University Daily Kansan / Wednesday, February 10, 1988
Sports
13
KU needs to beat OSU to stay in race Big Eight schedule is at mid-point, making game critical for both teams
By Elaine Sung
Kansan sports writer
Kansas faces a do-or-die situation as it prepares to tackle Oklahoma State tonight.
A victory would help the Jayhawks back into the Big Eight race. A defeat would almost certainly knock them out, barring a major disaster among the conference leaders.
The conference schedule is at midpoint, and the matchup between Kansas and the Cowboys at Gallagher-Iba Brena at 7:35 p.m. is a critical
one.
"It's an important game. We have to try to execute what Coach Brown has been telling us to do," forward Mike Maddox said. "If we do that, we can't really be upset with the results."
Kansas is 13-8 overall, coming off a 73-62 victory over Colorado last weekend. The victory moved the Jayhawks into sixth place in the conference with a 2-4 record.
Oklahoma State, 12-8 overall, is 3-4 in the conference and tied with Misc.
Game 22
souri and Nebraska for third place. The Cowboys have pulled off two consecutive road victories, the latest 80-78 overtime victory last weekend against Iowa State in Ames
Oklahoma State has not had much luck at home, losing to Missouri and Kansas State in its newly renovated arena. That, said Cowboy's coach Leonard Hamilton, discounted the theory of home-court advantage.
COVERAGE: Game Time 7:35 tonight Feb. 10 at Gallagher-Iba Arena, Stillwater, Okla. The contest will be broadcast on the Jayhawk Sports Network, KLZR 106 FM.
"It's all relative. The bottom line is to play well, regardless, whether we're at home or not," Hamilton said. "We have a long way to go before we reach our goal. We won two games on the road, sure, but we lost two at home. So we're not celebrating."
Kansas coach Larry Brown has very little to celebrate, despite the improving performances from forward Danny Manning and several of the younger players, such as Maddox and guard Kevin Pritchard.
"The big factor is going to be rebounding. They've been great on the boards." Brown said. "We might have to play some zone defense. They've always tried to stop Danny with the zone. We've lost a lot on depth, so we may use the zone to protect some of our players."
KANSAN graphic
With the playing status of several players tentative, the Jayhawks are continuing to play musical chairs with their lineup. Forward Keith Harris has returned to practice, but Brown did not know whether he would play Harrison tonight.
Forward Chris Piper is struggling with his groin injury but has practiced all this week and is scheduled to start.
Forward Mike Masucci is recovering from a mild concussion that he sustained last week playing against Oklahoma. Brown said the 6-10 forward would be out indefinitely after doctors discovered a slight crack in Masucci's forehead.
That leaves Brown with very few big men to help out Manning. It has come to the point that redshirt Sean Alvarado might be pulled back into service. With the player situation as it is, Brown indicated yesterday that the possibility of Alvarado seeing some action soon was becoming more and more likely.
"I've been fighting it. I want to give him the chance to graduate," Brown said. "I just think that with the situation we're in now, we've got to find some help."
"I sense the progress Maddox and Masucci are making. But if we had just one between Archie or Marvin or Mark or Sean, or a healthy Piper, it would help out."
Oklahoma State will be led by freshman Richard Dumas, a 6-7 forward from Tulsa. He is the most likely candidate for this year's Big Eight newcomer of the year award, leading all freshmen in the conference with over 16 points and six rebounds a game.
Records show Jayhawks Cowgirls evenly matched
By Keith Stroker
Kansan sports writer
PROBABLE STARTER
in racing terms, it is a dead heat. The Kansas Jayhawks and the Oklahoma State Cowgirls have identical 14-7 overall and 4-4 Big Eight Conference records entering today's game, at 5 p.m. in Stillwater, Oka
PROBABLE STARTERS
Kansas Jayhawks 14-7,4-4
Coach: Marian Washington PPG
F-34 Mesh Stouherd 58' 7.9
F-23 Sandy Shaw 60' 12.1
G-5 Deborah Richardson 61' 10.4
G-11 Kiawai Jackson 57' 9.4
G-11 Chrysler Cowgirls 57' 4.9
Okla, State Cowgirls 14-7,4-4
Coach: Dick Halterman PPG
F-34 Jamie Siess 511' 6.3
F-23 Clintine Jordan 511' 12.7
C-24 Sheila Hughes 63' 8.3
G-13 Alisa Duncan 58' 8.5
G-40 Liz Brown 57' 7.0
Both teams lost on Saturday; Kansas, 56-5 to Colorado, and Oklahoma State, 75-6 to Iowa State. Jayhawks coach Marian Washington said that tonight's game was important in preparing for the Big Eight post-season tournament.
Kansas will have to play without senior forward Lisa Baker, who injured her right knee in the game against Colorado. Baker suffered a second-degree injury to her medial eminence and will be out at least 10 days.
Jayhawks trainer Brenda Sneed
said Baker would sit out at least the next two games for precautionary reasons.
Washington said senior forward Jackie Martin was doing fine after a bad reaction to her medication on Saturday. Martin, who is out for the season with a ruptured Achilles tendon, had to be rushed to the hospital Saturday morning by Sneed.
Washington said that despite the injuries, Kansas was playing well.
"We are playing as well as can be expected." Washington said. "We can't look at past games, but we need to press on."
Washington considers Jayhawks sophomore guard Lisa Braddy the team leader. In 21 games this season, Braddy has 132 assists, the fifth-highest single-season total in Kansas history. Her career total of 720 places her fourth on the school's career chart.
Braddy said the team needed to play together and to keep playing hard.
"The injuries shouldn't hurt us that much," the Braddy said. "The players we lost are important to us, but we are a team. We need mental toughness to get through the hard times."
Move up to varsity fulfills dream for 2 JV players
At 5-foot-7, Braddy has 26 blocked shots this season, ranking her second most among players in the league.
The Cowgirls will try to avenge a 72-70 overtime loss to the Jayhawks, played on Jan. 27 in Allen Field House.
By Elaine Sung
Kansan sports writer
For Kansas coach Larry Brown, his request for two of the junior varsity's best players was a way to fill some gaps on his team.
For senior forwards Brad Wahl and Marvin Mattox, it is a dream come true.
The sudden promotion Friday to the varsity level came as a complete surprise to them.
Wahl, a second-year transfer from Emporia State, was happy just to be on the junior varsity squad this year. He had tried out for the JV team last year, but got cut.
Mattox, a free safety on the Kansas football team the past four seasons, who was recruited out of high school for both sports, considered basketball a way to stay in shape.
Now they are members of the varsity team, the same team with the publicity and press exposure. Both have been given exactly what the varsity has the locker, the practice uniforms, even the red, white and blue Nike basketball shoes.
"We got it all." Wahl said. "Now I can go back to my high school and wear these shoes with pride."
They also get to travel with the varsity team to Oklahoma State tonight. Both realize they might miss it. But they are ready if called upon.
"I'd like to play, I don't care how long I play," Mattox said. "If I could play just 30 seconds, I'm hoping I can get some rebounds. I know I won't be a starter or anything. I want to help out the team."
Wahl said that he got rid of the game jitters at the Colorado game. Now, it is more a case of excitement than nervousness, he said.
"I didn't expect to play. It was that I went to warm-ups. Now I can tell my grandkids that I got to play with Danny Manning," Wahl said. "I'm hoping for the chance to do this the rest of the year."
Wahl said that he was finally feeling more comfortable with his new teammates and that yesterday after practice he was grabbing rebounds and feeding them back to forwards Milt Newton and Mike Maddox, who were shooting three-
For now, the two are trying to get adjusted to their new teammates and the new experience.
pointers.
"Most of the guys have come up and talked to me." Wahl said. "But especially at first, it felt like they were still a step above me. Now I'm at the confidence level where I know I'm up here because I can play."
Mattox, on the other hand, knew most of the players before joining the team, so the transition has been easier. Even so, the whole procedure is still foreign. When one of the trainers came by with a warm-up suit for the trip to Stillwater and started explaining exactly what was worn at what time, Mattox looked confused.
"I'm walking around with my head cut off. I'm waiting for someone to tell me these things," he said. "I'm catching on to it, though. They talk to me and every day they make you feel at home."
Football has made the adjustment to Brown's coaching style, along with everything else, much
See NEW, p. 14, col. 1
Forrest MacDonald/KANSAN
Kansas forward Brad Wahl, who was cut from the junior varsity team last season, was promoted to the varsity team last week
Mizzou drops K-State into second
COLUMBIA. Mo. — Mike Sandbothe and Derrick Chievous each sank two free throws in the final seconds last night, lifting Missouri to a 79-75 Big Eight Conference basketball victory over 14th-ranked Kansas State
K-State's Fred McCoy made a three-point shot that tied the score 75-75 with 7 seconds left. But as Missouri tried to pass the ball inbounds, K-State's Mitch Richmond was called for a deliberate foul on Sandbotthe, who made his two free throws with 5 seconds left.
The Associated Press
Kansas forward Marvin Mattox is pulling triple duty. Mattox was a free safety on the KU football team, practices with the junior varsity basketball team and was moved to the varsity squad last week to add depth to the team.
The Tigers retained possession,
It was Missouri's seventh consecutive victory over Kansas State and the Wildcats' first conference loss, knocking them out of first place.
and Chievous was fouled with 3 seconds remaining and sank two free throws that established the final margin. Chievous scored 26 points, and Lee Coward scored 25 for Missouri, 14-5 overall and 4-3 in the Big Eight. William Scott had 20, and Richmond had 18 for Kansas State, 14-5 and 6-1.
In Lincoln, Neb., Diee Sieger scored 19 points and led five Oklahoma players in double figures as the fourth-ranked Sooners breezed past
Nebraska. 92-77.
Nebraska never got closer than the 15-point final margin as Oklahoma center Stailey King and guard Ricky Grace provided inside-out punch for the Sooners, whose record stands at 21-2.
Taking advantage of 16 first-half turnovers by the Cornhuskers, Oklahoma built its lead to 18 points halfway through the period and to 47-27 at halftime.
Oklahoma never trailed, jumping out to a 10-1 lead
Oklahoma moved into first place in the Big Eight with a 7-1 mark when K-State lost to Missouri.
Heavyweight champion Tyson marries actress twice in 2 days
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — Mike Tyson, the undisputed heavyweight champion, was married again yesterday, and this time he was licensed.
The 21-year-old fighter and actress Robin Givens, 23, were married by the Rev. George Clementes Sunday in a couple that did not have an Illinois license.
At about 10 a.m., Tyson and Givens were married in the clerk's office.
and he said he was going to get a license in New York," Clements said.
"He didn't want to wait for the Illinois license, so he asked me to just push it on."
"He got a waiver, and we were able to perform the ceremony," said clerk Carlos Cuevas.
The ceremony was witnessed by Steve Lott, an aide to Tyson's co-manager Jim Jacobs, who oversees the champion's camp when he is in training.
"He looked normal for a groom," said Cuevas, who quoted Tyson as saving. "Let's get this over with."
What Tyson got waived in State Supreme Court was the 24-hour waiting period required of couples wanting to get married.
The waiting period in Illinois also is 24 hours, but in that state, couples also are required to be tested for AIDS and they have to wait from three days to three weeks for the results of the tests.