SPORTS
University Daily Kansan/Tuesdav, December 3. 1991
9
Improved free throws could give KU an edge
By David Mitchell
Kansan Sportswriter
When the preseason basketball magazines were released this fall, a vast majority of the publications ranked Kansas in the nation's top 20. The Jaya wkws also were predicted to challenge Oklahoma and Oklahoma State for the Big Eight Conference title.
However, along with this praise a qualifier was added that to win close games, Kansas would have to score 40 or more in free-throw shooting of a year ago.
In 1990-91, Kansas lost its season opener to Arizona State 70-68. The Jayhawks shot 35 percent from the line.
At Oklahoma State, Kansas shot 46 percent from the line. Guard Sean Tunstal missed two free throws with
two seconds left in the game. The 'hawks lost 78-73 in overtime. Kansas and Oklahoma State eventually tied for the conference title.
This season the Jayhawks have shown signs that their Achilles' heel was healing. In the season opener against Maryland-Baltimore County, Kansas shot 80 percent from the line. Tuesday night against Arkansas-Little Rock, the 'Hawks shot 64 percent.
Last year's primary offender was forward Richard Scott. As a freshman, Scott hit a team-lead 40 percent from the charity stripe. Scott was two of eight last Tuesday but finished second in the four of six shooting from the field.
Without Scott at the line Saturday, the figure jumped to 73 percent. The Jayhawks hit 22 of 30 from the line against Central Missouri State.
The biggest surprise this fall has been senior forward Alonzo Jamison. Last season, Jamison shot 47.5 on the line, making 80 of 161 attempts.
Last week Jamison was nine of nine from the line, including a seven of seven performance against the other three. He is 10 of 11 through three games.
Jamison said rehabilitation from arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder had led to better free-throw shooting.
"He's worked extremely hard on that," Coach Roy Williams said. "I think we're going to be a much better free-throw shooting team."
"I had surgery this summer," Jamison said. "The one they told me I could do was shoot free throws, and I did."
Sophomore guard Steve Woodberry puts up a shot during the Jayhawks 83-54 victory against Central Missouri State on Saturday. Woodberry was 1-for-2 from the free-throw line, where Kansas has improved drastically from last year.
Knisten Petty/KANSAN
Setting up for the championships
Practicing for the upcoming tournament, senior Julie Woodruff spikes one pasttemates Barb Bella and Kris Kleinschmidt. The team leaves today for the National Invitational Volleyball Championships in Terre Haute, Ind.
Lady'Hawks to face old rival
By David Mitchell
KansanSportswriter
After winning the Texas-Arlington Classic last weekend, the Lady Jayhawks will take on intratense rival Wilkinson at 7:30 tonight in Allen Field House.
Kansas spit two games with the Shockers last season. The Jayhawks defeated Wichita State 64-46 in the second round of the Dial Classic in Lawrence but were upset at Wichita 74-57.
Coach Marian Washington said the team had not forgotten the defeat.
"We have every incentive to do well against them," Washington said.
However, Kansas, 3-0, will face an improved Shocker squad.
The Shockers added junior Kareema Williams to their roster this fall after the Wichita native trans-illinois home from North Carolina. Williams was one of the top five high school prospects in the nation three years ago.
"She's a strong, physical player," Washington said. "She's very strong and explosive
"Wichita State will definitely be an inspired ball club. They're much improved with Kareea Williams. We'll have to play well."
Washington said she was pleased
Jaywhacks' performance this
weekend.
"We shot a lot better," she said. "We played good defense. I saw a lot of improvements."
However, Washington said the team needed to work on keeping its compsure. Kansas held a 22-point lead late in the final game against Texas-Arlington, but saw its lead shrink to eight points during an 11-2 run.
"We managed to protect our lead, we need to develop poise under pressure."
Freshman Angela Aycock said the team was still trying to force things off them.
"We need more patience," Aycock said. "That's the main thing."
"We had a big welcome home party," Aycock said. "I had a lot of family and a lot of support. It was a huge advantage."
Eagles hold off Oilers keep playoff hopes alive
After Wichita State, the 'Hawks will return to tournament play this weekend as they play host to the Dial Classic Friday and Saturday.
The Associated Press
HOUSTON—Who needs an offense? Not the Philadelphia Eagles, as long as they have Seth Joyner and the NFL's best defense swarming around the Houston Oilers to remain in the midst of the playoff race.
With Joyner and the defense forcing five fumbles and keeping the league's second-best offense without a touchdown for the first time in more than two years, the Eagles beat the Houston Oilers 13-6 last night.
Joe Kemp, meanwhile, filled in for an injured Jim McMahon and threw the game's only touchdown pass as Philadelphia won its fifth straight. The Eagles improved to 8-5 and are tied with Dallas and Atlanta in the race for an NFC playoff spot.
Kemp, who entered the game when McMahon hyper-extended his right elbow early in the third quarter, accounted for the game's only touchdown on a 24-yard pass to Keith Jackson with 6:18 left in the period.
It came just 1:29 after Roger Ruzek's 23-yard field goal had tied at 3:3 a game that was almost all defense for a half - AlDelGreco's 42-yard kick for Houston on the final play before intermission was the only score.
Kemp, 10 of 17 for 84 yards, also directed a drive that consumed 10:05 of the fourth quarter to set up a 29-yard field goal by Ruzek with 3:23 left.
The Oilers reached the Philadelphia 24 in the final seconds, but three passes by Warren Mooon fell incomplete in the end zone.
But the story for Philadelphia was Joyner, the often overlooked linebacker in a defense featuring Reggie White and the game's best front four.
Overall, the Philadelphia defense limited a Houston offense averaging 392 yards a game to just 239 and limited Warren Moon to 24 of 46 for 262 yards.
Joyner's recovery of Moon's bumble snap set up Ruzek's first field goal. Joyner also had another fumble on the ground and had two of the Eagles' four sacks.
Houston fell to 9-4, but remained in good position for its first division title since the merger of the AFL and NFL in 1970.
Either an Oiler victory or a loss by Cleveland in the remaining four games will clinch, although Houston lost almost any shot it had of getting the home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.
Friends, former players pay tribute to Pittsburgh hockey coach at funeral
The Associated Press
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — About 1,200 friends, relatives and former players paid tribute to Pittsburgh Penguins coach Bob Johnson at his funeral yesterday, praising him as someone who knew how "to make you better than you are."
Penguins' players and administrators stretched out a road trip to Edmonton, Alberta, to attend services at the First Presbyterian Church on a chilly, overcast day. Others came from Johnson's other stopovers as a coach, Calgary, Alberta and Madison, Wis. to nav their recesses.
Johnson, 80, who led the Penguins to the Stanley Cup last season, died of brain cancer last Tuesday.
"Sixty years was not long enough, but he was able to achieve every goal he set, "son-in-law Tim McConnell told mourners.
"He died thinking he could have made it to the big leagues as a pitcher," McConnell said, adding that Johnson would often say while golfing, "Stand back, guys, I'm going to run this in and break their hearts" just before caning a long putt.
He was remembered as a frustrated baseball pitcher who always believed he could play in the majors and as a golfer who had the ability to roll in long putts and chip shots.
McConnell told the Penguins' players, "No matter how much you loved him, he loved you much more."
John H. Stevens, senior minister at First Presbyterian, called the service a celebration of Johnson's life.
Johnson's closed casket, draped with an American flag, was flanked by sprays of flowers, and above it were two large Christmas evergreen
wreaths with red bows.
A picture of Johnson smiling and holding the Stanley Cup was above the casket. Next to it was a black velvet display case in the shape of a triangle containing more than 50 hockey-club pins.
"The influence of Bob Johnson on all who knew him has been immense," Stevens said. "We cannot speak of loss today because of the enrichment he brought to all who knew him."
Dr. Conrad Andringa of Madison, Johnson's best friend, said the coach "had the unbelievable ability to make people he met feel close to him whether they were important, ordinary or 'hockey people.'"
After the Penguins won the Stanley Cup last season, Hotchkiss called Johnson to offer congratulations, leaving a message with the coach's answering service. Johnson called back in the middle of the night and talked for more than an hour, Hotchkiss said.
"And whether it was an 8-year-old or a star National Hockey League defensmen, they all wanted to be around Bob Johnson," Andriana said. "He knew how to make you better than you are."
"He was the only guy who would wake you up in the middle of the night to talk basketball and you would be happy about it," Hotchkiss said. "We've lost a fine man and our hearts go out to his friend. Bob Johnson played the game of life well, and he was always a winner."
Harley Hotkiss of the Calgary Flames, whom Johnson once coached, praised his great knowledge and enthusiasm for the game and his ability to communicate that love and enthusiasm to players.
Kansas baseball program signs four
Bv.JeffKobs
Kansan Sportswriter
The early signing period proved to be a shot in the arm to the Kansas baseball pitching staff.
The Jaynaws signed tour players to national letters of intent, and three of the four are pitchers.
"Of the six kids we recruited, four were pitchers," Brad Hill, assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. "That was the area we tried to concentrate on. We spent most of our time and effort on pitches.
"We were very happy with the way things turned out because we filled our needs."
Kansas signed a pair of left-handed pitchers:
Carcage, Mo., and Scott Tittleton from Power.
Baird compiled a 9-1 record with a 2.80 ERA last season. He was named to the Junior Pan American baseball team that placed second in Brazil last fall.
Tittrington was named to the California pre-season All-State Team this year.
"They're a scarce commodity. We have two on the staff now, so we're going to double that."
The Jayhawks also signed right-handed pitcher
"Left-handed pitchers are hard to come by." Hill
said, "it seems like every school in the country is after
them."
Jamie Splittorff from Blue Springs High School. He is the son of former Kansas City Royals pitcher Paul Splittorff.
Splittorff's high school coach Brad Mayfield he was a tremendous player with excellent control.
"He was the No. 1 pitcher out of the bullpen his sophomore year," Mayfield said. "He was the first one we went to in tight situations, and I think that says a lot.
"At the end of last season he was virtually un-hittable."
Mayfield said Splittorf would be the No. 1 starter for Blue Springs this year.
the fourth player to sign was Jim Brewer, an outfielder from Bismark, N.D.
Brewer hit. 389 with six home runs and 45 RBIs last season.
Hill said that Brewer was a solid player and that he was a member of the All-West Region team for two years.
Tittrington will be the only KU player from California.
"We usually never go that far west," Hill said.
"I was saw him in the Midwest at a tournament."
"We made initial contact and he had an interest in us."
Hill said signing Titrington might open the door
to California.
The professional baseball draft in June can take the advanced players and high school or junior college players.
Although Kansas landed four recruits, they no longer chose those players will ever wear a Jakehawk uniform.
"There are a lot of athletes out there," he said, "and a lot of quality programs also."
"We put in a lot of hard work and effort, and then all of a sudden, it can be gone from one day of the professional draft," Hill said. "The draft plays a huge part."
Hill said Kansas usually recruited the midwestern and northern regions, including Michigan, Missouri,
"We've had some success in these areas," he said. "It has produced some quality kids for us."
Hill said the staff would be on the lookout for news of possible back-up players.
Hill said that by the April signing period the coaches would have a better feel of which players the team has played.
"We feel good now, but we have to keep our eyes open because we don't know what will happen," HAIRY SCHULTZ says.
"Plus, we're starting to look at the '93 kids already."
SPORTS BRIEFS
JV hoops undefeated
The Kansas junior varsity basketball team improved to 4-0 last night with 78-6 victory against previously defeated Johnson County Community College.
The game was tied at 33 at the half, but Kansas pulled away from the Cavaliers with consistent outside shooting in the second half.
Sophomore Weichborn trodd the Jayhawks with 23 points. Sophomores Matt Ecton and Kenny Johnson added 19 and 17 respectively.
Johnson County pulled to within six with 2:42 remaining, but the Jayhawks made their foul shots to pre-
Outfielder denies rape
CHULA VISTA, Calif. — San Francisco Giants outfielder Kevin Mitchell denied an accusation that he forcibly grabbed a baseball, a police detective said yesterday.
Detective Tom Everett said he hoped to complete his report by this
Mitchell, the 1989 National League MVP, was arrested for investigation of rape and other charges Saturday after a season home in this San Diego suburb.
NU players honored
Nebraska linebacker Travis Hill and tight end Johnny Mitchell are the players of the week in the Big Eight. The New Englandahoma to win a trip to the Orange Bay.
Hill made two tackles and forced two quarterback hurries against the Sooners on Friday, helping Nebraska
morning and send it to the Districr Attorney. He said he would ask the DA's office to press charges of forcible rape, false imprisonment, rage with a foreign object and three counts of battery.
hold Oklahoma to 187 yards of total offense.
Mitchell won offensive player honor after catching seven passes for a 137 yards, tying the single-game Netsasket record for a tight set in 1969.
Olajuwont play soon
HOUSTON — Houston Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwan has stopped taking one of two medicines for an irregular heart rhyme and could return for games this week, general manager Steve Patterson said.
From staff and wire reports