BIG EIGHT
Kansas guard Jacque Vaughn makes AP All-Big Eight, Page 2B
NBA
Standings and leaders, Page 5B
SPORTS UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 1995
Seniors: savor the emotions
SECTION B
While the seniors on the Kansas men's basketball team were celebrating their last game in Allen Field House on Sunday, the student section was enjoying an emotional cer-
FOR the graduating seniors, it was the last game they would see as members of the student section.
SPORTS EDITOR
I got a bit choked up listening to guards Greg Gurley and Scott Novosel and center Greg Ostertag speak to the crowd. As they talked, I thought of all the
memorable moments I would take from my four years as a Kansas student. After the game, the players pulled out the eliche book and gave their best impression of Kevin Costner in "Bull Durham."
"I'm just happy to be here. It was like a movie. I couldn't have written it any better. I know the season isn't over yet, but we're going to savor this game for a long time. This is like a dream to me. I'd just like to thank my parents and Coach Roy for the opportunity to play here."
It is true that clichés are a good cop out when trying to describe a player's real feelings, but you can't really blame the seniors on Sunday. When so much emotion peaks at one specific moment, the words don't come easy. And the only way to give any description at all of the pain and joy is to use cliches.
The feelings I had watching the Jayhawks cut down the net for the Big Eight Conference championship are hard to describe as well. Vivid memories in the field house will remain, and as a writer I can only describe them in hopes that you can remember your feelings during those events.
The game came down to Kansas having the last possession. Woodberry, the team's go-to guy all season, set up in almost the same spot that he had missed from in regulation. Two Cowboys surrounded him as the clock ticked down, but Woodberry put up a three-point shot with a man in his face and no time remaining — nothing but net.
Sunday's conference title is a game not to forget. But there have been others.
I will remember Woodberry's comment after the game the most. When asked the difference between his two buzzer-bearing shots, the soft-spoken Kansas native said, "One went in, the other didn't."
A man who doesn't mince words
Kansas guard Jacque Vaughn's game-winning shot against Indiana last season was just as unbelievable. The possession before, Indiana's hometown hero Damon Bailey nailed a three-pointer over the outstretched hands of Woodberry. Then the unbelievable turned real.
The first thing that pops into my mind is the Oklahoma State game last season when Kansas had to begin a comeback in the second half. Former Kansas guard Steve Woodberry missed a three-point shot at the buzzer, and the game went into overtime.
Vaughn, not regarded as Kansas' true three-point threat, ended up with the ball on the right side of the court as the clock ticked down. He double clutched with two seconds left and let the shot fly — nothing but net. I remember former forward Richard Scott walking and dancing on the press tables. He was hooting and hollering while Vaughn ran a victory lap around the court.
As students, we feel some kind of bond to the players who we see in class and on campus. That bond makes victories extra special and losses extra tough to handle. Don't forget those feelings, seniors, because as alumni we may never feel that connection again.
Last season's upset of Colorado by the women's basketball team is another unforgettable accomplishment. The field house was packed, and it was almost like the Jayhawks fed off the crowd's intensity in "Fill the Fieldhouse." Kansas forward Angela Aycock led Kansas to an impressive, dominating victory.
Kansas coach
Dave Bingham
works with junior
second baseman
Josh Kliner on
batting during a
practice at
Anschutz Sports
Pavilion.
Sean R. Crosier /
Sean R. Crosier /
KANSAN
Bad weather snows in Jayhawks
By Tom Erickson
Kansan sportswriter
Foul weather has been playing games with the Kansas baseball team.
Monday night's snowfall postponed yesterday's game with Southwest Missouri State.
The game has been rescheduled for 3 p.m. Monday at Hoglund-Maupin Stadium.
Three of the Jayhawks' first four home games have been postponed due to rain, cold or snow. The only game that Kansas has played ended
in a 5-3 loss to Northwestern Sunday.
Dealing with bad weather is something that goes along with playing the first homeand each season, said Kansas coach Dave Bingham.
"It happens almost every year," Bingham said. "We usually have to deal with this type of schedule change."
Having to scrap games early in the year because of weather doesn't surprise veteran Jayhawks like junior pitcher Jamie Splittorff.
"Being a Midwestern school, early in the year you know you're going to get some of your games canceled," Splittorf said. "It's just one of those things you have to prepare for, and whenever they tell us to play, we'll play."
For some players, the bad weather plays mind games as well. Kansas sophomore Isaac Byrd postponed
ing games throws off his preparation a little.
"Baseball is so mental, and you have to start the mental process way early," he said. "So when you come in and think you are playing and then find out you're not, it's kind of a leddown."
Bingham said that the team has tried to turn the delays into an advantage in trying to change its early 2-9 record.
"This may be a real positive for us," he said. "We needed to get back to some work in practice."
A high number of strikeouts for Kansas batters has been the biggest concern for Bingham and his coaching staff. The Jayhawks have struck out 107 times this season, including 13 whiffs in 31 at-bats against Northwestern.
"We need to get more competitive," Bingham said. "Our strikeout
situation is awful and indicative of not being a good team."
Byrd said he was glad to get an opportunity to practice a little more.
"As the season is going right now, we need the extra practice," he said. "I don't think mentally or physically we are ready to go out and play right now. I think the bad weather is doing us some good and the other teams some bad."
Splittorz is also glad to get more work than play this week.
"In all honesty, it has probably helped us more than anything," he said. "We're struggling, obviously. We have had a lot of things to work on, and we've got a lot done in the past two days."
The Jayhawks will begin a threegame series with Iowa at 3 p.m. Friday at home. Those two teams also will match up at 2 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.
Let it snow,
Let it snow
two make-up dates were set by Kansas baseball coach Dave Bingham yesterday. Three of the Jayhawks' first four home games have been canceled due to bad weather.
Both games will begin at 3 p.m. at Hoglund-Maupin Stadium.
March 13
March 13
Kansas vs. Southwest
Missouri State
March 21 Kansas vs. Emporia State
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Valerie Crow / KANSAN
A run for the money
Kansas guard Tasha King maneuvers around Colorado guard Shelley Sheetz in Monday's title game. The Buffaloes defeated the Jayhawks 61-45, gaining the Big Eight championship.
Although Kansas did not gain the automatic berth into the NCAA tournament from winning the conference title in Salina, the team probably earned an at-large bid by making it into the championship game.
selection Sunday, the day when the 64-team field for both the men and women are announced, is this weekend.
Tournament in the works
Basketball teams await NCAA's picks
By Christoph Fuhrmans Kansan sportswriter
After competing for five months, college basketball players and coaches are waiting during the next four days as nine men are deciding their future.
The NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee will meet at 3 p.m. tomorrow at the Hyatt Regency in Kansas City, Mo.
Automatic bids to the big dance
Bob Frederick, Kansas athletic director, is the head of the committee and will spend the next four days going over records, schedules, power ratings and volumes of other basketball information in choosing this year's 64-team NCAA tournament field.
Nine teams already have made the tournament, receiving automatic bids by winning their conference tournament titles. Twenty-nine teams will receive automatic bids either by winning regular-season conference titles or tournament titles.
The committee reviews about 20 factors in selecting teams for the at large bids — some of which are conference and nonconference records, power ratings, schedules and records against top-25 teams, Frederick said.
The remaining 35 teams will receive at-large bids, which are awarded through a series of votes from the committee.
Noah Musser/KANSAN
Frederick said that at the start of the committee meeting, each member would cast a secret ballot nominating 35 teams. The teams receiving all nine votes would be named to the tournament.
Theoretically, the committee could select the same 35 at-large teams on the first vote.
After the first vote, Frederick said the committee would select teams that receive seven of the nine votes. The amount of votes required to be selected to the tournament could
"I don't think that will ever happen," Frederick said. "The most we've ever had would be 15 on the initial ballot."
change, however.
"We have a policy on any time your team is being discussed or voted upon, the committee member has to remove himself from the room," Frederick said. "We try to remove ourselves as much as possible to eliminate any bias."
The possibility of a committee member rooting for a team or conference was minute, Frederick said.
"In my four years on the committee, I've seen no lobbying on behalf of the members for their own conferences or teams," he said. "I think committee members bend over backwards to be fair, possibly disadvantageing our own teams."
T