SPORTS
University Daily Kansan/Tuesday, October 29.1991
9
Oklahoma State picked as best in competitive field
By Jeff Kobs
By Jeff Kobs
Kansan Sportswriter
All of the Big Eight Conference coaches agree on at least one thing this season — the race for the conference crown will be competitive.
The coaches, speaking at Big Eight Media Day, mostly agreed with the 18 annual poll
Oklahoma State was picked to finish first in the Big Eight Conference preseason media poll, ahead of Oklahoma, Alabama and Missouri.
"I think the fact you all picked Oklahoma State and Kansas is justified," Missouri coach Norm Stewart said. "I like my club ball, and I think we'll be in the picture before it's over."
Kansas coach Roy Williams said experience could be a factor in the Big Eight race.
Williams picked Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Missouri as the teams to beat.
"These three teams have four, five or six guys back that have started at one time or another and nobody else has more than two." Williams said. "(They) have the quality that I think is most important and that's the experience factor."
Second-year Colorado coach Joe Harrington picked Oklahoma State and Kansas to battle for the title.
"I like Oklahoma State," he said. "Kansas is always good, they are sneaky good."
Harrington, who last year led Colorado to its first postseason appearance since 1969, said the Big Eight would be strong.
"The level of play in this conference is awesome," he said. "I don't see any team standing still. A lot can happen in the conference."
Five Big Eight teams made postseason play last year. Oklahoma and Colorado played in the National Invitational Tournament, while Oklahoma State, Kansas and Nebraska played in the NCAA tournament. The Jayhawks were NCAA runners-up.
The following Kansas games will
December 14
8:30 p.m. DePaul at Kansas
January 13
8:30 p.m. Kansas at Missouri
8. 30 p.m. Kansas at Missouri February 3
8:30 p.m. Kansas State at Kansas
February 24
8:30 p.m. Oklahoma at Kansas
March 2
March 2
8:30 p.m. Oklahoma State at
Melissa Unterburg / KANSAN
Stewart said that although the conference had lost five players to the NBA draft, there were more waiting in the wings.
"In this league there's no rebuilding, just reloading." he said.
Oklahoma State coach Eddie Sutton agreed.
Hart closing in on record
"The Big Eight lost a lot of outstanding players last year, but I think the league will be every bit as tough," he said.
The conference will move to ESPN's Big Monday package this season. The Big Eight formerly played in games televised by ESPN Tuesday nights, but switched with the Big Ten Conference this year.
Sutton said the change would give the Big Eight better exposure
"It's the best time slot you can have," he said. "It's better than playing on Saturday or Sunday, in my opinion."
"On the East Coast it's not too late, and on the West Coast it's not too early."
Stewart said, "I think appearing in Big Monday has to be another shot in the arm for the conference."
Kansas all-time career assists
Kay Kay Hart grabs a pass in front of Terrilyn Johnson during practice.
Point guard Kay Hat is ranked sixth on the Jayhawks' all-time assists list
listing into his career second.
Player
Lisa Braddy
Lynette Woodard
Cheryl Burnett
Mary Myers
Eveline Ott
Kay Kay Hart
Years
1986-1990
1978-1981
1977-1980
1981, 1983
1984-1987
1988-
Source: Kansas Sports Information
Senior point guard has chance to become all-time assist leader
Kansan Sportswriter
Bv David Mitchell
With 241 career assists, point guard KayKay Hart will enter the 1991 season with a chance to leave her among the Jayhawks' all-time leaders.
Hart dished out a team-high 116 assists last season. Her 241 career assists are the sixth highest total in Kansas history.
Coach Marian Washington said Hart had come a long way since her firstyear at Kansas.
"As a freshman, she was so hard on herself," she said. "Every mistake she made was monumental. She grew through that.
"She was pushed into a major role immediately, and she took full advantage of it."
Posting assist totals similar to last year would guarantee Hart a spot in the school's top three. She is within striking distance of Evelette Ott, Mary Myers and Cheryl Burnet. Burnett is third all-time with 311 assists.
Hart said she expected to have even more assists this year.
After Burnet, the Jayhawk leaders seem unapproachable. At the top is three-time All Big Eight selection and he recorded 680 assists from 1987 to 1990
"This team is so athletic," she said. "I get assists a lot of people don't. They'll score on a lot of plays some people wouldn't."
Four-time All-American Lynette Woodard is second with 502.
Even if Hart cannot catch Braddy, she has already left her mark elsewhere in the Kansas record book.
Last season, she set a school record for free-throw shooting, hitting 81.2 percent of her shots from the charity stripe.
Hart could not recall the contests in which she made the game-winning free throws, but was quick to point out that Alabama State that she failed to put away.
"I couldn't tell youne of the games I won, but I'll never forget the one I lost," she said. "The loss to K-State or the loss of the most heart breaking games."
The guard clinched three victories for the Jayhawks by hitting key free throws in the games' final seconds.
K-State defeated Kansas 74-73 in
overtime. Hart was 0 of 2 at the line.
Washington said Hart's remarks were typical of her unselfish nature.
"She's a great team player," Washington said. "As a
Kay Kay Hart
coach, it's a big plus when you have a player like Kay Kay. She leads by example."
Hart averaged 9.3 points a game, third on the team behind junior guard Stacy Truitt and senior forward Terrilyn Johnson.
With 648 career jobs, Hart is on track to score her 1,000th point this season. Only eight Lady Jayhawks have ever accomplished that feat.
"Kay Kay has made tremendous achievements," Washington said. "I'm very proud of her and what she's doing."
Hart's numbers and leadership earned her an honorable mention All-Big Eight selection last season. She performed even better in tournament honors at the Dial Soap Classic and the Big Eight Tournament.
This summer she was a member of the Big Eight select team that traveled to Brazil. Washington was the squad's coach.
"Kay Kay has made tremendous achievements," Washington said. "I have complete respect for her."
Hart said she was more concerned with the team's success than with setting records.
COURTSIDE
Center Lisa Tate is expected to miss four weeks of practice with a stress fracture in her lower leg. The Jayhawks, who were predicted to win the Big Eight in the conference coaches poll, have already sideted Jo Wettspoon after the guard underwent surgery on her right leg.
Women's tennis team plays tough
By Steve Hudson
Special to the Kansan
Senior Eveline Hamers and freshman Rebecca Jensen competed in the main draw, and the two also qualified as a doubles team.
Kansas women's tennis coach Michael Center said that the team's American championship, which took Sunday, was raised to another level.
Hamers, who was ranked fourth in the country, came into the tournament as the No. 6 seed. Because of her high ranking, she began play in the main draw without going through the qualifying rounds.
However, Hamers suffered a first-round loss to Deborah Edelman from Indiana 6-2, 5-7, 5-7. In the first set, he scored 1-3 and lost 5-1 before things came unravel.
"I guess I played a loose game. I didn't make her do the things I wanted to." Hamers said.
She said she had played Edelman earlier in the year and knew she could win
"I had a good draw and I wasplaying well enough to do well. I just got frustrated when things started to go wrong." Hamms said.
nationally ranked was nota factor in her loss.
"In the Clay
Court Championships,
yes, I
Now know I just had
to relax and play my match.
She said the pressure of being
Hamers won her next match
in the consolation brace, downing Vickie Payton of Texas 6-3, 6-4. In the semi-finals of the consolation side, she stephanie Reece, another player,
"Evegina got a little flustered. She tiled things sip away." Center said. "Hopefully she'll learn from that. I still think she's the best player in the country."
Her effort paid off as she qualified for the main draw, winning three pre-qualifying matches and three qualifying matches. Along the way, she Mimi Genzie, the player Center said he would play No. 1 for UCLA.
After the week-long tournament, Jensen said she did not know if she was in a tennis tournament or a long-distance game. She had a total of 14 singles and doubles matches.
"My goal was first to get out of the pre-qualifiers and then the qualifiers. When I made it to the main draw, it was really a shocker for me," Jensen said. "I went to the bank oroke or find a way to lose. I was so relieved that I'd actually done something."
Jensen eventually lost in the first round of the main draw to the No. 2 seed from Miami, Melissa Mozzotta 3-1. In a play her on the national scene.
Freshman Nora Koves did not qualify for the main draw but had a strong show in the tournament.
Koves began the tournament in the pre-qualifying rounds along with 128 other players. She won five straight games and secured victory short of a spot in the main draw.
"She played extremely well," Center said. "She opened up a lot of people's eyes."
"I played a lot of good matches against good players. In the last match, I was a little tired. I probably had to work on my face, and sometimes I think too much."
"I was happy that I won five out of six matches, but I was disappointed that I did not make it to the main draw," Koves said.
Koves and senior Renee Raychaud-huri formed the other Kansas doubles team. They won their opening-round second qualifier but lost the second match.
In doubles, Hamers and Jensen had to qualify for the main draw, and once there, they did not find the matches any easier. In their first main-draw match, they defeated a Mississippi team, ranked fourth nationally, 6,4-6
Center said the team gained a lot of recognition for its accomplishments.
They lost in the quarterfinals to a team from Stanford 4-6, 4-6.
"This was a big week for us," he said. "I didn't see anybody in the tournament who had players markedly better than ours."
Center said he thought Kansas had a shot at being ranked in the top 25 in the nation, a feat never before achieved by the women's team.
The next big challenge for the Jaya-
hawks will be the Rolex Regional
Qualifier tournament in Omaha in two
weeks. The Nets bounced like the
way the team was improving.
"I'm happy with the way we're progressing," he said. "Everybody's gearing up to test ourselves against the best players in the region."
The Associated Press
Steve DeBerg hit Tim Barnett with a 6-yard touchdown pass with 47 seconds to go Monday night, cap-ting a 57-yard drive that vaulted the Kansas City Chiefs past the Los Angeles Raiders 24-21.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — At least the week was not a total flop for the tomahawk chop.
One night after the Minnesota Twins beat the Atlanta Braves in the seventh game of the World Series, the 77,000 tauna-hawk-chop Chiefs fans saw their team slice through the Raiders defense for two late touchdowns.
DeBerg faced fourth-and-four from the 11 and rifled a pass to Todd McNair, who leaned away from a tackler for a first down at the 6 with 51 seconds left. He then found Barnett cutting across the end zone for the winning score.
Chiefs win 24-21 in final seconds
The Raiders (5-4), losing for only
the seventh time in 37 Monday night games, led 21-10 and had the ball inside the 10 when Lloyd Burruss intercepted Jay Schroeder's pass and returned it 83 yards to the 15. on fourth-and-inches, Christian Okoye slanted around the left end for the touchdown, making it 21-17.
After forcing a punt, the Chiefs got 18 yards on DeBerg's pass to Pete Holohan that almost was intercepted by Ronnie Lott, whose fourth-quarter interceptions were pivotal in the Raiders' previous two victories.
After rookie Harvey Williams ran 11 yards to the 39, Fred Jones caught a 9-yard pass at the goal line, but he was called for offensive interference against Lionel Washington. That dropped the Chiefs back to the 19, but DeBerg hit McNair at the 11, then again for the critical first down.
Also, Phi Beta Sigma No. 2 defeated
Alpha Epsilon Pi No. 3 by forfeit,
Triangle No. 1 forfeited to Delta Chi No. 2
and Delta Chi No. 2 blanked Sigma Nu.
Then DeBerg and Barnett chopped down the Raiders.
SPORTS BRIEFS
Football tourney underway
In co-rec play, Loose Ends defeated Poles & Holes; Robinson 48ets beat 3E. Sugar Lips conquered Honors of the Tomahawks of Passion passed by the Tomahawks.
In fraternity play, Delta Upsilon Ali
skipped by Phi Gamma Delta, Alpha
Kappa Lambda No. 2 crushed the Bed
Potatoes, Phi Deltheta No. 2.defeat
Alpha Epsilon Pi Blue and Phi
Kappa Psi beat Theta Chi No. 2.
It's Tony the Tiger vs. The Breakfast of Champions as the nation's two largest cereal-makers duke it out to capitalize on the Minnesota Twins' twins.
In soriority play, Delta Delta Delta beat Gamma Phi Beta, Chi Omega defeated Kappa Delta and Alpha Omicron PI beat Sigma Kappa and byforfeit.
Recreation Services' intramural football tournament kicked in gear this weekend, with 19 games played Sunday.
Battle Creek, Mich.-based Kellogg Co. announced yesterday that it will put the likeness of Tony the Tiger, clad in Frosted Flakes and boxes of Frosted Flakes to be sold in
Phi Beta Sigma 1 blew out Zeta Beta Tau N. 0.1 Phi Kappa Theta N. 0.1 blanked Delta Upsilon A2, Pi Kappa Alpha N. 1 slipped by Phi Delta Theta No. 1 and Sigma Alpha Epsilon forfeited to Delta Chi.
All games are played at the Shenk Sports Complex, 23rd and Iowa Streets.
Tournament games were canceled yesterday and today and will resume tomorrow.
Flake makers fight for profits
The Frosted Flakes box tie in with the company's Major League Baseball sponsorship, Kellogg communications manager Dick Lovell said in a letter to the newspaper. The boxes should arrive in the N.C. Cities by the middle of the week.
the Midwest.
From staff and wire reports
At the same time, Golden Valley,
Minn.-based General Mills Inc.
unveiled a Wheaties box featuring
a twist on the classic Kidney and
Kirby Puppy swinging their bats.
Half a million special Wheaties packages also will be available this week to Twins fans in supermarkets throughout Minnesota, North Dakota, Dakota and parts of Wisconsin Iowa and Nebraska, General Mill said.
Morris files as one of 21 free agents
The Associated Press
Morris, who pitched one of the great games in Series history Sunday night and was picked as the MVP, declined to exercise a 1992 contract option for $3.65 million with the hope that he can agree to a new deal with the Twins at a higher salary. He and the other potential free agents have until Nov. 11 to file.
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Less than 17 hours after the final out of the World Series, baseball's business season got underway as Jack Morris made himself eligible for free play. The next game against Bobby Bonilla was among the first 21 players to file.
In order to exercise his option, Morris would have had to notify the Twins by yesterday. Both the Major League
In other moves, the Toronto Blue Jays declined to exercise 1992 options on outfielders Mookie Wilson and Dave Parker, making them eligible to file. The Cincinnati Reds declined to exercise the 1992 option on outfielder Carmelo Martinez and declined to offer salary arbitration to pitcher Ted Power, making the two eligible.
Among the prominent players who played on the first possible day were Kansas City outfielder Danny Tartabull, California first baseman Wally Joyner, Los Angeles second baseman Juan Samuel, New York Mets pitcher Frank Viola, Los Angeles pitcher Mike Morgan and Chicago Cubs pitcher Rick Suttle.
Baseball Players Association and the owners' Player Relations Committee said they had not received notification.
"At the conclusion of the 1981 season, the player must notify the club in writing on the first day of the free agency election period of his desire to continue the contract for the following year," the deal states.
Twins general manager Andy MacPhail said Sunday he anticiated the contract would have to be renegotiated.
"I think we did this deal with the idea of revisiting it after the first year," MacPhail said. "We probably would have looked at it again and we finished first or third or whatever." The agent, commenting on yesterday on Mornings intentions
Bonilla, who hit .302 with 18 homers and 100 RBIs, is the best hitter available. He turned down a $16.8 million, four-year offer from the Pirates and is expected to get a deal worth at least $25 million over five years.
"I'm having an open mind about anything," he said. "I want to go to the right situation for me and my family."
His agent, Dennis Gilbert, said he didn't think another offer by the Pirates would entice his client to re-sign.