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Monday, February 29, 1988 / University Daily Kansan
SportsMonday
The heritage of KU basketball remembered
By Elaine Sung
Kansan sports writer
Kansan sports writer
It was only 10 years ago, but it was an entirely different era at Kansas.
Chancellor Archie Dykes was the head of the University then, and Clyde Walker was director of the Athletic Department.
The Spencer Museum of Art and the Computer Center were merely plans on paper, and law students were still attending classes in the old Green Hall, now known as Lippincott Hall.
For Jayhawk basketball fans, the 1977-78 season marked the 14th year of the Ted Owens era. The men's team was coming off an 18-touch record.
But the season was to prove different. Owens had high hopes for the year, with nine returning players, some of them with All-American potential, such as senior guard John Douglas, who would finish second on the team, averaging 12.7 points a game and 4.6 rebounds.
The Jayhawks finished the season with a 24-5 overall record and were the Big Eight champions with a 13-1 conference record.
Other stars that year were seniors Ken Koenigs, a center who averaged 11.1 points and 6.4 rebounds, and Clint Johnson, a guard, who averaged 8.2 points and 2.9 rebounds a game.
They went to the first round of the sub-regional in Eugene, Ore., and to UCLA 83-76. But they finished as season ranked 10th in the national nolls.
And there was Darnell Valentine, leading the team that season with 13.5 points and 2.8 rebounds a game. He was just a freshman and had caught up with Wichita as one of the most highly recruited guards around the country.
He lived up to his reputation, honored as the newcomer-of-the-year by the Associated Press and chosen to the Big Eight all-conference first team.
"You know, I had a great time at Kansas," said Valentine, who was named All-American in 1981. He was a member of the 1980 United States Olympic basketball team and was the third highest scorer in Kansas history with 1,821 points, behind only Clyde Lovelette and Danny Mannng. Valentine played for the Portland Trailblazers from 1981-86 and now plays for the Los Angeles Clippers.
"I remember we made it to the regionals in my senior year, but I don't think I ever thought a lot about the tournament freshman year," he said. "I haven't seen a lot of the guys from that year.
None of his other teammates, however, went on to professional basketball. Ken Koenigis, a doctor in Connecticut, was named to the conference All-Academic team and also All-America Academic Club.
"I've been lucky. I got a chance to play in the Olympics, and I had so much success at Kansas. There's a lot to be thankful for."
"I guess that was kind of appropriate, considering what I do now," he said. "I never had trouble doing both. It was just a case of balancing time and basketball. I will always remember Kansas and the people there."
On the other coast is former teammate Clint Johnson, now a businessman in Livermore, Calif. He recalled the season and the team as being successful, but said that what he accomplished at Kansas was nothing compared to what players around the country are doing now.
"I still look at amazement at what players around here are doing, and it's just incredible." Johnson said. "I had a pretty good career at Kansas and I enjoyed it. We were a team, and we played well, much better than the year before.
"I wish we all still kept in contact, because it was a good year. Ten years have gone by and I haven't heard from a lot of them in a while. We haven't had a reunion yet, and maybe it's about time we had one."
Clint Johnson (right) came from Leavenworth High School to play at Kansas from 1975 to 1978.
KANSAN File Photo
Former Jayhawk recalls time at KU
By Keith Stroker
Kansan sports writer
Gail Giles remembers her years at the University of Kansas as exciting ones she won't forget.
Giles, whose name was Goodwin at that time, played basketball for the Jayhawk women's team from 1978-81. She transferred to Kansas in the fall of 1978 from the University of Washington in Seattle.
"I loved the trips, the tournaments, the excitement and playing with Lynette Woodard," Giles said. "My favorite trip was to New York City, when we played in a tournament in Queens. I had never been to New York, and I had a fabulous time. I couldn't believe how big it was."
A 5-foot-5 guard from Garfield High School in Seattle, Giles was named Most Valuable Player of the All-State high school team her last three years in high school. She was the 1977 Washington state player of the year and an All American.
— Gail Giles
former Kansas
basketball player
Giles, who was captain of the Garfield Bulldogs, averaged 22 points, five rebounds and four steals per game during her four years in high school. Nicknamed "Granny", she was a member of the National Honor Society and was her high school's 1977 homecoming queen.
Only locally recruited, Giles decided to attend the University of Washington in the fall of 1977. She averaged 29 points, eight assists and five steals for the Huskies the year
"I enjoyed my high school years," she said. "They were a lot of fun, and I loved playing basketball. I knew that I wanted to play in college."
I loved the trips, the tournaments, the excitement and playing with Lynette Woodard.'
before coming to KU.
"Coach Washington was a very special person in my life at Kansas," Giles said. "After I first began my career there, I had some doubts as to whether I should stay or not. I went back to Washington for a couple of months, not knowing what to do."
She had been to Kansas during a summer basketball camp headed by Jayhawk coach Marian Washingto, who said she had had a big influence on her life.
"Coach Washington talked me into returning to KU, and she said she would help me as best as she could, to enjoy my time at Kansas, and to relax, because it is a special place to play basketball."
Giles, 29, and her husband live in Seattle. They have two girls, ages 7 and 3, and two boys, ages 2 and 1 month.
Giles said she was glad she did, because Kansas is where she met her husband, Chester Giles, who happened to be playing basketball for the college. She played at college, and the two got married in 1861, a year after they graduated.
She is a customer service representative for Sears Roebuck and Co.
Football hopefuls give KU a try
By Keith Stroker
Kansan sports writer
Byron Myrick hopes his performance on Friday in the Kansas football tryout will earn him a spot on the team.
Each of the 55 men that participated in the tryout from 4 to 6 p.m. in Anschutz Sports Pavilion, showed their skills in four areas which were the 40-yard dash, the vertical jump, the Jayhawk ability and the shot put. Mryick, Chicago, Ill., freshman, was confident after the session.
"I was a wide receiver in high school and I felt like I could make this team last fall," Mryrick said. "The coaches said I possessed the talent necessary to compete on this level, but my day scores were low. But today, I have a chance to play for the Jayhawks next season."
Myrick said that his sister attended the University of Kansas and that was why he came here last fall. He would like to run track for Kansas in addition to playing football.
Jayhawks offensive coordinator Pat Ruel, who was hired from Northern Illinois University by Coach Glen Mason, said that if the coaches were able to find two or three men who could play major college football, the tryout would be a success.
"The guys that impress the coaching staff will be invited to participate in our off-season workout program beginning next Tuesday," Ruel said. "If they can make it through, then they will have a chance at playing when we open
Kyle Abell, Wamego freshman, prepares to run the Jayhawk Agility Drill.
Loreal MacDonald/KANSAN
Ruel said that a notice listing the men who could continue in the
up our season against Baylor in the fall."
program would be posted sometime today.
John Kill, Overland Park freshman, was an offensive lineman at
Shawnee Mission West High School two years ago. He joined the army after high school. He said he missed playing football.
KU women's tennis team loses first game
Kansas women's tennis coach Eric Hayes knew his team was going to lose sometime, and now that it has won, he cannot not be happier with the final result.
The Kansas women lost for the first time this season Saturday against New Mexico 6-3 in the Oklahoma State Invitational in Stillwater.
By a Kansan reporter
But yesterday the Jayhawks bounced back to defeat defending national junior college champion, Tyler (Texas) Junior College, 5-4.
"We were going to lose sooner or later," Hayes said, "but the girls rebounded well against Tyler. They were winning. It was a good weekend for us."
The women also beat Tulsa University 8-1 on Friday. The weekend matches brought the Jayhawk's record to 7-1.
The Jayhawks lost to New Mexico by losing all three of the doubles matches in three sets, which Hayes said was very disappointing. Against the Heat, the junior senior Tracy Treps and junior Jonsson played the deciding match
Freshmen John Falbo and Jeff Gross, sophomores Chris Walker and Craig Wildey and junior Jim Secreter won singles matches against Illinois. The doubles teams of Secrest and Wildey and seniors Reggie Hodges and Larry Pascal posted victories for the Jayhawks.
But freshman Michele Balsom's singles match swung the momentum to the Jayhawks. Balsom won a third set tie-breaker after trailing 4-1.
Baseball team loses 3, but shows improvement
The Kansas men defeated Illinois 7-2 on Friday and Southern Illinois at Edwardsville 9-0 on Saturday in Madison, Wisc.
By a Kansan reporter
The Jayhawks still were searching for their identity following a double-header against the 7th-ranked Razorbacks, which appeared to have found it yesterday.
Kansas baseball coach Dave Bingham wanted his squad to establish its own identity with the opening of its spring season this weekend against Arkansas.
Arkansas had defeated Kansas and 19-4 on Saturday but barely Wag.
The powerful Arkansas squad only outit Kansas 8-7 yesterday after outitting the Jayhawks 28-15 in the first two games.
The losing pitchers for Kansas on Saturday were sophomore Steve Reako and junior Scott Taylor. Sophomore Tom Bilyeu, who relieved junior Craig Mulcathy, was the losing pitcher yesterday.
The Jayhawks were led at the plate by sophomore Jeff Spencer who went two for three yesterday with a home run and two RBIs. Junior Jeff Mentel went two for three with one RBI in the second game of the double-header.
Arkansas was led by Jimmy Kremers, who had eight games and two wins.
Last season the Jayhawks split two games against ashburn, losing 5-4.
"Washburn has a lot of things going for them." Bingham said. "It is predominantly a senior team and was one of the best NAIA teams in the state last year. This looks like their year in the state."
Kansas' home opener is tomorrow against Washburn at 2 in Hogland-Maupin Stadium. The starting quarterback, senior Mike McLeod, Bingham said.
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