SPORTS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1994
Williams revs up for new season
SECTION B
By Chesley Dohl
Kansan sportswriter
It's Roy's favorite time of the year. For that matter, it's an entire state's favorite time of the year.
The Kansas men's basketball season is about to arrive, and excitement is in the air, Kansas coach Roy Williams said at yesterday's media day
For a young Kansas team, the pieces of the puzzle this season are uncertain. Williams said.
"This is the time when I get excited," Williams said. "It's about not only continuing to watch our football team, but to get ready to do some work myself... trying to put the puzzle together and put the right pieces in all the right spots."
be out for the season with a knee injury.
Three key seniors, Richard Scott,
Patrick Richey and Steve Woodberry,
are gone from last year's 27-8 team,
and senior guard Calvin Rayford will
Kansas returns with only two starters from last year's lineup and lacks experience. Williams said six of Kansas' top nine players this season could be freshmen and sophomores.
But Kansas cannot let the inexperience factor affect this season's outcome. Williams said.
"Losing four of our top six players — we know we have some major losses," Williams said. "But I'm not going to sit up here and act like we don't have anything because we have some very good players, even though they are young."
Kansas is not completely without experience, though.
Senior center Greg Ostertag and sophomore guard Jacque Vaughn are Kansas' returning starters.
return to the lineup. All contributed
at crunch times last season.
However, junior forward Sean Pearson, sophomore forward Scott Pollard and senior guard Greg Gurley also
Still, Williams said leadership was a concern and that certain players from last year's squad, such as Ostertag and Vaughn, had to step up and take on leadership roles.
Vaughn said he was up for the challenge. "This year, I hope to show a little more leadership than last year. Hopefully, I've already stepped up my game and leadership a little this season." he said.
Versatility, size and depth are strong points for this year's team.
With Ostertag, Pollard and freshman forward Raef LaFrentz all listed as taller than 6-foot-9, Kansas has the opportunity to do some experimenting this season.
Despite being a freshman, LaFrentz still plays with the intensity of a seasoned veteran.
to his teammates in the early season. He has a lot of ability down low. He'll be coming on strong."
"I expect a lot out of him," Vaughn said "He has already proven himself
Vaughn said this year's youth and balance would bring out exceptional team unity.
"We're as close knit this year as any other Kansas team," he said. "We don't have one go-to guy as we have had in the past. But we'll have two or three guys who will combine to make up for what Woodberry produced for us."
Kansas' schedule has increased in difficulty every year. This year's schedule, Williams said, might be a little too tough right from the start.
Early in the season, Kansas will meet Massachusetts, Indiana, and Florida — all nationally ranked in many preseason polls.
"In this program, we always have a demanding schedule," Williams said. "But the kids have always responded to it."
'Late Night' to kickoff at 10
By Chesley Dohl
Kansas sportswriter
There might be a lot of celebrities mulling around Allen Field House tonight, but the Kansas men's basketball team will take center stage when they begin the 1994-95 Basketball season when the clock strikes 12:01 a.m.
"A Star-Studded Night" is the theme of this year's Late Night With Roy Williams, which marks the official beginning of NCAA men and women's basketball practices at Kansas. Fans are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite celebrity to coincide with the theme.
"There have been a lot of stars in Kansas basketball's past," said Lynx Mixon, director of promotions. "And to go along with the celebrity theme, we have some special guests and coaches coming in for the night."
The field house doors open at 8 p.m. and Late Night festivities begin at 10. The night will culminate with the traditional "midnight madness" men's basketball intrasonad scrimmage at 12:01 a.m.
Admission is free, but priority seats will go to individuals dressed as their favorite star, Mixson kick. Kansas basketball players and coaches will determine the finalists who will walk away with Converse prizes, as well as compact discs and concert tickets from radio station KLZR.
Kansas looking to jump back into race
The Crimson girls, KU cheerleaders and KU pep band will participate in the night's festivities. Lawrence youths also will get involved in the night, as the "Little Jayhawk" slam-dunk contest returns by popular demand, Mixion said.
'Hawks hoping to return to form after K-State loss
By Matt Irwin Kansan sportswriter
When the Kansas football team faces Iowa State at 1 p.m. tomorrow in Ames, Iowa, it will be facing the only team in the Big Eight Conference without a victory.
As good as the Cyclones' 0-5 record sounds for the Jayhawks, it also means Kansas is facing a desperate team.
"If anything is going to come out of this season, it has to happen this week," Iowa State junior running back Calvin Branch said.
What may be even more threatening to the Jayhawks is that Iowa State is coming off what many have called its best game of the season.
"They played their best ball game against Oklahoma," Mason said about the Cyclones' 34-6 loss at Oklahoma. "They performed really well. (But) they kind of self destructed."
More importantly, most of the Cyclones' injured players will return off the injured list for this Saturday's game.
In the team's first five games, it has played without its top two quarterbacks, both starting offensive guards, first string tight end, linebacker and safety.
Iowa State coach Jim Walden said that all his injured players would be able to play except starting linebacker Jeff Cole.
"The way we've been playing, people can't take us very seriously," said Tomnie Liggins, Iowa State running back coach. "If we ever put it together, we can hurt some people."
That is what the Jayhawks fear.
"You've got to be on the top of your game to beat Iowa State at Iowa State, especially in conference games," Kansas senior running back Chris Powell said.
Mason said the Cyclones triple option offense is difficult to defend against because few teams use it.
"One of the reasons they like it is because it's hard for other teams to prepare for," Mason said.
It is a rough, tough type of attack, and we've had a couple days work on it. I've really been pleased the way we've approached it."
Powell said the loss to Kansas State was tough to deal with emotionally, but that the team was prepared for Iowa State.
"At first it was tough," Powell said. "That's why we got the two days off. You can't dwell on that. We're fired up, and we're ready to go on."
Kansas sophomore running back Mark Sanders lunge forward in an attempt to avoid a tackle. Sanders and the Jayhawks' other running backs hope to improve on their performance last week when they compiled only 70 rushing yards.
By Matt Irwin
Kansan sportswriter
'Anything can happen at Iowa State's stadium
There is something in the air.
It's sunny, yet cool and crisp. The air is full of fall football.
But in Ames, Iowa, there is something different in the air — something strange.
"It's weird playing up in Ames, anything can happen," said Kansas senior running back Chris Powell.
Powell and the rest of the Kansas football team will play at 1 p.m. tomorrow in Ames, Iowa. The Jayhawks will bring their 3-2 record up against the 0-5 Iowa State Cyclones.
In that game, the Jayhawks took a 21-7 lead in the first quarter. Iowa State then scored 40 consecutive points, taking a 26-point lead late in the third quarter. After most Jayhawk fans had turned their radios off, Kansas scored 29 points in the final 17 minutes to win the game.
The Jayhawks' final touchdown in their 1992 victory came on a 37-yard fumble return by former linebacker Larry Thiel.
"Turnovers are always a key," Powell said. "Two years ago, when Thiel returned that fumble, that helped us win the game."
Last season, junior linebacker Ronnie Ward made a key fumble recovery to help the Jayhawks defeat the Cyclones in Lawrence, 35-20.
"They were driving on us, and we got a break," Ward said. "The ball came loose. I caught it in the air, and I returned it as far as I could."
The Jayhawks lead the series against the Cyclones 38-29-
6 and have a 18-16-3 record in Ames. Kansas coach Glen
Mason has a record of 3-2-1 and is 1-1-1 in Ames.
"Our most recent games against Iowa State have been something out of the ordinary," Mason said.
Kansas players know the Cyclones are primed for upsets when playing at home.
they're a good team and they've been known to be tough up in Ames," Powell said. "Look at all the stuff that has gone on in Ames. Two years ago, they lost to Northern Iowa, a Division I-AA team. We were on a roll, and we almost got beat. That same year, they beat Nebraska. Then last year, they beat Kansas State when K-State was on a roll."
Sibling swimmers learn to get along
Brother and sister have developed their own identities
By Jenni Carlson Kansan sportswriter
The disputes they had in the past usually revolved around swimming. They both began the sport at the same time on a U.S. club team in their hometown of Lodi, Calif.
The elder Jorgensen, Erik, is a sophomore freestyleer on the Kansas men's swimming team. His sister, Rachel, is a freshman butterflier on the Kansas women's swimming team.
Swimming runs in the family for Erik and Rachel Jorgensen.
"Before we were here, we really didn't get along," Rachel said. "But now that we're here, we get along pretty well."
"She was the one who had the better times than me." Erik said.
As in most families, children have to work to gain their parents' attention. The Jorgensen family was no different.
"I tried to gain more attention through swimming, and she gained more attention through
school and what she did at home," Erik said. "I didn't do much at home."
Erik's and Rachel's means of gaining attention have paid off. Erik was a four-time high school All-American, a Big Eight champion in the 500-meter and 1,650-meter freestyle events and holds Kansas' all-time record for the 500-meter freestyle. He also participated in the Olympic Trials.
The younger Jorgensen's list of accomplishments is lengthy as well. Rachel was a three-time league champion in the 100-meter butterfly at Lodi High School, captain of the Lodi swimming team and a member of the school's honor roll.
Rachel said she always appreciated her brother's accomplishments as she was growing up.
When Rachel began looking at colleges last year, Erik wasn't enthusiastic about having his kid sister on the same campus.
"I always bragged about him to my friends," she said.
Erksaid once Rachel's decision came down to Kansas and a school near their home, he pushed a little more for her to become a Jayhawk.
"At first he didn't want me here," Rachel said.
"I just showed her how good it was here," he
said. "It's good to get away from home and not get stuck in a rut back in your home town. I want her to see that she can make it."
Unlike Erik's initial reaction, Rachel said her parents were all for her attending Kansas.
Rachel is the only daughter in a family of three brothers. She said her parents hoped that Erik would act as a protective big brother.
Kansas sophomore swimmer Erk Jorgensen and his sister, Rachel Jorgensen, Kansas freshman swimmer, discuss swimming techniques at practice yesterday at Robinson Center.
"They love it," she said. "They think it's the greatest thing in the world."
"Sometimes it can be annoying, but sometimes I like it," Rachel said.
Since the semester began, Rachel and Erik have seen a change in their relationship, they said. The change has come because they do not have to worry about getting equal amounts of attention from their parents.
The siblings only see each other at practice every day and sometimes on the weekend. Erik said the amount of time they spent together was perfect.
"we tet each other do our thing on our own, and then if we need to talk to each other, we talk," he said. "I think that's why our relationship is so good right now."
Kansas swimming coach Gary Kempf has
had several other brother-sister duos on the team.
He said Erik and Rachel had developed their own identities and their own set of friends. They still have moments when they are not the best of friends.
"It looks like a typical brother-sister rela
tionship," Kempf said. "They get along pretty well all the time, though."
In Rachel's opinion, the benefits of having a sibling on campus far outweigh the disadvantages.
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"If I feel like everybody else has given up on me, I don't think he will," she said.
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