THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN SPORTS at our monday. ound, I ated Press TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2006 WWW.KANSAN.COM ▼ "HORN BORN; 'HAWK BRED" Reflection helps ease withdrawal TRAVIS ROBINETT trobinett@kansan.com The day after the college basketball season ends is a sad one. Many experience withdrawal when they come down from March's high. The best way to deal is to reflect on good times. On that note, let's reflect on the Top 5 Kansas shots of the year. These shots were picked because they were either crucial or flat out impressive. 5. Playing for a share of the Big 12 regular season title at Kansas State, Kansas went into the half up by 15 points, thanks to a Brandon Rush bank-in, buzzer-beating three-point shot. Until then, the freshman guard had five points. That shot might have been what propelled Rush to 16 points in the second half. The Wildcats got within three points, but never caught up. 4. In the first round of the Big 12 Tournament, senior guard Jeff Hawkins rebounded a shot Oklahoma State missed with a little more than four seconds left on the clock, then took the ball the length of the court and made a layup. His basket made the difference, as the Jayhawks won by a single point. PAGE 1B That particular basket was more important than all the others in the game because Oklahoma State had the opportunity to run out the clock at the end of the half. The Cowboys shot too soon, giving Hawkins an opportunity to score. 3. This next shot was the most impressive of the year not by a Kansas basketball player. At the Texas Tech game in Lawrence, George Regan, Shawnee junior, tried to have a little fun during a television time-out, so he decided to make a paper airplane out of a three-point poster handed out before the game. "I'll never throw another, because that was the greatest paper airplane of all time and I want to go out on top." Regan said. From the last row of the student section behind Kansas' bench, Regan folded it, lined it up and tossed it with perfect form. The airplane slowly glided above the student section toward the baseline. It took a dramatic turn to the left, heading behind the basket, hitting the head of an innocent bystander. As the students around him laughed, Regan jumped up and down in celebration. 2. During the Texas game for the Big 12 Tournament title, Kansas had a number of great shots. The one that sticks out the most in my mind is freshman forward Julian Wright's steal, fast break and dunk with a little less than six minutes left in the game. At the time, Kansas was up by two points, but Wright's amazing play gave all the momentum to Kansas, which went on to win the game by 12 points. 1. The No. 1 shot of the year was freshman guard Mario Chalmers' game-winning floater with 20 seconds remaining to take a 59-58 lead against Oklahoma. That shot, on Feb. 5, completed Kansas' 16-point comeback. It gave Kansas its first victory against a ranked opponent and established the Jayhawks as contenders for the Big 12 regular season title. - Robinett is an Austin, Texas, junior in journalism. He is Kansas correspondent editor. After all this reminiscing, if you still don't feel better, remember college basketball starts a mere eight months from now. KANSAS CITY An HOK rendering of the rolling roof that would enclose Arrowhead and Kaufman stadium. Jackson County residents will vote today to determine if the roof will be created or not. Stadium roof to be decided Improvement could bring increased tourism to KC BY Eric Jorgensen ejorgensen@kansan.com KANSAN STAFF WRITER Jackson County, Mo., voters will determine today whether the Truman Sports Complex in Kansas City, Mo., will add a rolling, retractable roof. The possibility of a roof over Arrowhead and Kauffman Stadiums pushed Kansas City to a possible site to hold a Superbowl, an MLB All-Star game and an NCAA Final Four. The possibility of a roof over Arrowhead and Kauffman Stadiums pushed Kansas City to a possible site to hold a Superbowl, an MLB All-Star game and an NCAA Final Four. Tentatively, these events would happen between 2010 and 2015. A Final Four in Kansas City would provide local fans with an opportunity to watch the Jayhawks play for a national championship. Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes said a Final Four in 2013 could be a reality if the measure was approved. Jim Marchiony, associate athletics director, said Kansas being the host school in 2013 had not been considered vet. Regardless, the University and the Athletics Department would benefit from a local Final Four. The 1988 NCAA men's basketball championship was held at Kemper Arena. Danny Manning and the Jayhawks won that year's championship, which was the 50th anniversary of the NCAA. Barnes said the roof would help launch Kansas City to a national sports symbol. The roof could bring future national Ironically, 2013 would be the 75th anniversary of the NCAA, and a chance for the Jayhawks to repeat history as champions. events, which compliment the Kansas Speedway. HOK, an architectural firm in Kansas City, Mo., will design the roof if the measure passes. "I would stack us against any city in America," Barnes said. "I see nothing but positive reinforcement." Barnes said sport and nonsport tourism in Kansas City would increase as well. She said there had been a positive economic flow from the raceway, and that trend would continue to increase with the roof's presence. A rolling roof that moves from Kauffman to Arrowhead Stadium, or vice versa, has challenges in making the appearances of the facilities look attractive. Gina Leo, HOK spokeswoman, said the firm's designers had a tough task making the roof appear natural in respect to the current architecture and design of the stadiums. She said it could be done, and with good success. "Kansas City has been a major league town for 40-plus years," Leo said. "If this bill passes we will make sure it stays that way for another 25 years." In order to fund the $202 million cost of the roof, a Jackson County, Mo., sales tax increase would be imposed. In addition, the Kansas City Chiefs would cover some of the cost and whoever purchased the naming rights for the addition would cover the rest. — Edited by Gabriella Souza BASEBALL Randall Sanders/KANSAN Junior pitcher Sean Land throws against Missouri last Friday night at Holglund Ballpark. Kansas took two of three games in a series against Missouri this weekend. Land and the Jayhawks take on the Wichita Shockers at 7 p.m. on Wednesday in Eck Stadium in Wichita. Kansas looks to sweep BY SHAWN SHROYER sshroyer@kansan.com KANSAN SPORTWRITER Kansas is coming off its first Big 12 series victory of the season and will try for its first season sweep of Wichita State since 2000 on Wednesday at Eck Stadium. Kansas is eighth in the Big 12, but only a half game behind its weekend opponent, Texas Tech, which sits at sixth in the conference. Senior outfielder and Wichita native Matt Baty missed 18 straight games because of spleen and kidney lacerations, but he is hopeful he will return at some point this week. Senior closer Don Czyz has the opportunity to break Big 12 and Kansas records this week. The next time Czyz takes the mound, he will tie the Big 12 career appearances record with 111. Czyz is also one save shy of tying the Kansas single season record of 11 set by Jimmy Walker in 1993. Freshman first baseman Preston Land owns an eight-game hit streak, but sophomore outfielder John Allman swings the hottest bat. Allman recorded multiple hits in Kansas' past four games and has hit safely in Kansas' past five. He hit .526 during that span with five RBI. SEE BASEBALL ON PAGE 10B How do you like them apples INTRAMURALS Freshman contributes to championship I Like Apples had a rooster's worth of upperclassmen this spring that were used to the competitive spirit of intramural basketball. It was the play of one of only three freshmen — Eli Ringel — that elevated the team to a new level. BY CASE KEFFER ckeefer@kansan.com KANSAN SPORTWRITER The team won the intramural basketball championship in the Men's Open Bracket with a victory against SEK Connection, 54-48, on March 29. "Eli is a really great player and was definitely the leader of our team," said Nick Hague, McPherson freshman and Ringel's teammate. Ringel, a Fort Worth, Texas, native, has possessed a knack for hitting big shots and leading the team in scoring on the court. He has excelled at the position of small forward all year. Ringel said the team was brought together at the last minute when he and his brother combined players from each of their different squads. "Our only goal was a championship." Ringel said. SEE APPLES ON PAGE 10B This aspiration seemed to be in question when the team met DJ Wrinkle Finger in the semifinals, a team that Ringel called the most talented team in the league. Joshua Bickel/KANSAN Eli Ringel, Fort Worth, Texas, freshman, helped lead his intramural basketball team, I Like Apples, to the Men's Open Bracket Championship on March 29 in Allen Fieldhouse with a 54-48 victory against SEK Connection. Ringel led his team in scoring.