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Monday, March 29, 2004
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In its 100th year as the student newspaper of the University of Kansas
Vol.114 Issue No.118
GEORGIA TECH 79 - KANSAS 71
STUNG
Aaron Miles, junior guard, and Jeff Hawkins, sophomore guard, hung their heads as they left the court after yesterday's overtime loss to Georgia Tech.
Yellow Jackets outlast Jayhawks
By Ryan Greene rgreene@kansan.com Kansans sportswriter
ST. LOUIS — Any loss in the NCAA Tournament is hard to take for a college basketball player. But the trauma of Kansas '79-71 overtime loss to Georgia Tech in the Regional Semifinal was evident when the team's most vocal member, freshman guard J.R. Giddens, was nearly rattled speechless.
Giddens was on top of the world after hitting a game-tying three-pointer with 16.2 seconds left in regulation. But he was left to think of what could have been as he sat with empty eyes, holding back tears in front of his locker amidst the throngs of media crowding him.
"I don't even know what to say," Giddens said. "In overtime, obviously they wanted it more than us. We're going to come back and work hard next year. Now we just look forward to next year and finish watching as a spectator."
The Kansas team that showed up to play yesterday nowhere near resembled the squad that dominated Alabama-Birmingham from start to finish just two days earlier. Instead of duplicating their blistering 12-for-17 start from the floor in Friday's victory, the sluggish Jayhawks began yesterday's game just 5-for-23.
Despite early offensive struggles, Kansas was able to hang tight on
MORE TOURNAMENT COVERAGE
An offensive foul ends Keith Langford's season. PAGE 1B Fans show "love" for team, Self yesterday evening. PAGE 1B See the happier moments for the Jayhawks on their run to the Elite Eight. PAGES 4B & 5B
The Jayhawks' attack to get back in the game in the second half was paced by juniors Wayne Simien and Keith Langford. Kansas' two leading scorers were a combined 0-10 from the field in the first
In the first half, those answers were supplied by the inside-outside combination of guard Jarrett Jack and forward Clarence Moore. The duo combined for 23 of Georgia Tech's 36 first half points. Their offensive prowess and Kansas' struggles gave the Yellow Jackets a 36-31 advantage at halftime.
defense, never letting Georgia Tech get ahead by more than 11 points, at 24-13. The Jayhawks sawed into that lead with an 11-2 run, but as was the case with each subsequent Kansas run of the afternoon, Georgia Tech had an answer.
Fans upset after OT loss
SEE LOSS ON PAGE 6A
By Dave Nobles
nobles@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
You could almost picture tumbleweeds bouncing around downtown Lawrence.
Every 20 feet or so along Massachusetts Street, Lawrence police leaned against poles and shop windows in pairs, chatting idly or sipping soft drinks from paper cups.
Outside bars such as Fatso's and The Granada in the 1000 block of Massachusetts Street, fans huddled in small groups.
Jill Atkinson, Leawood junior, and Becca Thom, Paola sophomore, grieved after watching the Jayhawks lose They watched the game at the Meat Market, 811 New Hampshire St.
"I'm going to go to bed and cry," Amanda Lewis, Rosehill junior, said. "I seriously feel like crying. I can't believe we lost."
Amende Kim Stairrot/Kansa
That sums up the sentiment of the Jayhawk faithful after yesterday's devastating loss to Georgia Tech.
Before the game, both students and alumni were confident about the prospect of a third Final Four appearance in three years.
"Three years in a row? No doubt," said Alicia Erickson, KU alumna and Lawrence resident. "Self's going to deliver what Roy never did."
SEE REACTION ON PAGE 6A
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© 2004 The University Daily Kansan
The University Daily Kansan
New coach will be introduced A press conference today will announce Ronnie Harrickson as the new Kansas women's basketball coach. PAGE 18
Index
Briefs ... 2A
Opinion ... 4A
Sports ... 1B
Crossword ... 6B
Classifieds ... 6B & 7B
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