JAYHAWK
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Basketball
Inside Sports today
San Francisco 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. gave up the organization's reins after notice from Louisiana that he would be indicted for gambling acts. SEE PAGE 2B
Yesterday's game - Kansas vs. Arizona
KANSAS
7-0
RANKED NO.2
RANKED NO.2
ARIZONA 4-2 87
RANKED NO.4
WWW.JHAWKBBALL.COM
SECTION B, PAGE 1
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1997
'Hawks net Arizona victory
LaFrentz scores career high; Kansas holds off comeback
By Tommy Gallagher
tgallagher@kansan.com
Associate sports editor
CHICAGO - Despite a late surge by No. 4 Arizona last night, No. 2 Kansas defeated the Wildcats 90-87 in the Great Eight at the United Center.
The Jayhawks led by as many as 20 points with 10 minutes left to play. But the Wildcats went on an 18-3 run during a five-minute stretch and closed to within 82-80 with two minutes to play.
Arizona came within a point of the Jayhawks, 88-87 with 14.7 seconds to play, but a basket by guard Kenny Gregory helped seal the game. Arizona guard Mike Bibby missed a three-point shot as time expired.
Guard Billy Thomas said the team could not relinquish the lead and perhaps the game.
"During that last timeout we huddled together convinced that we would not lose that game," Thomas said. "We played too hard to let this game slip away. We were not going to lose."
Kansas seized momentum early in the game with an 11-0 run and built a 31-23 lead late in the first half. After a three-point shot by Thomas gave the Jayhawks an 11-point lead at 36:25, they maintained a double-digit lead until the six-minute mark of the second half.
Kansas held a 47-32 halftime
advantage.
But in the second half, Arizona forced Kansas into bad passes and poor shots using a full-court press. The Wildcats trimmed away at the lead slowly before they exploded for the late 18-3 rally.
Kansas coach Roy Williams said he was to blame for the Jayhawks mistakes late in the game.
"I had not prepared them for crucial situations late in the game and, as the head coach, that is part of my responsibility." Williams said.
Forward Reef LaFrentz scored a career-high 32 points and added eight rebounds in leading the Jayhawks. He was cut on the head when fouled during the final seconds and needed stitches after the game.
Forward Paul Pierce had 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists, most of which came before he sprained his right ankle midway through the second half.
The injury was not considered serious, and he was able to return to the game.
Williams said the game was the Kansas' best performance in its seven games.
"That was as good a 40 minutes as our team has played all season." Williams said. "I was pleased with our effort, though I wish we could have played better in the second half."
Box score
KANSAS (7-0)
Pugh 1-7-0-0 2, Pierce 8-16 1-3 17, LaFrentz 12-17 8-8 32, Robertson 2-6-0-0 5, Thomas 5-9-0-14 1, Chenwath 1-12-0-0 2, Gregory 6-10-0 12, McGraff 0-0-0-0, Bradford 3-4-0-0 6. Totals 38-71 9-11 90.
AIRLON (Arizona)
Davison 4-5-2-10, Dickerson 7-15-2-17, Bramlett 6-13-3-4-15,
Bibby 9-19-0-22, Simon 3-12-2-210, Edgerson 0-1-2-22, Terry 3-10
0-0. Wessel 0-0. Webos 1-1-0. Otwbs 1-1-0. Totals 33-76 11-13.87.
Halftime - Kansas 47, Arizona 32. 3-Point goals - Kansas 5-15
(Thomas 4-7, Robertson 1-3, Gregory 4-1, Pierce 2-4, Pugh 0-2), Arizon
10-28 (Bibby 4-10, Terry 2-7, Simon 2-9, Dickerson 1-1, Tebs 1-
1). Fouled out. Pkg. Rebounds - Kansas 34 (LaFrentz 8), Arizona 33
(Bramlet 10). Assists - Kansas 24 (Robertson 10), Arizona 18 (Bibby 6).
Total foulss - Kansas 16, Arizona 11. A — 19,161.
Forward Roof LaFrentz flips on two of his career-high 32 points as Arizona forward A.J. Bramlett, Kansas forward Paul Pierce and center T.J. Pug watch. The Jayhawks defeated the Wildcats 90-87 last night in the Great Eight at Chicago's United Center. Photo by Geoff Krieger/KANSAN
Halbleib: from player to commentator
By Penny Walker
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Angie Halbleib, Kansas' most prolific three-point shooter, is going to spend this season on the sidelines, but she won't be sitting on the bench.
Halbleib will be behind the microphone as the color commentator for the Jayhawk Radio Network, and coach Marian Washington is glad she's doing it.
Halbleib, a fifth-year senior from Middleton, Wis., said Washington always had suggested she get involved with radio commentary after her four years of eligibility were up, but Halbleib had never thought seriously about it.
"It makes me smile to see her over there." Washington said.
"As the season approached, I knew I didn't want to be away from basketball, so I told them I'd do it." Halleble said.
There was no real training involved, she said, although the technical details, such as fitting in local breaks, took some getting used to.
Former Kansas women's basketball player Angie Halbleib prepares to go on the air with her KLWN broadcast partner Dave Sharp. Halbleib, a fifth-year student, is working toward her dearest in secondary math education. Photo by Geoff Kreiger/KANSAN
Halbleib's major is secondary math education, and she also hopes to coach high school basketball someday. Although she still is learning the rules of broadcast journalism, Halbleib said that objectivity wasn't a problem.
"Pretty much all you need to know is the game, and I've played the game all my life," said Halbleib, who began playing organized basketball in third grade.
"Since we're the Jayhawk Radio Network, we can be partial," she said. "I'm not too partial, but of course I want Kansas to win."
One of the benefits of having a former
"She's fun," Washington said. "I think she's extremely intelligent. She knows the game very well, and Angie has a way about her. She can be very direct without being offensive."
player comment on the game is the insight she can offer, Halbleib said. Washington would agree.
"When you have to listen, certainly you want someone who knows the game, but you also want someone who can identify with the players." Washington said.
"I'm going to be at the game anyway, so I might as well get paid to do it," Halbleib said. "And I enjoy giving my opinion — everyone knows that."
Halbleib is perfect for the job, Washington said.
That directness is one of the things that convinced Halbleib to agree to the radio post.
Radio coverage of Kansas women's basketball wasn't always what it is now. Washington said that the women's program owed a great deal to Peg Wittmer, a person who pressed for the coverage when working years ago for KLZR.
"She was helping make it possible for us to even have radio coverage when no one cared." Washington said. "She never professed to be an expert in the game, but she had a love for our program and for women's basketball."
"She literally forced them to have my games on," Washington said. "She went out and sold sponsors to help make it possible."
After spending years covering the women's games, Wittmer is still involved with the radio component of the women's program.
Halbleib can identify with that love of
going to be a good team."
the women's basketball program. The best part about doing the radio coverage, she said, is remaining part of the program.
"They're young," Halibble said. "It's a little frustrating at times. You want to get out there and help the ones you out, but they'll get into the swing of things."
Although being close to the game without actually playing wasn't as difficult as she expected, Halbleib said there were times she wanted to pitch in and join the team on the court.
She and the other fifth-year basketball players can't jump into the fray during games, but they do come to practice to help out and to provide the team with added challenge.
Although the practices allow the fifth-year players to stay close to the program, Halbleib said there were certain perks involved with not being a member of the team anymore.
"IIf don't want to show up one day," Hallebib said with a laugh, "I don't have to."
AP top 25
1. Duke (6-0) did not play. Next: at North Carolina-Greensboro today.
2. Kansas (6-0) beat No. 4 Arizona 90-87.
Next; vs. Emporia State tomorrow.
3. North Carolina (6-0) did not play. Next:
vs. Louisville today.
4. Arizona (4-1) lost to No. 2 Kansas 87-90.
Next: at Texas on Saturday.
5. South Carolina (3-0) did not play. Next:
vs. Virginia Tech on Friday.
6. Purdue (5-1) did not play. Next: vs. No. 7
Kentucky today.
8. New Mexico (5-0) not play. Next: vs.
No. 15 UCLA on Saturday.
10. Iowa (4-0) beat Drake 90-60. Next: vs.
Rice on Friday.
9. Xavier (4-9) beat Central Michigan 88
54. Next: vs. Western Kentucky on Saturday.
7. Kentucky (4-1) did not play. Next: vs.
No. 6 Purdue today.
11. Utah (6-0) beat Providence 64-58. Next:
at No. 24 Wake Forest on Saturday.
12. Stanford (4-0) did not play. Next: vs.
No. 21 Georgia on Saturday.
13. Connecticut (5-1) did not play. Next: vs. West Virginia today.
14. Mississippi (3-0) did not play. Next: vs.
Long Island University on Friday.
15. UCLA (2-1) did not play. Next: vs. No. $ New Mexico on Saturday.
16. Fresno State (3-1) did not play. Next: at No. 20 Temple on Tuesday.
17. Clemson (3-2) did not play. Next: vs.
No. 23 Marvely tomorrow
18. Arkansas (5-0) beat Bethune-Cookman
108-42. Next: vs. Missouri on Saturday.
19. Florida State (5-1) beat Florida Atlantic 90-52. Next: vs. Jacksonville on Saturday.
20. Temple (2-1) did not play. Next: at Michigan State on Thursday.
21. Georgia (5-1) did not play. Next: vs.
No. 12 Stanford on Saturday.
23. Maryland (3-1) did not play. Next: at No. 17 Clemson tomorrow.
24. Wake Forest (5-0) did not play. Next: at Davidson today.
22. Georgia Tech (4-0) did not play. Next: vs. North Carolina State tomorrow.
25. Princeton (4-0) did not play. Next: vs.
North Carolina-Wilmington today.
Kansas forward named Big 12 player of week
Rookie of the week honors went to Luke Axell of Texas, the conference said.
DALLAS — Paul Pierce was named Big 12 Conference player of the week after averaging 25.5 points in two Kansas victories.
Pierce, a 6-foot-7 forward from Inglewood, Calif., also was named most valuable player in the Chase Preseason NIT, which Kansas won Friday with a 73-58 victory against Florida State.
He scored 23 points in the game and he made five of his six 3-point shots.
-- The Associated Press
The Top 25 teams in The Associated Press' 1997-98 women's college basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Sunday, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote and last ranking:
AP women's top 25
| | Record | Pts | Pv |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 1. Tennessee | (40) 6-0 | 1,000 | 1 |
| 2. Old Dominion | 4-0 | 943 | 2 |
| 3. Connecticut | 6-0 | 915 | 3 |
| 4. Louisiana Tech | 3-1 | 896 | 4 |
| 5. Vanderbilt | 4-0 | 795 | 7 |
| 6. Illinois | 3-1 | 765 | 8 |
| 7. North Carolina | 4-1 | 689 | 9 |
| **8. Texas Tech** | **3-1** | **687** | **6** |
| 9. Virginia | 5-0 | 636 | 10 |
| 10. Georgia | 3-0 | 586 | 13 |
| 11. Arizona | 1-0 | 543 | 12 |
| **12. Nebraska** | **6-1** | **513** | **14** |
| 13. Florida | 4-2 | 506 | 5 |
| 14. Stanford | 1-3 | 425 | 11 |
| 15. Duke | 4-1 | 399 | 15 |
| **16. Colorado** | **3-0** | **397** | **16** |
| 17. W. Kentucky | 6-1 | 389 | 22 |
| 18. Auburn | 3-0 | 367 | 18 |
| 19. Wisconsin | 4-0 | 316 | 23 |
| 20. Arkansas | 5-0 | 295 | 24 |
| 21. Alabama | 3-2 | 171 | 17 |
| 22. Tulane | 2-1 | 141 | 21 |
| 23. Stephen F.Austin | 2-2 | 136 | 19 |
| 24. Washington | 3-0 | 99 | — |
| 25. N. Carolina St. | 6-0 | 72 | — |
Record Pts Py
Others receiving votes: Kansas 62, Iowa 58,
Purdue 51, Iowa St. 29, Colorado St. 25, Marquee 24, George Washington 16, Boston College 6, SW Missouri St. 6, Southern Meth. 6,
UCLA 6, Fla. International 5, UC Santa Barbara 5, DePaul 4, Utah 4, Texas 3, Indiana 2, Michigan 2, New Mexico 2, Oregon 2, LSU 1.
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