Wednesday, January 17, 2001
The University Daily Kansan
Section B · Page 3
Big 12 Basketball Huskers' Ffriend a formidable foe
Cowgirls in must-win situation
Nebraska senior center Kimani Friend fights to get open against former Jayhawk Ashante Johnson during a game last season. The Jayhawks must contain Friend, who has the best shooting percentage in the nation, when they play the Cornhuskers at 8 p.m tonight in Allen Fieldhouse. Photo by Matt J. Dauphry/KANSAN
Coaches often shy away from labeling games a 'must-win,' but Halterman doesn't downplay the importance of tonight's game. With the daunted task of facing Texas Tech on Sunday, Halterman knows his team needs a win to boost morale.
By Brandon Stinnett sports @kansasan.com kansasan sportwrite
Kansas is 7-7 overall and 1-2 in the Big 12. The team is coming off perhaps its most complete performance of the season in a 78-67 victory against Kansas State. The Jayhawks shot 57.6 percent from the field and forced 29 Wildcat turnovers.
Senior guard Jennifer Jackson and senior forward Brooke Reves combined for 44 points in the game. Revs was nearly automatic from the field, knocking down 10-of-15 shots, and Jackson's 23 points was a new career-high.
Times are tough for the Oklahoma State women's basketball team. The Cowgirls are in the midst of a fourgame losing streak, and, at 0-4, sit last in the Big 12 Conference standings.
But a home victory tonight against Kansas would make things a lot easier on Oklahoma State heading into its match-up with No. 9 Texas Tech on Sunday.
In order for the Cowgirls to beat the Jayhawks, Oklahoma State coach Dick Halterman said they would have to start hitting shots. In four conference games this season, Oklahoma State is shooting just 35.6 percent.
"We're struggling a lot." Halterman said. "We feel like we're a decent basketball team, but we can't score any points."
- Edited by Megan Phelps
By Zac Hunter
By Zac Hunter
sports@kanson.com
Kansan writer
Wwhere wwould Nnebraska bbe wvwithout Kimani Friend?
Aside from having arguably the coolest name in the Big 12 Conference, the senior center is also a key component in one of the strongest frontcourts in the conference. Ffriend and the rest of the Nebraska front-court will present Kansas a tough task when both teams face-off at 8 p.m. tonight in Allen Fieldhouse.
Friend leads the nation in shooting percentage at 70.2 percent, thanks in part to a five-for-six performance against Texas on Saturday. His 18 points and 10 rebounds helped Nebraska to its biggest victory of the season, an 80-67 shelling of the Longhorns. It also helped to solidify his position as a preseason first-train All-Big 12 selection.
"He's got a bad combination for the opposing coaches in that he's got very good size and athleticism," said Kansas coach Roy Williams.
Ffriend is not the typical big man, in that he doesn't only hang out on the blocks, said Williams. He said Ffriend had the ability to step outside and use that quickness to get open looks at the basket.
He has scored in double figures in 12 of 14 games, but the 'Huskers are just 8-7 on the season.
Williams knows despite Nebraska's up-and-down play, the "Huskers will come in ready to play. Nebraska has played well on the road, narrowly losing to both Minnesota and Missouri in overtime.
"We've shown the ability to play well in stretches," said Nebraska coach Barry Collier.
Collier also said he hoped the 'Huskers would play well enough in all situations to give themselves a chance to win.
While the match-up of the Kansas front-court against Friend and senior forward Steffon Bradford will be important, the Jayhawks will need to be able to control senior guard Cookie Belcher if they want to win at home.
than wishbone," they might pull the upset. Belcher didn't play last season because of a wrist injury, but after the medical redshirt he is back and ready to tear up the Big 12 on both ends of the court. Despite averaging nearly 16 points per game, he is best
"I don't know how well we, or anybody else, matches up against Kansas," Collier said.
He also said they wouldn't focus on one specific matchup, and if the 'Huskers come to the Fieldhouse with "more backbone
known for his smothering defense.
Belcher leads the Big 12 in steals with three per game, and will be assigned to guard Kansas junior guard Jeff Boschee tonight.
— Edited by Matt Daugherty
Texas coach finds milestone in 1,000th game
The Associated Press
AUSTIN, Texas — About the only thing in women's basketball that hasn't changed much during the last 32 years is Texas coach Jody Conradt.
Since coaching her first game in 1989, Conradt has seen the sport evolve into a business and a thriving element of big-time college athletics. Along the way, she's won a national championship, a record 760 games and earned induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Tenight, Conradt will mark another major milestone when she will become the first women's coach to work 1,000 games when the No. 17 Longhorns play at Kansas State.
"Everything outside the court has changed,"said 59-year-old Conradt. "There are people in the seats, (reporters) are here, the attention that women's sports has now. And the credibility that it has now, all of that has changed."
Only 20 men's coaches have reached the 1,000-game mark. The active ones are St. Mary's Jim Phelan, Georgia State's Lefty Driesell and New Mexico State's Lou Henson.
Conradt began coaching in 1969 at Sam Houston State, but she actually wasn't hired to be a basketball coach. She was a physical education teacher who coached the team for free. At the time, coaching the college game was considered a step down from high school, where the coaches got paid for their services, Conradt said.
But the free labor paid off. Within four years, she had become the coach at University of Texas-Arlington. In 1977, the Longhorns came calling.
In 25 seasons in Austin, Conradt's teams have reached postseason play 22 times. In 1986, the Longhorns became the first undefeated national champions in women's history, going 32-0.
In 1997, she became the first women's coach to reach 700 victories. The next year, she was inducted into the Naimish Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.
"She's seen it all, done it all and she's won everything," said Texas assistant coach Kathy Harston.
thing," said Texas assistant coach Kathy Harston. Conradt said the 1,000-game milestone is special, but she didn't plan to commemorate it. She joked she would be looking over her shoulder in case anyone tried to douse her with a bucket of water.
Conradt said she had no plans to retire.
"I'm having a really good time," she said. "I'm still very passionate about what I do."
The KU School of Fine Arts and Kansas Union present
Brown Bag Classics
Make your lunch a classic. Join the Music & Dance Department for free noon-time performances. Just bring your lunch because drinks are on the Kansas Union.
January 17 Abigail Dinin, Piano
January 24 Mike Hall, Prof. of Trombone
January 31 Ben Sayevich, Prof of Violin, Peter Chun,
Prof of Viola, & John Boulton, Prof of Flute
February 7 Ed Laut, Prof. Of Cello,
& Toni Marie Montgomery, Piano (Dean SFA)
February 21 Jack Winerock, Prof of Piano
February 28 Jazz Combo I
March 14 Larry Maxey, Prof of Clarinet,
Alice Downs, Prof of Piano, & Linda Maxey Piano
March 28 Sarah Fox and Guy Montes, flute
April 4 Julie Mealiff, Piano
April 11 Paul Stevens, Prof. of Horn
April 25 Jessica Smythe, Piano
May 2 Allyson Walters, Piano
Wednesdays, 12:30 pm to 1 pm, Alderson Auditorium, Level 4, Kansas Union
Piano courtesy of Vaccaro's Piano and Organ of Overland Park School of Fine Arts University of Kansas
CHEERIOS 15 Oz. Box, REGULAR ONLY