8B = THEUNIVERSITYDAILYKANSAN
KANSAS BASKETBALL
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2002
Burras travels across the country lead to Kansas
By Zack Hemenway
correspondence@kansan.com
Kansan correspondent
Aquanita Burras has lived in places as diverse as Alaska and Arizona.
A self-described "military brat," the Kansas women's basketball team's sophomore guard spent her formative years on a cross-country odyssey with stops in New Mexico, North Carolina and Louisiana, among others.
Her basketball career has only added to her travels. After attending high school in Fairbanks, Alaska, Burras was signed, sealed and almost delivered to Idaho State University until the school's coach left for another job. Scrambling to change her plans, Burras got a call from Central Arizona Community College and accepted its offer rather than take a break from playing.
Burras
"Going to Arizona was great for me because it meant I wasn't losing a year," she said.
Burras was named second-team allconference and made yet another move, heading to Kansas to join in the rebuilding process. She said it was an easy decision.
"I love the coaches; I love the players, and I love the campus," Burras said.
AQUINTA BURRAS - #44
Sophomore Guard **Height:** 5-foot-9 Hometown: Fairbanks, Alaska
There is one aspect of Lawrence Burras definitely does not love. In an upset of Kansas-over-Oklahoma proportions, she said she preferred the weather in Alaska to the schizophrenic Midwestern winter.
"The weather here doesn't know what it wants to do," she said with a laugh.
Burras said the 24 hours of daylight in the Alaskan summer was her favorite part of living there.
"The sun goes down just for a quick second and then it pops up," she said. "You could go out and play at three in the morning, as long as the neighbors didn't wake up and yell, 'Put that ball away!'"
Burras is one of eight newcomers hoping to resurrect the program after last season's 5-25 record. The roster includes six freshmen and five sophomores, with only one returning player with more than 10 career starts — sophomore Blair Waltz. Burras will be competing for time at the two-guard slot.
"I think everyone's going to get the same opportunity, as long as everyone puts in the same amount of work," she said. "It's going to be a hard decision for
"I'm a shooter. They know that I can take control and that's what they like about me. If they want a big shot, I think I can do that."
Aquanita Burras
Kansas women's basketball guard
coach."
With only one proven scoring threat returning, Burras thinks she can fill the team's need for players who can step up and put points on the scoreboard.
"I'm a shooter," she said. "They know that I can take control, and that's what they like about me. If they want a big shot, I think I can do that."
Coach Marian Washington agreed with this self-assessment, describing Burras as "a strong athlete who has the ability to score."
After last year's 0-16 showing in Big 12 play, this season is an important one for the future of Kansas women's basketball. The performance of Burras and her fellow newcomers will tell fans what to expect of the team for the next few years. Burras approaches this tall order with confidence.
"The future? We call ourselves the 'Turnaround.'" she said. "We're going to turn around the program."
—Edited by Lauren Beatty
KANSAS WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE
Date Day Opponent Location Time TV
Nov. 13 Wed. Basketball Travelers Lawrence 7:00 p.m.
Nov. 17 Sun. Fort Hays State Lawrence 2:00 p.m.
Nov. 24 Sun. UTEP Lawrence 2:00 p.m.
Nov. 27 Wed. Cal State-Fullerton Fullerton, Calif. 4:00 p.m.
Nov. 30 Sat. San Diego San Diego, Calif. 9:00 p.m.
Dec. 6 Fri. Texas Southern KU Classic 7:00 p.m.
Dec. 11 Wed. Wichita State Wichita, Kan. 7:00 p.m.
Dec. 14 Sat. Creighton Lawrence 2:00 p.m.
Dec. 21 Sat. UMKC Kansas City, Mo. 2:00 p.m.
Dec. 28 Sat. IUPUI Lawrence 2:00 p.m.
Dec. 30 Mon. Hampton Lawrence 7:00 p.m.
Jan. 4 Sat. Georgia State^ Kansas City, Mo. 11:30 a.m. JTV
Jan. 8 Wed. Kansas State* Lawrence 7:00 p.m.
Jan. 11 Sat. Iowa State* Ames, Iowa 2:00 p.m.
Jan. 15 Wed. Oklahoma State* Stillwater, Okla. 7:00 p.m.
Jan. 18 Sat. Colorado* Lawrence 2:00 p.m.
Jan. 22 Wed. Oklahoma* Lawrence 7:00 p.m.
Jan. 25 Sat. Texas A&M* College Station, Texas 7:00 p.m.
Jan. 29 Wed. Nebraska* Lawrence 7:00 p.m.
Feb. 1 Sat. Texas Tech* Lawrence 2:00 p.m.
Feb. 5 Wed. Colorado* Boulder, Colo. 8:00 p.m.
Feb. 8 Sat. Texas* Austin, Texas 3:00 p.m.
Feb. 15 Sat. Missouri* Lawrence 1:00 p.m. FSN
Feb. 19 Wed. Nebraska* Lincoln, Neb. 7:05 p.m.
Feb. 22 Sat. Baylor* Lawrence 2:00 p.m.
Feb. 26 Wed. Kansas State* Manhattan, Kan. 7:00 p.m.
March 1 Sat. Missouri* Columbia, Mo. 7:00 p.m.
March 5 Wed. Iowa State* Lawrence 7:00 p.m.
March 11-15Tues.-Sat Big 12 Tournament
- — Big 12 Conference game
^ — Feist Shootout
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