6B the university daily kansan
sports
wednesday,january 28,2004
Missouri looks to reqain momentum versus Buffaloes
The Associated Press
COLUMBIA, Mo.-Midway through what was beginning to look like a lost senior season, Rickey Paulding has rediscovered his game.
Much of the season, Missouri's senior guard has leaned heavily
on his jump shot with so-so results, which contributed to an underwhelming start for the Tigers. Missouri (8-7, 3-2 in the Big 12), began the season ranked fifth overall and now head unranked into Wednesday night's game at Colorado.
Paulding was a slasher again in
"Everybody's been telling me just drive to the basket," Paulding said. "I guess one day the light clicked on. I just want to keep being aggressive."
Saturday's 72-51 victory against Nebraska, leading the Tigers with 19 points.
scorer with a 16.4 points per game. Earlier in the season, he found himself shooting about 35 percent and feeling the weight of Missouri's miserable start.
Paulding is Missouri's leading
"We thought we were the leaders and we wanted to make it work so bad." Paulding said. "You try to force things."
The game against Colorado (10-6, 2-3 in the Big 12) is the start of a stretch in which Missouri will play three of four on the road. The Tigers are home against Kansas State on Saturday, then travel to Kansas Feb. 2 and Nebraska Feb. 7.
Missouri is 50-10 against Colorado at home and 26-30 on the
road, although the Tigers have won three of the last four in Boulder. Colo. They lost by 21 points last February, though, at Colorado.
"We have to keep our focus on where it's been, and that's guarding," Coach Quin Snuder said.
Colorado shot 29 percent in a 78-57 loss at Kansas on Sunday.
'Hawks and Wildcats play in Manhattan
The Associated Press
MANHATTAN—Spirits were high and hearts were light on that November day in 1988 when Kansas State opened its brand new basketball arena, Bramlage Coliseum.
By all accounts, no one carried a sign predicting that in 2004, the Wildcats would still be seeking their first victory in Bramlage over their most hated rivals, the Kansas Jawhawks.
But they are.
Kansas has run its overall victory string to 27 against Kansas State—and in Manhattan, the Jayhawks have defeated the Wildcats 20 years in a row. They have a 15-0 record in Bramlage Coliseum, which a few snickering Kansas fans have taken to calling "Allen Fieldhouse West."
The last time the Jayhawks left Manhattan a loser was on Jan. 29, 1983, when the Wildcats still played in Ahearn Fieldhouse.
With one side so thoroughly dominating the other, in fact, the once-fierce rivalry has even cooled down.
During the 20-game streak in Manhattan, there have been close games and there have been blowouts.
Wednesday night, many believe, will not be a blowout.
Kansas (12-3, 4-0 in the Big 12) has shown signs of improvement under first-year head coach Bill Self. But the Wildcats (9-6, 1-3 in the Big 12) are not without weapons in Jim Wooldridge's fifth year as head coach. No. 15 Kansas has already beaten Kansas State in Allen this season, 73-67.
Although injuries have hampered the Wildcats and they've lost three of their last four, the Kansas State program has put together what appears to be two solid recruiting classes.
"There is no question that the (talent) gap has been closed," Self said. "I think Kansas State can beat anybody when they play
their best. I don't know if that could have been said three years ago.
Neither claim claims to know or care much about the streak.
"I think people, the media and fans, make a bigger deal out of it than players or coaches do."
Wooldridge insisted he won't even raise the subject with his players, let alone use it for motivation.
"I think more so than talking about that," he said. "We try to talk about how to play better basketball and let that be the focal point of our preparation as we get ready to play Kansas."
DEFENSE:'Hawks look for edge
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B
The layhawks allowed just 16 points to Missouri in the first 10 minutes. In fact, after a lay-up by Evan Unrau with under 16 minutes remaining in the first half, Kansas allowed just one field goal in the next six minutes—an additional lay-up by Unrau.
The Jayhawks could not take advantage of their early defensive effort of the offensive end, however, scoring only two baskets in the same time span with Missouri holding on to an 18-8 lead.
The second half was a different story. Many of Missouri's 43 points came too easily. Kansas players often double-teamed the
Tigers' inside players, only to have them find the open teammate for a wide-open shot.
"What gave them the advantage," guard Aquanita Burras said, "was our lack of rotation in our defense."
Noticing this same trend, Washington has put extra emphasis on defense this week.
Practices have centered on the defensive side of the ball, where Washington said she believed her team could improve the most.
"We didn't respond defensively," Washington said, "so that's where our main focus has been."
Edited by Robert Perkins
News. Now.
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