Friday, November 13, 1998
The University Daily Kansan
Section B · Page 3
Jayhawks to face No.7 Tar Heels
By Sam Mellinger
Kansan sportswriter
This is as big a game as the Kansas women's basketball team could have in mid-November.
The Jayhawks play their season opener Sunday in West Lafayette, Ind., against No. 7 North Carolina in the State Farm Tipoff Classic. The game will be telecast live at 1 p.m. on ESPN2.
"We're definitely ready," said center Nakia Sanford. "We're really excited. We want to kick their butts."
If Kansas can do that, it would solidify the program as one of the best in the nation. The Jayhawks were 4-5 last season against ranked teams, including three losses against top 10 opponents.
The Starting Lineup
KANSAS
JAYHAWKS
G SUZI RAYMANT 5-11 SR.
G JENNIFER JACKSON 5-10 SO.
F JACLYN JOHNSON 6-1 So.
F LYNN PRIDE 6-2 Jr.
G NAKIA SANFORD 6-3 Sr.
NORTH CAROLINA
TAR HEELS
G JUANA BROWN 5-11 So.
G NIKKI TEASLEY 6-0 Sо.
F CHANEL WRIGHT 6-0 SR.
F JACKIE HIGGINS 6-0 Sо.
C NATASHA DAVIS 6-2 SR.
Location: Purdue University's Mackey Arena,
West Lafayette, Ind.
TV: ESPN2
Time: 1 p.m. Sunday
"Polls mean nothing to me," said forward Lynn Pride. "They did welly-squat. I could care less if Carolina was first; we're still going out there to win."
A win also would be a significant step toward the Big 12 being thought of as one of the top conferences in the nation. Coaches spent much of the preseason media day campaigning for more conference respect, and they said it had to be earned through wins against top teams in top conferences — especially if those victories are on national television.
“It’s the game,” Sanford said, emphasizing the second word. “It’s big. There’s going to be more coverage with TV, and it can be a way to gauge where we are.”
The Tar Heels' playing style is similar to that of the 'Hawks. North Carolina traditionally has played up-tempo, a style made possible by their personnel.
their personnel.
"They have tremendous athletes, and they have a host of them," said Kansas coach Marian Washington. "They have probably, on their team, two or three players that could possibly play in the WNBA. They're that developed."
At the head of North Carolina's team is forward Chanel Wright. The 6-0 Wright is the team's leading returning scorer after averaging 13.9 points per game last season, a number that will probably swell with the departure of Tracy Reid, North Carolina's all-time leading scorer.
Wright played alongside Pride this summer on a U.S.A. Women's Basketball team, winning a gold medal in the Jones Cup in Taiwan. "Bridge tends to be matched against Writ"
"This is a great match-up," said North Carolina coach Sylvia Hattchell. "The teams are a lot alike with their athletic ability. I know Lynn Pride is an outstanding player. We know how great she is. As far as Chanel and Lynn Pride are concerned, they have a great respect for each other."
Pride stands to be matched up against Wright for a significant chunk of Sunday's game.
Wright can play shooting guard or small forward, and she's one reason why North Carolina's strength is on the perimeter. Another is Nikki Teasley. The 6-1 point guard was named ACC Rooke of the Year after leading the conference with 166 assists.
The Tar Heels like to take advantage of
Guard Casey Pruitt passes the ball. The women's team opens the season at 1 p.m. Sunday in West Lafayette, Ind., against No. 7 North Carolina. Photo by Dan Elavsky/KANSAN
Tesley's playing ability by pushing the ball.
"We're not going to change things," Hatchell said. "We're going to focus on what we do best."
Teasley's playing ability by pushing the ball
With that in mind, Washington's preparation for the game has concentrated on one thing.
"At this point, it's all about defense," she said. "We really want to keep five players in front of them. We've got to find a way to stop them, or do something to get them out of what they want to do."
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No one will argue the importance of Sunday's game, but Washington was cautious about putting too much weight on the outcome.
"We've been working very hard to get into midseason form for this game," she said. "Win or lose, it's going to be good. It's an opportunity for us to be better prepared for the conference. We've got to play good teams, and this is one of the best teams in the country."
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