Sports
Jayhawks run wild
The track team won eight individual titles Saturday at the Jayhawk Invitational and freshman Libby Harmon set a record in the pole-vault. PAGE 7B
The University Daily Kansan
1B
Monday, February 2, 2004
Kansas ready for Border War
Team prepares for rival after weekend loss
By Ryan Colaiani
rcolaiani@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
AMES, Iowa - As fans throughout Lawrence tried to find answers following the Jayhawks' upset loss in Ames Saturday afternoon, the Kansas players did not have that luxury.
Instead, they had to use a four-hour bus ride home to start thinking about Border War rival Missouri, which pays a visit to Allen Fieldhouse tonight.
The Jayhawks (13-4 overall, 5-1 Big 12 Conference) and the Tigers (9-8, 4-3) will enter the always-heated matchup searching for the same thing — consistency.
Kansas has lost twice to un-ranked opponents in the past ten days, while Missouri has fallen off the face of the college basketball planet after being the
third-ranked team in the country early in the season.
"They've got great talent, probably one of the most talented teams in the Big 12," junior forward Wayne Simien said of Missouri. "They're looking to jump-start their season and get out of the rut they've been in, and this is definitely the game to do it."
The Jayhawks are coming off of a game at Iowa State where forwards Wayne Simien and Jeff Graves both had a hard time getting open shots in the paint because of a stingy zone defense. An advantage Kansas' big men will gain against Missouri is the Tigers are without injured freshman forward Linas Kleiza, who has been a producer and a spark plug for his team all season.
The absence of one of Missouri's bigger bodies should help alleviate the recent foul troubles Simien, Graves and
freshman David Padgett have experienced. In the first half Saturday, the tri was able to stay on the floor, but coach Bill Self was forced to draw from deeper in his bench with senior forward Bryant Nash once Iowa State started to attack the paint more often.
The Jayhawks also like the fact that they are playing just two days after a loss, cutting down the time they have to dwell on it. That was the situation following their 69-68 loss at home to Richmond on Jan. 22, when they defeated Colorado 77-62 just 48 hours later.
"I think the fact that they're playing Kansas, whether they're 0-9 or 9-0, they're going to come in and give Kansas their best game," junior guard Michael Lee said. "We will be ready."
- Edited by Louise Stauffer
KANSAS (13-4, 5-1)
Probable Starters
Pos. No. Yr. Name PPG RPG
F 42 Sr. Jeff Graves 5.4 4.6
F 23 Jr. Wayne Simien 15.4 9.3
G 15 Fr. J.R. Giddens 9.7 3.5
G 5 Jr. Keith Langford 17.2 4.4
G 11 Jr. Aaron Miles 9.9 4.5
Top Reserves G 25 Jr. Michael Lee 6.8 3.3 F 44 Fr. David Padgett 7.1 5.2
MISSOURI(9-8,4-3)
Probable Starters
Probable Starters
Pos. No. Yr. Name PPG RPG
F 5 Sr. Travon Bryant 10.6 6.1
C 50 Sr. Arthur Johnson 13.6 7.5
G 1 So. Jimmy McKinney 9.8 3.0
G 3 Fr. Thomas Gardner 6.2 1.5
G 23 Sr. Rickey Paulding 15.5 4.4
Top Reserves G 2 Jr. Jason Conley 2.8 2.0 G 15 Sr. Josh Kroenke 3.6 1.2
Freshmen guards Omar Wilkes and Jeremy Case crouch on the sidelines as Kansas' downfall to Iowa State began on Saturday. The Jayhawks were defeated with a final score of 68-61.
Cyclones weather Jayhawks
By Ryan Greene
rgreene@kansan.com
Kansan sportwriter
AMES, Iowa — The hallway to the visitor's locker room in Hilton Coliseum was quiet, but that changed quickly.
When a team manager swung the locker room door open, the air was filled with Jayhawk players screaming four letter words.
ter words. These expletives were about the only way to explain Kansas' (13-4 overall, 5-1 Big 12 Conference) second half meltdown in its 68-61 loss to Iowa State (13-4,4-2).
Both teams were sluggish from the start of the game. Kansas started the game hitting just three of its first 11 shot attempts, with junior guard Keith Langford scoring the team's first eight points.
"You know everybody right now is pointing fingers," senior forward Jeff Gravessaid. "Basically, the bottom line is that we didn't come out and play. We weren't ready. All we can do is look forward to Missouri and forget about this."
The first half was ugly, with neither team finding g way to establish a flow on
The Cyclones used a little of every thing to punish Kansas in the second
offense, but the Jayhawks never let the Cyclones grab a lead. Kansas took a 29-21 lead into halftime.
Iowa State took its first lead of the game with 12:35 remaining in the game at 42-40 in the midst of a 12-2 run. Another run later of 10-1 aided the Cyclones in getting their lead as large as 10 points at 64-54 with 2:43 left to play.
A bland first half was contrasted by a second half that displayed an invigorated Iowa State squad that faced a lost and confused group of Jayhawks.
The quartet of Cyclone starters consisting of guard Curtis Stinson,guard Jake Sullivan, forward Jackson Vroman and forward Jared Homan combined for 50 points in the game, but 35 of those came in the second half.
A late three-pointer by Langford, a three-point play by junior forward Wayne Simien and another Simien free throw pulled Kansas to within three points at 64-61, but clutch shooting by Stinson and two late Sullivan free throws sealed the upset for the unranked Cyclones.
IOWA STATE - 68 KANSAS - 61
KANSAS
NANSAS
Min FGM-FGA Pts. Reb. Ast.
Keith Langford 36 8-17 20 7 2
Aaron Miles 34 0-5 3 4 11
J.R. Giddens 23 3-10 9 3 1
Wayne Simien 33 4-11 11 5 1
Jeff Graves 17 2-6 5 7 1
Jeff Hawkins 13 0-2 0 1 0
Michael Lee 13 2-4 5 2 2
Bryant Nash 2 0-1 0 1 0
David Padgett 29 4-6 8 7 0
IOWA STATE
IOWA STATE
Min. FGM-FGA Pts. Reb. Ast.
Jake Sullivan 37 5-16 17 2 0
Curtis Stinson 39 9-19 19 11 3
Jackson Vroman 26 5-7 12 8 2
Marcus Jefferson 11 1-5 2 3 0
Jared Homan 35 6-13 12 11 0
Will Blalock 33 0-3 2 4 11
Damion Staple 18 1-3 4 3 1
Reggie George 1 0-0 0 0 0
half. The biggest difference was from behind the three-point arc.
SPORTS: Contact Henry C, Jackson or Maggle Newcomer at SPORTS@KANSAN.COM
SEE ISU ON PAGE 8B
Woodard's guidance helps team win games
By Jessie Newell
jnewell@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
After a stressful week, it was time for a dance. The Jayhawks had made it possible.
Kansas interim head coach Lynette Woodard paused just before entering the tunnel. She looked up at the Jayhawk fans, waved and began to sway side-to-side, gently swinging her arms in front of her.
Just two days after coach Marian Washington announced she was taking a medical leave from the team — her first
game missed in 31 years as coach — Kansas responded by rededicating itself in a 74-61 victory Saturday over Oklahoma State
The Jayhawks showed new life, illustrating the spirit shown by Woodrow.
shown by Woodard after the game.
"We needed that energy" sophomore guard Erica Hallman said. "Coach Washington gave it to us, and coach Woodard did a good job of coming in and keeping that energy."
The energy was apparent from the start, when Kansas used hustle and execution to take a first-half advantage.
"Win or lose, I wanted them to give a good effort," Woodard said, "and know what they could do within themselves."
The players dedicated the game to coach Washington, who sent her best wishes to the team before the game in a conversation with Woodard.
After leading 16-14 early, the Jayhawks used a quick 7-0 run, capped by an Aquanita Burras driving jumpshot and free throw to open a nine-point advantage.
The Jayhawks, who have had troubles in the final minutes of recent games, were able to close strong as their lead never dipped below nine in the second half.
"I think Coach leaving for medical reasons really woke us up," Hallman said. "She's been doing this for 31 years and she's been dedicated to us. It's about time for us to dedicate ourselves to her."
Six minutes later, Kansas — and reserve guard Hallman — struck again. Hallman hit a fall-away three-pointer, giving the Jayhawks a 33-25 lead. After a lay-up by forward Crystal Kemp, Hallman connected on a second trey in 53 seconds from the left corner, and freshman Lauren Ervin's fade-away jumper in the lane made it a 10-0 Kansas run.
Woodard said it was difficult for the team to overcome the emotions of the past 48 hours.
"Time was still ticking," Woodard said. "Oklahoma State was going to be here at 7 o'clock. We just had to step up
SEE OSU ON PAGE 8B
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