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Games rescheduled
The University Daily Kansan
Kansas' baseball game tomorrow and its doubleheader against Oklahoma State on Saturday at Hogglund Ballpark have been rescheduled. The games, weather permitting, will now be played on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Sports
Inside: Kansas forwards Jeff Carey and Nick Collison were named to the Big 12 All-Academic teams. Srr Page 7A
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Inside: The Kansas City Chiefs released quarterback Elvis Grbac last night.
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For comments, contact Shawn Hutchinson or Shawn Linenberger at 864-4858 or sports@kansan.com
KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
Game elicits memories of more intense in-state rivalry
MANHATTAN — Kansas fans in Bramlage Coliseum had to think they were in the Fieldhouse last night.
Oh, I'm sorry. I wasn't referring to the home of the Jayhawks. Instead, the Sunflower Showdown brought me back to Ahearn Fieldhouse, Kansas State's former home. You know — the place K-State could beat its in-state rival.
I had visions of Norris Coleman and Danny Manning squaring off in Ahearn in 1987. I was in third grade, and my bedtime was long expired when the Jayhawks pulled out an 80-75 double-overtime victory.
It seems strange that 14 years ago students at both schools could be heard shouting "Wait 'til basketball season."
Kansas sophomore guard Kirk Hirn drives the lane against Kansas State guard Larry Reid. Hinrich and the No. 10 Jenvhawks defeated the Wildcats 77-65 last night in Manhattan. Photo by Nick Krau/KANSAN
There was a time when this series was a rivalry, when K-State was a sellout. No, not sellout as in Aerosmith sold out to MTV — fans at both schools had to hope they'd luck out and snag tickets for a Kansas-K-State game in Lawrence and Manhattan in the '80s.
Bramlage had a good crowd last night, but it still wasn't Ahearn.
Quit writing about K-State, you say. Who cares about that "Old Barn"?
Kansas would have never had this amazing streak of 18 straight victories in Manhattain if Ahearn Fieldhouse was still K-State basketball's venue.
People who appreciate the tradition of an old structure such as Allen Fieldhouse should.
In the days of Missouri's Hearnes Center and Oklahoma's Lloyd Noble Center, a distinguished arena is refreshing.
But as much as I want to remember rivalry glory days, it's time to accept Bramlage Coliseum. Our rival school made renovations to the structure, adding a new scoreboard with jumbotrons and giving a facelift to the arena's concourse and area above the stands.
Bramlauge was loud last night, as students all wore the same school color and watched the game courtside — not behind the baskets as in Allen Fieldhouse.
Lionberger is a Washington, Kan., senior in journalism.
"We have a coach we like," said Josh Stockebrand, a K-State junior from Yates Center.
But as much power a team's home-court possesses, a team has to have the personnel to utilize its own house.
And the team that calls it home made strides in starting up a rivalry again. The Wildcats gave the Jayhawks fits until the final minutes of Kansas' 77-65 victory, and that amazing Kansas winning streak in Manhattan has lasted another year.
K-State coach Jim Wooldridge has his team headed in the right direction. The Wildcats defeated then-No. 22 Missouri and then-No.19 Iowa in Manhattan earlier this season, and Wooldridge should have had another home victory against then-No. 22 Oklahoma.
So maybe this rivalry is as rejuvenated as the players.
"Coach Wooldridge gets these guys fired up," said Jon-Joseph Armstrong, Muscotah freshman.
The Jayhawks have a similar situation. Their coach gets fired up, and it's safe to say he's been pretty successful.
With that in mind, I'll stray from the rivalry talk and K-State's possible return to success. The Wildcats are 9-17, while the Jayhawks are 22-5. And the 'Hawks have that 18-game winning streak in Manhattan.
Whatever happens, enjoy it. This state might be able to hold two strong teams in the near future, and there's nothing like a good rivalry. But another 18 victories in Manhattan wouldn't be so bad, either.
More damage at Bramlage
'Hawks beat Wildcats extend win streak at Manhattan to 18
MANHATTAN — After threestraight blowouts in the streak, last night's Battle at Bramlage returned to its roots with a classic nip-and-tuck war.
By Chris Wristen sports@kansan.com Kansan sportswriter
It didn't rewrite the history books — just added to them — as No. 10 Kansas extended its domination on Kansas State's home court to 18 straight victories by downing the Wildcats at Bramlage Coliseum. 77-65.
"It's a great feeling," said senior center Eric Chenowith, who never lost a game at K-State in his four years. "I'm not a big K-State fan by any means. I've seen guys do it before me, never losing here, so for myself to do it is a great feeling."
The Jayhawks (22-5, 11-4 Big 12 Conference) weren't feeling so good early on, though.
It was a cat fight from the opening tip as the lead changed six times in the first five minutes before K-State (9-17, 3-12) opened a 13-7 lead — its biggest of the game. Quentin Buchanan scored nine points for the Wildcats during that stretch, aided by seven Kansas turnovers.
By then, Kansas coach Roy Williams had seen enough.
He cleaned the slate and inserted key reserves Brett Ballard and Jeff Carey, as well as backups Chris Zerbe, Todd Kappelmann and Lewis Harrison, seven minutes into the game. As the starters watched, the reserves
trimmed the deficit to 13-12 as Zerbe sank two free throws and Ballard nailed a trey.
"We got them a 5-0 run, so coach was happy with us, and I think we kind of sparked them, so we did our job," Harrison said.
Williams' message to his regulars was received. Jeff Boschese, Bryant Nash, Nick Collison, Kirk Hinrich and Chenowith returned to the floor two minutes later and finished an 11-5 run when Boschese sank a deep three-pointer. That put the 'Hawks ahead 23-18 with six minutes left in the first half.
The Jayhawks shot 59 percent in the half, 51 percent for the game, and were led by the sophomore forward combo of Nick Collison and Drew Gooden. Gooden, in his first game back from a fractured wrist, scored nine points in the second half, and Collison added nine. Each player hit timely buckets that kept K-State at bay whenever the 'Cats got close.
After Kansas led only 31-29 at halftime, the second half brought a better Kansas effort.
"At one stretch, it was either four or five straight possessions that they scored and we did come right back and answer them," Williams said. "It was more Nick Collison and Drew Gooden inside. Those guys really did answer from that point on." Come notes.
■ Iowa State's victory against Texas Tech last night wrapped up the Big 12 regular season title for the Cyclones. A Jayhawk win against Missouri on Sunday would give Kansas second place.
Senior swinger man Luke Axtell did not suit up for the
KANSAS (22-5)
BOX SCORE
game last night as he nursed his ailing back.
Collison 5-10 35 13, Gregory 4-10 12 11,
Chenowith 2-5 4 4, Hirschin 3-6 4 5 12,
Boschel 4-7 2 2 11, Godden 6-10 5-1 7,
Ballard 1-1 1 0, Nash 0-1 0, Carey 0-0,
Harrison 0-0 0 0, Zerbe 0-0 2 2,
Kappelman 0-0 0 0, Total 25 49 2 2 17
KANSAS ST. (9-17)
Buchanan 7-16 0-0 15, Reynolds 3-7 4-9
Buchanan 7-16 0-0 15, Reynolds 3-7 4-9
Terry 5-13 6-16, Reinhart 5-13 6-16
10 0 09, Sulic 1-2 22, Achison 1-9 46,
Sicbrandt 2-5 04, Washington 0-0 09,
Wallace 0-0 00, Totals 24 67 15 20 65,
Haltime-Kansas 31, Kansas St. 29, 3
Point goals—Kansas 6-12 (Gregory 24,
Hinrich 2-4, Ballard 1-1, Boschee 1-3),
Kansas St. 21-4 (Buchanan 3, Terry 1-
Reid 0, Atchison 0-5), Fouled out—
Siebrandt, Rebounds—Kansas 35 (Good-
ness 20), Forwards—Kansas 35,
Assists—Kansas 18 (Hinrich 9), Kansas
St. 7 (Reid 3), Total fouls—Kansas 18,
Kansas St. 22, A-11,043.
Kansas sophomore forward Drew Gooden scored 17 points and snared 7 rebounds last night against Kansas State. Photo by Nick Krug/KANSAN
Gooden shines in return
By Zac Hunter
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
MANHATTAN — Drew Gooden is back.
After sitting out five games because of a fracture in his right wrist, Gooden had to wait a little longer against the Wildcats. He was not in the starting lineup last night and didn't see action until nearly five minutes were gone in the game.
But in his return to action in Kansas' 77-65 victory against Kansas State last night at Bramlage Coliseum, it was almost as if he never left. Gooden, a sophomore forward, scored 17 points in just 21 minutes and was just three rebounds away from a double-double.
"I always knew I was back," said Gooden, after Kansas improved to 22-5 and 11-4 in the Big 12 Conference. "In practice I knew I was all right. I knew I wasn't going to struggle."
"He was anxious to play." Kansas
coach Roy Williams said. "And the guys were anxious to have him back because they know how important he is to the team. I thought he gave us a big lift."
With 15:12 remaining in the first half, Williams sent Gooden to the scorer's table to check in. And from the beginning, Gooden produced against the Wildcats (9-17, 3-12).
His first order of business was to block a shot, and then he forced an over-the-back call on K-State forward Matt Siebrandt. That foul came into play later when Gooden forced the second of three fouls on Siebrandt in the first half. The fouls sent Siebrandt, who is one of four Wildcats averaging better than 10 points, to the bench for much of the first half.
journalism.
When Siebrandt checked back into the game during the second half, he picked up a quick foul that left him dangling on the edge of being resigned to the bench. Gooden then prodded
Siebrandt into his fifth foul and sent him to the bench as a permanent spectator with 11:35 remaining.
"I was going up every time and he was going for my shot, so I was just trying to get him in the air," Gooden said. "He got his fifth and I got him out of the game."
There was no apprehension about the wrist. Gooden wanted the ball early and often. And when he did get the ball, the 'Hawks got what they needed. He scored eight points in the first half
Gooden, who continues to lead the Big 12 in double-doubles, despite missing those five games, started both halves on the bench. But he came in and gave the Jayhawks much-needed life on the low blocks.
"I just tried to step up for my team." Gooden said. "Basically hustling after loose balls and trying to block shots."
He scored eight points in the first half and pulled down four rebounds.
"I didn't have any problems," he said. "I feel like I never hurt it."
—Edited by Brandy Strat
Kansas topples Texas A&M, White leads surge
By Brandon Stinnett
Kansan sportswriter
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Nikki White shattered her career-high point total, helping Kansas roll past Texas A&M last night at Reed Arena. 75-62.
White scored 20 points in her final regular season game as a Jayhawk. In the process, Kansas picked up its fifth Big 12 Conference win of the season.
White's previous career-high was 12 points at Missouri on Feb. 10.
"I go out every game trying to play hard," said White, whose legs were bothering her before the game. "This game my teammates encouraged me.
My teammates helped me get through the pain."
But Kansas coach Marian Washington wasn't feeling any pain after the victory, which was the Jayhawks' first on a Wednesday night this season.
"I was thrilled with our execution in the game," Washington said.
Nikki White:
scored a career-
high 20 points.
"I thought we did a great job sticking with our game plan."
Beating the Aggies (12-15, 2-14 Big 12) gives Kansas (11-16, 5-11) some moment heading into the Big 12 Tournament next week in Kansas City, Mo.
"It was real important for us to play well," Washington said. "It's never easy to win on the road."
Usually not. But the Aggies, who had dropped nine straight Big 12 games heading into the contest, are last in the conference standings. It also helped that the Jayhawks were red-hot from the field last night, hitting 57.9 percent of their shots partly because the Aggies allowed the Jayhawks easy baskets down low. Kansas made 24 of its 33 field goals from inside the paint.
Texas A&M coach Peggie Gillom said
the Aggies didn't defend Kansas inside well enough. White burned the Aggies for 12 points in the second half.
"Nikki White didn't do anything but get under the basket and score," Gillom said. "You just can't give up wide open shots under the basket."
White, a redshirt junior, decided not to come back for a fifth season at Kansas. Despite another year of eligibility, White has elected to hang it up to avoid the possibility of another injury-filled season.
Washington wishes she'd reconsider
Washington wishes she'd reconsider. "We were all trying to get her to stay for another year," she said.
- Edited by Jacob Roddy