Section:
B
The University Daily Kansan
When was the last time Nebraska defeated the Kansas men's basketball team in Allen Fieldhouse?
Trivia question
Sports
Inside: Nebraska offensive threat Kimani Friend comes into tonight's game with the nation's highest scoring percentage. SEE PAGE 3B
SEE PAGE 3B
Inside: Verbal commitments show signs of a strong recruiting class for the Kansas football team.
SEE PAGE 4B
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2001 For comments, contact Shawn Hutchinson or Shawn Linenberger at 864-4858 or sports@kansan.com WWW.KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
'Hawks await 'Husker homecoming
Kansas guard Jeff Boschela launches a jumper past a Nebraska defender. The Jayhawks tip off against the 'Huskers at 8 p.m. tonight at Allen fieldhouse. Kansa file photo
By Chris Wristen
sports@kansan.com
Kansas writerwriter
When No. 5 Kansas makes its first home appearance in more than a month at 8 tonight against Nebraska, the Jayhawks are expecting a boost. Still, coach Roy Williams knows his team must be prepared.
His Jayhawks, 13-1 overall and 2-0 in the Big 12 Conference, are riding a six-game winning streak and just beat No. 22 Oklahoma on the road. The 'Hawks lead the nation in field-goal percentage, hitting 52 percent of their shots. They're also returning to the friendly confines of Allen Fieldhouse, a place that has seen six Kansas victories so far this season. Fans were treated to a 92-69 pounding of Tulsa the last time the Jayhawks played there.
Following Kansas' four-game road trip, Williams said his team was eager to return home. "At the same time, we'd better not feel too comfortable." Williams said. "Just because
somebody's coming into Allen Fieldhouse doesn't mean they're going to roll over and play dead for us."
Nebraska, 8-7 and 1-1, has given no indication of croaking, either. In fact, the 'Huskers just upset then-ranked Texas after losing by two at Missouri two weeks ago. They're also fourth in the nation in field goal at 51 percent. This is the Nebraska team Williams said he expected since the season began.
"With Friend and Bradford up front, their post players aren't going to have to worry about having to guard our big guys because they're just as big," Williams said.
Those big guys are senior center Kimani Friend, a pre-season All-Big 12 selection, and senior forward Steffon Bradford, the No.2 rebounder in the conference. In terms of size, they match up well with Kansas. Bradford is 6-foot-6 and Friend is 6-11.
"Nebraska's plus-5 in rebounding margin and they've got the size inside that makes it hard to
KANSAS (13-1, 2-0) VS. NEBRASKA (8-7, 1-1)
When/Where: 8 p.m. tonight at Allen Fieldhouse.
TV/Radio: Channel 4 (FOX), 980 AM, 105.9 FM.
All-time series: Kansas leads 147-70.
Last meeting: Kansas beat Nebraska 83-58 on Feb. 23 in Lincoln, Neb.
Coaches: Barry Collier (8-7 at Nebraska in first year; 204-137 overall); Roy Williams (342-83 in 13th year at Kansas).
**Intrada probable starters**
Pos. No. PPG RPG
G 30 Cookie Belcher 16.1, 5.2
G 3 Cary Cochran 9.9, 2.7
G 10 Kevin Augustine 6.4, 1.6
F 15 Steffon Bradford 13.5, 8.9
C 15 Kimani Friend 14.6, 7.1
move inside," Williams said.
"We need to get the ball inside and it is going to be one heck of a battle on the backboards just to rebound the basketball."
Kansas probable starters
Pos. No. PPG RPG
G 10 Kirk Hinrich 10.9, 4.4
G 13 Jeff Boschese 9.5, 1.5
F 20 Kenny Gregory 16.9, 7.6
F 4 Nick Collison 12.9, 5.9
C 44 Eric Chenowith 11.4, 9.4
Friend is Williams' biggest concern, literally and figuratively, but Jeff Bosche may be Nebraska's. Boschee took a step toward ending his season-long shooting slump Saturday when he hit four of eight 3-point
attempts, and said he planned to keep shooting tonight.
Nebraska will try to counter with Cookie Belcher, a senior who leads the conference in steals.
"You've got to have the shooter's mentality and keep shooting," Bosche said. "Going into the Oklahoma game it finally came true, and hopefully it will continue."
- Edited by Joshua Richards
Baseball team in shape for spring practice
By Ryan Malashock
Kanson Sportswriter
The four months of weight lifting, conditioning, and practicing without a game in sight is finished for the Kansas baseball team.
With the possibility of returning to postseason action for the first time since 1996, the Kansas baseball team began spring practice on Monday.
"The best part of the offseason was that we had seven seniors who were so good in the offseason." Randall said. "They've bought into our system and led the rest of the team."
Sixth-year coach Bobby Randall said strong senior leadership was required for a team to improve drastically in the offseason.
The baseball team participated in five weeks of fall practice, which consisted of three hours of practice six days a week. Following fall practice, the team alternated between weight lifting and running four days a week and individual workouts three days a week. Randall said the unprecedented commitment shown by this year's team had paid off.
"This year we reported to practice in better shape than any other year." Randall said. "Fall practice went well, we worked hard in the weight room, and over break the players did their programs. We wanted them to be task masters and technicians in the off season, and that's what they were."
With a team consisting of seven seniors and 16 newcomers, Randall had the task of integrating an experienced nucleus with many unknown faces.
Senior shortstop John Nelson said the fourmonth off-season workouts allowed the entire team to get closer.
Randall said a key concern going into fall practice was for the team to figure out its pitching staff for the season. Senior Pete Smart is the lone starter returning from last year's squad, and senior Sam Gish and junior Dan Olson are the only returning pitchers with extensive experience out of the bullpen.
"Everybody is close and works together good," Nelson said. "We've got a lot of talent, and a lot of players stepped up in the fall. Everyone stuck to it from the first day to the last."
While the offseason didn't necessarily answer all of Randall's pitching questions, several newcomers, including junior-college transfers Justin Wilcher, Doug Lantz and Jake Wright, and freshman Matt Tribble made their presence felt. Returning pitchers senior Eric Thompson and juniors Grant Williams and Jeff Davis will also be in the mix.
Kansas' first action of the season comes on Feb. 9-11 in the Round Rock Tournament in Round Rock, Texas. With more than three weeks remaining until then, Randall said the team's off-season effort would continue to be beneficial.
"Our goal was to be in shape to play in a game on the day we reported back," Randall said. "At least 90 percent of the players were in that shape on Monday, and we'll only benefit from that."
Defense key for Jayhawks
- Edited by Megan Phelps
By Jessie Meyer
sports@kansan.com
Kansas sportwriter
The Kansas women's basketball team hopes to use its newfound defensive fire to corral the Oklahoma State Cowgirls tonight and scramble back into the running for the Big 12 Conference Championship.
What the Jayhawks consider to be a new season will start at 7 p.m. in Stillwater, Okla., when the Jayhawks (7-7, 1-2) saddle up against the Oklahoma State Cowgirls (8-7, 0-4) in their fourth conference game of the season.
Kansas' victory Saturday against Kansas State — one that halted a fourgame losing streak — restored confidence to a team that started the season 6-2 but faltered in recent weeks.
"It's always nice to have a day off where you don't have to think about how bad you played all day," senior guard Jennifer Jackson said. "Honestly, we have a really good chance of winning this conference still. We're really going to have to take care of the rest of our games, and to do that you have to take it one game at a time."
nansas senior forward Brooke Reves guards against a St. Joseph's player during a game Dec. 2. The Jayhawks hope the same improved defense that forced 29 turnovers against Kansas State on Sunday continues to shine when they play at Oklahoma State at 7 tonight in Stillwater, Okla. Photo by Selena Jabara/KANSAN
Before the Hawks think ahead to March, they have to focus on the task at hand. To break the Cowgirls, the Jayhawks will need to maintain the aggressiveness and defensive intensity they showed against the Wildcats — a defensive attack that forced 29 turnovers and took the Wildcats out of the game.
"I think we're going to have to play the same kind of up-in-your-face kind of defense that we played against Kansas State," Jackson said. "I think that's going to be the key to the rest of our victories."
But unlike the Wildcats, the Cowgirls have no players posing serious offensive threats. Junior forward Kara Faulk leads the team in scoring, averaging 9.5 points per game with 7.6 rebounds. Oklahoma State has no scors averaging double-digits, but there are seven Cowgirls averaging seven or more points per game.
"We're constantly working on it," Washington said. "Every single day we're trying to get better. When you have Hac on the bench and Brooke in foul trouble, we have a lot off the floor."
Kansas coach Marian Washington said defense was a concern because seniors Jaclyn Johnson and Brooke Reves had found foul trouble in big games this season.
With the Cowgirls on a three-game losing steak, the Jayhawks must capitalize on the slump. Johnson said she saw this game as a chance for Kansas to move ahead of Texas A&M (11-4, 1-3) in the conference standings.
"I think that we should definitely win this game, but it's all on us," Johnson said. "If we come out and play like we did against Baylor, we're going to lose, but if we come out and play we did
Saturday night we're definitely going to win."
Washington said to be successful in the 13 remaining conference games, players would have to step up and do what they were supposed to do to bring the team together.
"When we get on the same page," Washington said. "I think we can play with most any team."
KANSAS (7-7, 1-2) VS. OKLAHOMA STATE (8-7, 0-4)
When/Where: 7 p.m. at Gallagher-lba
Arena, Stillwater, OKa.
Alliance time. Kansas leads 24.15 and
All-time series: Kansas leads 24-15 and has won eight straight.
Last meeting: Kansas beat Oklahoma State
7:55-58 on Feb. 6 in Lawrence
Cooches: Dick Halteman (309-210 at OSU in 18th year; 558-244 overall);
Marian Washington (530-294 in 28th
Oklahoma State probable starters:
Pos. No. PBG RPG
Pos. No. PPG RPG
G 4 Jessica Spinner 2.3, 2.8
G 24 Maharon Roberts 7.3, 3.3
F 22 Kara Faulk 9.5, 7.6
F 20 Failh Uhchemens 7.5, 3.3
C 55 Trijah Skbke 7.9, 4.6
Kansas probable starters:
Pos. No. PPG RPG
G 15 Jennifer Jackson 8.4, 3.3
G 22 Selena Scott 5.4, 2.2
G 11 KC Hilgenkamp 8.5, 2.4
F 5 Brooke Reves 15, 7
F 5 Johanna Johnson 16, 9, 8
Sports Columnist
- F 42 Jaclyn Johnson 16.9, 8.1
Brian Hanni
sports@kansan.com
.
Super Bowl quarterbacks lack savvy
Several things have become synonymous with the kind of football that's played every January in the NFL.
You can always count on big plays, exciting finishes and the best QBs in pro football leading their teams on championship runs.
The past decade has spoiled us with Super Bowl matchups that included some of the greatest QBs of all time. The title games of the 1990s featured names such as Montana, Elway, Aikman, Kelly, Young and Favre (all of whom will be making trips to Canton for the Hall of Fame).
Second tier studs Bledsee, Warner and McNair also made trips to pro football's main event in the 90s, making just about every matchup an exciting exhibition with big-name talent. Having a blue chip signal caller is certainly not a prerequisite for a Super Bowl berth these days (see Stan Humphries and Neil O'Donnell), but it has become a bit of a recent trend.
Although great football minds have always preached that defense wins championships, other gridiron gurus will tell you a great leader is needed offensively to take home the hardware. No matter what the level of play, the quarterback has always been the key position in football.
Teams led by run-of-the-mill quarterbacks were rarely found still playing in January. Big games have always called for big names at the quarterback spot, until this year.
Super Bowl XXXV will have no "Namath vs. Unitas" or "Montana vs. Elway" attraction. This year millions of football fans across the globe will get to see a bout more to the tune of Beavis vs. Butthead.
That might be a little harsh, but the Dilfer vs. Collins battle definitely lacks some luster. Although both QBs might someday find their way to Cleveland, Ohio, any trips to Canton seem out of the question. Both players are still young but have already received bad raps around the league.
Trent Dilfer is known more for his skill on the links than for his prowess on the football field. He made more birds last month than he did touchdowns in six years as a Buccaneer.
In Carolina, Collins got labeled a racist and his teammates felt he gave up on them. To top it off, the one-time ProBowler was arrested for drunk driving and later waived by the franchise that spent their first-ever draft pick on him.
But then the sad songs of our protagonists began to brighten up a bit. After a stint with the Saints and ten games as a backup in the Big Apple, Kerry Collins got the nod as the Giants main man. Trent Dilfer traded in his set of golf clubs for a roster spot in Baltimore and as soon as Tony Banks was diagnosed with the turnover bug, the starting job was his.
Both players' careers were left for dead after striking out big time with their original teams. It looked as if the only quarterbacking these two would do in the Januarys of the future would be from armchairs. They had more career interceptions than they had friends and there was very little hope that either would ever reach a Super Bowl.
Both players were back in the driver's seat and this time their stories would be different. Not only had their attitudes changed but their supporting casts had greatly improved as well. The weight of their teams' futures no longer fell squarely on their shoulders.
Instead of being forced to make the big play, Dilfer and Collins were just told to guard against giving up the big play. Both have had help in the backfield, some quality receiving targets and most of all, two world-class defenses to shoulder the load.
The rest is history. Dilfer has been steady as the Ravens starter and Collins is finally starting to realize the potential he once showed at Penn State.
Although neither quarterback is Hall of Fame material, both are still playing football in January, and this time it's not on a Playstation.
Hammi is a Topeka junior in broadcasting.
---