University Daily Kansan / Monday, March 7, 1988
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SportsMonday
Manning, Piper and Marshall make their triumphant exits
Manning finishes the fast break with a dunk in the second half.
Continued from D.1
"Oh, he did not," Brown retorted. "Hey, it looked good from my role." Piner said.
angle, Piper said. Marshall was just glad he had the opportunity to finish his career at Kansas on the court.
"I really wasn't't thinking about anything else," he said. "I was just excited about getting in the game. I'll tell you everything that happened tonight."
Sophomore guard Kevin Pritchard said seeing Marshall return to the court reminded him of the past, of Kansas when Kansas had a healthy team.
"Seeig Archie come back was the greatest feeling," Pritchard said. "It was the funniest thing. It was just like old times. He looked a little nervous before he went out there, just like he used to."
Marshall's return to the court was an added bonus, an unexpected encore to the night's festivities. The fans had come to pay tribute to the three seniors, to shower them with thanks, applause and roses. They came to say goodbye to their hero of the last four years, Manning.
During his stay at Kansas, the forward ran up the record charts, breaking everything in sight. He was the superstar, the drawing card. Even his opponents respected him. Duke's Danny Ferry gave Manning his vote for player of the year after the Blue Devils played the Jayhawks. Coaches would rework their defenses to add extra coverage on the All-American.
"Obviously Manning's a great player," Hamilton said. "Great players play great. He has a lot of class and he represented Kansas well. I know how Kansas will miss him, but I can't say that I will."
Manning is a Kansas commodity. His name sold tickets and sweatshirts and adorned signs. Not since Wilt Chamberlain had a Kansas player enjoyed such instantaneous name recognition. But the exclusive Kansas market is closing. The regina of 2,758 points, up 749 from last year.
"He's one of the best players to over play, and that's not putting anybody else down." Brown said.
Until someone surpasses him,
Manning is the best all-round player
the Jayhawks have ever produced.
The evidence is in the record books.
And soon, he will belong to the NBA.
"This was kind of bittersweet," Manning said of his final game in Allen Field House. "It's bad in a way because I'm leaving my teammates, but it's good because I'm going to face new challenges ahead. It was kind of hard to hold back the emotion. I feel very good about my career. I was very privileged to play under Coach Brown. Although, I don't feel that way all the time!"
With Marshall injured, the burden of leadership fell on Manning and Piper. These two seniors were supposed to be instrumental in turning around a flailing Kansas team. Brown had long lamented about Manning because he had not stepped forward as a leader. But Manning's style is more subtle. He is more passive than what Brown wanted.
But Pritchard said the differences between Piper and Manning were the key to their success.
"Leadership is what I've learned from them," he said. "They're really different, but they complement each other. Danny shows by what he does. Piper, he's more vocal. He'll tell you if you're doing something wrong."
Manning's career is obviously the
more flamboyant, the more visible of the three seniors. Marshall's, marred by injury, ended before it was given a chance. And in the background, always there, was Piper.
"I'm happy." Piper said of his career at Kansas. "You always want to do better, but I achieved more than most people ever thought I would—more than I ever thought I would. You can't really sum up my career with one thing. I'm just happy to be able to contribute to the team."
Kansas' victory over Oklahoma State was really incidental. The game was simply the excuse for the fans to gather for the final send off. Many were reluctant to leave, hanging outside of Parrott Athletic Center, peering through windows into the interview room to get glimpses of the departing seniors, chanting and holding up signs.
"When I think back on the things the kids will remember the most, probably more than anything, they will remember the crowds," Brown said. "People are going to look back on this experience and I hope they appreciate what a privilege they've had to see Danny, Archie and Chris. As a coach, I don't think I can be any prouder of these kids than I am now."
And if the noise level and the dozens of roses that covered the court when the seniors were announced a final time are any indication, it seems the fans indeed realize what they've witnessed.
Marshall accepts congratulations from Piper.
Photos by Joe Wilkins III and Stephen Wade/KANSAN
Manning holds back Oklahoma State's Royce Jeffries after tempers flared briefly between Jeffries and Kansas forward Milt Newton-
Students try to see Manning in his final post-game conference at Allen Field House.
Marshall prepares to take the final shot of his Jayhawk career.
Surrounded by four Oklahoma State defenders, Manning shoots in heavy traffic.