Inside Sports
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Sports
Former Kansas basketball star Raef LaFrentz is unable to begin his professional career because of the NBA lockout. See Page 3B.
Women's Basketball
Three former Kansas women's basketball stand-outs are playing in the WNBA and the ABL.
SEE PAGE 3B
Thursday
September 10, 1998
Section:
B
Page 1
Men's Basketball
There still might be a chance that Michael Jordan and Phil Jackson will return to the Bulls next season.
SEE PAGE 2B
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Pugh's surgery is successful
Pugh: Underwent surgery yesterday.
T. J. Pugh, senior forward, underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his left ankle yesterday afternoon.
Pugh will be out of action four to six weeks. He should be ready to play when practice begins Saturday, Oct. 17.
"The surgery is something that needed to be done," said Roy Williams, Kansas basketball coach. "It is something T.J. wanted to get out of the way in order to have full recovery time before the start of the season."
Discovered by an X-ray, Pugh's injury was diamaged as a bone chip in the ankle.
The University of Kansas medical staff felt it was best to perform the surgery immediately in hopes that the injury would not conflict with the start of the season.
Pugh missed nine games with a foot stress fracture last season. However, he still was an Academic All-Big 12 selection, averaging 5.7 points per and 5 rebounds per game.
"T.J.'s play and senior leadership will be important to us," Williams said. "We would like for him to be healthy when we begin in mid-October."
"It is something T.J. wanted to get out of the way in order to have full recovery time before the start of the season."
—Erin Thompson
Roy Williams Kansas basketball coach
Byron Gasaway, freshman wide receiver, gives Michael Chandler, junior wide receiver, a bear hug in celebration of Gasaway's touchdown in Saturday's game. Gasaway surprised many with his strong play in the Jayhawks' first game. Photo by Graham K. Johnson/KANSAN
Freshman makes first 'big play'
Kansas Football
Bv Jodi M. Smith
Kansan Sportswriter
Only a year ago he was playing quarterback on his high school football team at Grandview High School in Grandview, Mo.
Now Byron Gasaway is a true freshman wide receiver for the Jayhawks who has done something no other Kansas wide receiver has done this season — scored a touchdown.
In the Javhawks' 38-28 loss to the
Oklahoma State Cowboys Saturday, Gasaway scored the Jayhawks' fourth touchdown of the game on a 35-yard reception from quarterback Zac Wegner. The touchdown tied the score at 28-28
came to get it on, and that's how he scored.
"He made a big play, too. He caught the ball with a man jumping in his face, tightroped the sideline, and then dragged the man in. So, he stepped up."
Gasawav is modest.
"Anybody else could have done the same thing, any of the other receivers." Gasaway said.
"You know, he's a freshman. His first year of college ball, I couldn't imagine doing what he did."
Although he spent his last two years in high school as a quarter-
with less than 10 minutes left.
Zac Wegner Kansas quarterback
Wegner wasn't the only one impressed.
"He's going to be fun to throw it to this year," Wegner said. "T'll tell you what, he made a big play. You know, he's a freshman. His first year of college ball, I couldn't imagine doing what he did. I'd have been pissing my pants. He stayed in there and played well, and I was really impressed."
"I was surprised — he stepped up," said Mitch Bowles, running back. "I already told him don't step out there unless you're ready to play. You better ask for your red shirt if you ain't going to come to get it on. And he
back, Gasaway said that the role of wide receiver did not make him nervous.
"At first there was a little bit of pressure," Gasaway said. "But the coaches and everybody else helped me prepare. After a
while you start getting into game type situations, and it's pretty easy to get used to after that."
A first-game touchdown was not what he expected, though.
"Somebody had to make the play, and it just happened to be me at that time." Gasaway said.
His touchdown wasn't the only thing he didn't expect. After seeing the crowd at the first game, Gasaway was well aware that he was not in high school anymore.
"This is a big step up from high school," Gasaway said. "There is a lot of fan support here. It just felt good to get my first-game college jitters out."
Volleyball nets success
Kansan sportswriter
By Laura Bokenkroger
A new air of confidence surrounds the Kansas volleyball team this year.
Many had predicted a new era of Kansas volleyball, defined by more wins and driven by new coach Ray Bechard, but none had predicted such a successful beginning.
"I think our start exceeds a lot of people's expectations in terms of wins and losses," Bechard said. "We still have room to grow as a team, but I feel the best about the team gaining confidence."
After a disappointing 9-24 season in 1997, the Jayhawks have jumped out to a 5-0 start — the second best in school history.
The Jayhawks began the season 4-0 by winning the Western Michigan Early Bird Tournament without losing a game.
With only one day off, the Jayhawks traveled Tuesday to Wichita and defeated the Wichita State Shockers in four games.
"I could sense they were confident before we'd played a match," Bechard said. "You can talk it all day, but you have to be able to perform in a game. That's the difficult part of the scenario. They feel good about that."
Kansas won a record 13 consecutive season-opening games before losing to Wichita State in the second game of the match.
"I think our charisma or team chemistry is helping us," said middle blocker Amanda Reves. "We have been able to come back when we were down in some games. We have a core to build on now."
Bechard said now the team's goal was to improve as a team and to prepare for league play.
This success contrasts last year's squad, which only won nine matches all season.
"Early in the year, I think it is important to manage ourselves rather than worry too much about scouting everyone else." Bechard said.
The Jayhawks have spent practices trying to correct defensive posture and to sharpen technical skills. Reves said.
Bechard said that his team's determination had been the most essential part of their achievements.
"I just think there were games we could've given up and said we might not get this one," Bechard said. "But we stuck our nose in there and competed, and we were able to come back."
"We need to perfect the basic things," she said.
The Jayhawks will take their perfect record to Indianapolis and host Butler University tomorrow to play in the Doubletree Guest Suites Classic. Bechard said the teams participating in the tournament would be the toughest they had faced so far.
Junior outside hitter Mary Beth Albrecht jumps to spike the ball during a drill in practice. Photo by Roer Meron/KANSAN
Distractions many days full during fall sports, school season
Fridays are for hittin' the town.
Friends are for football. Sundavs and Mondays mean pro football.
its college counterpart usually chews up most of my Saturdays and Thursdays.
Tuesday? Nope, that's $1.50 night at the Jazzhaus.
So what does that leave?
Wednesday — the one, lonely night during the week that I lock myself away in a room and hit the books. I study till my eyes bleed and file notes like there ___ is no tomorrow. In theory.
Of course, what I'm really doing is watching ESPN, waiting for the most recent home-run update like a child waits for Christmas morning.
So as the sporting world brings my academic career to a grinding halt (I'm sure the booze hasn't helped), I'll let you in on what's been running through my head recently.
And trust me, it ain't that national security policy test I have coming up.
Mark McGwire has single-handedly saved backball. No question.
solve business no question
And in the end, that may prove to be
more historic than his amazing home-run record.
Roger Maris: former Oklahoma football player
And in the end, that may prove to be more historic than his amazing home-run record.
The former home-run king played for two weeks under Bud Wilkenson before giving up the college life for a shot at pro ball.
So that's why McGwire is so nice to the Maris family.
Public announcement: I'm officially jumping on the "Tim Couch for Heisman" bandwagon (really going out on a limb. I know).
I've liked Couch since last season, but after last Saturday's seven-touchdown performance, I'm ready to get behind the 6-foot-5 junior quarterback lock, stock and barrel.
Here's the scenario: Couch continues to put up amazing numbers (50+ touchdown passes), Kentucky shows improvement from last year (the Wildcats will go 8-4) and they finish the season in a semi-major bowl (the Outback).
All that adds up to Couch walking away with the Heisman and straight into the NFL.
Up next for Couch & Company: Eastern Kentucky. Rack up 10 more touchdown passes for the nation's best passer.
I went home to Oklahoma for the holiday weekend and bumped into 72,000 rabid—at least for the afternoon — Jayhawks fans.
My roommates and I were sitting at the Oklahoma football game when the Kansas/Oklahoma State game came across the scoreboard. When the crowd saw that Kansas had tied the score, the stadium erupted in cheers. I even heard a few "Rock Chalk" chants.
I swear to Cod, I'm not making this up.
- Random thought: Why does the lawn (if you can call it that) in front of Watson library look like it was mowed by a flock of sheep.
Although they lost 38-28, the Jayhawks looked better Saturday than Expected
While talking with locals before the game, I got the feeling that things could get ugly. But that was hardly the case. Terry Allen's squad played tough and looked like a much more cohesive team than last year.
It still might not be enough to get a win at Missouri. Corby Jones now has a national reputation to maintain and will be looking for paybacks after last season's debacle in Lawrence.
We all know that Kansas State's Bill Snyder likes to build his early schedule with teams from college football's third world. Heck, he built his program around it. But Indiana State?
C'mon. You've got to do better than that.
Scheduling karma has a way of catching up to you. Like doing the Kentucky Derby in 1835."
I'm pretty sure that I could round up a crew of Massachusetts Street winos and give the mighty Sycamores a run for their money. Me at quarterback. Whiskey Bob at receiver.
"It was like doing the Kentucky Derby in 1935." — ESPN radio announcer discussing his last trip to Kansas' Memorial Stadium's decrepit press boxes.
Big 12 game of the week: Texas at UCLA.
Remember last year's 66-3 drubbing? It isn't going to be that bad this year, but don't look for the Longhorns to win. They may have Ricky Williams, but you'll be hard pressed to find much more. UCLA 42, Texas 17.
Ratliff is a Norman, Okla., senior in journalism.
The University Daily Kansan Pick'em contest
Students were asked to pick the winners of 12 games.
Week one winners
These are the winners from the Pick 'em contest from Week one:
Derek Olson
Portland, Ore. senior 11 winners
Oba Omolike
Chicago, Ill. grad student 10 winners
Seth Rowoldt
Lincoln, Neb. freshman 9 winners
Richard Lorenzo
Miami, Fl. law student 8 winners
]
Kristi Elliott / KANSAN