Sports
KU
Revenge on Cornhuskers The Kansas men's basketball looks for revenge tonight versus Nebraska at 6:30 at Allen Fieldhouse. Full coverage of the event will be in tomorrow's Kansan.
The University Daily Kansan
1B
Jayhawks'second chance
Wednesday, March 3, 2004
Kansas strikes for redemption against Nebraska
By Ryan Greene rgreene@kansan.com Kansan sportswriter
One loss avenged, one to go.
One loss avenged, and Okaiden The Kansas men's basketball team has already avenged a road loss to Iowa State by outlasting the Cyclones in their second meeting, and tonight, the Jayhawks will have a similar opportunity against Nehaska.
In the teams' last meeting on Feb. 15 in Lincoln, Neb., the Cornhuskers were hotter than usual from the field.
As a team, Nebraska shot 63 percent in the second half, and 56.3 percent for the game. Nebraska (16-9 overall, 6-8 Big 12 Conference) must bring that same shooting proficiency to Allen Fieldhouse, as they are still holding on to slim hopes of an NCAA Tournament berth, but will more than likely need to win their final two regular season games.
For the Jayhawks (18-7, 10-4), consistency is the magic word. Kansas played one of its best games as a team in Sunday's 70-58 victory over Oklahoma, but the players want to show they can perform like that tonight as well.
that will mean everyone on the team needs to shove personal goals aside for awhile.
"We can go very far," junior guard Aaron Miles said. "Not worrying about playing time, not worrying about scoring, not worrying about this and that. Just thinking about the overall success of this team, I think we can definitely win a National Championship."
Not to get too far ahead of themselves, the Jayhawks need to carry two successful performances over from Sunday's win into tonight's challenge — defense and bench play.
Defensively, the Jayhawks were superb against the Sooners.
Kansas crushed Oklahoma in rebounding, 39-25, had seven steals, six blocked shots and forced 15 turnovers. The result was an abnormal amount of fast-break points, which allowed the Jayhawks to do what they do best—run.
"Just thinking about the overall success of this team, I think we can definitely win a National Championship."
Aaron Miles Junior guard
"The key was never to stop running," junior forward Wayne Simien said after Sunday's game. "OU tried to pressure us, but we got some clean rebounds, and that really got us going."
The Jayhawks will need junior guard Mike Lee to provide the spark he gave on Sunday.
SEE CHANCE ON PAGE 8B
KitLeffler/Kansan
Junior forward Wayne Simien slammed in a dunk during the first half of the Oklahoma game Sunday. The Jayhawks will play the Cornhuskers at 6:30 tonight in Allen Fieldhouse.
ENGARDE
Courtnev Kuhlen/Kansa
Herb Schuttler, North Clardon,Vt., junior,bouted with Ryan Reed, Overland Park senior, during Monday's practice at the Student Fitness Recreation Center. The club was formed in 2001 and has 25 members.
Fencing club prepares to duel
By Laura Francoviglia
lffrancoviglia@kansan.com
Kansan sportwriter
On a spring break trip to New York last year, DeVee Moser and Deborah Dalton attempted to dismantle the curtain rods at their hotel to use for a fencing bout.
snorts commentary
It's just one example of what Moser, president of the KU Fencing Club, calls an eccentric and proud group.
Other times when they are without their foils, the club members recreate their fencing tools by using pillows or rolled up bulletins in the back row of a church.
"Fencers have a very,very large imagi
nation and an overdeveloped sense of humor," said Moser, Gardner sophomore.
In between bouts at the Student Recreation Fitness Center, the KU fencers attempt to top each other with bad puns and bad jokes. For the members of KUFC, fencing is a social life. Moser said that although fencing is a one-on-one sport, they all got along well, without any animosity toward each other.
The club members relax and don't take each other seriously, but when they practice their sport, they are dedicated.
"I try to be the best fencer I can be," said Deborah Dalton, Topeka junior.
The club practices for two hours, three nights per week at the recreation center, and they often hang out before and after practice.
The club members host dinners where they watch movies noted for their fencing scenes such as Princess Bride and Monty Python and tell fencing stories or meet at local hangouts like Java Break, 17 E. Seventh St.
When new members join the club, Moser said they tell her they've always wanted to do this. She said the movie Princess Bride is often cited as a source of inspiration for joining the club. Though the movie is an excellent example of "classical fencing,"
Moser said the KUFC focused on the Olympic style. The KUFC uses foils, eppees and sabers in practice and in tournaments.
Moser said fencing was an excellent way to stay in shape. She said fencing increases flexibility, speed and endurance.
"Fencing is for any body, shape, size or condition." Moser said.
She said she's even seen seen a 70- year-old win in a tournament. Fencing does not require as much endurance as basketball, but technique is necessary to win in competition, Moser said.
SEE FENCING ON PAGE 8B
Ryan Greene
rgreene@kansan.com
To callers: no dissing on Padgett
"I got a four-page paper to write, but I would rather think of insults about David Padgett." — March 2
Almost everyone remembers their parents giving them this priceless piece of advice as a kid: "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me."
Then you get older and realize it's a bunch of crap, once insults get worse than "wijener" or "poopy-head."
To that end, I can sympathize with David Padgett.
Words do hurt. Some people have too much pride to show it on the outside, but to some degree, deep, deep, down inside, verbal barbs strike a nerve. It's inevitable.
There's a notion on campus that most people who pick up the Kansan everyday only do the crossword and read the Free For All. So then most people should know what's been in the Sports Free For All the past couple weeks. Suddenly, Padgett, the highly-touted freshman forward, sounds like every Kansas fan's favorite spiky-haired, Dave Matthews-loving seven-foot whipping boy.
Last spring, there was a stretch when my name popped up in the Sports Free For All seven times in one week regarding my columns. I've been there, David
Sure, my opinions are a little strong at times. But I was ready for backlash. What did Padgett ever do to you?
He's a good guy, not the type of guy who would ever insult your mama or kick your dog.
The idea of the Free For All is great. But there's nothing worse than someone calling in to just slam on another person anonymously. It's the act of faceless cowards.
"I am watching the KU/Iowa State game and I think that David Padgett is the worst player to ever play at the University of Kansas. David Padgett sucks." - Feb. 2
The thing is, the same people who call in are the ones who, before Padgett even set foot on campus, made him out to be something he has not yet become: Nick Collison.
For my money, Nick Collison is the greatest player to ever play basketball at Kansas. He was a machine. He was the man. He made basketball look so easy. It wasn't just because he was a model of consistency, or his 24 points and 23 rebounds against Texas last year or his All-American performances in last March's NCAA Tournament. It's the on-court memories coupled with the fact that he was a helluva guy off the court. When Kansas fans heard about Padgett, another tall white kid who was, like Collison, a coach's son, he was already made a legend while still in high school.
Kansas fans need perspective. In Collison's freshman year, he played on a team that lost 10 games and was an eight-seed in
SEE GREENE ON PAGE 8B
Coaches recognize Washington's influence
By Jonathan Kealing
jkealing@kansan.com
Kansas writerwriter
Washington took 31 of those years with her when she retired on Friday Yesterday, the Big 12 conference call was most coaches' first chance to reflect on their experiences with Washington.
Combined, the Big 12 Conference women's basketball coaches have 181 years of experience.
They all had fond memories and kind words for Kansas' former women's basketball coach Marian Washington.
Texas coach Jody Conradt has been at Texas for 27 years and coached 34 years overall. She's the only Big 12 coach who
Conradt said both coaches could have made different choices other than coaching.
"We could have chosen to take the easier route," Conradt said. "Marian is one of the really good people in our profession."
has more experience than Washington.
Washington
Conradt is now the dean of Big 12 women's coaches, with more time at the same school than anyone.
Another long-timer, Colorado coach Ceal Barry, remembered some of Washington's contributions to the Big 12 and
"I think Marian Washington was the Big Eight. She recruited some of the best players to put on a uniform in the Big Eight."
Ceal Barry
some of the big names she coached.
"I think Marian Washington was the Big Eight," Barry said. "She recruited some of the best players to put on a uniform in the Big Eight."
Included on that list would be All-
Americans Angela Aycock, Tamecke Dixon and current interim head coach Lynette Woodard. Each player remains in the top 10 among Kansas' all-time leading scorers.
Barry, who recently won her 500th game as a coach, said that she thought that having great administrative support for women's athletics probably allowed Washington to retire.
One coach who has not been around nearly as long as Washington, is Missouri coindy Cindy Stein.
According to Barry, teams cannot hope to compete without that support in the Big 12.
Stein, on her fifth year at Missouri seven when including her years at Empo-
"She's been so important to women's basketball." Stein said. "She's been a great influence on many young women's life."
TALK TO SPORTS: Contact Henry C. Jackson or Maggie Newcomer at SPORTS@KANSAN.COM
ria State — attributed a lot of the growth in women's basketball to Washington and her contemporaries.
Like all the other coaches, though, Stein claimed to have mixed feelings about Washington's departure.
Stein summed up Washington's character when she spoke of her first trip to a Big 12 coaches meeting.
"When I first came into the league, Marian was one of the coaches who made me feel most welcome," she said. '
— Edited by Louise Stauffer
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