6B
April 8, 1988/University Daily Kansan
CHAMPS!
Jayhawks capable of defending trophy
By Tom Stinson
Kansan sportswriter
Yes, Kansas loses All-Everything forward Danny Manning.
Kansas guard Kevin Pritchard and Oklahoma guard Mookie Blaylock battle for a loose ball in Monday night's game.
Yes, he led the Jayhawks' charge through the NCAA Tournament.
But Kansas has a lot of talent and experience that will continue to play in Allen Field House.
And yes, Kansas also loses starter Chris Piper and motivator Archie Marshall to graduation.
Danny's so-called supporting cast made national names for themselves during the Jayhawks' national championship. Milt Newton, Kevin Pritchard, Scooter Barry, Clint Normore, Keith Harris and the others all proved that they can compete with the best.
So yes, Kansas will be a team to be reckoned with next season.
Manning scored 31 and Piper added eight in the championship victory against Oklahoma. The "role players" scored the other 44 points.
Newton, a starter for the second half of the season after Marshall went down with a knee injury, averaged 11.5 points and five rebounds a game. The junior forward's athletic ability helped take pressure off Manning and provided fans with an exciting style of basketball.
With international experience from playing for the Virgin Islands in last summer's Pan American Games and possibly in this summer's Olympic Games, Newton could be Kansas' main threat next season.
Despite playing out of position at point guard for much of the second half of the season, the sophomore still averaged 10.6 points a game and led the team with 113 assists.
After a slow start in December, Pritchard found his rhythm and displayed the leadership and intelligent play that characterized his freshman year.
the team.
Pritchard led a strong, young and undernured group of Jayhawk guardens. Juniors Barry, Normore, Lincoln Minor and sophomore Jeff Gueldner all contributed during the season and combined to handle Oklahoma's backcourt in the final game.
Barry and Normore had eye-opening performances during crucial times in the tournament.
Barry, no longer just the son of former All-Pro Rick Barry, the game of his career against Kansas State in the Midwest Regional Final, scoring 15 points and being chosen player of the game.
Normore's seven points and four assists against Oklahoma were a pleasant surprise for Kansas.
If the football safety stays free from injury in the fall and returns for a final year on the court, he could aid the Javhawks.
Minor averaged 4.8 points a game and gained valuable tournament experience after spending a lot of time on the bench during the middle of the season.
Gueldner adjusted well to the role of starter toward the end of the season and showed accuracy during pressure situations in the tournament. Many people doubted his ability as a starter, but his consistent, smart play fit into Larry Brown's philosophy well.
After being in Brown's dog house early in the year, Harris grew up and became a key off-the-bench player.
The sophomore forward is one of the best defensive players in the Big Eight, and he grabbed some imperative rebounds and steals in the regional final.
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Freshman forward Mike Maddox will continue to provide accurate shooting. He scored 12 points, his career high, in the Big Eight Tournament semifinal against Kansas State.
Academically ineligible junior Marvin Branch was averaging 8.4 points and 6.1 rebounds before being declared ineligible in January.
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The center did not get much of a chance to throw elbows and block out in the Big Eight since he competed against Jayhawks 'home defeat of Missouri.
compete at full strength for the first time next year.
Kansas also will regain the services of redshirts Sean Alvarado and Mark Randall. Alvarado, a senior center, played in 28 games in 1987.
Although junior guard Otis Livingston and freshman center Mike Masucci were dismissed from the team during postseason play, their status for next year is still uncertain. If they are in Brown's future plans, they could contribute.
Randall, a sophomore forward,
played in 31 games in 1987 and
averaged 4.5 points and 2.7 rebounds
a game. Randall will be able to
The returning Jayhawks' talent and experience is not likely to be overlooked as it was this season. If some newcomers can add depth and if Brown should opt to remain at Kansas, the Jayhawks should be competitive and surprise some opponents.
If superstition has any weight, the Jayhawks have had only one losing season after a Final Four appearance. They made it to the championship game in 1953, the year after their first NCAA title.
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