University Daily Kansan / Friday, March 10, 1989
Sports
9
Kemper magic and season's end motivate KU
by Mike Considine
Kansan sportswriter
Kemper Arena has been a home away from home for the Kansas men's basketball team.
Since the building opened in 1975, the Jayhawks have a 34-12 record there. Included in the record are three Big Eight Conference Tournament championships, two BMA Classic championships and last year's NCAA title. The Jayhawks have won 18 of their last 21 games at Kemper.
Kansas, 19-11, is hoping tradition will continue to favor them when they meet 18-9 Kansas State at 8:20 tonight in a first-round Big Eight tournament game.
"I think it's because the Big Eight Tournament is held there, or it's always a big non-conference game when we play there," said senior Guard Scouter Barry. "It's easy to get motivated in that situation."
tournament game.
Stipulations of a three-year NCAA probation have prevented Kansas from participating in the NCAA tournament, so the Jayhawks season will end with the conference tournament.
Home away from home
Kansas has a 34-12 record in Kemper. Arena. The Jayhawks have won 18 of their last 21 games in Kemper, in Bio Eight Conference.
Tournament games in Kemper,
Kansas is 12-8. Over the last 3
years, the lahwahs are 6-2
Dave Eames/KANSAN
Barry said that he considered the Big Eight tournament and the last three regular season games as the equivalent to the NCAA finals for this year's Jayhawks because a team has to win six consecutive games to win an NCAA championship.
"This is the NCAA for me," Barry said. "It's single elimination for us from now on."
Sophomore Mark Randall said the team wasn't feeling additional pressure to win the tournament.
"I think the pressure comes from within the team," Randall said. "If we do the right things, it means another game for us. We just want to move on to the next game and win each game."
I think we always feel we can go on and play a better game," he said. "In the last three games, we could win, so we did, as putting two good halves together."
Randall said the Jayhawks three game winning streak at the end of the season would give them momentum going into the tournament.
Kansas coach Roy Williams said Kansas State might have come closer to achieving its potential than any other Big Eight team
"I think they are NCAA tourney team." Williams said. "We'll have our hands full. We know we'll have to play excellent basketball against them."
Kansas and K State split their two previous games this season. The Jayhawks won 75-14 in overtime on Jan. 14 in Manhattan. The Wildcats won 71-70 on Jan. 28 in Lawrence
The team has sustained one minor injury since its 79-78 victory over Oklahoma State on March 4. Senior forward Milt Newton twisted an ankle in Tuesday's practice, but he will play tonight. Barry will be hampered by torn chest muscles and suffered four games ago. He will have arthroscopic surgery on his right knee after the season.
"We're good enough to have a chance to defend our title," Barry said. "And the fact that we be punished even though none of the current players and coaching staff were involved in the violations is upsetting. So you can make me keep a team out of the tournament (in that situation). But we have to beat K State first."
season.
Barry said he thought it was unfair that KU was unable to participate in the NCAA tournament.
Big Eight Tournament
Kansas Jayhawks
Kansas State Wildcats
Coach: Roy Williams
Record: 19-11 (6-8)
Coach: Lon Kruger
Record: 18-9 (8-6)
PROBABLE STARTERS
Player Htt. PPG
F-Mike Maddox 6-7 10.9
M-Flit Newton 6-4 17.4
G-Mark Randall 6-9 16.3
G-Jeff Gueldner 6-5 5.3
G-Kevin Prichard 6-5 14.8
Player Ht. Ppg.
F·Lance Simmons 6-5 5.3
F·Mark Dobbins 6-5 6.7
C·Fred McCoy 6-7 15.8
G·LaKeith Humphrey 6-1 11.6
G·Steve Henson 6-1 18.2
**Game notes:** Kansas leads the series 111-85. Kansas State has a 7-3 record in Big Eight Tournament Conference games, but the Jahavek lead 5-4 in games played in Kemper Arena. Kansas has a 20-9 record in all Big Eight Tournament games and has won three titles in 12 years. The first round will be telecast on channel 41 tonight; the next two rounds will be on channel 9. Kansas' games will be broadcast on KLZR 106-FM
Senior is ready for weekend NCAA indoor
by Cynthia L. Smith
Kansan sportswriter
Kansas senior Craig Watkee spent a long time preparing for this weekend's NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships.
"I've spent seven and a half years training for a 14-minute race," Watcke said.
Watkee will run the preliminaries of the 5,000-meter run today in Indianapolis. This is his first NCAA meet.
Three other Jayhawks also will be competing in the championships. Junior Patt Manson and senior Cam Miller are entered in the pole vault, and senior David Bond is entered in the triple jump.
The athletes are concentrating on individual performances rather than a team score, Kansas coach Gary Schwartz said. The Kansas men's track team finished 6th in the NCAA indoor meet in Oklahoma City last
Watchee qualified by winning the 5,000 in 13 minutes, 51.82 seconds at the Silverton Invitational in Ann Arbor, Mich., last week end, surpassing the indoor qualifying mark and outdoor qualifying mark of 13:38.12
"Before I qualified, I sort of glorified it," he said. "Now I'm trying to minimize it and tell myself it's just another meet."
after meeting. Watchee said he tried to be calm about competing this season.
"My attitude this year has been a little more businesslike, instead of getting excited about each race, getting excited part of being a senior," he said.
See 'HAWKS, p. 10, col. 1
Season's end is near
Kansas' 'Milt Newton tries to block the shot of Iowa State's Mark Baugh. Kansas will complete its season in the Big Eight Conference
Tournament this weekend in Kansas City, Mo. The Jayhawks open the tournament against K-State tonight;
KU tennis teams set for busy Spring Break
by Laurie Whitten
Kansan sportswriter
Even though Kansas lost three of four matches at the H.E.B. Collegiate Team Championships last weekend, men's tennis coach Scott Perelman said his then diminishing confidence in the Jayhawks had been renewed.
"We've had some good conversations since the tournament, both as a team and individually." Perelman said. "We know where we stand as a team right now. I have renewed enthusiasm for these guys."
Perlman said Kansas, which has a 3-9 dual record, was capable of winning five matches against top-15 teams in California during Spring Break. The Jayhawks play on Friday in the State State on Sunday, California-Irvine on Tuesday, Pepperdine on Friday and Utah on Saturday.
happened.
Both Cal-Irvine and Cal-Berkley were finalists in the ITCA/Rolex Indoor Team Championships, a tournament of top 20 teams, in which Kansas competed three weeks ago Cal-Berkley, ranked fourth nationally, defeated 7th-ranked Cal-Irvine
"We have played a very tough schedule this season, and I think it's wearing on the kids." Perelman said. "I do think we've learned a lot during the past few weeks; and somehow, I get the feeling that we're about to come out of it. But at the same time, we're going up against the country's best, so it's hard to say what will happen."
However, Perelman said that playing some of the nation's best teams would test his players' confidence.
tor the championship. Kansas finished 19th.
"Cal Berkeley is going to be extremely tough." Perelman said, "Their No 1 player, Woody Hunt, is returning All-American. He played (John) KU (KU's number one) twice and beat him fallows.
Perealman said Fresno State, Pepperdine and Utah also had solid lineups and would be tough competition. He said he would adjust Kansas' lineup to make the matches more equal.
"As to Irvine, they've got Trevor Kronemann, who's ranked 38th, and a strong lineup to back him up."
"I haven't really decided what I do to the lineup yet," Perelman said. "I do plan on moving Carlos Fleming up. He's been playing well and
deserves a chance to play a little higher."
Fleming, Shaker Heights, Ohio, freshman, won No. 5 and No. 6 matches against Santa Barbara, Florida. Florida takes Lake Pine at the tournament
H. E.B. Boone
Kansas women's tennis coach Eric
Jenkins said he thought the Jayhawks
would improve their 7-5 record when
they play five matches during Spring
Break Kansas will play Georgia
Tech today, Clemson tomorrow. Furman on Monday, Georgia on Wednesday and Kentucky on Friday
Haines said Georgia Tech had improved in recent years, moving into the top of the Atlantic Coast Conference behind Clemens and
the bottom of the ACC; and now, they are one of the top teams in the conference. I know their coach trains them extremely hard.
"Clemens has always been tough, and this year is no exception. They've consistently been in the top 10 or top 20 for the last eight years."
Duke "Georgia Tech has really moved up," Hayes said. "They used to be at
Hayes said Kansas' toughest match would be against 8-stanked Georgia. Five of Georgia's singles players and all three doubles teams are ranked nationally.
Hoosiers beat Wisconsin and clinch Big Ten title
He said that the week would benefit Kansas No. 1 player Eveline Hamers, Meerssen, Netherlands, freshman, who is ranked 29th nationally.
many, who "Eveline has had some good wins no serious losses so far." Haas says. "But this trip will give her a chance to play four girls ranked in the top 30. That kind of experience is great."
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Freshman Eric Anderson scored 19 points yesterday as No. 6 Indiana beat Wisconsin 75-64, clinching the Hoosiers' record 10th outright Big Ten championship and the conference's automatic berth in the NCAA basketball tournament.
The victory lifted Indiana to 15-2 in the Big Ten and 25-6 overall, putting the Hoosiers two games ahead of second-place Illinois with one game remaining in the regular season.
The Associated Press
Wisconsin, hoping for an at large NCAA bid, dropped to 8-9.
Anderson, a 6-foot-9 forward who earlier in the week was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year by The Associated Press, scored 14 points as the Hoosiers took a 36-32 half-time lead. In the second half, Todd Jadlow scored all 18 of his points and Joe Hillman added 12 of his 17 as Indiana steadily built its lead. Indiana's Jay Edwards, the Big Ten's Player of the Year, finished with 15.
The Hoosiers' 10 outright Big Ten title broke the record of nine they shared with Purdue and Ohio State.
tied with Minnesota for fifth place in the Big Ten and 17-10 overall.
Men's golf coach expects team to improve its play in Florida
Kansan sportswriter
by Laurie Whitten
Kansas men's golf coach Ross Randall is happy that the Jayhawks will get a chance to redeem their earlier performance in Florida.
cancer performance.
Kansas finished 11 of 18 teams at the Seminole Golf Classic last weekend in Panama City, Fla., and Randall said that the Jayhawks were not satisfied with how they played
"They should have beaten some teams that they didn't," Randall said. "However, it was really tough for us to come out of the cold and play the toughest in Florida. As we play more, we'll get better."
Kansas now has a chance to win two Florida tournaments during Spring Break. The Jayhawks will compete Monday through Wednesday in the Central Florida Classic in Orlando, followed by a tournament March 17-19 at the University of Southern Florida in Tampa.
"I predict we do well at the upcoming tournaments," Kandall said. "We've been able to keep them warmer, and I think we're better prepared."
Eighteen teams will compete in the Central Florida Classic, including Louville, South Florida, Central Florida, Arizona, Indiana and Mississippi.
sour. Randall said the tournament, which consists of 18 holes each day, would be played on one of the best courses in the country.
courses in
"We're be playing the Grand
Canyon Golf Course, which was
designed by Jack Nicklaus," he said.
"It's copied off a course at St.
Andrews (Scotland). I think it's one
of the best in the country."
Randall said the Southern Florida tournament also would be played on an excellent course and would ture some of the best MCA Division
11 teams.
Fifteen teams will compete in the tournament, including Nebraska.
Jayhawks to mix fun and games in Hawaii
Kansan sportswriter
bv Mike Considine
The Kansas baseball team opens its Spring Break action with a p.p.m. game today in Honolulu against the University of Hawaii Rainbows.
The Jayhawks, 3-4, take a two-game win streak to the Hawaiian islands for eight games against three teams.
Hawaii, 7-8, was nationally ranked before the season started but has lost to a pair of ranked teams. Southern California,ranked 16th in the College Baseball ESPN poll, defeated the Rainbows twice, and 24th ranked Fresno State swept a three-game series from Hawaii.
"Hawaii has played a great sched ule already," Bingham said.
The Jayhawks also will play Hawaii at 3 p.m. tomorrow and 1 p.m. Sunday, Kansas plays Hawaii Hilo at 3 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday. The trip concludes with a single game Wednesday and a double-header Thursday against Hawaii Pacific.
Bingham said Hawai-Hilo and Hawaii Pacific were good NAIA teams, comparable to the Missouri Southern squad the Jayhawks beat 3-0 Tuesday.
"Ihlo probably worries me more than Hawaii," Bingham said. "Hawaii has a great situation. Hilo and Pacific don't have great stadiums, so they're easier to overlook."
Junior pitcher Steve Renko said that competition, not sightseeing was the main reason for the trip.
"We're going to play some good teams," Renko said. "We're not going down there just to have a great time."
time.
But the team will find time to visit Pearl Harbor tomorrow and to go skiing sledding at Hanama Bay.
Bingham said that although the Jayhawks pitching was improving, he was concerned about the team's run production. Kansas is batting 248 and averaging just 4.3 runs a game.
"We're getting just enough hits to win," Bingham said. "To me, what's important is how we go about winning. We're not taking real good cuts. Our swings are real long, and our bats are slow."
sucking in the ball.
"We're going to take it with the attitude of enjoying something most of us have never seen, but our primary objective is to play baseball and get better," Bingham said.
Although the Jayhawks have not been scoring many runs, senior catcher Troy Mentzer said Kansas was a better hitting team. He said he is batting 400, said the batting order was stronger from top to bottom this season.
"It helps a lot because they have to worry about everybody," Mentzer said. "Every one of our hitters is pretty good."
pretty good.
Renko who won Wednesday's game against Washburn and even his record at 1-1, said he was going to work on improving his fastball during the trip.
"I'm going to try to put everything together," Renko said. "I'm working on a whole new motion. I need to reach out more toward the plate, get more extension, so I can have more pop on my fastball."
and the Hawaii trip, the Jayhawks play Northwest Missouri State on March 21 at Hoglund-Maupin Stadium.