Section:
B
1959 — Eldon.Ward becomes the first men's swimmer to be named an All American, swimming the 50 Freestyle in Dallas.
Sports
The University Daily Kansan
Flashback
Inside: The Kansas baseball team split two games against No. 12 Oklahoma State this weekend.
SEE PAGE 3B
Inside: The Big 12 Conference released its 2001 football schedule.
SEE PAGE 3B
MONDAY, MARCH 5, 2001 For comments, contact Shawn Hutchinson or Shawn Linenberger at 864-4858 or sports@kansan.com
Men's Basketball: Senior Day 2001
KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
'Hawks dodge Tigers' claws
Senior day finishes with fond farewell
Sophomore point guard Kirk Hinrich takes an elbow to the face as Missouri's freshman guard Michael Griffin attempts a layup. The Jayhawks beat the Tigers 75-59 last night, avenging an early season loss at Missouri. Photo by Matt Daugherty/KANSAN
"Senior Day is always very emotional for us."
By Chris Wristen sports@kansan.com Kansan sportwriter
It was a cozy day in Allen Fieldhouse yesterday as 16,300 fans packed the building to give a fond farewell to seniors Luke Axtell, Eric Chenowith and Kenny Gregory.
No. 11 Kansas' 75-59 victory against Missouri made for an entertaining side note.
In addition to being the seniors' final game at home, it was also a day for redemption as the Jayhawks avenged a 75-66 thumping Jan. 29 in Columbia, Mo.
"We didn't want to hear our three seniors' speeches if they'd just lost a game," Gooden said. "The feeling wouldn't be right. Everybody's on top of the world right now. We got the win against Missouri. It was Senior Day, and we got the win for them."
Sophomore forward Drew Gooden, who led Kansas with 19 points and seven rebounds, said he was happy the seniors ended their home careers on such a high note.
three-pointer before Kareem Rush's slashing layup gave the Tigers (18,11 and 9,7) an 11-6 lead
The win was in question for a while, though.
tion for a while, though.
The Jayhawks (23-5 overall and 12-4 in the Big 12 Conference)
struck quickly as sophomore forward Nick Collison scored four points in the first 45 seconds, giving Kansas an early lead. Missouri freshman Rickey Pauling responded with six points and Brian Grawler nailed a
Six straight Missouri turnovers halted its run with a three-minute drought while Kansas cut the lead to one point. Paulding finally found his touch again and pushed Missouri's lead to 17-10.
A 14-3 Jayhawk run started to turn things around, though. Chenowith and Collison each sank two free throws and point guard Kirk Hirnich sank a three-pointer that tied the game at 20-20. Missouri scrapped with the 'Hawks and led 31-20 at the half.
Kansas coach Roy Williams wouldn't use the Senior Day hoopla as an excuse for his team's 38 percent shooting in the first half, but did admit that emotions were running high before halftime.
"Senior Day is always very emotional for us," Williams said. "In the first half, we were not as
patient. When we did a better job of maintaining our poise, we were a lot better."
That poise was visible in the second half. Kansas was never rattled, even after Missouri guard Clarence Gilbert drained two treys and cut the lead to 43-42 with 14 minutes left.
Rather than folding, Kansas' guards put a glove on Missouri's shooters while Gooden scored 10 of Kansas' next 14 points. The 'Hawks built a 10-point lead that was capped by a Chenowith putback.
"The perimeter guys did a great job of guarding the shooters,"
Collision said of Hinrich and Jeff Boschee's defense against Gilbert and Grawer.
Wesley Stokes' free throws trimmed the lead to eight, but a 10-2 run by Kansas provided the knock-out punch and sent Chenowith home smiling.
"We always want to beat Missouri," Chenowith said. "We hate them, and they hate us. I would love to beat them 100,0 but that just isn't going to happen. It is really good to beat them."
Game notes
After the game, the three seniors bid their farewells to the home fans with speeches that lasted nearly 50 minutes.
Rush left the court with two minutes remaining and headed straight for the locker room. Rush was making his return to the court after missing seven games with a thumb injury but left after his thumb cast was jarred during a collision with Hinrich.
Rush accused Hinrich of intentionally trying to hurt him by pulling on the cast. Hinrich offered a differing account, though. He said that it was incidental contact while battling for a rebound.
- Edited by Jay Pilgreen
LUKE AXTELL
Number: 33
Years at Kansas: 1998-2001
Hometown: Austin, Texas
Senior Day speech excerpts:
Senior Day speech excerpts:
"I just want to thank you all for your loyalty as fans. I've never felt like an unwelcome guest in your home while I've been up here, and I really appreciate that."
"I thank the life, obviously, for all he's done in my life; my parents and grandparents — those are six of the best people you could ever meet."
ERIC CHENOWITH
Number: 44
Years at Kansas: 1997-2001
Hometown: Villa Park, Calif.
Senior Day speech excerpts:
"Today, Jeff Carey and I were making our traditional drive to the fieldhouse, playing the music real loud. We were driving over here, and we saw a line all the way around the outside and down past the baseball field. I want to tell the fans thank you. You guys stay out there in the cold and camp out all the time and it really makes practice easy when you walk out and see all the campers."
"Coach Williams ... Nobody in my entire life has ever pushed me more or got more out of me in anything I've done in my entire life. Every single day playing with you is a challenge and an opportunity to get better."
KENNY GREGORY
Number: 20
Years at Kansas: 1997-2001
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
Senior Day speech excerpts:
**Senior Day Speech**
"To the fans, I really appreciate everything you've done. Even when times were bad and we didn't live up to expectations the past couple seasons, you guys stuck around. Even the people up there in (sections) 20 B and 13 B and especially for the people that camp out any time of day. You guys appreciate us more than I would probably appreciate somebody. I don't think I'd be out there sleeping on the ground at six in the morning."
- "For everyone here who thinks I'm a mean person, that's just my look. You can't tell, but I always happy."
"I tried to be strong today. I tried not to cry."
Mismanaged cash has left some athletes out in the cold
Shawn Linenberger
Sports Columnist
sports@kansan.com
Flowers were thrown onto James Naismith Court in honor of seniors Luke Axtell, Eric Chenowith and Kenny Gregory, an amazing gesture for these stars of Lawrence.
Allen Fieldhouse was the site for a joyous occasion yesterday. Kansas wrapped up a No.2 seed in the Big 12 Conference Tournament after defeating an oh-so-hated rival from Missouri.
But on a day of excitement for a group of Kansas athletes, other groups were empty and dejected. The men's tennis and swimming and diving teams knew they wouldn't continue their traditions at the University.
All three players returned the sentiments with heartfelt speeches after the game.
Money talks, and smaller sports have to shut up and listen. The football team hasn't brought the needed revenue to support all sports sufficiently. Being a basketball school is great, but basketball just doesn't produce the same amount of revenue.
The Athletics Department needed a revised budget because scholarship expenses have increased, commitment to increased equity has a larger price tag and travel costs have gone up in the last few years.
Football schools such as Nebraska and Kansas State can spread a little more wealth. But not every school is a football school, and not every non-football school is dropping programs. So why is this happening in Lawrence?
Kansas swimmer Jason Hubbard might have some answers. The sophomore from Highland Ranch, Colo., said careless spending led to the decision.
"They took some unnecessary risks," Hubbard said. "The luxury boxes at the stadium haven't produced enough revenue."
Hubbard also said he thought that the
Hubbard was concerned with travel expenses as well, saying that less expensive airline and lodging possibilities could have been pursued.
Megavision screen at Memorial Stadium was unnecessary and that the large amount of money used for that addition could have been spent elsewhere.
Many signs pointed to building the scholarship suites. Most of those signs were of the dollar variety. The revenue plan has worked at other schools, but the most noticeable are, once again, Nebraska and K-State — more established programs.
Most of this might have been avoided if football renovations would have occurred roughly a decade ago, when the department was in the black economically, or when the team attended bowls in 1992 and 1995.
In regard to the travel expenses, the department reported that travel expenses have increased by 115 percent since Kansas entered the Big 12. Airline and lodging choices could be a variable in that.
But maybe the money is slipping away
because it has gone directly to student-athletes instead. Kansas is 16th nationally in money allocated to scholarships. That's definitely money well-spent.
Whatever the problem, no future men's swimming or tennis teams translates into saving $600,000 for next year's budget, and an expected $3.6 million in the next five years.
All that money seems insignificant when one sees the position the student-athlete is in.
Hubbard's home state of Colorado had one school — Denver University, which is private — with a swimming program. Kansas provided great coaches for Hubbard, but his school search must start again.
The department has offered to help these athletes continue their athletics elsewhere and will continue to provide scholarships as long as they attend Kansas.
Once again, money is supposed to help solve a problem, but some things just don't have price tags.
Linenberger is a Washington, Kan., senior in journalism
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