Section B · Page 8
The University Daily Kansan
Wednesday; March 28, 2001
Town fixated on successes of native Stiles
The Associated Press
CLAFLIN — If the 600 or so residents of Claflin could speak with a single voice about their hometown hero Jackie Stiles, it might sound something like this:
We told you so.
People in the tiny central Kansas town say they've known all along that Stiles — the star senior guard who has led Southwest Missouri State to the women's Final Four — was something special. Now, the country knows.
In what has become a typical performance, Stiles—the all-time NCAA women's scoring leader—had 32 points in Monday's 104-87 victory against Washington.
"That's the talk of the town this morning. It's just unbelievable, somebody from our town going that far," said Kathy Clark, produce manager at Bailey's Food Bin in Clainf.
Claflin virtually stops when Southwest Missouri State games are on television, Clark said. Interest is so high that when it
Stiles: led South-
west Missouri State
'o Final Four
became known Monday's regional final would be aired on ESPN2 — a channel Claflin residents don't get through cable TV — the local cable company arranged to show the game on another channel.
Now, residents are clamoring for tickets to see Stiles and the Lady Bears play in St. Louis on Friday.
At Diane's Diner in Caffin, patron Don Zink said Stiles was an inspiration to the whole town.
"She's living proof of what we all told our kids, if you want it bad enough and you work hard enough, it's yours," Zink said. "She's proved it because she did work for it. She wasn't born that way."
"I used to walk over in the high school gym. She was there at 6 o'clock in the morning. She put so many shots up everyday. That was her goal," said 73-year-old resident Tom Chism. "She's just an unbelievable kid to have a work ethic like she has."
Said Gregg Webb, Stiles' Claflin High School coach: "Her work ethic was so ridiculous and so off the scale that the kids see her as not real."
Win or lose in the Final Four, Claflin will celebrate Jackie Stiles Day on April 14, with a parade through town and a reception with Stiles at the high school.
"We're little sorry she's no longer Claflin's girl." Zink said. "She kind of now belongs to the country."
The Associated Press
DURHAM, N.C. — The players at Duke have a difficult time describing the team's offense. Opponents have an even harder time defending it.
Duke offense utilizes players' instincts
The Blue Devils (33-4) head into Saturday's national semifinal against Maryland averaging 90.8 points a game and leading the nation in 3-point shooting.
Coach Mike Krzyzewski's offensive plan is quite simple and based on a few philosophies — ball screening, penetration, passing and constant motion.
"We're not curing any diseases here," Krzyzewski said of his offense.
Granted, Duke has All-Americans Shane Battier and Jason Williams, but it's the freedom to play that has allowed all five starters to log at least one 20-point game this year.
"One of the things we've done over the years is try not to recipe our team," said Krzyezewski, who will make his ninth
History shows that if you're going to beat Duke, you've got to score with them. The Blue Devils have gotten at least 80 points in 31 of 37 games and are 21-0 when they score 90 or more.
Final Four appearance since 1986. "I just let them all play. They feel real comfortable doing that."
Stanford scored 84 against Duke to beat the Blue Devils by one in December, while North Carolina scored 85 in a Feb. 1 victory in Cameron Indoor Stadium. And Virginia and Maryland got 91 each in victories against the Blue Devils.
"There are no plays," Williams said of Duke's attack. "It's motion offense. (Coach) might set something up, but the blay can change at any time.
"Couch K just gives us the go-ahead to use our instincts, and I think that's what makes us so dangerous. We just go out there and we play basketball. The offense changes around what the players are feeling at a certain time."
Krzyszewski has just one major rule on offense — don't pass up a good shot. He rarely gets upset on the bench by a miss, not even on the 25-foot shots sometimes launched by Battier, Williams or freshman Chris Duhon.
"Our offense is, you take whatever the defense gives us," Battier said. "If they are going to give us open looks, we're going to take 3s. If they try to get up in our face, we're going to drive. We've been very good this year at being scavengers on offense."
Missouri coach Quin Snyder, a former Duke assistant, bowed out to the Blue Devils in the second round of the tournament two weeks ago, allowing 94 points.
Snyder said Duke's unselfishness on offense also was a key to the team's success.
"They pass the ball so well," Snyder said.
"To me, that's what makes them such a special offensive team. Yeah, they'll shoot it, but those shots are usually open and
they're constantly finding the next guy. To see a team that passes the ball is rare."
Battier said the team took a lot of pride in getting the best shot available.
Williams is averaging 28.8 points in the four wins, while Battier is at 23 a game.
Mike Dunleave, at 11.8, is the only other Duke player in double figures.
Duke has five double-digit scorers in its top seven players, but most of the offensive load in the tournament has been shared by Williams and Battier.
Is Kryzewski concerned about balanced scoring heading into this weekend's game against the Terrapins?
"That's a good danger to deal with," Krzyzewski said. "I think there is so much more positive about that. We've been such an unselfish team throughout the year, sometimes there is a tendency for a player to hold back just a little bit.
"To have Shane and Jason step forward like this is good. Now it's up to the other guys to step forward and adjust to it."
National praise piling up for Arizona guard Arenas
The Associated Press
TUCSON, Ariz. — Gilbert Arenas' game almost appears choreographed, filled with feints and jukes, deft dunks, arching jumpers, slashing cuts, crossovers and catlike steals.
His performance continues to draw accolades — from teammates, coaches, even opponents.
The praises are piling up for the Arizona sophomore, a shooting guard whose 18-point first-half career helped mount the
wildcats past Illinois 87-81 and into the Final Four.
His backcourt mate, point guard Jason Gardner, said Arenas, just 19, was beginning to live up to others' expectations.
"He's been having a great season," Gardner said. "Toward the end of the season, he's been one of the main reasons why this team has been doing what we are doing."
After Sunday's victory, which advanced
Arizona (27-7) to Saturday's semifinal with Michigan State (28-4), teammate Luke Walton said, "we know what Gilbert is capable of. He does that all the time in practice.
"This was just one of those games. He does things when he drives to the lane. What he does with his body is amazing."
Arenas' 21 points in Sunday's Midwest Regional final earned him the Most Outstanding Player award. He is Arizona's top scorer, averaging 16.5 points.
Coach Lute Olson at times has been on Arenas' case for some ill-advised shots, but Olson knows his youngguard has the potential.
Arenas' play against Illinois drew praise from Illini coach Bill Self.
"I think Gilbert can be as good as Gilbert wants to be," Olson said. "Offensively, he was just unbelievable in that first half (against Illinois)."
Memphis on the rebound
Calipari revamping team succeeding
The Associated Press
NEWYORK—Ten years ago, John Calipari used a trip to the NIT semifinals as a springboard at Massachusetts.
The first-year Memphis coach hopes this year's NIT run will do the same for his new school.
Seven of the final eight teams from last year's NIT made it to the NCAAs this season, led by round-of-16 teams Penn State and Mississippi. Memphis lost to Tulsa last night 72-64 in the NIT semifinals.
"This is good for our team," said Calipari, a former Kansas assistant under Larry Brown. "This is the best thing that can happen for a team on the rise. This tournament has helped a lot of teams get over the hump."
The NIT marks a turnaround for Calipari, who was fired two years ago by the New Jersey Nets after going 72-112 in two-plus seasons.
Despite the ending, Calipari learned from his time in the NBA.
Calipari has resurrected Memphis, leading the Tigers to their first 20-win season in five years and putting together one of the top recruiting classes in the country.
Dajuan Wagner, the son of former Louisville star and NBA player Milt Wagner, is the most prominent player in the class, having scored 100 points in a game for Camden (N.J.) High School this season.
The rebuilding is progressing even quicker than it did at UMass for Calipari. A after 10-18 record in his first season in 1988-89, Calipari went to the NIT the next two seasons, finishing fourth in 1990-91.
The Minutemen then went to the NCAA regional semifinals in 1992, the second round in 1993 and 1994, the regional finals in 1995 and the Final Four in his last season.
While this NIT lacks the big stage and notoriety surrounding the 1996 trip across the Hudson River at the Meadowlands, it marks a big step for a school that didn't even make the NIT the past two seasons.
Pre-Nursing Club Meeting
Wednesday, March 28 5:30 pm
2nd Floor Conference Room Watkins Health Center
Mon/Tues/Fri/Sat/Sun 4:30
Wednesday 6:00
Alvamar Orchards Golf Course
Twilight Rates & Hours for April Only
Thursday 5:30
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*must pay prior to playing first round
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