2B
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY HALY KANSAN
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2007
what others are Saying Collected by Ryan Schneider
Regional and national media's take on Kansas athletics
"Some South coaches attribute the drought to the fact their players travel there only every other year because of the Big 12 format. Others credit the fans, who pack the 16,300-seat arena and make it hard on visiting teams.
"But eventually it comes back to the enormously talented teams the lajhayas make a habit of fielding each year. This year's team stacked with stars Julian Wright and Brandon Rush, is no different.
"I like I always say, the toughest thing on the road is the team that awaits you, and they always have a great team," said AAM coach Billy Glispie, whose team nearly ended its 17 game conference losing streak before the Jayhawks prevailed 65-60 at Allen Fieldhouse two years ago.
"As good as their home court is, if they didn't always have a great team, then they would have a hard time just like anyone else. They have a great team every single year, and they have for about 100 years. It's no different this year."
— Houston Chronicle reporter Terrance Harris,
Feb. 1.
"Kansas is the class of the conference. Only North Carolina can match the Jayhawks' murders' row of raw talent. Kansas' top five scorers — Brandon Rush, Mario Chalimers, Italian Wright, Darrell Arthur and Sherron Collins — were all top-tier recruits who could have had their pick of just about any destination they wanted coming into college.
"But critics contend that the Jayhawk quintet arrived too recently in Lawrence to be contenders for the national championship. Sure, Kansas boasts a 19-3 record, the nation's No. 6 ranking, and a spot atop the Big 12 standings. But the Jayhawks have struggled at times, losing to a talented, but hardly dominant, mid-major. Oral Roberts, and a Jekyll-and-Hyde DePaul team. With games under way, the Jayhawks have a tendency to drift during stretches, letting down against lesser opponents. They're also largely untested in the conference, having gone 1-1 against two of the five other Big 12 teams above .500 in league play."
"Don't mention the 'K' word around A&M's men's basketball coach Billy Gillispie in the next few days.
"The Aggies will be at Kansas on Saturday for ESPN College GameDay and a Top 10 match-up, but first A&M has to play Iowa State on Wednesday."
New York Sun reporter Jonah Kerri, Feb. 1
Gillaspie did touch briefly on the layhawks, but quickly changed subjects.
"We've got a long ways to go before we get to Saturday, Gillspie said during his Monday press conference.
"Our focus is all on Iowa State," he said. 'If we are going to talk about Saturday and all that kind of stuff, we're gonna be in big trouble, because we're facing a really good opponent on our home court.'
Bryan/College Station Eagle reporter Robert
Cessna, Jan. 30
"It there was any consolation — and that's usually all that opponents can take away from their visits to Allen Fieldhouse — Colorado's fuzzy cheeked freshmen showed more heart against eighth-ranked Kansas on Saturday than did the seniors who came in here last year.
"The scoreboard, which flashed a 97-74 Jayhawks victory as the final horn sounded, didn't reflect the grit and effort of a Colorado squad with nine new players, including a sophomore transfer, that had never experienced the craziness that makes this one of college basketball's most daunting shrines.
"Nor did the final score reveal a second half spurt by the Buffaloes that caused the sellout crowd of 16,300 to squirm in their seats. After trailing 47-34 at halftime, Colorado (5-12, 1-6 Big 12) cut the deficit to nine points on three occasions.
"In last season's visit, a senior-dominated Buffs队 missed 22 of its first 23 shots and never Kansas sweat. Kansas' 75-54 victory was not as close as the final score suggested. This time, the action on the court was more competitive."
Denver Post reporter Tom Kensler, Jan. 28
What do you think? WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT STUDENT ACCESS TO KU BASKETBALL TICKETS?
BY DAVID ALLEN SCHAEFFER
ANDREW STEIN
Dodge City freshman
"I think having to register stinks. I missed the last game, this game and the K-State game. Usually we get an e-mail reminder but I never got one."
SARAH ALMOHANDIS Tulsa, Okla., junior
"I've never been to a KU basketball game, but I have seen how long the lines are. I've been to basketball games before and it's worth the wait."
ASHVIN COCA Kansas City, Mo., junior
"It's easy to get tickets. There is always someone who has tickets, but can't go, so there is always extra."
LAWRENCE SETTLES Stillwater, Okla., senior
"I don't really like to go to the games. I think it's easier to watch the game on 1 TV at home or at a bar or something. Plus I don't like to stand."
>> GOLF
Putting problems baffle PGA champ Clubs fly as Woods struggles at Dubai
BY JIM KRANE ASSOCIATED PRESS
— The clicking cameras didn't help, nor did the poor putting. All of which left Tiger Woods as frustrated as any weekend hacker.
DUBAL United Arab Emirates
For someone who has been playing nothing but sterling golf of late, Woods tossed his club after a batched putt. Thursday during the opening round of the Dubai Desert Classic.
Woods' problems started on the second hole, where he drove into a row of trees before settling for a bogey. He reclaimed the lost stroke on the par-5 third hole, but he soon encountered another problem on the eighth.
He was three strokes behind leaders Ross Fisher and Graeme McDowell. Ernie Els was another stroke back at 66 in a tie for third with Jose Manuel Lara and Jyoti Randhlawa at the Emirates Golf Club.
"Last week I putted great and today I didn't put so good." Woods, the defending champion, said after his 4 under-par 68.
"Nice going guys, thanks," he said sarcastically.
While he was swinging, a group of photographers were snapping pictures, causing Woods to send the ball into the long grass on the edge of the fartway.
On the 12th, Woods missed a short putt and took another bogey. He responded by tossing his club to the ground.
"I left a lot of opportunities out there," Woods said. "I didn't put well, I didn't put the ball on line with my putts. It was frustrating because the greens are really nice out there. I just have to get some work in here."
Woods' playing partner, Miguel Angel Jimenez, stayed ahead of the world's top-ranked golfer for the entire round. Jimenez finished with a 67, including a 40-foot birdie putt on the 10th.
"I did good." Jimenez said, nodding at Woods. "He tough to beat."
Fisher, however, was the surprise leader in a field that also includes Henrik Stenson (68), Paul Casey (70) and Sergio Garcia (73).
"Obviously it's a tremendous thrill" the Englishman said. "I along with Ernie Els am trying to get to where he (Woods) is, but it's proving very, very difficult."
"It was a nice start," said Els, a three-time Dubai champion. "To be 6 under after the first round, you always take that."
"Work. Bust my butt. That's how you do it," he said. "I just need to do a little work here around the greens and get my stroke organized."
Woods's presence lured throngs of fans. Among them were five Muslim girls in black headscarves who waved at him and called in unison, "Go, Tiger!" Woods responded with a wave of his own.
Els, first playing on the back nine, also started par-bogey on his first two holes. But the South African followed with an eagle and three straight birdies to climb near the top of the leaderboard.
Woods, who denied having jet lag, knows what he needs to do in the next three rounds.
Woods flew halfway around the world after cruising to win the Buick Invitational on Sunday for his seventh straight victory on the PGA Tour. The Dubai tournament won't affect the streak because it's a PGA European tour event.
NHL
Still, Woods started the back nine with a pair of birdies to keep himself in contention.
Penguins still waiting for word on new arena deal
in a series of negotiating sessions with the team soon.
"This is something that, when we get the opportunity to speak once again, could happen at any time," Ravenstahl said.
Considerable work needs to be done before an agreement is completed to build the new $290 million arena to replace 45-year-old Mellon Arena, the mayor said.
The Penguins have declined to comment on the negotiations, which appeared to hit a snag Jan. 18 when they walked out of a negotiating session that included Rendell, Onorato and Ravenshaft.
However, no team officials are known to have made a return trip to Kansas City, Mo., where Penguins chairman Mario Lemieux, co-owner Ron Burkle and team president Ken Sawyer visited last month before the Pittsburgh negotiations.
The team was unhappy about being asked to share parking and Mellon Arena site redevelopment revenue.
athletics calendar
TONIGHT
Associated Press
Baseball vs. Hawaii
Hilo, 7 p.m. Hilo, Hawaii
- Tennis vs. Syracuse, 2 p.m. Winston-Salem, N.C.
SATURDAY
Track at Husker Invitational, All day, Lincoln, Neh.
Baseball vs. Hawaii
Hilo, 5 p.m. Kona, Hawaii
Women's basketball vs. Texas A&M, 6 p.m. College Station, Texas
Men's basketball vs.
Texas A&M, 8 p.m. Allen
Fieldhouse
SUNDAY
Tennis vs. Wake Forest, Noon, Winston-Salem, N.C.
1.
Baseball vs. Hawai-
Hilo, 4 p.m. Kona, Hawaii