The Jayhawk women enter weekend play with the nation's No.1 singles player. Page 3.
SPORTS ERSITY DAILY KANS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 1996
Baseball team still fighting the cold
SECTION B
By Dan Gelston
Kansan sportswriter
Forget the famous motto of former Chicago Cub Ernie Banks of "Lets play two!"
The Kansas baseball team would just like to play one.
The Jayhawks have had six games
caused, this.
canceled this year because of bad weather.
The latest came yesterday when Kansas' scheduled game against Mankato State was moved to noon Sunday for a doubleheader.
Kansas will
Josh Dimmick
attempt to play its home opener against Mankato State at 2 p.m. tomorrow at Hoglund-Maupin Stadium, but that remains in jeopardy because of the temperature.
The Mavericks have yet to play a game this year. Mankato State finished 27-15 last season in the North Central Conference. They are an NCAA Division II program.
Despite having played only once in the past week and a half, Kansas coach Bobby Randall said he didn't think the team would be greatly affected by the layoff.
"I don't expect it to affect the team at all," he said. "Our preparation for the Oklahoma game was as good as its been for a long time. We've got to get ready to play. There's no excuses and we we've taken that approach."
Randall said the pitchers might be the only players feeling the effect because they aren't getting as many innings in as he'd like.
Kansas' only game this week was a 10-7 loss to No. 15 Oklahoma on Tuesday in Norman, Olda. Wednesday's game against the Sooners was cancelled because of bad weather.
"We had an opportunity to win the game," Randall said. "I'm sincerely disappointed that we didn't win. Emotionally it was tough on us."
Kansas freshman third baseman Nick Frank said despite the weather obstacles, the team has to be ready to play.
"It's hard when we're only playing once a week," he said. "But it's not that hard getting ready to play. We all want to get out there."
Two Jayhawks who really want to get on the field are freshman catcher Mike Dean and sophomore designated hitter Josh Dimmick.
Dean has made his way into the starting lineup with a .360 batting average, the team's second best. He also leads the team in home runs with two, and ranks third in total base runs with 18.
"I'm not a home run hitter. I just happened to hit two early on," Dean said. "I really can't explain it. The pitchers just made some mistakes and I took advantage."
With an increase in playing time, Dimnick has a higher batting average than he did last year. He played in just 19 games as a freshman — starting only six games — and hit .222.
"It was discouraging," Dimmick said. "Everyone wants to be out on the field, so to not plav was hard."
This year, he has played in all 10 of the Jayhawk's games, starting nine, posting a .333 batting average and 8 RBI.
However, Dimmick hasn't been on the field much. Six of his nine starts have been as a designated hitter, with the other three at first base.
"I don't have too much of a preference," he said. "I love hitting, so I'm just happy to get that chance this year."
Vaughn is best in the Big Eight
By Jenni Carlson Kansas sportswriter
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jacque Vaughn sent a message yesterday.
The Kansas junior guard earned the Big Eight Conference player of the year award as selected by the league's coaches during a ceremony at the University Club. Vaughn averaged 11.3 points and 6.3 assists this season. He beat Oklahoma's Ryan Minor, who had a conference-best 21.6 points a game.
"The award says that sacrificing yourself for the benefit of the team — sometimes that will come back as a reward," said Vaughn, who also was named The Associated Press Big Eight player of the year yesterday. "I never harp on the individual awards, but it really feels good today."
On Wednesday, Vaughn found out that he was going to be honored. Kansas coach Roy Williams shook his hand in the hallway outside the team's locker room and gave him the good news.
Vaughn became the first Jayhawk to be named Big Eight player of the year since Danny Manning won it three consecutive years, 1986 to 1988.
Vaughn said the first thing he did when he received his award was thank his teammates.
"It's because of them that I received this award," he said.
That unselfishness, Williams said, will help Vaughn set assist records before his career has ended that no one will touch.
Kansas junior guard Jacque Vaughn stands at the podium in the University Club in Kansas City, Mo. after being named the Big
"But over and above all that, as great a player as he is and as good as he is on the court, he's even better off the court." Williams said.
One area where Vaugh excels is the classroom. He is a three-time All-Big Eight academic pick and a member of the GTE/District VII All-Academic team.
Jerel Harris / KANSAN
Williams and Iowa State coach Tim Floyd were selected as co-coaches of the year by their peers.
The coaches also awarded co-freshman of the year honors to Kansas forward Paul Pierce and Colorado guard Chauncey Billups. However, the AP gave the nod to Billups, the conference's third highest scorer this season.
Eight Conference player of the year yesterday. Vaughn's award was presented by Kansas coach Roy Williams.
Jayhawks think tournament is tougher
Kansas isn't overlooking eighth-seeded Colorado
By Jenni Carlson Kansan sportswriter
When Kansas won the 1988 national championship, it lost in the second round of the Big Eight Conference tournament.
The equation worked then, but it didn't last year. After falling to Iowa State in the Big Eight tournament, the Jayhawks lost in the third round of the NCAA tournament to Virginia.
Kansas junior center Scot Pollard doesn't want to enter the NCAAAs with a loss again.
Colorado, 9-17 overall and 3-11 in the conference, features three players who all average more points than Kansas' top scorer, sophomore forward Raef LaFrentz. LaFrentz averages 13.7 points per game, against freshman guard Chancey Billings' 18.4 points.
Kansas' first obstacle to entering the NCAA tournament on a winning streak is Colorado. The fifth-ranked Jayhawks, the No.1 seed in the Big Eight tournament, will face the eighth-seeded Buffaloes at 12:10 p.m. at Kemper Arena in Kansas City. Mo.
"I don't think we really recovered from that," Pollard said. "That really shot us down physically and mentally. I'm not saying we would have been any different in the tournament, but it was a possible factor."
Junior forwards Mack Tuck and Martice Moore average 17.0 and 15.4 points respectively.
"They are the most dangerous No. 8 seed since I've been in the league," Kansas coach Roy Williams said. "They've played very well against us."
The Jayhawks escaped from Boulder, Colo., with an 80-78 victory against the Buffaloes. At home, the Jayhawks held only a one-point lead, 31-30, at halftime before pulling away for an 85-70 victory.
"The they use their athletic ability and quickness against our big men," Kansas junior guard Jacque Vaughn said. "And that definitely creates a problem."
But the Jayhawks haven't forgotten their sluggishness against the Buffaloes, Vaughn said. The importance of a good start was reinforced last Saturday when Kansas didn't have enough to come back from a 17-point deficit against Oklahoma.
During several days of preparation for the tournament since that loss, the Jayhawks have started enjoying themselves again.
Getting to the third day and the championship game of the conference tournament has been a struggle recently. Since Williams came to Kansas in 1988-89, the Jayhawks have played in only one title game, which
"There's an attitude of having fun, but at the same time working hard," Vaughn said. "We're pretty much ready to stay three days in Kansas City."
thev won in 1992.
Kansas has lost five times in the semifinals during that same stretch.
"It's something that has to do with the opponent on Saturday being a little more difficult than the one on Friday," Williams said. "We've openly talked about the fact that we've got to play better than we have in the last couple years."
Home doesn't look like an option
Kansas women expect to get road assignment in the NCAA tournament
By Evan Blackwell Kansan sportswriter
The waiting is almost over for the No. 20 Kansas women's basketball team.
The Jayhawks will find out Sunday where they will be traveling for the NCAA tournament that starts next Thursday.
"It's an incredible day," Dixon said. "We're all kind of curious where we will be going."
The first round sites and pairings for the women's tournament will be announced at 6:30 p.m., on what has become known as Selection Sunday.
Kansas junior guard Tamecka Dixon said there was always anticipation surrounding Sunday's events.
Kansas already knows it is a lock for the tournament after winning the Big Eight Conference regular season title with an 11-3 record, 20-9 overall.
However, the Jayhawks also know they may have lost their chance at a first round home game after losing to Colorado in the championship game of the Big Eight tournament Monday night in Salina.
Kansas women's basketball coach
Marian Washington said it's nice not to
have to worry about whether or not they
will be in the tournament.
"We're at a point right now where we're not just trying to get in," Washington said. "We're thinking about seeding."
"We just got killed," Dixon said. "We can't make any excuses. This loss should give us all the incentive in the world to do well in the tournament."
Dixon said the Jayhawks have had most of the week off, which is a welcome rest before the final stretch of the season.
"It's been nice to have a week to think about things and get ready," she said.
The women's tournament differs from the men's in that the first two rounds of play aren't played on neutral courts.
The top four seeds in each of the four regions serve as first- and second-round hosts for their section of the draw.
It's a system that many coaches and play
ers have been trying to change for years.
"I'd love to see neutral sites all the way to
the Final Four," Dixon said.
Washington still remembers when the Jayhawks had to play highly-ranked Penn State on its home floor in the second round two years ago.
After holding the lead at halftime, the Jayhawks failed to halt a Penn State comeback in the second half.
"When I tell you that crowd was the sixth man, I mean they were 'really the sixth man,' Washington said. "When they were down at halftime, that crowd made a conscious decision to get them back in the game — I couldn't hear myself think."
Although she wants a change in the system, Dixon said it doesn't really bother her that Kansas will likely be away from home next week.
Tyler Wirken / KANBAN
"I thought we played better on the road his year than we did at home." Dixon said.
"I'm sure the seeding committee is very aware of how well we've played lately," she said.
Washington said strength of schedule and the fact that the Jayhawks have played well late in the season should be factors that help the Jayhawks get a better seed.
Kansas senior Charisse Sampson and the rest of the No. 20 Jayhawks will find out their NCAA tournament plans on Sunday.