KANSAS KU BASKETBALL
March Madness Special Section
Men's NCAA Tournament Bracket Pages 6 and 7
Women's NCAA Tournament Bracket Page 12
THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 1996
Long and winding road begins
SECTION C
Final Four trip is goal for men
By Jenni Carlson
Kansan sportswriter
The basic premise is quite simple — lose a game and go home.
Starting today, 64 teams will battle to keep playing. The one that goes on a six-game winning streak will be crowned the 1996 NCAA national champion on Apr. 1 in East Rutherford, N.J.
But when Kansas, a No. 2 seed in the West region, faces South Carolina State tomorrow at 4:10 p.m. in Tempe, Ariz., the Jayhawks will be focusing on just one game.
"If you don't play well against that first team, you won't be playing anybody the next night," Kansas guard Jerod Haase said. "It's such a long season, you feel like you'll play tomorrow. Going into the tournament, you have to realize that's not the case.
"Sometimes the pressure and attention can be a distraction," he said. "But if we embrace it and play with enthusiasm, we'll be OK."
The last time the Jayhawks were a No.2 seed was in 1993, which was also the last time they advanced to the Final Four.
As a No. 2 seed, the Jayhaws hope to start a six-game winning streak by defeating the 15th-seeded Bulldogs. South Carolina State won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament by defeating Coppin State and got an automatic bid in the field of 64.
They stormed through the Midwest regional, defeating top-seeded Indiana, 83-77, in the regional championship game.
In the NCAA semifinals in New Orleans, Kansas fell to North Carolina, 78-68, and ended its run at a national title.
Since coach Roy Williams came to Kansas in 1989, the Jayhawks have fared better as a No.2 seed, winning five games, than as a No.1 seed, winning just three.
Round one: Men
Case in point — last year's Midwest regional at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Mo. The top-seeded Jayhawks got outmusced by fourth-seeded Virginia, 67-58.
KANSAS (26-4)
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About 4:10 p.m. tomorrow
The University Activity Center
Tempe, Arizona
SOUTH CAROLINA STATE (22-7)
TV: Channels 5,13 Radio: 105.9 FM
Noah Musser/KANSAN
Much has been made of the work the Jayhawks did in the weight room during the offseason. Now it's time to see whether it will pay off.
"I think an area we've also improved is mentally," Haase said. "If we come out flat one game, that's it."
Before the loss to Virginia last season, Kansas lost in the second round of the Big Eight Conference tournament. The Jayhawks advanced to the championship game last weekend but lost again. This time it was a 56-55 loss to Iowa State.
But does success in the Big Eight tournament translate into success in the NCAA?
"I think there's absolutely no value in that," Williams said. "The only year we won it was the worst we ever played in the NCAA tournament."
That was in 1992, when Kansas lost to Texas-El Paso, 66-60, in the second round.
But the value of this year's Big Eight tournament was in playing in an NCAA tournament-type setting. Kansas played Iowa State with no fan advantage, as Jayhawk and Cyclone fans were nearly equal.
The Jayhawks are just hoping that from now on they will thrive in that kind of environment and have six more games on their schedule this season.
"I thought it helped us as far as some sort of NCAA tournament environment," Kansas forward Raef LaFrentz said.
Illustration by Joel Francke
Women rested and ready for their opening match
Jayhawks will play for first time in almost two weeks
By Evan Blackwell Kansan sportswriter
But the Jayhawks won't be worried about being rusty when they step on the court Saturday night for an NCAA tournament first-round game. They used their time off to get well.
The Kansas women's basketball team hasn't played a game in almost two weeks.
After winning the Big Eight Conference regular season championship, Kansas limped into the postseason with various injuries and aliments.
"We've had a few people with illnesses," Kansas junior guard Tameke Dixon said. "With the
week we've had to prepare, I think we'll have everybody back in time for our first opponent."
Dixon's sinus infection, freshman Suzi Raymant's case of walking pneumonia, freshman Nakia Sanford's strep throat and senior Charisse Sampson's ongoing knee problems have given Washington cause for concern lately.
Kansas women's basketball coach Marian Washington can painfully list all the afflictions that struck the Jayhawks in the last couple weeks.
"Normally, I'm hesitant about having to play our Big Eight tournament so early and having so much time off before we come back and play," Washington said. "But with our team, personally, it has really helped."
Washington said she couldn't remember a recent team that was struck with so many health problems at such an inopportune time.
"Nakia and Suzi are roommates, so
I think that has been part of the problem between the two of them," Washington said.
Washington said she thought this year's team was capable of going further than any Kansas women's basketball team in school history.
Kansas now appears healthy and ready to make a run in the NCAA tournament.
"We've got some players right here that have to step up," Washington said, pointing to Dixon, Sampson and junior guard Angie Halbleib.
The Jayhawks open with a firstround matchup against Middle Tennessee State of the Ohio Valley Conference.
"They understand what it's about now," Washington said. "We've got a shot to go a lot further, and I expect a lot out of them."
Perimeter players Dixon, Sampson and Halbleib have been a potent offensive force this season.
Dixon, who was chosen the Big
Hableib leed Kansas in three-point shooting, at 41 percent, and averaged 14.2 points a game.
Eight Conference Player of the Year, led the Jayhawks with 17.3 points a game.
Sampson was perhaps the Jayhawks' best all-around player, with 12.4 points and 6.6 rebound a game.
The three combined for nearly 44 points a game, or a little more than 60 percent of the team's total offensive output.
Round one: Women
Kansas last was host on an NCAA tournament game in 1993, when the Jayhawks lost to California in the first round.
(ANSAS (20-9)
Sampson is the only player remaining from that team, and she still remembers the loss.
vs.
Sampson had only one piece of advice for her teammates when they
"We all came out really anxious to play," Sampson said. "I think we forced a lot of stuff. I remember shooting like 20 percent."
MIDDLE
TENNESSEE
STATE (24-5)
8 p.m. Saturday Allen Field House Lawrence, Kansas
TV: None Radio: 90.7FM
Noah Musser/KANSAN
INCIDENCE:
What local police will do to control campus celebrations if the Jayhawks reach the Final Four.
take the Allen Field House floor on Saturday night.
"Stay relaxed," Sampson said.
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