SPORTS UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1995 Jacque Vaughn and Jerod Haase create a quality Kansas backcourt Gauging the guards
PointsAssistsTurnoversSteals
Oklahoma StateRandy Rutherford Andre Owens28.29.45.23.8
NebraskaJaron Boone Erick Strickland33.47.56.44.2
ColoradoDonnie Boyce Mack Tuck32.46.45.44.3
OklahomaJohn Ontjes Prince Fowler189.34.72.3
MissouriPaul O'Liney Jason Sutherland29.83.93.82
KansasJacque Vaughn Jerod Haase TOTAL9.1 15.4 24.57.8 3.8 11.63 3.6 6.60.9 1.9
Kansas StateElliot Hatcher Demond Davis23.34.55.13.1
Iowa StateDerrick Hayes Jacy Holloway8.16.931.3
Krista McGlohon/KANSAN Source: Staff Research Intellectual TENACIOUS Story by Christoph Fuhrmans When Kansas sophomore guards Jerod Haase and Jacque Vaughn lead a fast break, an image comes to mind of another successful Kansas backcourt. Photos by Paul Kotz Adonis Jordan and Rex Walters were the perfect guard combination at Kansas, playing together for two seasons from 1991 to 1993. The two players complemented each other's different playing styles — Walters was the scorer and Jordan was the leader. Those qualities also are visible in Haase and Vaughn respectively. The two players have helped the No. 1 Jayhawks to a 20-4 overall record and a 9-3 record in the Big Eight Conference. If Kansas wins its next two games against Missouri and Oklahoma State, the Jayhawks would be assured of at least a tie for the conference championship. With Jordan and Walters leading the way, Kansas won two conference championships and went to the 1993 Final Four in New Orleans. Walters now uses his scoring ability for the NBA's New Jersey Nets "They have helped us win a heck of a lot of basketball games." Although both backcourts have been successful, Williams said there were differences between them. Coach's view "I loved Adonis and Rex when we had them and I love Jacque and Jerod right now." Williams said. Kansas coach Roy Williams said that making a then and now comparison between backcourts was like a parent comparing children. "Adonis and Rex; you had to worry they were going to shoot you completely out of the building," Williams said. "At the same time, right now, if you're playing us and you've got to go against Jerod and Jacque, you know you're going to be guarded." Life mirrors basketball Haase and Vaughn put the same amount of intensity into life as they put into their defense. "I think the biggest thing is that we really work hard, and we're competitive," Haase said. "And as long as we're doing that, everything else seems to work out most of the time." While Vaughn is known for his acrobatic drives to the basket, Haase is known for his acrobatic dives for loose balls. Vaughn has said that the entire team feeds off flaase's intensity, whether it be diving for a ball or making a three-pointer. Besides playing well, Vaughn and Haase also have performed well off the court. Both players were named to the first team of the Phillips 66 GPA not PPG Academic All-Big Eight Honor Roll. Haase had a 3.57 grade point average in business administration, and Vaughn had a 3.78 GPA also in business administration. "It shows that we both worked hard on and off the court," Haase said. Both players' competitive behaviors are turned against each other in a friendly way when comparing their academic achievements. "I always tell him that last semester I beat him by .01, so I make sure I rub in it," Haase said. Hase has had the unique opportunity to play with two exceptional point guards — Vaughn and former California star Jason Kidd, who now starts for the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA. "I've been extremely fortunate to be in two situations with two of the best point guards in the nation," Haase said. "I wouldn't trade it for anything." **NOTES...** Kansas placed two more players on the academic honor roll, in addition to Haase and Vaughn. Freshman forward Reaf LaFrentz was named to the first team with a 3.31 GPA in human biology. Freshman guard C.B. McGarth's 3.80 GPA in engineering put him on the honor roll. Kansas had four players on the academic honor roll, the most players of any Big eight team. **Above:** Kansas sophomore guard Jacque Vaughn bears down on defense. **Left:** Sophomore guard Jerod Haase shoots a three-pointer. The two guards remind some of the former Kansas tandem of Adonis Jordan and Rex Walters. Kansas track team adds dash of style to old uniforms Singlets to 'hug buns' at Big Eight indoor meet By Robert Moczydlowsky Kansan sportswriter "Our sprint squad has been begging me to get uniforms like the other schools have," Kansas coach Gary Schwartz said. "We worked on the design and the colors, and you can see that they don't vary too much from the original. Our athletes will have the choice of wearing the old uniforms or the new singlet bun-huggers." The Kansas track team has worn the same pink-and-blue uniform style for 44 years. But when the Jayhawks head to the Big Eight Indoor Championships tomorrow, that 1951 pink and blue will have some 1995 flair. "I know that it's probably not very politically correct to say around the media," Schwartz said. "But that is really what they are referred to as." Bun-huggers? The team hopes that the new threads will inspire a total team performance tomorrow and Saturday. To grab a top finish at the championships, which will be held in Kansas State's Ahearn Field House, the Jayhawks will have to post season bests in several events. season bests in several events "We are right on the verge of going into a meet and really scoring a lot of points," Schwartz said. "A lot of these events are fairly close. It wouldn't take a lot for our people to move up three or four places, and that's The Jayhawks finished their indoor season with solid records against conference opponents. In team-scored competition against Missouri and Kansas State, the men posted a 2-0 record and the women notched two second-place finishes. what we are hoping for." “It’s hard to believe that the Big Eight meet is already here,” junior Dawn Steele-Slavens said. “I think we'll do pretty well. Everyone is SECTION E position to help us," he said. "But I don't want to put the whole focus on any two people. We need solid performances out of everyone. This is the part of the season that everybody trains for." Schwartz said that he would look to athletes like Steele-Slavens and sophomore David Cooksey to spark the Jayhawks' effort. "Our athletes will have the choice of wearing the old uniforms or the new singlet bun-huggers." very strong right now. I hope we can come away with the title." "People like Dawn and David are really in a Gary Schwartz Kansas trackcoach "We've got several people that have legitimate shots at being Big Eight champs in their respective events." Leading the Jayhawks on the individual level will be senior high jumper Nick Johansen and senior pole vaulter John Bazzoni, an All-American and three-time Big Eight champion. Both have posted NCAA tournament provisional qualifying marks already this season, and both are favored to win their respective events at tomorrow's meet. Schwartz said the combination of the new uniforms and Kansas' recent team improvements could make for an exciting weekend. "We've made great improvements and we are strong across the boards," he said. "This team will account for itself very well over there. I'm optimistic. They will know we are—I'll tell you that for sure." Kathleen Driscoll / KANSAN Kansas junior Dawn Sleavens, sophomore David Cooksey and coach Gary Schwartz display track's new look. Intramural Ratings The top men's, women's and co-rac- intramural basketball teams for Feb. 22, as compiled by Chad Rader in Hawks and Hoops, the official newsletter of Kansas intramural basketball Men's Top 10 No. Team Record Pts 1 Dog Pound 3-0 1 2 Booger 3-0 2 3 Z State 3-0 3 Phi Delt 1 3-0 4 The Addictions 3-0 5(tie) The Aerial Display 3-0 5(tie) Delta Chi 3-0 8 Phi PsiRed 3-0 10 Sigma Chi 3-0 9 Phi Delt 23-0 NR Women's Top Five Co-Rec Top Three No Team Record Pts 1. Smooth Strokers 3-0 1 2. The Aerial Display 3-0 2 3. Whooosh 3-0 3 Women's Top Five No Team Record Pts. 1 4U2NV 3-0 1 2 KUVB 3-0 3 3 The Pearlettes 2-1 4 4 ADPi 3-0 NR 5 K.A. 2-1 2 Hoops heat up Robinson By Tom Erickson Kansan sportswriter College basketball fans eager for the beginning of the NCAA tournament can get a head start Sunday. Winners from the greek, residence hall, open and co-rec divisions will be decided March 13 at Robinson Center. Sorry, the tournament selection show isn't until next month. But hungry hoopsters can satisfy March Madness appetites by following the intramural playoffs, a single-elimination tournament that culminates at the annual Hill championships March 15. "The increased coverage has created interest in each team's opponents and how they are doing," Kratz said. "I'm looking forward to a good tournament." Gordon Kratz, associate director for Recreation Services, said the season has been action-packed so far, thanks in part to a weekly poll of teams complied by Chad Rader, Lawrence junior and manager of The Aerial Display. There will be 103 teams competing in the open division and 65 in the men's Greek playoffs, Kratz said. Because of the large numbers, teams in those divisions will play their first and second round games before other teams begin tournament play. Kratz, who has been at Kansas since 1988, said there were no clear favorites in this year's tournament. "Some years, I know who is going to win," he said. "This year I have no idea." Howard Milton, Winfield senior and manager of the No. 1-ranked Dog Pound, said his team was ready to battle for the Hill title after being one of the tournament's final four teams last year. "This season is going good," he said. "Everybody is really excited because this is our last year to compete." A change in the open divisions alignment has caused many to complain about how the competition level is unequal this year. In the past, the open division had been divided into A,B and C levels, according to each team's ability. Kratsz said that this year's change to one division was made to eliminate having A level teams sign up for the B and C divisions. Milton said although some have been upset with the change, members of the Dog Pound had not seen a difference in the level of competition. Melissa Emert, Sabeth sophomore and manager of No. 1 4U2NV in the women's division, said she would not have a problem with going back to three open divisions next year. "I kind of think we should go back to divisions because teams that are stacked have an advantage this year," she said. Emert, a manager on the Kansas women's basketball team, said 4U2VN was made up of people she met through her job on the team. "We don't even practice," she said. "We just like to have fun and are looking forward to winning the whole thing."