Section:
B
The University Daily Kansan
Senior distance runner Charlie Gruber earned Kansan Athlete of the Week honors after setting school and Anschutz Sports Pavilion records in the 1,000-meter run at the Kansas Invitational.
Sports
Athlete-of-the-Week
Inside: Eric Chenowith apologized yesterday for his comments about Kansas basketball fans.
SEE PAGE 2B
Inside: The Kansas soccer team announced the signing of eight recruits yesterday.
SEE PAGE 2B
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9. 2001 For comments, contact Shawn Hutchinson or Shawn Linenberger at 864-4858 or sports@kansan.com
KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
Kansas baseball to begin season at Round Rock
Senior forward Kenny Gregory dodges a Texas defender. The Jayhawks hope to rebound from past losses when they face Oklahoma State at 3 p.m. tomorrow at Allen Fieldhouse. Kansan file photo
By Ryan Malashock sports@kansan.com Kansan Sportswriter
The Kansas baseball team begins its season tonight at the Round Rock College Express Classic in Round Rock, Texas.
Kansas is scheduled to battle Texas Christian at 6 p.m.. The two teams have prepared for the Classic in distinctly different ways.
Although the Jayhawks have practiced only twice outside on their home diamond in the preseason, the Horned Frogs have six games under their belt. Texas Christian is coming off a 9-6 loss to Missouri Southern, but does own a victory against No. 20 Texas.
Kansas coach Bobby Randall said the Jayhawks would be ready to play tonight, but that playing six games as opposed to practicing outside twice was a definite帮.
"It's certainly a big advantage," Randall said. "But you always say in baseball that hope springs eternal, and our plan is still to overcome it and win."
Southwest Texas State and Charlotte round out the four-team field in the Round Rock Classic. Randall said the Jayhawks had a difficult weekend ahead of them.
"We're going to face a pretty stiff challenge down there with three teams that have more experience at this moment of the season than we do." Randall said. "We've worked on the fundamentals of the game, but we haven't played the game, and the game is a fundamental."
Senior Pete Smart will draw the start tonight and face off against Texas Christian senior Chad Durham. Smart pitched a complete-game, three-hit shutout in Kansas' 3-0 season-opening victory at Texas-San Antonio last season. Smart agreed with Randall that Texas Christian was more experienced at the moment, but also said that the pitching staff was not as affected.
"Not being outside might be a small factor, but fortunately here at Kansas we've got a great facility to work out in," Smart said. "Our pitchers will be ready come the first game."
Randall's main concern entering the season was the inexperience of the pitching staff past Smart and senior reliever Sam Gish. Randall is leaning on two junior-college transfers. Justin Wilcher and Doug Lantz, to fill in the pitching holes this season. Wilcher heads into the season as Kansas' No. 2 starter and is scheduled to pitch tomorrow against Southwest Texas State. Lantz will be one of the first Jayhawks out of the bullpen and is a potential candidate for the closer role.
Randall has an easier task of selecting a starting lineup in the field. He said Casey Spanish at second base, John Nelson at shortstop, Ryan Klocksien at third base, Brent Del Chiaro at catcher, and Doug Dreher at centerfield all had spots locked up in the lineup. Beyond those five starters, Randall said the remaining spots were up for grabs.
Beyond Smart, Wilcher, Lantz and Gish, the forecast for this season's pitching staff is fuzzy. Randall said Kansas' No. 3 starter position was still up for grabs, and sophomore Dan Olson and juniors Jeff Davis and Jake Wright were the three guys fighting for the spot.
Freshman Matt Tribble and junior-college transfer Justin Davis will split time at first base. In the outfield, senior Jesse Gremminger, sophomores Jason Apphun and Matt Van Alsburg, and Tribble and Davis will fight for the remaining two outfield spots. Randall said the Round Rock Classic would give the coaching staff the opportunity to see who could perform at which positions.
"We're going to give everybody the chance to play this weekend so we can see what they can do," Randall said. "I don't even have a batting order set, so this weekend is going to tell us a lot."
Kansas' game against Southwest Texas State is at 2 p.m. tomorrow. The Jayhawks will round out the weekend with a noon game on Sunday against Charlotte.
- Edited by Melissa Cooley
Emotional game ahead
MEN'S BASKETBALL
'Hawks hope for win after tough losses
By Chris Wristen
sports@kansan.com
Kansas sportwriter
It would be hard to blame the No. 5 Jayhawks if their focus heading into tomorrow's home game against Oklahoma State wasn't on "the game."
Heck, the rest of the country didn't focus on the game aspect of either the Cowboys' victory on Monday against Missouri or their overtime loss at Nebraska on Wednesday.
It's been hard for people to focus on the game when last month's deaths of two Oklahoma State players and eight traveling party members has remained the center of attention.
Kansas coach Roy Williams vowed to have his team's focus in check, though, and said he thought the Cowboys were trying to do the same.
"I think they would like to have closure on it," Williams said. "But it's more that people won't allow them to have it because people want to show their care and concern."
The Big 12 Conference shows its support for Oklahoma State by having a moment of silence before each conference game in memory of the deceased. Coaches and media members wear orange and black ribbons, and Big 12 teams wear a band around the sleeve of their jerseys to show support.
But Kansas junior forward Jeff Carey said the Jayhawks still had a game to play at 3 p.m. tomorrow in Allen Fieldhouse.
"Once you are on the floor that is all behind you," Carey said. "We are out there to play basketball. I think the Big 12 and all the teams have really shown a lot of concern about that and they don't expect us to feel sorry for them at all."
Although senior center Eric Chenowith said the plane crash wouldn't be on the
"I think we are disappointed. We lost two big games, but it is not the end of the world. We are only a half-game out of first place and we still have another chance
at Iowa State and Missouri." Eric Chenowith
senior center
Jayhawks' minds after the opening tip, he said that it would play a key role in the game's tempo. He noted the emotion the Cowboys have played with against Missouri as an example of that.
"They are emotionally charged right now," Chenwih said. "They have a lot of momentum coming into this game. We are going to have to match their emotional
level and just go out and play.
level and just go out and play.
"I feel you off the court. On the court you can't feel sorry for them. I don't think they would want that."
Focusing on the game, Oklahoma State presents numerous threats to Kansas. Junior shooting guard Maurice Baker is the second-leading scorer in the Big 12, averaging 20.2 points and seven rebounds per game. Junior forward Fredrik Jonzen, a former Shawnee Mission East player, averages 16.2 points and 6.8 boards.
Beyond that is a powerful trio of sophomores from Kansas. Point guard Victor Williams (Kansas City), forward Andre Williams (Kansas City) and guard Melvin Sanders (Liberal) combine for 27 points and 15 rebounds.
Kansas will turn to sophomore forward Drew Gooden on the inside. Gooden has led the Jayhawks in scoring during the last three games and will be complimented by sophomore forward Nick Collison. Collison blocked four shots in Monday's loss to
KU vs. DSU
For players, stats and predictions.
See page 3B
No. 12 Iowa State and leads the team in that category with 35 blocks. Chenowith is second with 34.
Additional significance to tomorrow's game is that Kansas (18-3, 7-2) has lost two of its last three games. After tearing through 10 straight wins, the 'Hawks are in their first slump of the season. But Chenwith said the team's confidence wasn't shaken.
"I think we are disappointed," he said. "We lost two big games, but it is not the end of the world. We are only a half-game out of first place and we still have another chance at Iowa State and Missouri."
Oklahoma State (14-5, 5-3) comes first though and Chenowith said the Ja hawks were ready and focused on that game.
Edited by Courtney Craigm
Kansas in dire need of win
By Jessie Meyer
With a team dwindled down to 11 eligible players, the Jayhawks cannot afford to have anyone, especially their starters, in foul
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas women's basketball team needs a win — and the Javhawk need it now.
An overabundance of personal fouls has plagued the Jayhawks, and essentially cost them the game Wednesday against No. 19 Colorado. Not only are teams scoring points without the clock running, but Kansas' lack of depth glares when the starters — Jennifer Jackson, Jaclyn Johnson, Brooke Reves, Selena Scott and KC Hilgenkamp — have to take a seat.
With No. 11 Texas Tech and No. 9 Iowa State on the docket next week, tomorrow's game against Missouri is going to be crucial for Kansas' momentum going into the end of the season and the Big 12 Tournament.
Kansas (9-12 overall and 3-7 in the Big 12 Conference) tips off against the Tigers (14-7 and 5-5) at 3 p.m. tomorrow at the Hearnes Center in Columbia, Mo.
"Missouri's going to be a big game," said Kansas coach Marian Washington. "It's going to be a game that I think we can win if we can stay disciplined in a couple areas."
trouble.
"We're just at a point when we're going to let everybody have an opportunity." Washington said. "We're still looking for production from our bench."
Every eligible player saw action Wednesday, but non-starters totaled just seven of the Hawks 60 points.
There can be no letdown against the Tigers, who bring an arsenal of scorers and offensive threats. Senior Amanda Lassiter leads Missouri, averaging 19.8 points and 7.1 boards per game. The forward, who has a teamhigh 57 blocked shots and 67 steals this season, is a threat from behind the arc and in the paint.
Because the bench has failed to produce, the starting five has been forced to play upwards of 30 minutes — leaving the Jayhawks sluggish late in the game.
"I'm sure they'll be amped up for our game," Johnson said. "If we hit our outside shots, we'll come home with a victory. If we don't, we'll come home with an 'I.'"
With all of the obstacles and setbacks the Jayhawks have endured this season, they are still optimistic about the remaining six regular-season games.
"We're just hopeful that we can continue to get some positives from this year," Washington said. "I don't like being in this situation. We are in that rebuilding period, and it's not been easy for any of us. But there's no ques-
Jaclyn Johnson tried for a basket against two Colorado defenders on Wednesday night. The Jayhawks will play Missouri at 3 p.m. tomorrow at the Hearnes Center. Photo by Laurie Sisk / KANSAN
— Edited by Doug Poasy
tion, we're going to get it turnea around."
KU fans should show respect this weekend, not usual jeers
Students rattle off jeers and insults galore in hopes that visiting players are rattled and more concerned with the crowd than their opponents.
Whether you're in Allen Fieldhouse, Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium, Missouri's Hearnes Center, or UCLA's Pauley Pavilion, student sections are similar.
Most of the comments are all in fun, just a part of the game. "Overrated" and "Air ball" are staple cheers, while other cheers, if creative or catchy enough, are met with praise.
Before the Iowa State game Monday night, the pregame chant, "Tinsley sucks," was neither creative nor catchy, but simply stupid — the future NBA player scored 18 points, including three deadly three-point shots. Still, it's one of those cheers that's "part of the game."
Unfortunately, lines must be formed around everything, and Kansas fans crossed one against Iowa State last Monday.
Apparently "G.E.D. D." was also chanted, which I found amusing at the time after learning Tinsley was talking trash to some of his Jayhawk counterparts. After gathering all the information, it's clear that sportsmanship was tested.
Students chanted "high school dropout," a cheer directed at Tinsley. The guard's high school struggles shouldn't be ammunition. A letter to the Kansan by Trevor Loney, Nevada, Mo., senior, which can be seen on Page 3B, brought the incident to my attention.
"That's all right, that's OK, you'll be working for us some day" has always been a favorite, too. Maybe it's a little more harsh after hearing the Tinsley incident.
College students are supposed to become intellectual fountains. It would make sense that these people could create witty phrases.
But at a time when sportsmanship is in question, silence is more important than better phrases.
Tomorrow, Oklahoma State will come to the fieldhouse to take on Kansas. The Cowboys will continue its season without two players and a handful of personnel who died in a Colorado plane crash two weeks ago. Ribbons on chests and patches on jerseys nav respect to those on the plane.
Oklahoma State coach Eddie Sutton appreciates the gestures, but also wants the incident to fade into the orange Stillwater sunset. It's logical for Sutton and his players — they have to focus on their opponents.
Kansas fans can show respect for the team and still treat the game as any other. Another letter to the Kansan had a suggestion. Students could either stand in silence or applaud the Oklahoma State bench when its starting lineup is introduced instead of doing the traditional "newspaper reading."
The Iowa State chant wasn't the worst thing to occur in a college basketball game, but it was an embarrassment. Students here aren't all heartless. Heck, they've been known to have a sense of humor, i.e. "shorts on backwards" when former Oklahoma State guard Doug Gottlieb had a problem suiting up in the fieldhouse two years ago.
With that in mind, fans should give the Cowboys a better pomp and circumstance than they gave Tinsley.
Linberberger is a Washington, Kan., senior in journalism.
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