Section:
1B
If you will, I will
The University Daily Kansan
Charles Barkley talked last night about a joint comeback with Michael Jordan while broadcasting the NBA Playoffs for Turner Sports.
Sports
Inside: The Kansas men's golf team finished seventh in the Big 12 Championships, while the women stand in 12th.
SEE PAGE 3B
XFL
Inside: The XFL didn't thrill NBC with its TV ratings.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 2001 For comments, contact Shawn Hutchinson or Shawn Linenberger at 864-4858 or sports@kansan.com
KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
'Hawks face Creighton hope to keep streak alive
By Brent Briggeman
sports@kansan.com
Kansas sportswriter
Tracy Bunge has won 156 games as Kansas' softball coach. But she's never won 11 in a row.
She'll get a chance when the Jayhawks, winners of nine in a row, visit Creighton for a doubleheader this afternoon.
"I'd have to say the last three or four weeks have been as rewarding as any
I've had for both myself and my coaching staff," said Bunge, the fifth-year coach whose "Hawks are 29-20 overall and 9-4 in the Big 12 Conference. "It's been great to see the hard work blossom into success."
Bunge: called the last few weeks 'rewarding'
A big part of the success has been the right arm of
freshman pitcher Kara Pierce, who will put a winning streak of her own on the line this afternoon.
After starting the season 8-7, Pierce has reeled off 11 wins in a row. She hasn't lost a decision since March 24.
Pierce credits the 'Hawks' offense
Pierce credits th with her success.
"They have been amazing," she said. "They've really come around when they've needed to."
Bunge said the offense and pitching were playing well together for the first time this year.
Pierce: Kansas pitcher has won 11 games in a row
"We started out hitting gang-
busters." Bunge said. "We were having to outhit the mistakes our pitching was making. Then the pitching turned it around and the offense started to struggle."
The offense has recovered. Last weekend at Iowa State, Kansas' offense scored 21 runs in two games. The 'Hawks collected 28 hits in the doubleheader, including four home runs.
During their nine-game winning streak, the 'Hawks have outscored opponents 53-15. Clearly, the offense and defense are both performing well.
"It's helped us play with confidence," Bunge said. "Teams that are winning a lot just walk out on the field differently. It's a different attitude."
Kansas has lacked that attitude against Missouri Valley Conference opponents so far this year, which could cause problems today against Creighton (22-23, 11-10 MVC).
The Jayhawks split doubleheaders on the road earlier this season at Southwest Missouri State and Wichita State. Kansas was favored to beat both MVC teams.
Like the Jayhawks, the Bluejays are playing their best ball of the season. They have won 13 of their last 18 games.
In her past three starts, Creighton sophomore pitcher Kirstan Melton is 3-0 with a 0.95 ERA. Her performance was recognized when she was named MVC Pitcher of the Week yesterday.
"We know they play some good ball," Bunge said. "We'll come out ready for them."
Kansas and Creighton met three times last year, and the Jayhawks took two of three games. However, the one Bluejay victory was a 71 blowout early in the season, something Bunge hasn't forgotten.
The first game is set to begin at 3 p.m. at the Creighton University Sports Complex in Omaha, Neb.
—Edited by Brandy Straw
'Hawks get home victory
Senior pitcher exhibits true ability in start
By Ryan Malashock
sports@kansan.com
Kansas sportswriter
Sam Gish's senior season hasn't exactly progressed the way he expected it would.
As Kansas' top reliever last season, Gish led the team in appearances, but a few bad relief appearances early in Big 12 Conference play sent Gish to the bench this season. Last night against University of Nebraska-Omaha, he got another chance and proved he still belonged.
Gish struck out five and surrendered only four runs in six innings of work in Kansas' 6-4 victory against Nebraska-Omaha last night at Hoglund Ballpark. Normally a reliever, Gish made his first start of the season and tamed the Mavericks with a variety of pitches.
"If felt real good to finally be able to come out, throw three pitches for a strike, and dominate," Gish said. "The last couple of times out for me have really boosted my confidence and kind of showed the coaches that I can still throw."
M吉 started quickly against the Mavericks, facing the minimum amount of batters through the first six innings while giving up only one hit. Gish ran
tesse Gremminger, senior outfitier, slides safely into home to give the Jayhawks a 5-0 lead against the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks. Kansas beat UNO yesterday at Hoglund Ballpark despite a late Maverick rally. Photo by Laurie Sisk/KANSAN.
"It was a well-pitched game," Randall said. "Sam got a little tired at the end, but
into trouble in the seventh as Nebraska-Omaha strung together four hits and plated three runs before Gish was pulled in favor of junior Randy Strann. Strann earned his first save of the season by holding the Mavericks scoreless in the final three innings.
Kansas coach Bobby Randall was pleased with the overall pitching performance by Gish and Strann last night.
Randy came in and did a marvelous job."
The Jayhawk offense produced enough for the win despite missing senior shortstop John Nelson and sophomore center fielder Jason Appuhm. Both were resting minor injuries.
Sophomore Kevin Wheeler knocked in four runs on the night, including two on a two-out single that helped give the Jayhawks a 3-0 advantage in the first inning.
Senior Jesse Gremminger smacked his first career triple and scored the eventual game-winning run in the sixth on Wheeler's fielder's choice. Gremminger finished the day 3-for-4 with a double, triple, and three runs scored.
"I'm still not seeing the ball that well, but I've saw some great pitches to hit." Gremminger said. "It was exciting to get my first triple, even though the guy kind of dove and missed it, but I hit it hard."
Randall also praised the play of freshman Dan Stucky in last night's game. With Nelson missing his first game of the season, Stucky got the opportunity to make his first career start at shortstop. Despite going 0-for-3 at the plate, Stucky played errorless in the field.
Randall said Stucky showed why he is considered Nelson's future replacement at shortstop.
Kansas plays again tonight against Newman University at 6 p.m. at Hoglund Ballpark.
Edited by Sydney Wallace
LINESCORE
Nebraska-Omaha 000 000 400 — 4 6 2
Kansas 300 101 03x — 6 8 1
WP, Gish, 1.0, LP, Peters, 1.2, S-Stran (1), 2B KU:
Gremminger (8); UNO; Wurth, Cook. 3B-KU:
Gremminger (1), Farmer (1).
Trackster separates from pack
Junior runner accelerates into final season
By Michael Sudhalten sports@kansan.com Kansan sportwriter
University of Kansas junior distance runner Brent Behrens has stepped up his performance as a Jayhawk since his first two years with the program.
Behrens, who grew up in Atalisa, Iowa, will enjoy a homecoming this weekend when he revisits the Drake Relays in Des Moines for the first time since 1997, his senior year of high school. Behrens will run the 10,000-meter, in which he placed third at the Kansas Relays this past weekend.
Brent Behrens, Atlissa, Iowa, junior distance runner, will be traveling back to his native land this week for the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa. Behrens will be competing in the 10,000-meter run.
Photo by Nick Krug/KANSAN
"Running at the Drake Relays is special because I've run there before, and I'll be in front of friends and family," Behrens said. "I ran there twice in high school and the Iowa State Meet was there, but I haven't competed at Drake since."
Behrens was drawn to the Kansas track program because his coach, Mike Parker, ran for the 'Hawks in the 1980s. He chose to become a Jawahawk instead of run-
"I've noticed a change in my overall conditioning-and confidence in my racing ability," Behrens said. "It is good to know that I can win rather than just being in the middle of the pack."
Ironically, Behrens said the newly implemented coaching staff had provided him and the rest of the team with an ideal situation.
Behrens attributed much of his improvement to Kansas distance coach Doug Clark.
Behreens also said the individualized training provided by Clark had been a unique benefit toward his improvement.
"Coach Clark is very knowledgeable and passionate about distance running." Behrens said. "He knows what to do so we follow what he says."
"Coach Clark designs work out programs around individual athletes which helps them out in their events," Behrens said.
Through his hard work and dedication to the Kansas track program, Behrens has gained the respect of team captain and senior all-American Andy Tate.
committed every day."
"One thing Brent brings to practice is the a-funs-overlet's get-to-work attitude." Tate said. "He's a guy who is
committed ever day.
Behrens said he hoped to follow the strong senior leadership and eventually become one of next year's team leaders.
"With the senior leadership we have this year, you just have to watch them and take little pieces from it." Behrens said. "This year I would like to place in the top eight at conference and qualify for the NCAA down the road; these goals will take a lot of
work but they are reachable." A business administration major, Behrens plans to enter the banking or investment field after graduation. He would also like to continue competing in track on a recreational basis through road races.
The Kansas track and field team will compete at the Drake Relays this Friday and Saturday.
Edited by Brady Chan
Ignorant readers impart wisdom about columnist
E-mail and I, we've got the whole love hate thing going on.
Why do you think that Terry Allen hasn't been given a fair chance?? Four losing seasons in a row isn't enough of a chance?
That is Terry's specialty, he's a mediarelations type of guy. He probably would get you to believe that. But why should you know anything about KU football I ask myself? You are a basketball reporter. You cover basketball.
On one hand, it's flattering to know someone's actually reading my columns (especially with that ugly mug you see above). But it's also disheartening that the people who read my columns and respond to them usually have the combined brainpower of DeShawn Stevenson's SAT score (whatever that was). For example:
Bart Simpson
First of all, with what Glen Mason left Allen — yeah, I don't think he's had much of a chance. And that's not because he brainwashed me, either — although I do have some strange attraction to Terry Towels, and I interviewed him in the shower once, but that's another story. And thank you for the rundown of my career.
But you failed to mention the fact that I was the football writer for two semesters one semester longer than the joke that was my basketball beat writing career (if you could even call it much of a career). And Bart, I loved your work in episode 3F18 — 22 Short Stories about Springfield.
You know what, I thought about it more, and I think that it is ridiculous for someone like Michael Rigg to be taking potshots at (former Kansas basketball) coach Ted Owens. What does he know about sports to begin with? What qualifies him to stand in judgment on the former coaches at this University? It is usually a good idea for a sportswriter to have some sense of the history he writes about before he starts running around like some 12-year-old that thinks he knows everything and screams to his schoolmates, "Look at me, I am being mean to the old guy!" Rigg has never been much of a writer, but it is easy to overlook that when he is not saying things that are stupid.
Justin Nichols
So what do I know about sports at Kansas? Here's what; we once had a great track meet called the Kansas Relays, but nobody cares about it anymore. We used to have a men's swimming and a men's tennis team, but they don't exist anymore. And by the end of his career, Ted Owens nearly killed Jayhawk basketball. As for the second point, that I'm not much of a writer and I say stupid things, I couldn't agree more (See "Notre Dame could face Kansas upset" August 26, 1999). Just not in this case.
Your snide reference to K-Staters as "pick-up driving" fans is flat-out wrong and arrogant. I am a KSU alum, and, growing up on a farm, drove pickup trucks. I am proud of my farm heritage, but today am a partner at one of the 50 largest law firms in the U.S. My K-State farm background didn't keep me down and the vast majority of K-Staters I know have also gone on to very successful careers. Some of them even still drive pick-up trucks. So, your insinuation that a farm or ranch background somehow means a lack of sophistication and intelligence reveals your lack of insight. So go back to your insurance salesman dad in Olathe or Derby in your 1990 Honda Accord, you little sophisticated rich boy.
— Tcongrove4ksu
First of all, if you were a partner at one of the 50 largest law firms in the country, then why would you read the Kansan — specifically, my articles? Shouldn't you be talking about how if it doesn't fit, you must acquit, or something along those lines?
I also didn't say that all pickup drivers are classless. I said K-State fans acted in a classless manner by hyping up the hit that almost ended Zac Wegner's career, and that a majority of them drive pickup trucks. One more thing about vehicles whatever I say about pickups, I'd rather be driving one of those than a 1990 Honda Accord (retail price $4,300, which I guess is why we "rich boys" drive them, even though I don't). And I'm not from Olathe or Derby.
Ridge in a Greenwood Village, Colo. Junior in Broadcast News.