Sports University Daily Kansan / Friday, February 26, 1988 13 Kansas and Missouri in race for third place By Elaine Sung Kansan sports writer The last time Kansas played Missouri, it pulled out a 78-74 victory. It was the first conference game of the season, and Kansas was still adjusting to its recent loss of forward Archie Marshall, who was injured playing against St. John's in December. The game showed that forward Milt Newton, who scored 21 points against the Tigers, had evolved into a key player on the team. The game also turned out to be center Marvin Branch's last of the season. Four days later, he was declared academically ineligible. "We're not the same team," Kansas coach Larry Brown said. "It was an emotionally difficult time since we just lost Archie. I think under the circumstances, we played a great game." game Tomorrow afternoon, Kansas will meet No. 15 Missouri at Hearnes Center in Columbia. The Jayhawks have adjusted to personnel changes, gone through a Game 28 Kansas Jayhawks COACH: Larry Brow Record: 17-10 (6-5) Missouri Tigers PROBABLE STARTERS COACH: Norm Stewart Record: 17-7 (6-5) F-24 Chris Plper 6"8" PPG F-21 Milton Newton 6"4" 9.7 C-25 Danny Manning 6"10" 24.3 G-4 Clint Normore 6"0" 2.4 G-14 Kevin Pritchard 6"3" 1.0 KANSAN Graphic F-3 Derrick Chievous 67" 22.3 F-4 Mike Sandbite 68" 4.9 F-22 Nathan Buntin 69" 10.8 G-4 Coward 61" 11.7 G-21 Byron Irvine 65" 14.0 COVERAGE: Game time 1:10 tomorrow, Feb. 27, at Hearnes Center in Columbia, Mo. The game will be televised on KSNT-TV channel 27 and KSHB-TV channel 41.. The game will be broadcast on the Javhawk Sports Network, KLZR 106 FM. Kansas has played four games in a 10-day stretch, three of them against Top 20 teams. The Jayhawks beat four-game losing streak and are now on the last stop of the "Death March." "Whether we lose or win is always important to me," Brown said. "We've been playing great. I don't think as a coach you can ask any more than what our kids have been giving. I believe there's justice out there and we'll get a win sometime." With only three games left in the regular season, the conference stands are settling into position. Oklahoma, with a 10-1 conference record, will clinch at least a tie for the Big Eight title tomorrow if it beats Colorado in Norman. Kansas State is holding on to second place in the Big Eight. Nebraska, Iowa State, Oklahoma State and Colorado are fighting it out in the bottom half of the conference. Kansas State 64-63, lost 74-70 to fifth ranked Duke in overtime, and lost to fourth-ranked Oklahoma on Wednesday 95-87. Columbia next Thursday. The game will be televised by ESPN. In its last regular,season conference game,Missouri will play Kansas State in Manhattan. The Jayhawks will play Colorado in Boulder and then finish off the regular season with a home game against Oklahoma State. Both Colorado and Oklahoma State have losing conference records, but they have proved they can challenge the conference's top four teams. Oklahoma State gave the Sooners a scare last week as Oklahoma squeezed out a 79-75 victory. And on Wednesday night, Colorado upset the Tigers in an 87-78 victory. Brown is hoping that sophomore guard Jeff Gueldner, who had started five straight games before sitting on Wednesday night's game against Oklahoma, will be able to play tomorrow against the Tigers. "I'm shocked that Missouri has five losses in the conference," Brown said. "I'm not going to worry about anyone else, though. To be concerned about other teams is silly." Gueldner sprained his ankle during practice on Tuesday and did not practice yesterday. Brown said Gueldner would be able to do some shooting today. Brown will most likely use guard Clint Normore, who started in Gueldner's place against the Sooners. Normore, a free safety for the football team, has played in only 14 games this season after joining the team in December. He is averaging 2.4 points a game. STANDINGS
ConferenceOverlap
WLPct.WLPct.
Oklahoma101.909251.926
K-State103.727277.908
Missouri65.545177.708
Kansas65.545177.630
Okla St.47.3641312.520
Nebraska47.3641314.481
Iowa St.38.2731710.629
Colorado38.273717.629
Tigers conclude women's season Rv Keith Stroker Kansan sports writer The University of Missouri represents the beginning and end of the Kansas women's Big Eight Conference basketball schedule this season. Opening their conference season on Jan. 13, the Jayhawks lost 72-67 to the Tigers in Allen Field House. At 3:30 p.m. tomorrow, Kansas will finish its regular season against Missouri in Columbia. Jayhawks coach Marian Washington said she would look closely at films of the Tigers to help prepare for the game. "We are looking forward to playing Missouri again," Washington said. "We made a lot of mistakes in the first game and still stayed within five points. Missouri is a very consistent team, and we'll know what to expect from them." In the first game, Tigers forward Tracy Ellis scored 18 points and grabbed a career-high 22 rebounds. Missouri outrebounded Kansas 52-39. Washington said the Jayhawks would have to rebound better in order to win. The Jayhawks, 17-9 overall and 7-6 in the Big Eight, are tied with Oklahoma and Colorado for third place in "We have gone through a lot of adversity since the first game," Washington said. "If (Lisa) Baker and (Deborah) Rickard should come to play aggressively, it will open up outside shots for us. I think Missouri will play a packed-in zone at first, testing our outside shooting." PROBABLE STARTERS Kansas Jayhawks 19 (7-6) Coach: Marian Washington PPG F-23 Sandy Shaw 60* 13.0 F-22 Lisa Baker 59* 6.4 C-55 Deborah Richardson 64* 10.4 G-33 Lisa Dougherty 58* 11.0 G-12 Lisa Braudy 57* 10.0 the conference. Missouri, 17-9 and 9-4, is in second place, one game behind conference-leading Nebraska. Missouri Tigers 17.9(4) Coach: Joey Rutherford PPG F-34 Lusitania 511* 12.4 F-34 Saslou Sandebie 61* 6.4 C-44 Tracy Ellis 61* 17.9 G-14 Tony Jorgenson 58* 8.1 G-14 Sandie Prophete 58* 15.4 Tomorrow's conference games will decide the seedings for the first round of the post-season tournament, March 5-7, in Salina. Washington said that she liked a close conference race because it allowed the Big Eight to receive the attention it deserved. Nebraska is the only Big Eight team to receive national attention this season and is currently ranked No. 21 by the Associated Press. Chicago lets lights into Wrigley Field "It doesn't matter who we play first round because any team can win this tournament," Washington said. "If we relax and continue to play the way we are capable of playing, we stand as good a chance as any team." The winner of the Big Eight Tournament will receive an automatic berth into the NCAA women's post-season tournament. "A lot of times, we don't get home from road trips till 2 or 3 in the morning and only get about four hours of sleep before heading back out to the ball park." At the team's Mesa, Ariz., training camp, pitcher Rick Sutcliffe said, "I think the night games will give us a day after coming off long road trips. The Associated Press CHICAGO — The Chicago City Council, signaling an end to a 72-year-tradition of daytime-only baseball at Wrigley Field, voted yesterday at lift the ban on night games at the only major league baseball park without lights. The bill, endorsed by Mayor Eugene Sawyer, would allow eight night games this season and 18 each of the following years until 2002 at the venerable ballpark. The vote was 29-19 in favor of lights. nights. The Chicago Cubs' owners have asked to play a handful of night games each year at Wrigley, and after years of trying to diminish political and community opposition, they apparently will get the chance this season. "The Tribune says if it doesn't get lights, the Cubs will move — the big threat. However, the Chicago Cubs have become the most profitable arm of the Tribune Co. So it's a matter of greed, not a matter of need." During debate, Alderman Bernard Hansen, whose ward includes Wrigley Field, said, "Is this an ordinance of need, or this an ordinance of greed? The Chicago Cubs are owned by the Tribune Co. wrigley Field, a neighborhood landmark since 1914 with its ivy-covered walls, is bordered by small apartment houses in which resident fans can sit on the roof and watch the Yesterday at training camp, Cubs Manager Don Zimmer said, "Having night games at Wrigley Field will allow a lot of people who work during the day to have an opportunity to watch the Cubs." action for free. But many residents of "Wrigleyville" are vehemently opposed to night games, anticipating crowds vowels and parking problems. And if the Cubs make the playoffs while the night-game ban is in force, the team probably would have to play elsewhere, they say, because games are scheduled to accommodate network requests for prime-time exposure. Tribute Co. owner of the Cubs, has threatened to take the National League team out of Chicago if lights aren't allowed at the field. League owners voted yesterday to play the 1990 All-Star game at Wrigley Field only if the city lifts the ban on night games. By playing only during the day, club executives say, the team misses out on lucrative revenue from TV networks interested in airing evening baseball. sure. The Cubs open their season April 5 in Atlanta, don't play their first home game at Wrigley until April 15 against Pittsburgh and would probably wait until the warmer weather of mid-summer before playing at night. Opponents say night games in Wrigleyville will mean boisterous fans pouring out of bars in the wee hours, limited parking for residents returning home from work, and littered lawns and streets. Dwight Guyer, who can hear the rear of the crowd from his home a few blocks away, said, "I have no objection to people having a good time, but they just don't respect the neighborhood." Kansas senior forward Mesho Stroughter looks to pass the ball in Wednesday's game against Oklahoma. KU forward looking into her future Kansan sports writer By Keith Stroker If making an executive business decision is anything like deciding who to pass to in a basketball game, senior Meso Stroughter might be a success in life. A a-root-8 forward on the Kansas women's basketball team, Stroughter hopes to be a business someday. Stronger, a personnel administration major, might try to get a master's degree in business, which would mean another two years of school "I hope to be able to start my own business eventually." Strougher said. "I would like to work in a big city, but I have no preference where at this point." Stroughther played basketball at Lincoln High School in East St. Louis, Ill. As a sophomore, she helped her team finish as state runner-up in 1982. She received letters from many colleges but was recruited heavily by only Iowa State and Kansas. "My high school coach wanted us to wait until the end of our senior season before we started to talk seriously with schools," Stroughter said. "I understood because he wanted us to concentrate on the season at hand. After my senior season, I looked only at Iowa State and Kansas because of their recruiting efforts." Strougher said Iowa State stopped recruiting her when it had a coaching change. Strougher said she liked the attitude of the coaches and players at KU during a quick visit. Other than playing basketball, Strongher likes to dance, listen to music, go to movies and watch television whenever possible. "I like to go to Gammons to dance," she said. "And my favorite movie this year was 'Three Men and a Baby.' I look to watch The Cosby Show, 'L.A. Law, Miami Vice,' 'A Different World,' and 'Alf on television. 'Alf is one of my favorites. I think he is cute.'" At 22, Stroughter said that her time at KU had gone by quickly but that she had no regrets. She has been able to keep a good outlook on life and a good attitude on the basketball court because of Kansas coach Marian Washington. "Coach is a great help and an inspirational leader." Strughetr said. "She keeps a good perspective on life and has the players focus on academics first and basketball second. She is a special person and has been a big influence on my life." Stougther said her most exciting moment as a Kansas basketball player came last year when the Jayhawks won the Big Eight post-season tournament in Salina, 85-51, over rival Kansas State. Witt closes in on Thomas' skating lead The Associated Press CALGARY, Alberta — Katarina Witt of East Germany used a showgirl routine to show up Debi Thomas of the United States last night, cutting away at her lead in their duel on ice at the Winter Olympics. Alberto Tomba of Italy won his duel on the mountain with Swiss ace Pirmin Zurbriggen and Swedish veteran Ingemar Stenmark, capturing the giant slalom. Witt won the short program portion of the figure skating, tapping and twirling in her rhinestones and sequins to show music that included "Hello, Dolly." Thomas, unhappy with her marks for artistic impression, was second, skating to upbeat music that bordered on rock'n'roll. However, with her lead after the school figures, Thomas moved into first place going into tomorrow's freestyle, and the world champion Witt was second. Elizabeth Manley of Canada was third overall. It was a day of short sleeves, short skirts and short programs in Calgary, and the rivalry between Witt and Thomas was heating up. Witt received mostly 5.8 and 5.98 for artistic impression, and Thomas got 5.7 and 5.8 and one 5.6 from the Czechoslovakian judge. When Thomas finished her routine, skating after Witt, the East German lowered her eyebrows and frowned in disapproval. uispplew. When Thomas' marks for artistic impression went on the board, Thomas' coach, Alex McGowan, said, "No way, no way. It stinks." Then he held his nose. his nose. "I skated a good program." Thomas said. "Of course, I hoped to have higher marks." On Mount Allan, Tomba was the man. Steennmark was just another old man. And Zurbgrigger was an alsoran. ran. "Oh, my God, I did it!" Tomba said. "I am the strongest in the world." Zurbriggen was third, behind silver medalist Hubert Strobel of Austria, the Alpine combined champion. And now Tomba goes for another gold in the slalom Saturday and the prize his father promised him. "Yes, I will get a Ferrari from my father," Tomba said. "I want it red." The Soviets' cross-country sweep After their first day at the Games without a medal, the Soviets swept the women's 20-kilometer country race. Raisa Kornet won the bronze, and her four Olympics, including one with nine medals, more than any other woman ever. The United States, with only four medals overall, beat Switzerland 8-4 for seventh place in a hockey tournament so distressingly predictable that it drew the personal critique of International Olympic Committee President Juan Antonio Samaranch. gave them a leading 25 medals, including nine golds, to 17 for East Germany, which has seven golds. The Soviets have won 13 of the 21 cross-country medals offered at the Games, including five gold and five silver. "It is a pity the Americans are so weak," Samarranch said in an interview. "They are good players, but they have no cohesion. They have no coordination between them. Everyone is playing his own game." Samaranch said. "When they have the puck, never, never, never do they hit the puck to one another. They run and shoot, run and shoot. "And the Russians are playing another way." The day's Alpine gold belonged to With their victory, the U.S. team placed the same as it did in 1984. After Switzerland scored the first goal of the game, the U.S. scored five in a row, including two on power plays. Kevin Miller's goal gave the U.S. a 5-1 lead after two periods. Tomba, who arrived in Calgary this week with the admonition: "I am very cool." The 31-year-old Stenmark was 30th after the first run and didn't bother to finish the second. He completed the two runs in 2 minutes, 6.37 seconds, 1.04 seconds ahead of Strolz and 2.02 ahead of two-time World Cup champion Zurbriggen, whose dream of an unprecedented five Alpine golds has produced only one, in the downhill. The 21-year-old Tomba has won seven of 15 World Cup races he entered this season and trails Zurbriggen by just six points in the World Cup overall standings at the Olympic break. Olympic Tiger Shaw of Stowe, Vt., was 12th, and Felix McGrath of Norwich, Vt., was 13th. Correction Because of a reporter's error, Kansas guard Cheryl Jackson's eligibility status was incorrectly reported Wednesday's Kansan. Jackson was ineligible last semester because of an NCAA rule that requires athletes to not play one year if they transfer from another school.