Monday, November 16, 1998
The University Daily Kansan
Section B·Page 3
Bradford gives power to 'Hawks in win from new position
By Sam Mellinger
Kanson sportswriter
For the first time in his Kansas career, Junior Nick Bradford wasn't playing behind Paul Pierce Friday night.
Bradford responded with the best game of his career in Kansas' 80-66 win against Gonzaga at Allen Field House.
The 6-6 small forward scored 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds -- both career highs -- while playing out of position as a power forward.
Bradford also helped limit Gonzaga guard Matt Santangelo to five points in the second half after Santangelo scorched the Jayhawks for 19 first-half points, most of which came while being guarded by Ryan Robertson.
"Nick won the game for us," Robertson said. "It was hard for Nick to play when he was playing behind someone like Paul Pierce, but Nick was great tonight. He was able to use his height (when guarding Santango)."
Throughout his first two years at Kansas, Bradford was known as a player who did the little things that help win games but don't show up in the box score. Bradford is still that player — witness his effort as a makeshift power forward — but if Friday night's game is any indication, he may be ready for more.
Nick can make plays," said Kansas coach Roy Williams. "He's always been able to make plays, but sometimes he makes bad plays. He was smarter with the basketball in the second half. He's so versatile; he can do so many things for us."
To his career-best scoring and rebound numbers, Bradford added two assists, two steals and a block. He scored his 16 points on just eight shots from the field and he was uncharacteristically accurate from the free-throw line, hitting seven of nine free throws.
No wonder Robertson gave him such high praise.
Bradford called the win a team effort that he helped lead.
Want proof? With just less than 15
minutes to play and Kansas down 44-40. Santangelo had the ball for Gonzaga. Forced to the middle, Santangelo ran into a waiting Bradford, who stripped the ball and started a fast break that ended with a layup by Kenny Gregory.
About a minute later, Bradford redirected a Lester Earl miss for two points. The put-back tied the score at 44, sent the crowd into a frenzy and forced Gonzaga to use its second timeout of the half with 13:48 left.
The teams traded baskets after the
timeout before Br a r d f o r d striped Santangelo again.
Bradford was fouled and made one of two free throws, putting Kansas ahead 47-46.
Bradford: Scored 16 points at power forward.
"We just started moving more, being more aggressive on
defense," Bradford said. "Before, in the first half, we were too casual."
That didn't go unnoticed by Williams, who said that he hadn't purchased tickets for any of the players but that they were watching Gonzaga like a bunch of fans.
That changed at halftime when the Jayhawks found themselves on the short end of a 32-28 score. Once Williams got his team in the locker room, he let his disappointment show.
"That gets to you," Bradford said. "When coach is telling you they out-hustled you, they're kicking your butt, that gets to you."
it must have, because Williams was happy with how his team responded after half time.
"I don't think there was any play in the second half where I wasn't happy with our effort," Williams said.
Williams had to be especially happy with Bradford's effort.
Jayhawks shut down by Texas A&M
By Laura Bokenkrager
Kansan sportswriter
Three and out.
The Kansas volleyball team lost to No. 22 Texas A&M Saturday (15-2, 15-2 and 15-9), and middle blocker Anne Kreimer said that the Jayhawks basically didn't show up for the first two games.
"We didn't play well until the midway through the third game." Kreimer said. "It's uncharacteristic of our team to be so sluggish. There was just a different attitude, a different feeling in those games."
"Against a team like Texas A&M, the kind of energy we had in the third game is the kind of energy we need every game," Bechard said.
Coach Ray Bechard said that the Jayhawks found a spark in the third game, but it was too late.
Kreimer said that the Jayhawks have struggled with their consistency lately, and that they would have to resolve that issue before they travel to Missouri and Iowa State next weekend.
"We're just so inconsistent right now with our passing and our serving," Kremler said. "Against Texas, our serving was a lot better. Our passing struggled a lot tonight, and we weren't
Led by All-American candidate Stacy Sykora, who collected a match-high 14 kills and a.444 attacking percentage on the night, the Aggies defeated Kansas 15-9.
As the Jayhawks (14-14 overall and 4-12 in the Big 12) prepare for their last four matches of the season, Kreimer said they had just one goal.
executing."
"We want to let the seniors go out winners," Kreimer said. "We want them to have a winning season."
The match against the Aggies wrapped up a difficult stretch of ranked opponents—four of the last five matches were against top-25 teams.
Although they are relieved that the stretch is finished, Kreimer said that the Jayhawks wouldn't take Missouri or Iowa State lightly.
"Missouri has been playing well — they took Nebraska to five games and Kansas State to four," Kreimer said. "Iowa State is fishing for a win any way they can. It'll be tough competition on the road, so we aren't just assuming we'll win."
After this weekend, the Jay hawks will have one more opportunity to achieve that breakthrough win against a ranked
Setter Laura Rohde spikes the ball against Texas A&M's Lauri Leahy and Jenna Mocovic. Saturday's volleyball game, which the Jayhawks lost 0-3, leaves the team with a 14-14 record. Photo by Kate Levenson/KANSAN
opponent. Kansas plays No. 24 Texas Tech in two weeks.
ish the season with four wins. We've had the opportunity to beat a ranked opponent, but we just have to get over that hump."
"We have four matches lett,
Kreimer said. "We want to fin
Owners discuss commissioner's role in lockout
The Associated Press
NEW YORK—On Day 136 of the NBA lockout, some owners talked yesterday about commissioner David Stern and his approach to negotiating a new deal with the players.
"We call him Easy Dave," Donald Sterling, principal owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, told the New York Times. "I don't think Stern would ever take advantage of anybody. I think he wants to leave something on the table for everyone.
"I think some owners feel that since we create and make the game and put up the seed money and take
all the risk that perhaps we should get a more equitable distribution of the revenue. Stern is going soft on them."
Sterling spoke despite a league-wide gag order during negotiations. Owners are not supposed to talk about collective bargaining or the deal that is on the table and some teams already have been fined for violating that order. The
names of the teams and the amount of the fines were not disclosed.
earliest start of a season at least one month away, a few frustrated owners began talking last week.
Still, as the number of canceled games closing in on 100 and with the
"We're prepared to gut out the season," said Abe Pollin, chairman of the Washington Wizards and the league's senior owner. "We went into this knowing that if we can't make a fair deal, the season would be gone."
The league ordered the collective bargaining agreement reopened when the players' share of revenues reached 57 percent. The owners want a 50-50 split. The union has proposed 60-40.
Jerry Colangelo, owner of the Phoenix Suns, said the roles of Stern
and deputy commissioner Russ Granik as spokesmen and negotiators for the owners were appropriate.
"I've been in this league 32 years and I care about the game," he said. "It's been my passion. I believe David shares the same passion."
Another owner, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said he did not share Stern's belief that high-profile agents were blocking a deal.
"I don't understand how players, with limited careers, guys that may not play for more than a few years, are going to make this money up," he said. "It's as if 400 of them are sacrificing for the needs of a few."