Friday, February 2, 2001
The University Daily Kansan
Section A • Page 7
'Hawks fight for wins
By Jessie Meyer sports @kansan.com
Kansas sportwriter
The battle continues tomorrow for the Kansas women's basketball team as it struggles to stay afloat in the Big 12 Conference.
The Jayhawks (8-11 overall and 2-6 in the Big 12) meet up with the No. 21 Texas Longhorns at 5 p.m. tomorrow at the Frank Erwin center in Austin, Texas, hoping to rebound from the blow suffered against Nebraska on Wednesday night at Allen Fieldhouse.
"I think we've got a good shot at going in and giving Texas a run for their money on their home floor," said senior guard Jennifer Jackson. "We've got to do some little things. We're showing some things in practice that we're not showing in games."
The Jayhawks have struggled most with rebounding and keeping opponents from scoring second-chance points. Kansas coach Marian Washington said failure to bring the ball off the glass, combined with the lack of scoring off the bench, has taken the 'Hawks out of close games.
The Longhorns do not bring an
overabundance of height, which could help the Jayhawks grab some extra boards. But the Longhorns bring a balanced, fast-paced transition attack — one the Jayhawks will need to slow to stay in the game.
"It's always difficult to pull wins off on the road," Washington said. "I think that if we can just limit our turnovers and play the defense we need, we'll at least be in the ball game."
Failure to execute the little points of the game has repeatedly plagued the Jayhawks this season.
"It's unfortunate that so many things have challenged us this year," Washington said. "You can't imagine what it's like for them in the locker room after every game — especially the senior class that has experienced nothing but winning here."
The senior class of Jackson,
Brooke Reves and Jaclyn Johnson
finished with 11-5 conference
records in each of the past three
seasons and have not lost more
than 10 games per year.
Jackson said. "Until we really take that seriously, then we're not going to get too many victories."
But this season the 'Hawks haven't had much practice celebrating victories. They have won only twice since Dec. 21 when the Jayhawks exploded against Mississippi Valley State 116-34—the largest point margin in Kansas history.
And the outlook for the last eight conference games reveals an uphill climb for the Jayhawks. They will go head-to-head with five teams, including Texas, which are currently ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 this month. The 'Hawks will also face Colorado and Missouri, both of which are currently receiving votes.
The Jayhawks have not lost more than six conference games since the 1990-91 season, when they lost seven in the Big Eight Conference and 13 overall. Not only could this year's team snap that streak with one more loss, but it could rack up the most losses in Kansas women's basketball history — the most coming in the 1974-75 season when the 'Hawks lost 17.
—Edited by Sydney Wallace
Texas loses guard to injuries
Bv Brandon Stinnett
By Brandon Stinnett sports@kansan.com Kansan sportswriters
Texas is 11-1 at home this season, but the Longhorns will be missing something at the Erwin Center tomorrow.
Sophomore guard Alisha Sare, who had a strong freshman campaign last year, quit the team on Sunday after continuing injury problems.
"We obviously are disappointed in Alisha's decision," said Texas coach Jody Conradt. "It takes a certain level of commitment and sacrifice to play and compete at the collegiate basketball level, and it is not for everyone. While Alisha was sidelined earlier this year, rehabilitating her Achilles tendon injury, she had time to reflect on her future with basketball. She expressed to me that it wasn't in her heart to continue."
Sare, who had been out since November rehabilitating the injury, will remain on scholarship through the 2001 spring semester. She appeared in 11 games off the bench, averaging 2.9 points and .9 rebounds in 9.2 minutes per game. As a freshman last season, Sare finished second on the team in scoring, averaging 10.4 points. She played in all 34 games and started nine.
Sare said she intended to finish her degree at Texas.
"In order for me to excel academically, it is in my best interests to leave basketball behind. I only wish my teammates the very best," Sare said.
Texas will enter tomorrow night's game against Kansas without Sare, but the Longhorns are three days removed from an emotional, comeback 65-62 victory against No. 23 Colorado.
Texas (16-6 and 4-4 in the Big 12 Conference) erased a five point second-half deficit to beat the Buffaloes. Senior guard JoRuth Woods led all scorers with a season-high 25 points. She made a
career-high 11 field goals, shooting 11 of 17 from the floor.
Texas senior center Carla Littleton provided a lift for the Longhorns down the stretch. With the score 62-61 and 45 seconds remaining, Littleton blocked a shot that would have given Colorado the lead. And with 14 seconds remaining, Littleton scored on a put-back attempt to give Texas a three-point advantage.
Conradt said the Longhorns benefited from strong senior leadership.
"It was at times a struggle, but tonight was an early Senior Night for us," Conrad said after the Colorado game. "JoRuth Woods and Carla Littleton made some crucial plays. JoRuth really rallied the team, and Carla got a big block and a put-back for us in the final minute. Since our defense was pretty solid, I figured that we would win if we could score some points, and JoRuth answered that emphatically for us."
— Edited by Melissa Cooley
Kansas forward Jaclyn Johnson shoots a one-handed jumper over a Kansas State defender. The Jayhawks will play No. 21 Texas at 5 p.m. tomorrow in Austin. Photo by Christina Neff/KANSAN
Indoor track team has first performance at home
Kansas thrower Jennifer Foster practices in Anschutz Sports Pavilion earlier this season. Anschutz will be the site of the only indoor home meet for the Jayhawks this season. Photo by Christina Neff/KANSAN
By Michael Sudholter
Kansan sportswriter
sports@kansan.com
Kansas indoor track and field fans have one chance to see the team perform at home — the Kansas Invitational at 9 a.m. tomorrow in Anschutz Sports Pavilion.
Coach Stanley Redwine said the meet would be a great chance for Kansas sports fans to see their squad in action.
"We are excited to compete in our first meet at home this season," Redwine said. "It will be a great opportunity for the public to see what we do, and it is excellent for the sport to be exposed."
The Jayhawks will join 41 teams from the Midwest. The teams range from Big 12 opponents Kansas State and Oklahoma State, in-state foes Wichita State and Baker; and smaller colleges including Wentworth (Missouri)
Junior College, Lincoln (Missouri), Harding (Arkansas) and Missouri Southern.
Redwine said the team would continue to work toward major team goals such as attending the Big 12 Championships on Friday, Feb. 23, and Saturday, Feb. 24, in Lincoln, Neb., and the NCAA Championships on Friday, March 9 and Saturday, March 10, in Fayetteville, Ark.
"We have a goal to improve day by day and meet by meet," Redwine said. "Individually everyone wants to run their personal best and it would be great for our athletes to go to the Big 12 meet on a positive note."
Many of the Jayhawks plan to enter Lincoln, Neb., and Fayetteville, Ark., with flying colors. Senior All-American Scott Russell, juniors Charlie Gruber and Ryan Speers, and senior Andy Tate have all qualified automatically or provisionally for the NCAA Competition in Fayetteville. Redwine said he would not be surprised if more of his athletes qualified in one of the upcoming meets.
Jabari Wamble, who won both the 200-meter and 400-meter dashes and ran a leg on the winning 4x400-meter relay last weekend, may be the next one to punch his ticket to the NCAA Championships.
"As Jabari Wamble gets better, his times will get better, and there is a chance he will qualify for the NCAAs." Redwine said.
Redwine also said senior Andrea Branson had a solid chance of returning to the national competition this season.
"Branson has qualified for the NCAAs in the past, and it has been one of her goals again this season," Redwine said. "A lot of our athletes have the opportunity to qualify for NCAAs this season."
— Edited by Courtney Craigmile
KANSAS TENNIS Tennis coach starts new season tomorrow
The Kansas women's tennis team will open its season with dual matches against Utah and Southwest Missouri State this weekend.
Former Jayhawk assistant Kilmeny Waterman will make her debut as the Kansas coach against Utah (1-2) at 11 a.m. tomorrow. The Jayhawks will then take on Southwest Missouri (0-2) at 11 a.m. on Sunday. Both matches are at Alvamar Racquet Club in Lawrence.
NCAA BASKETBALL
Aaron Johnson
Indiana State seeks essential win for title
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — The question hasn't changed in at least a year. Now, more than halfway through the Missouri Valley Conference schedule, everyone around the league still wonders whether anyone can catch Indiana State.
The defending champion Sycamores have only four conference road games left, and they've already won three of their first five away from Hulman Center. At home, they have won 16 straight conference games and 22 in a row overall.
Indiana State made an NCAA appearance last season, earning an at-large berth after winning the MVC regular-season title but losing to Creighton in the conference tournament.
The Sycamores look like front-runners to repeat, with an 8-2 conference record and 16-5 overall mark after Wednesday night's 80-64 victory against Southwest Missouri State. Kelyn Block scored 20 points, Menser had 17 points and Renn added 15 to the victory.
"I think it's too silly to talk about," he said. "I don't even know if those RPI guys have ordered their Ouija boards or not. The whole thing will be decided in the end by some guys who never got picked for a team in phys ed. So were not going to worry about it."
Unless Indiana State wins the conference tournament, however, an NCAA bid could depend on its Ratings Percentage Index, a selection process coach Royce Waltman is not fond of.
MLB
Royals keep McCarty, others in arbitration
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Dave McCarty and the Kansas City Royals agreed yesterday to a $1.6 million, two-year contract, avoiding an arbitration hearing that had been scheduled for Friday, Feb. 9.
McCarty, who made $252,000 last season, gets $750,000 this year and $650,000 in 2002.He set career highs last season with 12 homers, 53 RBI and a .278 average, playing mostly first base and the outfield. McCarty had asked for $1.1 million in arbitration and had been offered $725,000.
McCarty is the second Kansas City player to sign among the five who filed for arbitration last month. First baseman Mike Sweeney agreed Jan. 18 to a $13 million, two-year contract.
Catcher Gregg Zaun and pitchers Jeff Suppan and Brian Meadows are still in arbitration.
Associated Press
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