Wednesday, December 6. 2000
The University Daily Kansan
Section B · Page 7
Big 12 Basketball Texas teams on a roll early this season
Bv Chris Wristen
By Chris Wristen
sports@kanson.com
Kansas sportwriter
Of the four Texas schools that help form the Big 12 Conference, only the University of Texas has finished a basketball season in the upper half of the conference standings, but that could change this year.
Texas is on the verge of cracking the Associated Press Top 25 and is ranked 25th in the coaches' poll after its 90-60 branding of Southwest Texas State on Saturday night. Junior transfer Maurice Evans, a former Wichita State Shocker, scored 21 points and helped the Longhorns improve to 5-1. Junior forward Chris Owens added 20 points.
The upstart Baylor Bears moved to 4-1 with a 54-51 victory against Arkansas-Little Rock. Baylor coach Dave Bliss said that although his team didn't beat a top-note opponent, he still considered it a big game.
"There are a lot of Duke-Illinois games out there, but I thought that was a great college basketball game," Bliss said. "Little Rock real-
by gave us a handful, and we were fortunate to walk out of there with a victory."
Senior guard DeMarcus Minor hit a 10foot jump shot with 35 seconds left, putting the Bears ahead by two. Junior forward Greg Davis tacked on a free throw, iceing the victory.
Texas A&M (3-3) lost 107-106 to Virginia Commonwealth in a double-overtime thriller Sunday but clobbered Lamar 83-60 last night. In the first game, Commonwealth led by 10 with less than a minute remaining when A&M caught fire from behind the three-point arc. The Aggies drained four straight 3-pointers, but the Rams sealed the game with free throws. A&M sophomore guard Bernard King
Texas Tech also won a 54-51 game Saturday, beating Stephen F. Austin. But the Red Raiders lost to Texas-El Paso 81-80 last night and fell to 3-2.
led the Aggies both nights, with 22 points Sunday and 30 points last night.
Oklahoma State went to overtime but pulled away from UNLV 77-66 and stands at 3-0. The Cowboys blew a 13-point lead, partially because of their 25 turnovers. Regardless, sophomore forward Andre Williams opened overtime with a steal and layup that sparked an 8-0 run.
In state counterpart No. 14 Oklahoma fell to Mississippi 60-55 on Saturday and is 5-1.
Iowa State returned to the AP poll at No. 25 for the first time since last season after the Cyclones' 69-67 squeaker against Southern Mississippi on Saturday. Iowa State fell into a 10-point hole early before charging back and taking the lead. They had less trouble last night, as they easily beat Tennessee Tech 89-74.
Missouri, Kansas State and Colorado, have all been involved in blowouts.
Kansas State (2-3) lost 76-56 in a bruising at the hands of No. 9 Illinois Saturday and then again last night 60-46 at the hands of Mississippi.
Colorado (4-2) exploded on offense, including
shooting 59 percent in the first half, and ran away with a 119-75 stampede of Texas-Arlington on Sunday. Freshman guard Justin Harbert led the Buffaloes with 18 points and junior guard D.J. Harrison chipped in 16. Senior forward Jahmal Mosley added 14 points.
Nebraska was not so lucky, finding itself on the losing end of a tight game. The Cormshusters lost 52-51 to Pittsburgh and fell to 2-2. In the final minute, senior center Kimiani Friend and senior guard Cookie Belcher each missed shots. Regardless, first-year coach Barry Collier said he was proud of the way his team competed.
Missouri (4-1) also ran away with a victory, beating Texas-Pan American 78-57 on Saturday. Sophomore forward Kareem Rush scored in double digits for the 23rd straight game, finishing with 19 points, and senior center Taldeen Soyove added 15.
"I was proud of our ability to hang in there and give ourselves a real chance," Collier said.
- Edited by J. R. Mendoza
Women's teams rattle off nonconference wins
By Rebecca Barlow
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Several Big 12 Conference women's basketball teams are off to a fast start this season.
Colorado, coming off an 88-65 win against UCLA, leads the conference with a 5-0 record.
Caroline Koechlin, junior guard, has helped the Buffaloes with scoring and rebounding this season. She led the team with 18 points and eight assists against UCLA.
Britt Hartshorn has also made her presence known on the court. She showed UCLA exactly what she could do by scoring 15 points and grabbing 10 rebounds against the Bruins. Colorado will see its first
conference game Wednesday, Jan. 3 against Kansas State.
Iowa State follows closely behind Colorado and Texas A&M with a 40 record. In the preseason, the Cyclones were picked by the league coaches and media to win the Big 12.
Iowa State was also honored by having a player named preseason conference player of the year. Angie Welle, junior center, has shown opponents why she was recognized for her athletic ability. Welle is averaging a double-double after four games this season, with 19.5 points per game and 11.8 rebounds.
Her teammate Tracy Gahan, junior guard, joins Welle in having a double-double average with 14
points per game and 11 rebounds
Cyclones coach Bill Fennelly said he was pleased with the way the team had started its season.
"So far, we are like a lot of teams. We are trying to find our game
Fennelly said. "It has been pretty good. We are healthy, and I am pleased with where we are right now."
The Cyclones are
expecting more competition when they reach Big 12 Conference play, but they are using non-conference games to help prepare them for tough conference matchups.
always good defensively. It's always tough to play them. They are always good defensively, and I don't see that to be different this year."
"From top to bottom, the conference season is much more difficult." Fennelly said. "Kansas is
Nebraska is another tough con-
are coming on their
loss this season to No.
Wisconsin.
the young Nebraska
team, with 11 underclass-
men and only one jailor 'shen
she meant that it is a team to be taken
seriously
Coach Paul Sanderford said that the team's level of competition would not increase when it started Big 12 play since the schedule was already competitive.
"We play a gunshot nonleague schedule." Sanderford said. "I
expect the same level of competition in the Big 12. By playing the better teams early, it helps us compete in the Big 12."
The Jayhawks' top rivals, Missouri and Kansas State, have started their seasons 5-1 and 6-1.
The Tigers won the Lady Tiger Classic 89-69 against San Diego State. Their only loss was a one-point heartbreaker to Peppardine. Coach Cindy Stein reached her 100th career victory this season.
The Wildcats won the Commerce Bank Wildcat Classic this weekend, and Kim Woodle, senior guard, was named the Most Valuable Player. They won again last night 98-81 against Western Michigan.
Edited by Sara Nutt
Bum ankle may prevent Boschee from playing
Continued from page 1A
Boschee's playing time could open up more minutes for Kinsey, who missed the Jayhawks' games against Washburn and Middle Tennessee State while he recovered from leg surgery. Williams said Boschee's injury had led to more practice time this week for Kinsey.
and is very painful, then I really don't see any way that he'll play Thursday."
"He's getting a lot more minutes, but it's out of necessity, since there's no one else," Williams said. "I'd like it to be a situation where we limited everybody. But we just don't have enough of those people who are going to play."
Bosncee's injury also could add to the minutes that sophomore guard Kirk Hinrich will play tomorrow. Hinrich said he was ready to play the entire game — and possibly some time at the shooting guard position
If the skim can do it.
"If that's the case, then I think that I can handle it," Hinrich said. "I might even be playing a little two (position) if Mario is in there. It might feel a little different, but I think I can play the whole game."
- Edited by Erin McDaniel
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