Sports
On a roll
Athletics 6
The University Daily Kansan
The Kansas baseball team will take its five-game winning streak into its game today at Hoglund Ballpark. Matt Baty returns to the lineup after sitting out the last game. PAGE 6B
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Friday, March 5, 2004
Jared Soares/Kansai
Senior forward Jeff Graves put up a shot over Nebraska's Brian Conklin (20), Nate Johnson and John Turek during second half action. Graves went 5 for 5 from the field for 10 points.
Tigers' last chance
Sunday's game to be last in Hearnes Center
By Ryan Greene rgreene@kansan.com Kansan sportswriter
The Missouri Tigers would probably prefer to have less pressure on such a historic day.
On Sunday, in the final game to be played at the Hearnes Center, the Tigers find themselves in a must-win situation
While Kansas (19-7 overall, 11-4 in the Big 12 Conference) has already secured the third seed for the upcoming Big 12 Tournament and probably an NCAA Tournament berth, Missouri (15-11, 9-6) needs a victory to ensure itself the fourth seed and a first-round bye. A Missouri loss could drop the team to sixth in the conference forcing the team to play on Thursday without
the luxury of a bye. A victory also could solidify the Tigers' case for a NCAA Tournament berth.
You'd probably prefer to play at a time when it gives you the most emotional advantage," coach Bill Self said at yesterday's news conference. "I can't imagine there being a bigger advantage than closing down a building, at least in their eyes. But I don't think it makes that much difference."
The Jayhawks have the momentum heading into Columbia, Mo., with two consecutive, solid victories. One of the most important pieces in the Jayhawk puzzle over the last week has been forward Jeff Graves. The senior has averaged seven points and five and a half rebounds in the past two games, which are both above his season averages. Kansas will need Jeff Graves to provide
depth in the post against Missouri more than ever. The Tigers' starting forwards, seniors Travon Bryant and Arthur Johnson, combined for 25 points in the first meeting on Feb. 2. The 65-56 Kansas victory was the only game the Jayhawks have won this season when scoring less than 70 points.
"If I keep playing like this, I think this team can go even further and get back to the Final Four," Graves said following Wednesday's game. "It's like the movie Any Given Sunday. Anyone can win, it's just up to who's hungry and wants it more."
Another plus for the Jayhawks heading into the final game of the regular season is that they have found some consistency.
Club scales to new heights
Rock climbing group finds new home at the Rec. Center
SEE MEN'S BASKETBALL ON PAGE 3B
By Laura Francoviglia
lfrancoviglia@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
He saw the incoming storm when he decided to climb Pilot Mountain in North Carolina last summer.
"The view from the top is surreal," said Cox, a Lenexa senior.
But he climbed hand-over-hand anyway, determined to reach the top. Brandon Cox sat alone on the dome of the mountain for two hours and watched the storm roll in over the hills and the lightening strike the land below.
Climbing club this semester "I've almost gotten myself killed many times," Cox said.
said Cox, a Lenca senior.
Finding the summits of mountains was the reason he fell in love with rock climbing, he said. Cox said he had climbed outdoors for more than two years, before joining the KU Rock Climbing club this semester.
many times. Cox said the rock climbing club helped him learn to climb safely. Club members had a wealth of knowledge, he said, and they build off each other.
Cox listed other benefits of joining the club, such as the extra equipment and extended climbing hours that were available to the club members.
bers. There are other, less obvious benefits, too. Brad Miller, Leavenworth junior, said he joined the KURC to "pick up girls."
Evan Kay, the club's president, said KURC had existed for eight years and moved from Robinson Center when the Student Recreation Center was built.
a wide range of experience, from individuals who had never climbed to more seasoned scalers.
He said the climbers in the group had
"Climbing is a lifestyle. It becomes addictive just like any other sport."
Evan Kay Chicago sophomore
seasoned scouts. Kay said rock climbing was a physically and mentally challenging sport that also provided a rush.
that also prefers "Climbing is a lifestyle," said Kay, Chicago sophomore. "It becomes addictive just like any sport.
Rock climbing is not as dangerous as people think, Kay said. He said he thought anyone could do it.
The coed club has about 60 members and meets four times a week at the Student Recreation Fitness Center. Club members go to the rock climbing area to improve their skills in different types of rock climbing, such as traditional climbing, crack climbing and bouldering.
bouldering. Miller said the club members did not compete against each other. Climbing was its own reward.
country. Club members map out paths on the bouldering walls with colored electric tape, and take turns trying out new challenging routes.
"We're constantly proving our masculinity," Miller said.
SEE ROCK CLIMBING ON PAGE GR
Bouldering helps the climbers increase strength and improve technique
Jason Zucker, Chicago sophomore, scaled the rock climbing wall at the Student Fitness Recreation Center Wednesday night. Zucker is a member of the KU Rock Climbing club, which meets Tuesday and Wednesdays from 6 p.m.to 8 p.m.
Cyclone sweep ends regular season
By Jonathan Kealing
jkealing@kansan.com
kansan sportswriter
No one in Lawrence could hear Kansas women's basketball's loss last night because it was bumped from the radio in favor of a high-school basketball game.
ball game. In the conclusion of their regular season schedule, the Jayhawks lost their second straight game to Iowa State. The score was 79-57.
Kansas concluded its season with a nine-game losing streak, including an 0-8 mark during the month of February.
Kansas' last victory came on Jan. 31 against Oklahoma State, just days after coach Marian Washington announced she would be taking a medical leave of absence. Washington officially announced her retirement last Friday.
During conference play, Iowa State ranked in the top half of the Big 12 for its percentage of three-pointers made, while Kansas is ranked last.
the Rains is to make "It's the same story as it has been all season," interim coach Lynette Woodard said. "They hit 12 threes; we could only convert three."
Another problem for Kansas all season has been rebounding. In its 18 losses, Kansas' opponents have averaged about five more boards. In the team's nine victories, Kansas has pulled down almost seven more rebounds.
Kansas attempted 14 three-point shots, while Iowa State attempted 28.
Last night was no exception as Kansas managed just 38 rebounds in last night's game. Iowa State pulled down 51 rebounds, 35 of which came on the defensive end.
Kansas' offense was led by sophomore forward Tamara Ransburg. Ransburg, who had declined to start in the last several games, still managed to put in a team-leading 19 points.
Iowa State was led by senior guard Erica Junod. Junod's 17 points included three goals from beyond the threepoint arc. Junod also grabbed four rebounds during the game.
Ransburg also led the team in rebounds with seven. Freshman forward Lauren Ervin also had seven boards and contributed four points.
rebound during the game Kansas had an inability to hit free throws. Kansas went to the free-throw line 16 times, but made only eight shots. Iowa State, on the other hand, went to the line 19 times and completed 15 shots.
After halftime, the Cyclones came back and put the Jayhawks away. Overall, the Jayhawks shot 33.3 percent and the Cyclones shot 41.3 percent.
Kansas did show a spark of life at the end of the first half. The team, which had been trailing by as much as 24 points in
the first half, went on a 13-5 run in the closing minutes before halftime.
cent. With last night's loss, the Jayhawks will finish tied for last place in the Big 12. Because Kansas lost to Texas A&M, the Jayhawks will receive the bottom seed in the Big 12 Tournament.
As the No. 12 seed, the team will face No. 5 seed Baylor, which is ranked 14th nationally. When the two teams met in Waco, Baylor walked away with an 85-66 victory.
Tip-off in the Kansas-Baylor game will be at 2:30 p.m. next Tuesday. If the Jayhawks lose, their season is through.
— Edited by Donovan Atkinson
Doyle Murphy
dmurphy@kansan.com
The cost of flying in style
Ah. the power of cheese
In television commercials, it can convince Santa Claus to leave you more presents or be used as bait to catch ice fishermen. For the Kansas men's basketball team, cheese can contribute to a competitive advantage on road trips.
Especially when it's properly molded into Jayhawk silhouettes, as pictured in the Feb. 26 Sports Illustrated on Campus that depicted the life of the Kansas team on the road. Combine that with the rest of the catered food; a personal DVD player for each player; a first-class, chartered airplane and luxurious hotel accommodations, and you have a recipe for greatness.
Coach Bill Self told the magazine that it gives his team an edge.
"The key to traveling is feeling rested when you get to where you're going." he said.
going, he said.
It's hard to imagine that a week at an island health spa would be more restful than a road trip with the Jayhawks. Although that zen-like state of relaxation hasn't resulted in many road victories (Kansas is 4-5 away from Lawrence), at least the Jayhawks will have comfortable naps on the way back. You can afford soft pillows and plenty of leg room with a $2 million budget.
come in.
Fans who have had tickets for more than 50 years were told before the 2003-04 basketball season that if they wanted to keep their prime seats they had to pay up. They received letters demanding $5,000 to keep their seats if they had fallen behind to their donations to the Williams Fund, the organization that controls ticket sales in Allen Fieldhouse, in the past few years.
$2 million budget. But while few, if any, college teams travel more comfortably than Kansas right now, it will take some serious cash in the future to maintain the King of the Road (travel accommodations) distinction. That's where the season ticket holders come in.
years. The Athletics Department's argument seemed defensible: These people hoarded prime seats for years, the department needed cash and these deadbeats could pay it. Never mind that they frequently gave the expected $200 annual donation to get those seats in the first place.
At first the battle seemed like professional athletes squabbling
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SEE MURPHY ON PAGE 3B