Sports
10A
The University Daily Kansan
Friday, March 19, 2004
Jayhawks to play Flames
Kansas to enjoy Kemper for first round of tourney
By Ryan Greene
rgreene@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The oohs and aahs flowed freely last night at Kemper Arena as the Jayhawks concluded their practice with an impromptu slam-dunk contest.
A couple thousand fans showed up to watch what turned out to be a glorified shoot around as Kansas (21-8 overall, 12-4 Big 12 Conference) had its final practice session before tonight's first-round matchup with Illinois-Chicago (24-7 Overall, 12-4 Horizon League).
The home-court feel of Kemper Arena was apparent as Jayhawk fans made their way to watch the open practice.
Despite the typical Fieldhouse traditions the fans will bring to Kemper, the players and coaches continue to downplay the importance of Kansas City's proximity.
"UIC doesn't care that we're playing in Kemper," junior guard Keith Langford said. "If we were playing
across the street in the playground, we'd still have to do what it takes to win."
Analysts all over the country are talking about how dangerous the No. 13 seeds are in this year's tournament, and the Flames are no exception. The game will not only test how Kansas will react to last Saturday's loss to Texas in the Big 12 Tournament semifinals, but the game will also be an attempt to erase the memories of first-round struggles in recent years for the Jayhawks.
In 2002, No. 1 seed Kansas barely edged No. 16 seed Holy Cross. Then, last season, the Jayhawks staved off a furious late-game run by 15th-seeded Utah State to advance and face Arizona State.
The UIC squad Kansas will square off against tonight is more talented than either of the teams that have given the Jayhawks fits the last two years. Just as Kansas' veteran leadership will be key, it will be just as important for UIC, who starts four seniors.
The duo Kansas will have to zone in on defensively will be senior guards
SEE JAYHAWKS ON PAGE 6A
PROBABLE STARTERS
(24-7 Overall, 12-4 Horizon League)
Pos. Player Yr. PPG
G Martell Bailey Sr. 7.7
G Cedrick Banks Sr. 18.5
F Justin Bowen So. 4.1
F Armond Williams Sr. 11.8
C Joe Scott Sr. 6.6
Jared Soarea/Kansan
KANSAS
Top Reserves
G Aaron Carr Sr. 10.1
F Elliott Poole So. 5.2
F Jovan Stefanov Fr. 2.7
(218 Urvell, 12-4 Big 12 Conference)
(21-8 Overall, 12-4 Big 12 Conference)
Pos. Player Yr. PPG
G Keith Langford Jr. 15.8
G Aaron Miles Jr. 9.2
G J.R. Giddens Fr. 10.7
F Wayne Simien Jr. 17.8
F Jeff Graves Sr. 6.1
Freshman guard Omar Wilkes takes off from near the free-throw line for a dunk during practice at Kemper Arena yesterday while Christian Moody watches. The No. 4 seed men's basketball team opens its 2004 NCAA Tournament tonight, facing off with No. 13 seed University of Illinois-Chicago.
Top Reserves
F David Padgett Fr. 6.5
G Michael Lee Jr. 5.1
F Christian Moody So. 1.4
Kentucky's Chuck Hayes scored against the University of Florida during the first half of the game at the O'Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla., on Tuesday, Feb. 3.
KRT Photo by Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentin
'Kansan' reveals St. Louis picks
By Ryan Greene rgreene@kansan.com Kansan Sportwriter
St. Louis Region
1 Kentucky (26-4) vs. #16 Florida
A&M (15-16)
As the only team in the NCAA Tournament with a losing record, Florida A&M can at least take solace in having won the play-in game against Lehigh Tuesday night. The only player worth watching is shooting guard Terrence Woods, who averages 20.4 points per game and as consistent as they come from three-point range. However, Kentucky's a lock here. The Wildcats are not explosive, but they are a veteran squad with a solid starting five. Even if they are an overrated No.1 seed, they'll have no problems in round one. Prediction — Kentucky 96, FAMU 48
8 Washington (19-11) vs. #9 UAB
(20-9)
In a down year for the Pac-10 Conference, Washington finished second in the regular season and made some major noise. The loudest of all was its three victories against conference-powerhouse Arizona. The Huskies also handed Stanford its only loss of the season. What makes Washington scary is its youth and athleticism. The Huskies start four sophomores, led by diminutive guard
Now that the NCAA Tournament brackets have been set for next weekend, it's time to bust out the pencils and erasers to predict this year's National Champ. In the spirit of the season, the Kansan's Ryan Greene will take an in-depth look every day this week at a different region of the bracket.
SEE ST. LOUIS ON PAGE 6A
Allen Fieldhouse renovations planned
By Joe Bant
jbant@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
For many University of Kansas basketball fans, the name Allen Fieldhouse is synonymous with basketball greatness.
Widely regarded as one of the toughest places in America for an opposing team to play, the men's basketball team has only lost 17 games there in the last 15 years.
But at only one year shy of its 50th anniversary, problems lurk beneath the Fieldhouse's larger-than-life exterior. Its roof and windows leak. It has no air conditioning. The bathrooms and locker room facilities are outdated. The lighting is inadequate, and there's a multitude of other issues that need to be addressed, said Ron Penry, facilities supervisor.
Following the NCAA tournament, the Athletics Department will address some of these issues with the help of a $12 million donation it received earlier this year. Twelve million dollars may seem like a lot of money, but Penry said it may go faster than people think.
"You could probably write a list as long as your arm and still not cover all the things that could be done," Penry said.
A nearly 20-foot tall Jayhawk was added onto the center court of Allen Fieldhouse last semester. The Jayhawk returned as the logo for the first time since the days of Larry Brown, who left after the 1988 championship season.
SEE FIELDHOUSE ON PAGE 6A
TALK TO SPORTS: Contact Henry Jackson or Maggie Newcomer at SPORTS@KANSAN.COM
Jeff Jacobsen/KUAC
Leawood junior Kevin Ward has become a leader of the men's golf team. His achievements include nabbing an individual championship at the Louisiana Classics Invitational March 9. Ward says taking one event makes him want to win even more.
KU golfer consistent in victory
By Eric Sorrentino
esorrentino@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
In the past two weeks, Kansas took first place in the Roadrunner Intercollegiate Tournament in San Antonio on March 2, in addition to taking second place in the Louisiana Classics Invitational on March 9.
In Louisiana, the Jayhawks' tournament was highlighted by a final round 66 and individual champion honors by Kevin Ward, who is leading KU to a successful spring season. This is not the first time the junior had an eye-opening performance this spring.
His play in San Antonio was capped off with a back-nine score of 29 in the final round. The Jayhawks ended up winning the tournament.
"Everything kind of came together at once," Ward said of his performance in Louisiana. "And that amounted to a nice final of 66, which vaults you past so many guys, especially when the conditions are tough."
This type of perseverance details KU's experience and confidence on the golf course with respect to each tournament. The Jayhawks have only lost one player from last year's team. Since then, Ward has seen his golf game elevate.
With victories come many circumstances of hitting clutch shots during pressure situations. In golf, focus and consistency are crucial elements to the success of one's game. The mental approach to the game is considered to be one of the most difficult concepts to obtain.
"It's good to get the win, but at the same time, I need to move on from it, and try to go get another one," Ward said. "Once you chase it, you just want more."
Ward redshirted the 2000-2001 season while attending Wichita State University. He competed in 20 events in his collegiate career at Kansas. His threeround total of 210 (6 under par) in Louisiana is his career best as a Jayhawk.
"He's practiced and played a great deal and is dedicated at playing his game," coach Ross Randall said. "He has really become a leader of the team in that he's really working hard and encouraging the other guys to get better as well."
Ward describes his approach as being extremely consistent. He elects what club he will hit from every tee box before the round even begins.
However, Ward refuses to rest on the individual victory he picked up at the Louisiana Classics Invitational.
"The biggest thing with the routine is to keep it the same every time." Ward said. "I've been using visualization with my approach lately, seeing the shot before I hit it."
SEE GOLFER ON PAGE 6A
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