University Daily Kansan / Tuesday, April 4, 1989
Sports
9
KU's Falbo considering transferring
Big 8 champ might go to West Virginia
by Laurie Whitten
Kansan sportswriter
Kansas men's tennis player John Falbo, the returning Big Eight Conference No. 1 singles champion and the 19th-ranked collegiate player in the nation, may leave Kansas and play for West Virginia next year.
On March 20, Falbo met with Kansas coach Scott Perelman and told him that he wanted to transfer and play for the 29th-ranked West Virginia Mountaineers. After a two-hour team meeting yesterday, however, Falbo said he was reconsidering his decision.
He said that by moving back to his home state, he would be closer to people who would support his career if he joined the professional tennis team.
For Faubo, a Charleston, W.V. native who was the only freshman ever to win a Big Eight title, a move to West Virginia would be partially for his career and partially for his personal happiness, he said.
"It's a fine line when it comes to where your commitment lies and what you have to do for the benefit of your career." Falbo said Sunday.
Falbo said he would make his final decision on transferring after a team meeting this morning.
"What I want people to understand is that I'm not leaving because Kansas is a bad school, and I'm not leaving because I don't like Kansas. Kansas has given me great opportunities, both athletic and academic. Everyone has been willing to help me, and I'm thankful for that.
"It's simply that I would be happier in West Virginia, not because it bad here but because of certain personal ties that I have there and that I'm being made because I'm close with people there and in New York."
"I need to be closer to them than I'm able to be here," he said. "I've been in contact with them over the phone, and I've been to New York twice since coming to Kansas. I don't feel that's enough."
Falbo said he had the chance to join the pro circuit immediately after high school, but he chose to play for Perelman instead because he needed time to mature mentally. As a three-time junior national champion, Falbo was the world at age 16, he was the most prestigious recruit in Kansas history.
Falbo said it was important for him to be close to New York residents Nick Saviiano. Falbo's coach before coming to Kansas and still an advisor for him, and another man, a friend and adviser whom Falbo would not. He said both men played important roles in his turning professional.
"After high school, I had narrowed my choices to UCs. Clemson, Arizona State, West Virginia and Kansas." Falbo said. "I chose to come to Kansas because of Coach Perelman. I felt like I needed someone to guide me in the right direction while I was in school, and it seemed like he could
do it.
"I think he did the best job with me than anyone in the country could have done."
Falbo said that his relationship with Perlman was close, making the decision to leave Kansas extremely difficult.
Perelman said Falbo had refused the chance to leave several times during the past four months, and it was a surprise that he actually would
Falbo said he had contacted West Virginia coach Terry Dederer about transferring, and that Dederer never had contact with Falbo or Falco about the situation.
Falbo's possible choice of schools wasn't the only surprise for Perelman. Sophomore Jeff Gross, a walk-on from Overland Park who has played as high as the No. 2 position for Kansas, had decided to transfer 20 that he wanted to transfer and play for West Virginia also.
"They came to me that morning and said that it was in their best interest to leave Mann and play it." "It was a real surprise about Gross."
"I had spoken with Falbo several times in the last four months about the possibility of him transferring to West Virginia, and he said that his final decision was to stay." Perelman said. "That's what I thought he decided. I didn't think there was any more to it."
Yesterday morning, however,
Gross told Perelman that he was
going to stay.
"Since then, he has given it some
thought and has decided that things
Falbo at KU
John Falbo
Sophomore
Charleston, W. V
Big Eight Conference No.1 Singles Champion last year
NCAA Tournament qualifier in 1988 in both singles and doubles
- Fall 1988 - finished as top ranked singles player in Region V
- Ranked as high as 17th nationally in collegiate singles
at the University of Kansas are very good for him. He doesn't want to gamble on giving that up. I think there were some things internally that made him wrong, but that those things are not that important in the scope of the big picture."
Perelman said that although he was going to release both Fabo and Gross to play for West Virginia next season, he had decided not to let them complete the season for Kansas. Because of this decision, Fabo and Gross, who won the No 6 Big Eight singles championship last year, were not going to defend their conference titles.
Now that Gross has decided to stay, Perelman said he would allow him to play in the Jayhawks' seven
See FALBO, p. 10, col.
Kansas sophomore John Falbo, the defending Big Eight Conference No. 1 champion, is considering transferring to West Virginia
Michigan takes NCAA championship in OT
The Associated Press
SEATTLE — Rumeal Robinson made two free throws with 3 seconds left in overtime last night, giving Michigan its first national championship and capping the improbable ride of interim head coach Steve Fisher with an 80-79 victory against Seton Hall
Fisher had taken over the Michigan team two days before the NCAA tournament been and coached them the victories needed for the national title.
record 184, breaking the 24-year-old mark of 177 set by Bill Bradley of Princeton.
The championship game was the fifth to go into overtime and the first since Loyola, III., beat Cincinnati 60-58 in 1963.
"I am the happiest man alive," Fisher said. "Rumeal is such a gutsy kid."
Robinson, who finished with 21 points and 11 assists, got his chance
Glen Rice was the player who carried Fisher and the Wolverines to the title with 31 points in the final, giving him an NCAA tournament
The NCAA Final Four
to be the hero when he was fouled by Gerald Greene, who had missed the front end of a one-and-one with 1:17 remaining and Lauren Hall Ready 78:36.
Michigan brought the ball down-court, and Robinson began a drive to the basket when he was fouled before
Terry Mills made a turnaround, jumper with 64 seconds left to bring the Wolverines within one. Seton Hall worked the 45-second shot clock down, and John Morton, who finished with 35 points, tossed up an airball
shooting. Robinson nailed the free throws, and after two Pirate timeouts, Daryl Walker's final desperation three-pointer banged off the glass and rim, and Michigan had its own goal in three title-game appearances.
Michigan lost to UCLA 91-80 in 1965 and to Indiana 86-68 in 1976.
Rice opened the overtime with a jumper that was answered by Andrew Gaze's three-pointer, his first field goal of the game. The teams exchanged leads three more times, with Seton Hall's final lead coming on a three-pointer by Morton with 2:41 to play.
Morton scored 22 of Seton Hall's last 28 points in regulation, including a three-pointer with 25 seconds remaining to tie the game 71-71. Michigan led 59-49 on a three-pointer by Rice with 8-26 to go. Seton Hall ran off eight straight points, Morton scoring the last six. After an
exchange of free throws, Rice hit a three-pointer that gave him the NCAA tournament record and the team's 6.45-9 lead with 6.05 to play.
With Michigan leading 66-61, Morton scored six straight points at Seston Hall's defense came away with two steals, and the Pirates had their first lead of the second half with 2:14 to play. Walker's free throw gave the Pirates a two-point advantage, and Rice once again got the lead back for Michigan with a three-pointer with 1:03 to play.
After Morton's airball with 53 seconds left, Michigan ran the clock down to 34 seconds before Sean Higgins made two free throws for the three-point lead that was erased by Morton's three-pointer.
Michigan had a chance for victory in regulation, but Rice missed a long jump with 2 seconds to play.
Higgins added 10 points and nine
rebounds for Michigan, 30-7. Rice added 11 rebounds.
Walker and Greene each finishes, with 13 points for Seton Hall, 31-7, which was making its first Final chance in its second NCAA tournament.
As for Fisher's future at Michigan, athletic director Bo Schembechler said, "think we ought to interview Steve Fisher. The team was magnificent, and Steve Fisher did a great job."
Seton Hall stayed outside in the first half with 14 of its 32 field-goal
attempts coming from three-point range, while Michigan decided to test things inside.
The problem for the Pirates, who averaged 14 three-pointers a game in the regular season, was that they had to be really good. The last two — by Greene and Morton
- capped a 12-0 run that turned a six point deficit into a 26-20 lead with 6:48 left in the first half.
Ramos gave the Pirates their final lead of the first half with one of their few drives of the half.
Michigan 80. Seton Hall 79 OT
Seton Hall (79)
Figure 1.8.2.2.9.0.3.4.13, Ramen 4.9.1.1.9, Grasse 4.9.1.3.13, Motton 1.9.6.10.35, Cooper 0.0
Figures 1.8.2.2.9.0.3.4.13, Ramen 4.9.1.1.9, Grasse 4.9.1.3.13, Motton 1.9.6.10.35, Cooper 0.0
8. 29/2.31 52/2.31 4.8-0.00 8.9augt 4.8-0.00 6.9augt 0.00/0.00 Robertson 6.1-9.3/1.0 Haggins 3.1-0.4/1.0 Hughes 1.1-0.01 6.1/0.02 0.00/0.00 Total 3.6-17 14-16/8
Gaze 1-5-3-2-1-0-9-9-3-3-1-11-9, Grameen 1-5-3-2-1-0-9-9-3-3-1-11-9, Monte 1-5-3-2-1-0-9-9-3-3-1-11-9
Bearcats 10-7-4-0-0-0-0-0
Royals drop home opener to same team as last year
Mentel, KU have powerful Big 8 opener
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Last year, George Bell's three home run powered the Toronto Blue Jays to a win in the season opener at Royals Stadium. This time, the Jays had to work a little harder.
Lloyd Moseby and Fred McGriff
each got two hits to Toronto
without any home runs, beat Kansas
City 4-3 yesterday.
"I really couldn't complain because the guys were executing well." Manager Jimy Williams said. "At least we cushed in just one round overall." I thought we started the season pretty well offensively."
Key got relief help from Duane Ward and Tom Henke. With Bo Jackson on third base and two out, the team ended up cell on a pop fly, ending the game.
"I Jimmy threw the ball great. It looked like he was in mid-season form," said Henke, who had 25 saves last year. "Duane also did a great job, and I was happy to do my part, too."
Royals manager John Wathan said, "He could have been a little too pumped up. But you have to be careful. He's just too bad the bad guys won."
Jimmy Key won on opening day for the third straight year. He beat the Royals 5-3 last year as Bell scored all three home runs on opening day.
Pat Tabler's RBI double chased Key during a three-run seventh that made it 4:3. Ward took over until Henke entered.
Mark Gubicza, in his first opening day start after a 20-8 season, gave up nine hits and four runs through seven innings.
"I just didn't have my best stuff." Gubicza said.
Kansas outfielder Mike Bynn slides in safely at home plate as Nebraska catcher Mike Humphery controls the throw. The Jawhays split a doubleheader yesterday with the Cornhuskus at Hogland-Maupin Stadium
by Mike Considine Kansan sportswriter
Nebraska pitcher Pat Leinen was overpowering yesterday at Hoglund-Maipun Stadium, but he couldn't overwhelm Kansas' Jee Mentel.
With the score tied in the bottom of the seventh inning, Mentel hit a fastball from Leinen for a game-winner home run. The senior right batsman hit a home run and scored 12 victory in the second game of a Big Eight Conference doubleheader.
"They were throwing me the fast ball all weekend," Mentel said. "I really thought they would adjust and start throwing curves and change-ups. I guess, with nobody on base, (Leen) wanted to come right after
During the four-game series, Mentel had nine hits in 15 at bats, including five home runs. His three home runs in yesterday's second game tied a Big Eight record held by six other players.
"In the second game, it came down to whoever wanted it more. They wanted it, and we wanted it, but we batted last."
In yesterday's first game, Leinen shut out Kansas on four hits in leading Nebraska to a 10-9 victory. He returned to pitch in the second after Nebraska, 130 and 22, tied the score in the top of the seventh inning.
Mentel had three of the five hits Leinen allowed in more than nine innings.
The victory gave Kansas, 13-15 overall and 2 in conference, a split for the four-game series with the Corkhuskers.
"Leinen's a great pitcher," Kansas coach Dave Bingham said. "He can stuff anybody at any time. He was better than we could handle today. We are that way. That didn't it prevent us from coming back to win the second game."
Leinen (4-3) struck out Kansas first baseman Tom Buchanan to start the Jayhawk seventh. Mentel, the next batter, said he was "very tough" and would play.
"I thought about it in the batter's box," he said. "I told Coach earlier this year that this was a position I wanted to be in."
A home run by Steve Shibley in the sixth inning had given Kansas a 12-9 lead.
Nebraska centerfielder Ken Ramos led off the Cornhusker seventh with a home run. With the bases loaded, Shawn Buchan hit into a fielder's choice and Ken Sirk singled to drive in Nebraska's last
Mentel said the Jayhawks weren't afraid they might lose.
"We really didn't take time to talk about it," he said. "It was a big letdown, but Coach called us aside and that said we could win this if we just got people on base, the way the ball is flying out today."
The Jayhawks took a 3-2 lead on Mentel's two-run home run in the first inning. Kansas increased the score, and the Nebraska tied the score in the second.
Six of Kansas' 16 hits in the second game were home runs. Third base man Mike Byrn and designated hitter Garry Schmidt also hit home runs for
Shibley's home run provided the Jayhawks' largest lead in the remaining five innings.
"All the credit goes to the kids," Bingham said. "We have been asking them to play as hard as they could and they played hard today. They made mistakes, but they did a fantastic job."
Junior Craig Stoppel (1-1) was the second game's winning pitcher, and junior Steve Renko (2-3) was the first game's losing pitcher.
In the first game, Leinen struck out
nine batters and allowed just one
naserunner through the first four
innings to record the victory. Men-
sion's first half of ninning was
Kansas' first hit.
Mentel said Leinen's effective curve ball made him tough for the Javahaws to hit.
"He was just mixing it up and keeping everybody, off balance," Mentel said. "You had to loot off it, you had to loot it, you just pound it into the ground."
The Jayhawks put runners on second and third in the fifth but failed to score. Buchanan and Mentel led off
the seventh with base hits but were unable to advance.
Kansas contributed to its downfall by issuing 10 walks and committing three errors.
Mentel said the 2-2 start in Big Eight play would give Kansas confidence. The Jayhawks finished 5-19 in the conference last year.
"I don't know if it's because we're pumped up or what," Mentel said. "All of a sudden we're in the Big Eight season and everybody is winking." "But it doesn't mean because they know we have a chance of being in the Big Eight playoffs."
Nebraska 10. Kansas 0
Nebraka 080 100 01-10 8 4
Kansas 000 000 00-10 4
Nebraska Leinen (Colon, Novak) (Bk)
Nebraska Houffel (Houffel, Nk)
Leinen (4-2) L-Renk(2) 3b-Nebraka S
Buchanan, Allen, Wobken 3b-Nebraka
Tackters HIRR Nebraka Twity (2)
Kansas 13. Nebraska 12
Nebraska 240 112 3-12 11
Kansas 610 121 1-13 16 0
Kentucky Kidstalla, Kittelina,
Milhagen (7), Leenan (7) and Humphrey, Kansas
Stonecreeper, Mullicaty (2), Shaw (5)
Stopper (5) and Boesench W-Stopper (11) L.
Louisiana Jerryjam, Jerseyjam
Alten, Twilty Kuchann; Buchanan