Inside Sports THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN Sports Ken Griffey Jr. needs seven home runs in five games in Anaheim and Oakland to break Roger Maris' major league record.SEE PAGE 6B College Football Wednesday September 24,1997 Texas Tech coach Spike Dykes defends the favored Red Raiders' 30-27 loss to North Texas. SEE PAGE 3B Section: Pro Football B Page 1 Kansas City linebacker Derrick Thomas' playing status will be evaluated weekly because of an injury. SEE PAGE 4B WWW.KANSAN.COM/NEWS/SPORTS Contact the Kansan Sports Desk: (785) 864-4810 Sports Fax: (785) 864-5261 Sports e-mail: sports@kansan.com Sports Forum: sptorum@kansan.com Celebration will satisfy with Wilt or without Festivities to include jersey retirements, reunion and game Although the first basketball practice is still three weeks away, Kansas officials on Monday announced plans to launch a season-long celebration honoring 100 years of Kansas basketball. The festivities will culminate in a reunion and potential jersey- retirement ceremony the weekend of Feb. 7 and 8 when the 'Hawks battle Missouri. The weekend may be like heaven on earth for Kansas fans of all ages. Fans will have the opportunity to watch past heroes play in a legends game. Scott Corcoran scoorts@kansan.com Corcoran is a Tapeka senior in biology. In addition, there will be a banquet honoring former Kansas players and a tribute to the 1952 and 1988 NCAA championship teams. Oh yeah, there also is the game against Kansas' hated rival, Missouri. With such a celebration planned, there is one question that might run through the minds of many Jayhawk faithful: Will Wilt Chamberlain return to Lawrence for the first time since 1975? Chamberlain undoubtedly adds to the tradition that makes Kansas basketball great. I hope he is able and willing to attend the ceremonies. There is no question that Chamberlain is one of the greatest basketball players to ever play the game. He almost led Kansas to a national championship in 1957 before embarking on a storied professional basketball career. With that said, people associated with Kansas should not beg for Chamberlain to come back to Lawrence in February. In the past, Chamberlain has repeatedly refused to return to Kansas when officials offered to honor him. When asked about his availability in February, he said that the date was open and that he would think about coming to Lawrence. This is a more positive response than he has offered before but don't be disappointed or surprised if Chamberlain refuses to attend the festivities. For some reason, he is holding a grudge against Kansas and is reluctant to return. With or without Wilt Chamberlain, Kansas has a tradition full of great players including Clyde Lovellette, Jo Jo White, Danny Manning and Raef LaFrentz. Kansas has played basketball for 100 years and always has prescribed to the "team before individual" philosophy. So, if Chamberlain is too busy or too good to be honored and have his jersey retired, Kansas fans should not feel that the entire celebration is a failure. Rather, they should sit back, enjoy the festivities, and reflect on 100 years of great basketball. Kansas golf wins in quagmire Men's team takes tourney despite murky conditions Ronnie Wachtei Sports to kansas.com Special to the Kansan The Kansas men's golf team emerged from the swampy Alvamar Golf Club victorious yesterday afternoon, winning the Kansas Invitational by 17 strokes. Constant rain drenched Alvamar and hindered playing conditions. But despite the weather, Kansas golfers turned in a record performance by shooting a team score of 859. "I was very pleased," said Ross Randall, men's golf coach. "There were three rounds of tough golf in bad conditions, and we came through very well. That score tied the lowest score we've ever shot at Alvamar." In 1995, Kansas won the Invitational by the same score, which is five under par. Ryan Vermeer and Chris Thompson led the Jayhawks, taking first and second place respectively in the individual rankings. Vermeer shot a five-under-par score of 211 (72-71-68) in winning his first career individual title. Thompson scored a 214 (69-75-70) Kansas finished with four starters in the top nine. Brad Davis tied for seventh place with a final score of 218 (72-71-75), and Brad Barnett tied for ninth shooting 219 (73-73-73). "There was a lot of pressure, because we were expected to do well," Barnett said. "Because this was our home course, if you do well and don't win, that's not good enough." Kansas defeated five teams that entered last season's NCAA Tournament: Iowa State, Drake, Southwest Louisiana, Nebraska and Arkansas State. The rainfall, which varied at times from a light drizzle to a steady pour, forced the tournament's schedule to be rearranged. The second round, which was scheduled for Monday afternoon, was pushed back to early yesterday morning. Competitors teed off at 8 a.m. yesterday, then began third round play 15 minutes after completion of 1997 Kansas Invitational team results 1. Kansas 283-290-286=859 2. Iowa State 294-291-291=876 Nebraska 287-300-289=876 Nebraska 287-300-289=876 4 Baylor 298-297-295=890 5. Sam Houston State 300-298-294=892 Day of Birth 1906-07-08 Wichita State 297-295-300=892 7 Drake 290-299-301=893 9. North Texas 300-302-300=902 10. SW Louisiana 301-301-304=906 8. Kansas State 302-299-300=901 8. Kansas State 302-299-300=901 9. Drake 303-299-251=893 9. North Texas 300-302-300=902 10. SW Louisiana 301-301-304=906 11. SW Missouri 301-301-305=906 Arkansas State 308-296-302=906 SW Missouri S 307,205-301=013 12. SW Missouri St. 307-305-301= 13. St. Louis 313-305-302=920 14. Texas Tech 005-811-000-002 14. Texas Tech 305-311-309=925 15. Illinois State 312-314-311=937 16. Olive Roberts 312-314-311=938 the second round. 17. Missouri-Kansas City 316-321- 308=945 "It was kind of a nagging condition," Randall said of the weather. "The golfers were carrying around umbrellas and towels, and trying to keep the clubs dry." Barnett said the conditions made the course play longer. "The rain made it long and really tiring," Barnett said. "It's tough tromping through the wet grass from hole-to-hole, carrying your bag and holding your umbrella." After Monday's shortened action, the Jayhawks were perched at the top of the standings with a one-round score of 283, which lead Nebraska by four. At the break, Thompson lead the Kansas golfers with a round of 69, putting him one stroke behind Kansas State's Brian Racette. Seven Jayhawks ranked in the top 15 after round one Kansas returns to action this Sunday and Monday at the Missouri Bluffs Intercollegiate Tournament in St. Charles, Mo. "We're playing a tough field." Randall said. "This is just a good start. There will be some top 10 teams there, and we were playing on our home course this week, so next week will be more of a test." Kansas golfer Roy Edwards shelters himself from the rain while he awaits his turn to putt during the 1997 Kansas Invitational at Alvamar Golf Course. Kansas won the tournament, which featured Nebraska, Iowa State, Wichita State and Baylor. Photo by Laurie Fletchall/KANSAN Volleyball star spikes play with highlights By Jason Franckok sports@kansan.com By Jason Franchuk Kansan sports writer It was her senior year in high school when Amanda Reves walked into a Kansas volleyball practice at Allen Field House and announced that she wanted to play. The coach, while impressed by Reves' initial workout in spring 1996, still wanted to see some videotape of the uncelebrated spiker in action before adding a freshman walk-on to the team. Now the coach can't get enough film footage of Kansas' unveiled star. Middle blocker Reves has been a highlight for Karen Schonewise's team since being awarded a scholarship last fall and being selected for a fourth-straight all-tournament team this season. "It's been her own determination," Schonewise said. "Amanda has an incredibly strong personality that wills her success to happen and the team has really taken to her." After graduating from Manual High School in Denver, Reves came to Kansas looking for a chance to continue her athletic career. Colorado and Colorado State, both nationally ranked volleyball programs, rarely recruit in-state talent (CU has no in-staters while CSU has two), leaving players like Reves to look elsewhere. "Those programs never look at the players in the area," Reves said. "They always go out of state to recruit, which makes it tough for a lot of the local players." A four-sport letterman in high school, Reves captured state titles in track for the 400 meter and 800 meter races her freshman and sophomore year. She then decided to focus on basketball and volleyball "She's been blessed with wonderful physical attributes," Schonewise said. "But a lot of athletes have her height and agility. It's just that Amanda knows how to work those traits to their potential — she's a workhorse." Co-captain Reves didn't fulfill her desire for retribution against Colorado State on Saturday night as the Jayhawks fell to the No. 24 Rams in four sets. She compiled 18 kills, but Kansas fell 16-14, 15-3, 12-15, 15-3. Reves was also all-state honorable mention in basketball. "I wish we could have pulled that one out," Reves said. "It would have been sweet to have beaten a team from Colorado." Reves will get another chance for Rocky Mountain revenge this Saturday, when the Jayhawks host No. 22 Colorado at 7:30 p.m. at Allen Field House. Schonewise said she can only hope this former walk-on will run the show for Kansas. "We're going to need her to come up big in these upcoming games," Schonewise said. "She's shown so far that she is capable of playing well against good competition." Kansas middle blocker Amanda Reves jumps for a block. Kansas played Georgia Saturday in Allen Field House. Reves was named to her fourth all-tournament team this season. Photo by Dan Elsavar/KANSAN 1997-98 Kansas women's basketball schedule Date Opponent Nov. 11 McDonald's Victorian All-Stars Nov. 16 Creighton Nov. 18 Athletes in Action Exhibition Nov. 26 Penn State Nov. 29-30 Prairie Lights/Hawkeye Classic Dec. 6-7 DialSoap Basketball Classic Dec. 14 Arkansas State Dec. 20 Sprint Shootout vs. UMKC Dec. 29 Oregon Jan. 3 Baylor Jan. 7 Kansas State Jan. 10 Nebraska Jan. 13 Texas Jan. 17 Missouri Location Time Date Opponent Lawrence 7 p.m. Jan. 21 Oklahoma State Omaha, Neb. 1 p.m. Jan. 24 Texas Tech Lawrence 7 p.m. Jan. 27 Texas A&M University Park, Penn. 6:30 p.m. Jan. 31 Big 12/Pac-10 Challenge vs. Arizona Iowa City, Iowa TBA Feb. 4 Colorado Lawrence TBA Feb. 7 Kansas State Lawrence 2 p.m. Feb. 11 Nebraska Kansas City, Mo. 4:30 p.m. Feb. 14 Iowa State Eugene, Ore. 9 p.m. Feb. 18 Colorado Waco, Texas 7 p.m. Feb. 21 Iowa State Manhattan 7 p.m. Feb. 25 Oklahoma Lawrence 1 p.m. Feb. 28 Missouri Lawrence 7 p.m. March 3-7 Big 12 Conference Tournament Columbia, Mo. 2 p.m. Location Time Lawrence 7 p.m. Lubbock, Texas 7 p.m. Lawrence 7 p.m. Lubbock, Texas TBA Boulder, Colo. 8 p.m. Lawrence 1 p.m. Lincoln, Neb. 7:05 p.m. Lawrence 7 p.m. Lawrence 7 p.m. Ames, Iowa 1 p.m. Norman, Okla. 7 p.m. Lawrence 2 p.m. Kansas City, Mo. 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