SPORTS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Tuesday, December 7. 1993
11
Coaches: fewer scholarships will hurt teams
Player numbers cut by NCAA rule
By Matt Doyle
Kansan sportswriter
Kansas football coach Glen Mason faced a situation this year that he would rather not face again in his coaching career.
In injuries to many Jayhawk players affected Mason's team in 1993 and reduced the number of players available for game action. Mason said this situation the Jayhawks endured affected the quality of play.
Injuries are an aspect that could affect the quality of play of any college football team. Next year, college teams will have three fewer players on scholarship to replace any injured players.
Mason and other coaches in the Big Eight Conference are concerned about play being affected when the total number of scholarships for football are cut from 88 to 85 starting in 1994.
"We were hard hit this year with injuries," Mason said. "With all the NCAA legislation talking about major college football taking scholarships down 85 or below, the quality of the game will definitely be affected if you have a number of injuries. People who are making these decisions better realize that."
The NCAA, in a cost-cutting move, started to reduce football scholarships from 95 five years ago to 85 by next year.
Coaches said that there was a perception by college presidents and faculty representatives that college football was not much different from professional football.
Nebraska coach Tom Osborne said
professional football dealt with players who were already developed as football players. He added that was not always the case in the college game.
"In most college programs, 90 percent of your freshmen really aren't ready to play and need to redshirt that year." Osborne said. "You also have a few sophomores that aren't big enough or strong enough to play. So there is a third of your squad that's in a developmental stage."
Toss in about 10 to 14 players lost due to injuries, and Osborne said a team was left with 45 to 50 players who could play. Mason said he had only 21 healthy defensive players for the final game of the season against Missouri.
"It's going to become an injury game, and that's what we're all going to have to live with." Walden said. "We'll all be keeping our fingers crossed that this is not the year that it hits us."
Iowa State coach Jint Walden said that because of the reductions in scholarships, football would become a game of which team could stay healthy.
Injuries affect a team's depth. Former Missouri coach Bob Stull said he noticed a considerable difference in the quality of play when he had to use second- and third-story personnel in place of first-string players.
Kansas used 46 different starters in 1993. Junior reserve tight end Brent Willeford played on both sides of the football this season. He began the season at tight end, but he became a starter at defensive end for the Utah game.
Willeford started the following two games at defensive end before returning to tight end before the Iowa State game.
Recruiting could be affected with these reductions in scholarships.
Oklahoma State coach Pat Jones said there would be less room for error in recruiting players.
"It's a balancing act between players who can give you a chance to win and those who can survive academically," Jones said. "The more you shrink the talent pool, which is occurring, there will be fewer of those guys available."
Mason said that coaches have been pleading their cases about what dilemmas could occur with reductions in scholarships. But Mason said these pleas had been falling upon deaf ears.
"We don't have much of a say. I don't think many people are listening to what football coaches are saying," Mason said. "Some people look at football coaches as being the problem, and that's not true. We were the first to respond to cost-cutting measures, and we're the ones in the field that probably know what's going on. This measure will affect the game."
Cutting down
Scholarships for NCAA Division I football will be reduced from 88 to 85 next year. The following is a list of Big Eight schools and the number of scholarship players they had in 1993.
Missouri 88
Nebraska 87
Iowa St. 87
Kansas St. 86*
Colorado 84
**KANSAS** **81**
Oklahoma 73
Oklahoma St. 65
Kansas St. did not release this total.
Our figure is based on information from company cover Kansas St. regularly.
Late scoring run lifts Kansas to victory
KANSAN
Poor shooting percentage leads to better second half
By Gerry Fey
Kansan sportswriter
After leading by only five points at halftime, Kansas defeated Washburn last night 82-68 at Allen Field House with the help of four three-pointers by senior guard/forward Steve Woodberry.
Kansas coach Roy Williams said he was not happy with Kansas' offensive play. Kansas ended the game shooting 40.5 percent.
"We were just bigger inside," Williams said. "I did want the basketball to go inside. I wasn't pleased with our offense, but I liked how hard we played defensively."
The Jayhawks' height advantage in the middle did not pan out. Only 11 of the Jayhawks' 30 field goals came inside the key.
Kansas guard Jacque Vaughn said the team's plan entering the game was to go inside and exploit the Ichabods relatively small line-up. Washburn's tallest player is 6-foot-7 compared to Kansas' three players 6-8 or taller.
"We definitely wanted to pound the ball inside," Vaughn said. "They started to sag in the middle because we weren't shooting well outside. But I'm sure we'll see more of that. We definitely want to go inside before we shoot from the outside."
Susan McSpadden / KANSAN
In order to work the ball inside, Kansas must hit more outside shots, senior forward Patrick Richey said. Junior center Greg Ostertag and senior forward Richard Scott combined for 21 points.
Greg Ostertag, junior center, aggressively makes his way to the basket as Washburn forward Tim Watson attempts to block his way. Kansas won the game at Allen Field House last 82-68.
"It's a little tough to get the ball inside because we're not shooting well," Richey said. "I know it's got to be frustrating for Richard and Greg."
Woodberry, like the entire Kansas team, was cold from three-point range in the first half. Woodberry missed all five of his attempts in the first half, while Kansas was zero for 10 from behind the three-point stripe.
Despite the cold start, Woodberry again led the second-half charge as he did in Kansas' victory against DePaul on Saturday. He scored 12 of his team-high 16 points in the second half.
"I didn't have any plans to hit the three-pointers," Woodberry said. "I just hit the open shots."
The game was not in hand until there was 5-29 remaining in the second half. Kansas freshman guard Jacques Vaughn took an outlet pass from Scott and hit a three-pointer, capping a 16-0 run by the Jayhawks that made the score 76-52.
Woodberry said the Jayhawks' defense was the key to the run.
"We were just more aggressive," he said. "Our defense makes our offense."
Working the clock was something that Williams said disturbed him — specifically, the absence of a five-second penalty. The rule change that went into effect this season allows players to dribble the ball without worrying about a five-second penalty.
Washburn burned the clock numerous times as Ichabod guard Richard Griffin dribbled around the top of the key.
Woodberry's shooting gives team second straight victory
Senior guard Steve Woodberry found the shooting touch in the second half for the second consecutive victory for Kansas. And once again, his hot hand led the Jayhawks to success.
By Matt Doyle
"I despise that rule," Williams said. "I don't think that's what the game of basketball is supposed to be like. It's one guy dribbling the ball, while four players stand around."
Kansan sportswriter
In Saturday's 79-74 victory at DePaul, Woodberry sparked the Jayhawks rally from a 10-point halftime deficit by scoring 21 of his 23 points in the second half.
"They could have been worn down, but I'd like to think that Kansas has better players," he said. "Not to cut down Washburn. They made us play. If we would have played less than 90 percent, we would have lost the game."
Woodberry said he did not have plans coming out of halftime against the Ichabods to improve on his 2 of 7 shooting in the first half.
Woodberry connected on all four of his three-point attempts in the second half as No. 7 Kansas shot past Washburn 82-68 last night at Allen Field House.
"I just continued to take open shots, and they went down for me," Woodberry said. "The first half I was hesistant, and I was just missing. In the second half, I kept shooting, and they fell for me."
The first open shot Woodberry had in the second half came just seven seconds after halftime, and he buried the three pointer from the right wing.
"I told the team at halftime that I wanted us to be aggressive on offense," said Kansas coach Roy Williams. "Steve came out and made 4 of 4 from the three-point line in the second half, and those were some big baskets for us. But we can't depend on Steve Woodberry to be the entire Kansas basketball team."
Woodberry's final three-pointer started the Jayhawks on a 21-2 run that broke open the contest. Woodberry knocked down a three-pointer from the left wing with 11:05 remaining in the game that gave the Jayhawks a 58-50 lead.
giving Kansas a 41-33 lead. Woodberry made two more three-point shots in the next four minutes as the Jahvahs continued to hold off the Ichabods.
Despite Woodberry's success, the Jayhawks continued to struggle shooting the basketball. Kansas shot only 40.5 percent from the field against Washburn and has not been above 50 percent in any of its seven regular-season games this season.
"I'd like to shoot a higher percentage," Williams said. "We made a living of shooting great shots and making them for five years, so maybe this is the year we'll learn to make some of them."
Kansas 82, Washburn 68
KANSAS (6-1)
Player fgm/fga ftm/ta tp
Richey 2-7 3-4 12
Scott 6-9 0-0 12
Ostertag 3-10 3-5 9
Vaughn 3-7 0-0 7
Woodberry 6-11 0-0 16
Pollard 4-7 0-0 8
Gurley 1-2 4-4 6
Rayford 0-2 0-0 0
Williams 2-5 2-4 6
Pearson 2-10 2-2 7
Proud 1-4 1-3 3
Whatley 1-4 1-2 1
Weichbrodt 0-0 0-2 0
Totals 30-74 16-26 82
WASHBURN (4-2)
Watson 3-5 0-0 6
Lewis 2-3 0-0 4
Tyson 4-4 0-1 8
Canfield 3-4 0-0 8
Griffin 1-16 0-0 2
Smith 3-11 1-2 9
Johnson 6-10 2-2 16
Berlin 3-3 2-2 8
Harris 1-1 2-2 4
Bachelor 1-2 0-0 3
**Totals** 27-59 7-9 68
Arkansas takes top spot, Kansas drops in AP poll
The Associated Press
Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson is taking his first-ever No. 1 ranking in stride.
"It's still early in the year and early in the season, and as I told our kids, being ranked No. I is just another part of growing up and being a good team," Richardson said.
H尔福里 Kansas 38, Washburn 33 3-point goals Kansas 65, Washburn 7-24. Rebound Kansas 46, Washburn 35 Assist Kansas 17, Washburn 16 Attendance 14,000
"The keys now are to go out and play your hearts out simply because being No. 1, everybody's after you." he said.
Arkansas,3-0, took over the No. 1 ranking in the Associated Press college basketball poll yesterday with 51 first-place votes and 1,603 points from national panel of writers and broadcasters. Arkansas moved up one spot when Kentucky,2-1, lost to Indiana 96-84. The Wildcats dropped to sixth.
After Arkansas' 111-76 victory over Northwestern Louisiana on Saturday night and Kentucky's loss that afternoon, Richardson said he expected the Razorbacks to move up.
Richardson made no predictions on how long his team could hold the top spot, already occupied by three teams this season. Kentucky held the ranking for a week, replacing preseason pick North Carolina. The Tar Heels fell to Massachusetts, but are now back at No. 2
"There isn't anything wrong with being No. 1," he said. "We are not going to shy away from it. It's our turn. Let's take it."
"College basketball is so competitive there may be 10 teams ranked No. 1 before the season is over," Richardson said.
After getting the No.1 ranking in 1978, the Razorbacks won their next two games before losing to Houston. The Eddie Sutton-coached team featuring Sidney Moncrief, Ron Brewer and Marvin Delph went to the Final Four, where it lost to eventual national champion Kentucky.
Arkansas is averaging 108 points a game with the average margin of victory 37.7 points against Murray State, Missouri and Northwestern Louisiana. The Razorbacks defeated Missouri by 52. Only one player has played more than 22 minutes in any game, and all 15 Razorbacks have played in every game.
North Carolina, 6-1, moved up from fourth. Michigan, Duke and Temple, ranked fifth through seventh a week ago, also jumped two spots. The Tar Heels received eight first-place votes and 1,481 points, 14 more than Michigan, 4-0, which got one first-place vote. Duke, 3-0, and Temple, 2-0, each had two first-place votes and UCLA received one.
After Kentuckv. it was Kansas. Mas-
AP Top 25
The top 25 teams in the Associated Press' college basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, record through Dec. 5. total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote, and previous ranking:
rank team record pts. pr
1. Arkansas (51) 3-0 1,603 2
2. N. Carolina (8) 6-1 1,481 4
3. Michigan (1) 4-0 1,467 5
4. Duke (2) 3-0 1,420 6
5. Temple (2) 2-0 1,385 7
6. Kentucky 2-1 1,261 1
7. Kansas 5-1 1,231 3
8. Massachusetts 5-1 1,070 9
9. UCLA (1) 2-0 947 10
10. Louisville 1-1 896 11
11. Purdue 5-0 826 14
12. Indiana 1-1 768 21
13. Syracuse 4-0 743 18
14. Arizona 3-0 731 19
15. Oklahoma St. 4-1 728 8
16. Illinois 2-0 720 16
17. Minnesota 4-2 641 15
18. Georgia Tech 3-1 583 17
19. Wisconsin 3-1 355 24
20. Cincinnati 4-1 354 23
21. Connecticut 3-1 342 —
22. Virginia 2-1 177 12
23. Vanderbilt 3-1 169 20
24. Geo. Wash. 2-1 163 20
25. California 2-1 130 13
Others receiving votes: Boston College 118,
Florida St. 109, Ohio St. 96, Marquette 79,
Maryland 75, W. Kentucky 61, LSU 41, Villanova
36, Washington 38, Michigan St. 35, Memphis St. 32,
Santa Clara 29, New Mexico St. 25, Va. Commonwealth 24, Old Dominion 23, Penn 18, Miaoult 15, Seton Hall 15, Georgia 14, New Orleans 14, Pepperdine 14, Georgetown 13,
Tulane 10, Xavier, Ohio 0, Oklahoma 5, Pittsburg
4, Texas 4, Wake Forest 4, Florida 4,
hattannogee 4, Ala. Bloomingham 2, Iowa 1,
Michigan St. 1, Nobraska 1, Texas-EI Paso 1.
Source: The Associated Press KANBAN
sachusets, UCLA and Louisville rounding out the Top 10.
Purdue headed the Second Ten, followed by Indiana, Syracuse, Arizona, Oklahoma State, Illinois, Minnesota, Georgia Tech, Wisconsin and Cincinnati.
Connecticut, 3-0, was the only newcomer this week, moving in at No. 21. Fellow Big East member Georgetown, nonwinners against Division I fois, dropped out.
Rounding out the Top 25 were Connecticut, Virginia, Vanderbilt, George Washington and California.
Indiana, which lost to Butler in its operer, made the biggest jump with its victory. over Kentucky. The Hoosiers went from 21st to 12th.
Explosive Smith blasts past Eagles: Cowboys snap streak
The Associated Press
His 57-yard run in the fourth period, reminiscent of a 62-yard backbreaker against Philadelphia earlier this year, carried the Dallas Cowboys to a 23-17 victory against the Eagles last night.
IRVING, Texas — Emmitt Smith gives the Philadelphia Eagles fits in the fourth quarter.
The defending champions moved a game behind the New York Giants in the NFC East with an 8-4 record while Philadelphia fell to 5-7.
Smith, who gained 172 yards on 23 carries, broke loose for 57 yards to the Eagles 16. Five plays later fullback Daryl Johnston scored the clinching touchdown on a 2-vard run with 9:16 to play.
"It was the right play at the right time," Smith said. "They had me in check until the big run. We were struggling big-time."
"Mark McMillian caught me from behind. I thought I was going to score. It was like the road runner running up alongside the covote."
On Halloween, Smith scored on a 62- yard run in the fourth period to cap a club-record rushing performance of 237
yards in a 23-10 victory against the Eagles...
"It is kind of ironic." Smith said: "Philadelphia has had a lot of injuries, but they still play tough. Before the big run, we kept saying we had to get things rolling, and the play opened up."
The Cowboys had lost their previous two games, and coach Jimmy Johnson was relieved to have put the losing streak to rest.
"It was satisfying because the Eagles always play us tough," he said. "It's a big deal to beat them twice in a single year. We haven't done it in a longtime. They've always had our number."
Johnson said Smith "always comes up with the big plays when you need them. That's what makes a great player."
Philadelphia coach Rich Kotite agreed. "Emmitt puts pressure on you every time he touches the ball," he said. "He's a great player. We just have trouble stopping him."
And now the playoffs become that much more difficult for the Eagles.
"We're going to have to get some help in the division to make the playoffs," Kotte said.