Section:
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The University Daily Kansan
What player of the late 1970s was nicknamed "Too Tall"? Name the team he played for.
Sports
Trivia question
Inside: Kansas men's basketball games are televised at various restaurants all across the country.
SEE PAGE 3B
For comments, contact Melinda Weaver or Jason Walker at 864-4858 or e-mail sports@kansan.com WWW.KANSAN.COM/SPN
Inside: The race for the Heisman Trophy this year is one of the closest in recent memory.
SEE PAGE 5B
Wake-up call
junior guard Jeff Bosche and freshman guard Mario Kinsey hang their heads as the last seconds of the clock run down. The Jayhawks tied for their fourth-worst loss ever at No. 11 Wake Forest last night in Winston-Salem, N.C. Photo by Aaron Lindberg/KANSAN
Demon Deacons steamroll Jayhawks in 31-point pounding
Bv Michael Riaa
sports@kansan.com *
Kansan sportswriter
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — The Jayhawks' first loss of the season resembled more of a one-sided western shootout than a big-time college basketball game.
No. 11 Wake Forest (7-0) fired the first shot and the last shot, and in between, the Jayhawks didn't even draw their guns in an 84-53 whipping by the Demon Deacons.
"They totally kicked our tails in every way possible," Kansas coach Roy Williams said, pointing out after the contest what the gathering of 12,143 already knew.
'That much was obvious from the opening tip, as Kansas' cold 36 percent first-half shooting led to a 13-point halftime deficit.
"We were running around like chickens, with our heads cut off," said sophomore forward Drew Gooden, who led the Jayhawks with 13 points. "We just weren't ready to play."
The No. 3 Jayhawks (7-1) were out-rebounded, outhustled, outshot and thoroughly outplayed by the underdog Demon Deacons. The end result was the Jayhawks' second-worst loss in the 13-year tenure of Williams and a tie for the four-worst loss in the program's history.
Wake Forest 84
Kansas 53
But despite the frigid start, the Kansas players still believed they had a chance.
"At halftime, we said we were going to get the ball inside and get back in it," senior center Eric Chenowith said. "But we didn't do it."
Wake Forest followed a simple recipe for second-half success. Make the Jayhawks keep shooting fadeaway jumpers, grab the rebound, pass it to the first open man who, more times than not, would hit the open shot. The recipe was followed to a tee, as the Demon Deacons shot lights-out 68 percent in the second half, whereas Kansas could only muster 38 percent for the game
At the root of the Jayhawks' shooting woes was junior guard Jeff Boschee, who didn't hit a 3-pointer in seven attempts.
"They didn't miss." Chenowith said.
"But we also shot too early and too often. We had no flow."
"They took us out of everything that we wanted to do." Boschee said.
tistics didn't get much better from there.
Wake Forest's rebounding margin of 17 boards was the largest margin since Kansas lost to Indiana in 194. But the sta-
didn't get much better from there. By the time the 31-point root canal was completed, the Jayhawks had tallied their third straight loss to a ranked team on the other team's home court, after equally stunning setbacks at Oklahoma State and Texas last season. With last night's loss, Kansas' average margin of defeat in those three games is 26 points.
After the game, the Wake Forest students stormed the court to celebrate the victory, and Demon Deacon coach Dave Odom left his condolences for the Javhawks.
The Jayhawks won't have much time to find an answer for their road woes. Kansas plays Tuesday at DePaul. In the meantime, the Jayhawks return to Kansas with their tails between their legs, desperately searching for answers.
"The most absurd thing that I heard tonight was our crowd chanting, 'overrated.'" Odom said. "I turned to them and said, 'I hope not.' What you saw tonight was a Kansas team that was way off its game."
"Obviously, we just didn't play tonight," senior forward Luke Axtell said. "I still haven’t figured out just what the heck happened out there."
Gregory feels Kansas' pain in first defeat
- Edited by J. R. Mendoza
By Michael Rigg sports@kanson.com
Kansas sportwriter
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — As the herd of reporters neared his locker after last night's game, frustrated senior forward Kenny Gregory turned his back.
"I don't want to talk," Gregory said. "I didn't even play."
But the fact that Gregory sat the bench in last night's 84-53 loss to Wake Forest was the reason behind all of the attention. After practicing lightly all week, Gregory
- who leads Kansas with 17.9 points per sat
Gregory: didn't play last night because of injury
out last night's game because of a stress fracture in his right foot. Without Gregory in the lineup, the flustered Jayhawks (7-1) couldn't get anything started offensively and fell victim to the Demon Deacons' stifling defense.
Eventually, Gregory explained his disappointment.
"I felt helpless," Gregory said. "I just took (the injury) day by day, but it just didn't happen."
Gregory, trainer Mark Cairns, and Kansas coach Roy Williams didn't decide until minutes before the game that Gregory wouldn't play. Senior forward Luke Axtell started in his place and gave the Jayhawks some firepower early, but, just like the rest of the Jayhawks, faded in the second half.
Still, Williams insisted Gregory's absence wasn't the cause of the loss.
"Using it would just be an excuse," Williams said. "Kenny is a heck of a player, but he wasn't going to help that much. They just kicked us."
"If it felt better, I would have attempted to play." Gregory said. "All I can do is get as much rest as possible. But if it keeps lingering, then I'll have to sit out more."
Reaction in the Kansas locker room was swift to Gregory's absence. Some players mirrored Williams' sentiments and felt Gregory's injury had no effect at all, but others said the shock of losing their leading scorer lofted the team.
"Kenny is our offense," said senior center Eric Chenwihot. "He's leading the team in scoring." —Edited by Shawn Hutchinson
Women to play Washburn in exhibition
By Zac Hunter
Kansan sportswriter
sports@kanson.com
After playing five high-intensity games in eight days, it's time for the Kansas women's basketball team to play a game that doesn't matter.
Or, at least as far as the record books are concerned, the game doesn't matter. The 'Hawks (5-2) are set to take on Division II Washburn in an exhibition game tomorrow at 2:05 p.m. at Allen Fieldhouse.
Washburn is 5-1 on the season after winning two games in the Drury Classic last weekend against Arkansas-Monticello and Angelo State. Although the Arkansas-
"Washburn has always been a great Division II program," Kansas coach Marian Washington said.
Monticello Cotton Blossoms of the Gulf South conference may be fine competition
The Lady Blues have one player listed at 6-foot 1. Kansas has five, including 6-6 junior center Kristin Geoffroy.
for Washburn, they are nowhere near the level of Kansas.
Despite the mismatches, Washington did have high praise for the way Washburn was coached and said she thought the Lady Blues would play hard.
Washington:
praised the coaching at Washburn
The reason for scheduling Washburn was two-fold. The contest provided a game during an extended break in the 'Hawks schedule. Without it, Kansas would have gone two weeks without playing.
And Washington said it was difficult to get teams to go on the road during finals week.
"We had a difficult time getting a team to come in here," she said.
Although the game will count for nothing in the standings, Washington said anytime the Jayhawks got a chance to play it could be a valuable learning tool.
With the game meaning nothing, could Kansas come out flat?
Not if you ask Washington.
I can't allow them to let down," she said. Senior guard Jennifer Jackson said the team would use every game to get better.
"At this point in the season we're really trying to improve every game out," she
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Kansas (5-2) vs. Washburn (5-1)
When: 2:05 p.m. tomorrow
Where: Allen Fieldhouse
said. "To get a team like Washburn in here for an exhibition that maybe doesn't count on our record I think is just another opportunity for us to get better."
As a result, Washington said she was going to use this game to work on the half-court defense and insert some players in the lineup that hadn't played much the past two weeks.
Washington wants to see improved the half-court defense improved. The 'Hawkia' have had problems dealing with teams that have quick guards.
Edited bv John Audiohelm
Best game or match played on campus: The volleyball team's victory against Colorado at the Horesei Family Athletic Center. The 'Hawks had not beaten Colorado since 1987. The Jayhawks won in five matches and also finished with a winning record for a second straight year. It's a safe bet coach Ray Bechard will have many more winning seasons while at Kansas. He won't match his 716-60 record at Barton County Community College, but he'll continue to win in Lawrence.
Presenting the best and worst of fall sports
My how time flies when you're having
My new time come up. When
... finals come up. Although Stop Day is
welcome, another week to prepare
wouldn't be too bad. Yeah, so that won't
be happening, but before you cram,
take a gander at the fall semester in review.
Worst game or match played on campus: the football game against Texas. The 'Hawks squandered a 14-0 lead faster than a Jayhawk fan awakes from fall hibernation for basketball season. Kansas endured a 51-16 drubbing from the Longhorns and were once again denied a bowl game. The season was a huge disappointment, but perhaps no expectations for next year will translate into a surprise winning season. Perhaps.
You're good but not quite what we're looking for: Senior outside hitter Amy Myatt sets a Kansas volleyball record for most kills in a season with 457 but doesn't get any all-conference honors. No other Jayhawks grabbed honors, either, a questionable snub to a team with talent. Senior middle blocker Danielle Geronymo and senior outside hitter Nancy Bell also provided kills that occasionally murdered opponents, and freshman sensation Sarah Rome will be fun to watch the next three years.
Runnin' against the wind: Men's cross country runner Charlie Gruber ran at the NCAA Championships in frigid Ames, Iowa on Nov. 20. The lone Jayhawk in the meet, Gruber finished in 61st. 70 seconds behind first place.
Thank you, Mr. Megavision: A thou sand thanks to the operators of the powerful sound system at Memorial Stadium for not asking that question heard far too many times at sporting events lately: "Who Let the Dogs Out?" (It wasn't me.) "Who Let the Dogs Out?" (It wasn't me.) A little more AC/DC, specifically "You Shook Me All Night Long." would help next year.
And the band played on: The marching band's return to the student section halfway through the season was refreshing. Sitting among a sea of purple for the Kansas State game probably wasn't enjoyable for the musicians. If only they'd have people to play for ...
Best restaurant in an opponent's town: Although The Mont in Norman, Okla., had scrumptious Mexican food, Hickory Park in Ames, Iowa took the cake. Two colleagues and I ate meals consisting of pork tenderloin, beef brisket, four ribs, chicken and two side orders—each. No one had a coronary, but I think we devoured the equivalent of a small farm.
Best comment by a disgruntled reader: Following the Sunflower Showdown column for football, a Kansas State fan informed me that he wasn't a fair-fairweather K-State fan and that he rooted for the Wildcats long before the "Schneider" era, referring to Wildcat coach Bill Snyer. A spelling bee wizard he is not. Another K-State fan enjoyed the column's attempt at energizing the rivalry. He wrote about a sign in Lawrence a few years ago that read: Manhattan — where men are men and sheep are nervous.
Best comment from a sportswriter: During the Texas Tech game, a discussion in the press box involved corporate sponsorship of everything. From the Coca-Cola Caught Red-Handed campaign to the Southwestern Bell receiver of the game, products and companies sponsor everything. With that in mind, football writer Jason Franchuk said, "It's time for the Viagra Injury Timeout — C'mon, hurry, get up!"
Good times, neat fun.
Linenberger is a Washington, Kan., senior in Journalism.
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