10B
April 8, 1988/University Daily Kansan
Sooners shot selves when guns misfired
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Oklahoma Sooners went into their NCAA title game against Kansas known as a team that beat people and beat them bad.
"We're going to end up." said forward Dave Sieger, "being known as a team that beat ourselves."
The inference was clear: The Sooners lost 83-79 to Kansas because they didn't do the things Monday night that they had done all season in rolling to a 35-3 record.
"I don't think there's a team out there that can beat us when we play like we're capable of playing," Sieger said.
The Sooners flattened most opponents with their relentless full-court press and racehorse style of offense. In the first half Kansas never flinched, shooting 71 percent to forge a 50-50 tie.
Oklahoma's big men, Stacey King and Harvey Grant, made mincemeat of their defenders during the season while leading the team in scoring. But each scored only four points in the second half because they couldn't get their hands on the ball.
And then there was point guard Ricky Grace. He gave his team a big boost all year with his outside shooting and solid defense. Monday night he made only four of 14 shots and had one steal.
"Obviously, Kansas is to be congratulated," said Oklahoma coach Billy Tubbs, who lit up earlier news conferences with his wit but was soft-spoken in defeat. "They played a great basketball game."
CHAMPS!
Indeed. The Jayhawks, while turning the ball over 15 times in the first 20 minutes, broke Oklahoma's press time and again and took advantage of the resulting easy shots.
"I don't think you can shoot it any better," Tubbs said. "Maybe our defense was lacking, you could blame it on that, but they really shot it well."
Oklahoma shot 48 percent in the first half, just shy of its season average of 49 percent, and was exactly where it likes to be at half-time, well on its way to 100 points. And Kansas was right with the Soon-
As a result, Oklahoma scrapped its vaunted press for much of the second
half and the pace slowed considerably.
"We were just trying to accomplish getting the lead and holding onto it and let them come to us," Tubbs said.
"When we went out of our press is back into the game and took the lead."
Sierger made a three-pointer — one of seven for him on his way to a team-high 22 points — to spark an 8-0 run that gave the Sooners their large 65–60, with 12.13 remaining. Then they shots, inside and out, stopped falling
Oklahoma got to the title game by scoring more than five points a minute. But in the nine minutes after a shot by King had given them their five-point lead, the Sooners scored only three points and Kansas took a 77-17 lead.
King didn't score in the final 12 minutes, and Grant scored only once.
"We weren't really open inside." Tubbs said. "Kansas did a good job, I guess would best explain it. Maybe sometimes to get it inside."
King, Grace, Grant and Sieger
Panny, Penny, Nancy and Cynthia Pinye
"Chris Piper really worked hard on denying us the ball, and when I did get open, Danny Manning would come over and help out."
Sieger said, "We were trying to get the ball into them, but Kansas is unique in the way they slip around when you throw the ball inside. No one's played our position people that good all year."
"It it was eight against five," said. "That's all I've got to sav."
“This is the best post defense they played on me all year,” said King, who finished with 17 points. “Every time I came in, I had to work double hard to get it.”
After cooling down, King softened his remarks and said, "I think we got too much into the officiating instead of plaving.
King made it clear immediately after the game that he thought Manning had plenty of help from the officials. Manning picked up his third foul 25 seconds into the second half, but didn't pick up another.
"There were a lot of things that weren't called, but I'm not complaining about that. "They were just the better team, I guess."
For all your Championship Shirts call Fern at 749-5073
of Tuesday's University Daily Kansan Just $2.00
available NOW at Kansas Union
HEY JAYHAWKS . . .
***CALL NOW***
JAYHAWK TRAVEL
841-9808
***CALL NOW***
Advertise in the Kansan
NEW GIBSON $195.00
Hayes House of Music
944 Mass.
842-5183
AWKS... Avoid the Headaches of last minute planning for summer travels!
Student/Youth Fares
From New York on Scheduled Airlines
Valid For Departures Jan. 1, 1988 to Oct. 3
Advertise in the Kansan
| DESTINATION | LOW | SHOULDER | PEAK |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| London | 1180 | 9250 | 1260 |
| London Special | 173 | 200 | 245 |
| London Standard | 173 | 200 | 245 |
| Paris | 206 | 225 | 250 |
| Paris | 225 | 255 | 275 |
| Amsterdam/Brussels | 200 | 225 | 255 |
| Frankfurt, Munich, Nuerburg | 200 | 275 | 325 |
| Hamburg, Stuttgart, Berlin | 225 | 275 | 325 |
| Zurich, Geneva | 225 | 280 | 305 |
| Oslo | 225 | 260 | 300 |
| Skrabeholm | 225 | 310 | 315 |
| Helsinki | 238 | 370 | 390 |
| Vienna | 245 | 275 | 330 |
| Eindhoven | 245 | 275 | 330 |
| Allianz | 238 | 290 | 305 |
| Belgrade | 250 | 350 | 385 |
Facebook | 250 | 350 | 385 |
Warwick/Mackrow | 255 | 350 | 395 |
Althus | 280 | 295 | 335 |
Intel | 280 | 295 | 335 |
Tel Aviv | 360 | 375 | 405 |
The Athlete's Foot Championship Special 15% OFF Everything IN STOCK
FRIDAY/SATURDAY ONLY
Nobody knows the athlete's foot like The Athlete's Foot
Prescription for excitement
1987-88 Jayhawk Basketball Team plus Larry Brown
Congratulations from Raney Drugs 921 Massachusetts 925 Iowa 843-3521 843-9012
UNBELIEVABLE
Kansas Jayhawks 1988 NCAA National Champions
Kansas Jayhawks
in honor of the Jayhawks this Friday, Saturday & Sunday April 8, 9 & 10 All KU fans will receive our "Crimson and Blue" swirl for
In honor of the Jayhawks,
50% off.
(Offer good on small, medium, and large cups and cones).
Thanks for the memories!!!
Louisiana Purchase 843-5500
I Can't Believe It's YOGURT! Frozen Yogurt Stores
CLINIC & TRY-OUTS APRIL
23rd and Louisiana
11 a.m.-11 p.m. Daly; noon-11 p.m. Sun.
POM PON
10
CLINIC
6:30 p.m.
SUN
11
CLINIC
6:30 p.m.
MON
13
FREE
DAY
WED
12 CLINIC 6:30 p.m. TUE
14
TRY-OUTS
6:30 p.m.
THURS
SATURDAY 16
15 INTERVIEWS FRI
CALL BACKS 2:00-6:00 p.m.
ALLEN FIELD HOUSE KANSAS CRIMSON GIRLS