2E
the university daily kansan
basketball preview
tuesday. november 11, 2003
Big 12 teams geared-up for new season
The Big 12 Conference has been one of the toughest in basketball, if not the toughest, for the past two years, and it appears this year will be no different. If Kansas is to three-peat as conference champions, the Jayhawks will likely need to ward off stiff challenges from Texas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Several other teams have shots at NCAA tournament consideration. On the other hand, the early favorite to finish in the cellar is well established. Here's a team-by-team breakdown of the rest of the conference:
BAYLOR
Coach: Scott Drew (1st year)
2002-03 record:
14-14, 5-11 in
Big 12
Key returners:
C R.T. Guinn
10 pts. 5.6 pms)
F Terrance Thomas (5.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg)
Newcomers: F Harvey Thomas, Jr., 6-8, 210; G Carl Marshall, Fr. 5-10, 160
Key losses: G John Lucas III (13.3 pp.) F Lawrence Roberts (15.2 pp., 10.4 rpg); G Kenny Taylor (11.8 pp., 39% 3-pt FG)
Outlook: The unprecedented scandal stemming from the alleged murder of forward Patrick Dennehy by a former teammate, followed by the NCAA waiving transfer rules for Baylor players, cost the Bears their top three scorers. That, plus the psychological impact of those events, means that if the Bears don't finish last in the Big 12, Hollywood needs to make a movie about their miracle season.
COLORADO
Coach: Ricardo Patton (9th
year)
2002-03
record: 20-
12, 9-7 in
Big 12
Key return
ers: C David Harrison (13.9 ppg, 8.3 rpg); G/F Michel Morandais
Newcomers: G/F Keith Smith,
6- 2- 201 G: Marcus Hall, 6- 1- 175
(16.9 ppg, 5.4 ppg); Blair Winn
(12.9 ppg, 35.0% 3-tp FG)
Key losses: F Stephane Pelle (12 rpg, 9.3 rpg)
Outlook: Pelle is a major loss inside, but the Buffaloes still have Harrison, an NBA prospect, and Morandais, who can score inside or outside. Colorado could repeat last year's surprising run to the NCAA tournament. If they don't, Patton, who's feeling more and more pressure to win, may be headed out the door.
IOWA STATE
Coach: Wayne Morgan (1st year)
2002-03 record: 17-14, 5-11 in Big 12
3-pt FG); G Tim Barnes (11.3)
Key returners: G Jake Sullivan
ppg, 5 apg,
38.3% 3-pt FG):
F Jackson Vroman (12.5 ppg, 9.4 rpg)
Newcomers: G Will Blalock, 5-11, 165; C Damion Staple, 6-8, 250; C Curtis Stinson, 6-2. 205
Key losses: C Chris Alexander (7.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg); G Adam Haluska (9.2 ppg, 35.6% 3-pt.FG)
Outlook: Barnes is academically ineligible for the first semester, and Vroman has been suspended indefinitely after a summer drug arrest. Too bad for Iowa State, because both are among the best in the Big 12 at their positions. Stinson and Staple will probably take a big chunk of their minutes; Staple was a second-team junior college All-American last year, and Morgan described Stinson as "jamaa Tinsley meets Walt Frazier." With Barnes and Vroman around the entire year, this could have been a sleeper team, but now things don't look so good. Morgan plans on converting the Cyclones to an uptempo style of play. It will be interesting to see if Iowa State can make the transition.
KANSAS STATE
2002-03 record: 13-17, 4-12 in Big 12
Coach: Jim Woolridge (4th year)
Key returners: G Tim Ellis (9.4)
FG); F Marques Hayden (7 rpg, 4.5 rpg)
FG); F Mar-
Newcomers: F Cartier
6.8 R.S.D.Cars
Martin, h-8, 213; G Dez.
Willingham, 6-0, 180; F Jeremiah
Massev, 6-8, 230
Key losses: Gilson Dejesus (11.2 ppg, 43.7% 3-pt FG); Pervis Pasco (10.4 ppg, 7.5 rpg)
Outlook: How did Woollidge lure this recruiting class to Manhattan? He picked up two toubled Texas prep prospects in Martin and Willingham, plus one of last year's best junior college power forwards in Massey. Add those components to Ellis' outside shooting ability and the talent of the sophomore Hayden, and it's not impossible to see K-State making some noise this year. The Wildcats definitely have a bright future.
Coach: Quin Snyder (5th year) 2002-03 record: 22-11, 9-7 in Big 12
MISSOURI
Key returners: C Arthur Johnson (16.1 ppg, 9.6 rpg); G/F Rickey Paulding (14.7 ppg, 45% FG); F Travon Bryant (8.9 pg)
5. 8 rpg)
Newcomers: G Thomas Gardner, 6-5, 210; G Randy Pulley, 6-2, 213; G Jason Conley, 5, 210; F Linas
Kleiza, 6-8, 245
Key losses: G Ricky Clemons (14.2-pine 34.1 %-pt FG)
Outlook: Paulding and Johnson may be the best senior combo in the country, and Gardner and Kleiza are top-100 freshmen. Conley, a transfer who led the nation in scoring at Virginia Military Institute two years ago, will be eligible second semester. The only questions with this group are whether Snyder, who's never finished higher than fifth in the Big 12, can make all these talented pieces mesh, whether Pulley can immediately handle point guard duties and whether the NCAA's
Coach: Barry Collier (4th year)
2002-03 record: 11-19, 3-13 in
Pic. 12
investigation of the program will be a distraction.
NEBRASKA
Big 12
Drevo, 13.9 pp, 7.3 rpg) G Jake Muhleisen (11.7 pp, 46.9% FG)
Newcomers: G Charlie Richardson 5-8, 155; G Marcu Neal. 6-0, 175
Key losses: G Brennon Clemms (6.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg)
Outlook: Johnson and Drevo are fine players entering their senior year, and the recruiting class isn't bad. Neal is a junior college transfer point guard who can score. Still, on paper, they're only better than Baylor.
OKLAHOMA
Coach: Kelvin Sampson (10th year)
2002-03 record: 27-7, 12-4 in Big 12
Key returners: G Kevin Book-
rpg); G De'Angelo Alexander (7.1 ppg,
35% 3-pt FG);
C Jabahri Brown (6.3 ppg,
5.5 rpg)
Newcomers: G
Drew Lavender 5-7, 155; G
Lawrence McKenzie 6-1, 170; G
Jaison Williams, 6-3, 185
Newcomers: G
Key losses: G Hollis Price (18 ppg, 43.3% ppg-3pt); G Quannas White (8.6 ppg, 5.5% 3pt); F Ebi Ere (12.9 ppg)
Outlook: Sampson said this is easily the youngest team he's ever had at Oklahoma. The tiny Lavender will probably start at point guard; Sampson said he's not as tough as White but is probably a better creator. McKenzie is a combo guard who can shoot. Bookout is expected to be more of a force in his sophomore year. Sampson's coaching should make up for inexperience and keep the Sooners near the top of
OKLAHOMA STATE
Coach: Eddie Sutton (14th year)
the Big 12.
2002-03 record: 22-10, 10-6 in Big 12
Key returners: G Tony Allen (14.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 39.5% 3-pt FG); F Ivan McFarlin (10.7 ppg, 7.8 rpg)
Newcomers: G John Lucas III (13.3 ppg, 871. % FT); G Stevie
Graham, 6-6, 212:
oSu
G/F Joey
Graham, 6-
7, 220; F/C
Tremaine
Fuqua,6-9,240
Key losses: G Melvin Sanders (12.9 ppg, 4.8 rpg); G Victor Williams (15.5 ppg, 38.3% 3-pt FG)
Outlook: If you liked Missouri's cumbersome Haley twins from the mid-'90s, then you'll love the Graham twins, who transferred from Central Florida. Stevie is touted as a key to the Cowboys' perimeter game, while Joey will spend more time in the post. Oklahoma State should have a potent three-guard offense with Stevie Graham, Allen and Baylor transfer Lucas, but a lack of inside scoring and bulk could cripple this team against bigger opponents.
Coach: Rick Barnes (6th year)
2002-03 record: 26-7, 13-3 in
Big 12
TEXAS
Key returners: G Brandon Mouton (14.8 ppg, 41.3% 3-pt
FG); C James Thomas
(11.1 ppg, 11
rpg); F Brad Buck-
man (6.7 ppg, 5.3
rpg); F Brian Boddicker (43.9% 3-pt FG)
Newcomers: G Edgar Moreno, 6-2, 195; G Kenny Taylor, 6-3, 185 Key loss: G T.J. Ford (15 ppg, 7.7 apg)
Outlook: Ford was spectacular, but he wasn't the only reason the Longhorns made the Final Four, and they're still a national title contender without him. All four other starters return, and the deepest team in the Big 12
last year gets deeper with the arrival of Baylor refugee Kenny Taylor. Buckman could step up as a sophomore to become the team's star.
TEXAS A&M
Coach: Melvin Watkins (6th year)
6-3,180; G Bobby Leach 6-0,180
Newcomers - Le LaKeith
Blanks, 6-6, 195; G Ace Law IV,
IV
2002-03 record: 14-14, 6-10 in Big 12
Key returners: G/F Antoine Wright (14.5 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 38.2% 3-pt FG); C Andy Slocum (5.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg)
Key losses: G Bernard King (17 ppg, 44.2%
Outlook: Blanks and junior college transfer Leach highlight a solid recruiting class that could make A&M an upper-half contender in the future. In the meantime, Wright, last year's Big 12 Freshman of the Year, will be taking a lot of shots. A&M doesn't have much hope of finishing higher than seventh.
TEXAS TECH
Coach: Bob Knight (3rd year)
2002-03 record: 22-13, 6-10 in Big 12
Key returners: G Andree
Emmett (21.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg); C
Robert Tomaszek (8.3 ppg, 5 rpg)
Newcomers; G Jarrius Jackson, 6-1,185; F Devonne Giles, 6-8,225; F Joseph Works, 6-2,200
Key losses: F Kasib Powell (14.6 ppg, 1.6 g)
Outlook: Emmett reconsidered his foolish decision to enter the NBA draft, which gave Knight some hope for another postseason berth. Giles was one of the nation's better junior college power forwards last year, but this will be Emmett's team, and the Red Raiders will go as far as he, and Knight's coaching, will take them.
—Compiled by Joey Berlin
—Edited by Scott Christie
Big 12 women's basketball finally rivals SEC
By Daniel Berk
dberk@kansan.com
dberk.sportwriter
Since the first season of Big 12 Conference women's basketball in 1996-1997, coaches in the conference dreamed of one day competing with the SEC for top conference in women's basketball.
That day has arrived for coaches like Kansas coach Marian Washington. Washington knows the amount of talent in the Jayhawks' conference and is very excited to start the season.
"When our conference first merged all the coaches thought we could one day rival the SEC," Washington said. "The four schools from Texas in our conference are all very accomplished programs and I thought that the addition of those schools to our conference could make this one
of the toughest conferences in the country."
One of the schools from Texas that Washington is referring to is the University of Texas which is picked by the coaches in the conference to finish first in the preseason coaches poll.
Texas, which appeared in the Women's Final Four last year, also has two members of its team who were picked on the preseason All-Big 12 Team.
Both Stacy Stephens and Heather Schreiber were named to the team, and Washington feels that those two athletes are a big reason for the Longhorns' recent success.
"Texas has always been one of the most athletic teams in the country, but they did not always have a strong outside game." Washington said. "What has made them so good, is they now
have an inside and outside threat with Stephens and Schreiber."
Stephens, a senior from Winnsboro, Texas, averaged 14.4 points per game last year along with averaging 9.1 rebounds a contest. Schreiber, a junior from Windthorst, Texas, averaged 14.3 points a game last season along with a team best 43.1 percent from three-point territory.
Kansas State was picked by the coaches to finish second in the conference. Kansas State also has two players on the All-Big 12 Team, including the preseason player of the year, senior post player Nicole Ohide from Clay Center.
Ohlde averaged 18.4 points per game last year, and her teammates will be looking to her to lead the Wildcats to the Final Four.
"They have three players that have been playing together since
"Any time you return players like we do who got a lot of playing time last season, it helps a lot when you are on the road playing in the Big 12 Marian Washington
Kansasas women is sanketbail head cacch
grade school and AAU," Washington said. "They have proven to be a very strong threesome. The fact that all three are back with their experience should make them a very good team."
Ohlde is joined by junior Kendra Wecker on the All-Big 12 Team. Wecker averaged 19 points a contest last season which led the team. The third member of the powerful trio is junior guard Laurie Koehn who averaged more than 13 points per game last season.
The preseason All-Big 12 Team is rounded out by Jia Perkins, a senior guard from Texas Tech. The Lady Raiders are picked to finish third in the conference behind the Longhorns and the Wildcats. Texas Tech has a tough void to fill, left by Plenitei Pierson who led the team in scoring last season with an average of 17.8 points per game.
Oklahoma and Colorado round out the top five teams in the conference and are followed by Baylor who was picked sixth,
"We have some more seasoned players this year who will provide leadership for our team," Washington said. "Any time you return players like we do who got a lot of playing time last season, it helps a lot when you are on the road playing in the Big 12."
KU Printing Services
- Edited by Abby Sidesinger
Washington will look for her returning players to provide leadership on the road against top opponents such as Kansas State.
Poster Shop
The Printing Services Poster Shop offers a full line of finishing options to go along with color large format prints. A variety of frames, mounting boards, easels and hanging devices are available to complete your large format projects. In addition to a wide range of papers offered, vinyl banners are now offered. Stop by to see our many examples on display at Printing Services.
Charts Presentation Material Event Signage * Banners * Posters Wall Art * Directional Signage Easel Signs * Maps
The Jayhawks will open their Big 12 Conference schedule at home against Texas on Jan. 7. The Jayhawks' first tough road assignment will come in Manhattan in the fourth conference game of the year as the Jayhawks will try to pull an upset against the Wildcats.
Printing Services Building
West Campus
864-4341
(Corner of 15th Street and Crestline)
Plans • Drawings • Charts • Maps
Paper Banners • Flip Charts
Scanning large prints to file
Posters • Graphs
What is "Plan Printing"? It is black and white printing from a file or from a scanned hard copy onto paper up to 36 wide. Plan Printing is referred to in many ways such as: Blue Printing, Digital Blackline Printing, Engineering Printing, Architecture Printing, Over-sized Printing, Map Printing, etc.
Plan Printing
Missouri, Iowa State, Kansas,
Oklahoma State, Nebraska and
Texas A&M.
$35
Co-Owned by local KU student
Serenity Garden Stay Spa
Not valid with other offers or Gift Certificates
1 Hour Swedish Massage
Call and schedule your appointment today 856-7675
学
Located in the Eldridge Hotel Offer expires 12/31/03
4
1