Sports
Tomorrow
KU
The Kansan previews this weekend's games in women's basketball, men's basketball and baseball.
The University Daily Kansan
1B
Thursday, March 4, 2004
Kansas 78, Nebraska 67
'Hawks avenge Nebraska loss
Junior trio leads KU to victory
By Ryan Greene
rgreene@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Forwards Brett Olson, Jeff Graves and Bryant Nash took in the crowd during the flower ceremony before last night's men's basketball game. "Senior Day" marked the final time the trio would play in Allen Fieldhouse.
J. R. Giddens sent down an authoritative fast-break dunk with 17:17 remaining in the game, and was fouled at the same time.
While celebrating, he brought his hand to his shoulder and brushed.
After the ensuing free throw, the Jayhawks led 53-31, had brushed off the Nebraska Cornhuskers and were on their way to a 78-67 victory.
Kansas won in the final Allen Fieldhouse appearance of senior forwards Bryant Nash, Jeff Graves and Brett Olson. It was also revenge for Kansas' 74-55 loss in Lincoln, Neb., on Feb.15.
Nebraska showed no fear during the game's opening minutes, and brought the same sharp shooting it displayed in its first meeting with Kansas.
The Cornhuskers hit five three-point field goals in the game's first 5:32. At that point, Nebraska led 17-11, and was able to stay neck-and-neck with Kansas for the next seven minutes. Then, with just over seven minutes remaining in the first half, the junior trio of forward Wayne Simien, guard Keith Langford and guard Aaron Miles combined for 14 points in a 15-0 Kansas run. When Nebraska finally scored with 35 seconds left before the half, Kansas had built a comfortable 43-27 lead that it would never lose.
"That gave us some momentum and a little confidence," Langford said. "They're a team that shoots the mess out of the ball, and that lead could evaporate quickly, so we were glad we had the cushion."
Giddens' dunk was one of many big plays early in the second half that did in the Cornhuskers.
Seniors say goodbye to Fieldhouse
SEE VICTORY ON SD
By Mike Norris
mnorris@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
They're done.
They're done. Last night was the final game at Allen Fieldhouse for three Kansas seniors, as the Jayhawks defeated the Nebraska Cornhuskers 78-67.
Jeff Graves, Bryant Nash and Brett Olson went out in style, becoming the 20th straight Jayhawk senior class in a row to leave with a victory.
For Olson, it was his first career start as a Jayhawk.
"That was amazing," he said. "I can't explain how I felt."
called as a starter plenty of times before, was the only senior to score as he dropped in 10 points and added four rebounds.
He scored the first six points of the game for the Jayhawks as they improved to 11-4 in the Big 12 Conference.
Graves, who had heard his name
Graves said he felt good from the start.
"I felt loose," he said. "That's probably the loosest I've every played. I just felt like I was sky-high."
left like I was sky-high. Nash was sky-high himself in the first half. He showed the athleticism that had tantalized fans throughout his Kansas career, when he flew through the lane and nearly flushed home a
"He would have probably been on ESPN SportsCenter Top Ten," Graves said. "He was up there."
Nash finished the game without scoring, but grabbed four rebounds in his farewell game.
In his senior speech after the victory, Nash let fans know his heart will always be in Kansas. He thanked his family, but in the process gave his dad a hard time about something he wore.
wore.
"I'm kind of disappointed with that Carolina blue hat," he said. "We're in Kansas."
SEE SENIORS ON 4B
Eric Braem/Kansan
Senior forward Jeff Graves waved to friends in the Allen Fieldhouse stands during "Senior Day" festivities last night.
'Hawks look for effort in regular season finale
By Jesse Newell
jnewell@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
After an emotional Senior Day, which included saying goodbye to both senior guard Leila Menguc and legendary coach Marian Washington, Kansas might not be expected to have much left physically or emotionally for the rest of the season.
Unless you ask interim coach Lynette Woodard.
Kansas has lost eight straight contests but will look to reverse its fortunes against the 13-13 Iowa State squad.
"I'm not going to give up." Woodard said, "not for one second."
The Jayhawks will look to reflect their coach's attitude at 7 tonight in the regular season finale at Iowa State.
squat.
"We can make things different," Woodard said, "if we just put our minds and hearts in it."
The Jayhawks hung with the Cyclones in their first matchup two weeks ago at Allen Fieldhouse, but three-point shooting made the difference.
ince Iowa State connected on 12 three-pointers in the game, taking a 73-58 win.
This accuracy from long range is a concern for Kansas, which has struggled at times with its perimeter defense.
"They're a three-point shooting
"They're a three-point shooting team and that's one of the things we're going to have to work on."
Kansas will look to pick up its first win since Jan. 31. The Jayhawks fought hard but came up short in their last game, a 65-61 loss to the Nebraska Cornhuskers Saturday.
Crystal Kemp Sophomore forward
Not only are the Cyclones accurate from the outside, they also utilize a variety of scoring weapons. Junior guard Anne O'Neil leads Iowa State, scoring 12.8 points per game, but six other players average at least seven points per game.
team," sophomore forward Crystal Kemp said, "and that's one of the things we're going to have to work on."
Kansas trimmed the lead to one with under a minute remaining, but Nebraska free throws kept the team from snapping its losing streak.
Kemp led Kansas with 24 points, scoring over 20 points for the sixth game this season.
Jeff Brandstad/Kansan
Sophomore forward Tamara Ransburg grabbed a team-high nine rebounds for the Jayhawks, becoming a major force since loosening her starting spot.
Junior guard Larisha Graves shot during the second period of the game against Nebraska on Saturday. The women's basketball team will play at Iowa State tomorrow at 7 p.m.
The game will be the final tune-up before the Big 12 Tournament in Dallas next week.
In the five games she has not started, Ransburg is averaging nearly 13 points and eight rebounds.
SEE EFFORT ON PAGE 4B
Men's golf team takes first in Texas
By Eric Sorrentino
esorrentino@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
存
The Kansas golf team finished its second spring tournament on Tuesday in triumphant fashion by winning the Roadrunner Intercollegiate Tournament in San Antonio, Texas. They will look to carry that momentum into its next tournament.
Of the 17 teams entered in the tournament, the Jayhawks shot a three-round total of 856 and held off second place Baylor by 14 strokes. Texas-San Antonio took third place, scoring a three-round total of 875.
The Jayhawks were led by freshman Tyler Docking, Olathe, who shot a three-round total of 212, including a 69 in the final round. Docking took third place for individual honors.
"Winning by that many strokes is good for our confidence," coach Ross Randall said. "We also beat every team competing from our district, which says a lot about how we played this tournament."
Senior Tyler Hall, Wayne, N.J., who made his season debut for the Jayhawks, finished fifth individually with a three-round total of 214.
This was the Jayhawks' first tournament victory since the Kansas Invitational last year.
winter.
"Overall, it seems like we are getting better in each round we play," coach Randall said. "If we play as well as we can, we will have a chance to compete for the tournament title."
Leawood junior Kevin Ward's play was highlighted by his back-nine score of 29 in the final round. He finished in
finished a career-best sixth with a three round total of 215.
Randall
"I was pleased with our play throughout most of the tournament," coach Randall said. "It was a good win for our team, especially this early in the season."
a tie for 19th place scoring a three-round total of 221.
The KU women golfers also had a good weekend tying for seventh at the Texas A&M "Mo" Morial in Houston.
Junior Andrew Price, Lake Forest.
Ill., finished in a tie for 29th after a 224 three-round total. Sophomore Ryan Rainer, Norman, Okla., competed individually and finished in a tie for 40th with a three-round total of 227.
National Jazz Youth Association Freshman Gary Woodland, Topeka, - Edited by Ashley Arnold
Amanda Costner, Claremore, Okla., freshman, led the Jayhawks tying for second place with a final score of 221.
The Kansas men's golf team continues its season on March 8 and 9, from the Oakbourne Country Club in Lafayette, La., where it will compete in the Louisiana Classics Invitational. The women's team will continue March 15 and 16 at the UC-Irvine Anteater Invitational in Irvine, Calif.
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