's not good at.
Sophomore
Guard/Forward
Height: 6-foot
Hometown: Leawood
Points: 19 vs. Iowa State, Feb.
23. 2002
Waltz Career Highs
Rebounds: 10 vs. Grambling,
Nov. 16, 2001
Field Goals: 8 vs. Iowa State,
Feb. 23, 2002
Field Goals Attempted: 17 vs.
Iowa State, Feb. 23, 2002
3-Point FG: 3, twice
3-Point FG Attempts: 5, twice
Free Throws: 2 vs.
Georgetown, Dec. 28, 2001
Free Threes Attempted: 4 vs.
Arizona St., Dec. 5, 2001
Assists: 5 vs. Iowa State, Feb.
23, 2002
Steals: 2, five times
Blocked Shots: 2, twice
Minutes Played: 33, twice
She was recruited by Division I schools to play volleyball, softball and basketball. In the classroom, Waltz, an international business major, earned Jayhawk Scholar honors.
All that success, made the Jayhawks' dismal 2001-02 season even more painful for Waltz.
"That's never, ever going to happen to me again," Waltz said. "I'm going to make sure of it."
Edited by Christine Grubbs
By Doyle Murphy
dmurphy@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
'Hawks Menguç displays Haase-like playing style
Off the court, junior guard Leila Menguc's ear-to-ear smile and easy-going personality make her popular with fans, players, coaches and pretty much anyone she comes into contact with
On the court, look out.
W a t c h Mengüç for a few minutes, and you might think Jerod Haase is playing at Allen Fieldhouse again.
Mengüç
The Stockholm, Sweden native plays a hard-nosed, hustling style of basketball reminiscent of the former men's team star.
She dives after every loose ball and seems to save nothing for the next possession.
That work hard, play hard attitude has rubbed off on the other players. It seems to have become the mantra for the entire team.
Kansas coach Marian Washington told reporters that new attitude is the first step in returning the Jayhawks to prominence.
"We need to remind our players that our program is turning around and getting back to the way it should be, and to be very optimistic about the future," Washington said. Menguc couldn't agree more.
"The way we've been working on and off the court has been great. I mean compared to the last few years I feel like this really is the year for us."
Leila Menguc Kansas women's basketball guard
"The way we've been working on and off the court has been great," Mengic said. "I mean compared to the last few years I feel like this really is the year for us."
That is a big change from last season. Menguc said the strain of losing hurt the chemistry of the team.
"It feels like someone blows out the fire in you every time, after every loss," she said. "After a season like that all you can do is keep working harder, because you know it's going to be better times."
Her competitive nature made the losses painful, but it did not stop Menguez from working hard.
After providing a defensive presence off the bench for the majority of last season, she finally worked her way into the starting lineup for the last three games of the year.
But the on the court competitions never become personal to the fiery point guard.
"I can honestly say that every person on the team is great," she said. "You don't have to push us
LEILA MENGÜÇ-#21
Junior
Guard
Height: 5-foot-6-inch
Hometown: Stockholm, Sweden
Mengüç's Career Highs
Points: 7 vs. Creighton, Nov 20.
2001
Field Goals: 3 vs. Creighton, Nov
20, 2001
Rebounds: 7 vs. Puerto Rico, Nov 20, 2001
Field Goals Attempted: 5, twice
3-Point FG: 2 vs. Kansas State,
Feb. 17, 2002)
3-Point FG Attempts: 3 vs Oklahoma (01-24-01)
Free Throws: 5 vs. Morgan State (12-29-01)
Free Throws Attempted: 6, twice
Assists: 3, twice
Steals: 3 vs. Wichita St., Dec. 1, 2000
Blocked Shots: 1 vs. E. Illinois,
Dec. 1, 2000
Minutes Played: 23 vs. Texas, March 5, 2002
together, we automatically hang out a lot."
Before coming to Kansas in 1999, Mengüc spent several seasons in international competition.
She was named the most valuable player of the Swedish National under-20 team in 1998. She also was an all star for the Avlik Club team that won the Swedish Championships that year.
Edited by Matt Norton
Working best in clutch situations KU Basketball since 1899 Lawrence Auto. Diag. since 1994
"We stand Behind Our Work, and WE CARE!" Domestic & Foreign Complete Car Care
842-8665
Mon-Fri 7:30 - 5:30
2858 Four Wheel Drive
Lawrence, KS
www.lawrenceautodiag.com
KU's Hometown Restaurant
Steaks,Seafood,Barbecue Ribs 2176 E.23rd 843-1110
The more shots you take... the better chance you have to score.
LAWRENCE ATHLETIC CLUB
Top Notch Team Top of the Hill Gym Good luck Hawks!
LAC North
3201 Mesa Way
785.842.4966
LAC South
2108W 27th St.
785.331.2288
New East Club coming soon!