10B
Friday, March 29, 1991 / University Daily Kansan
The Seniors: Mark Randall
Randall epitomizes KU basketball
Randall raises his arms in celebration as he is welcomed home by fans at Allen Field House. The Jayhawks made it to the NCAA Final Four by beating Arkansas 93-81 March 23.
Senior has been Hawks leader for three years
Randall slam-dunks as Iowa State forward Phil Kunz attempts to block the ball.
Richard Quinn/Special to the KANSAN
By S. J. Bailey
Kansan sportswriter
It is as familiar to Kansas basket ball fans as the Rock Chalk Chant.
"At away ... from Englewood,
Colorado.  No. 42.  Mark Randall.
booms the voice over the speaker during pre-game introductions.
For the past three seasons, Kansas fans have heard Randal's name called before the start of every basketball game — that is, if it can be heard. It was rumored roar of the grounds of Jayahawk faithful who pack Allen Field House.
To many, Mark Randall does not just play Kansas basketball; he epitomizes Kansas basketball
He has a list of awards and accomplishments nearly equal to the 42 bodily emblazoned across his jersey. This week, he graces the cover of *The Guardian* as Jayhawks march into the Final Four for the third time in six years.
How does he respond to all the praise and attention?
"I didn't even know about it," he says, almost embarrassed that the subject was mentioned in the first place. "I really don't have time to think about it right now. The only thing there is to talk about is basket-
Sounds pretty modest coming from a man who has been the pillar around which the dayhawks have built their team for the past three seasons.
Highly heralded freshman
And although he may not admit it now, Randall has been one of the most consistent players ever to do a Jawhawk uniform.
For when the final buzzer wails at the end of Randall's final game as a Jayhawk, an exciting chapter in the series has basketball will come to a close.
Former Kansas coach Larry Brown remembered being impressed by the skills of his former teammate.
"No doubt he was one of the best players in the country," Brown said. "We were thrilled when he chose over Duke, Arizona and Colorado."
"I was pretty tough on him in the beginning," Brown said. "I pushed him and gave him a hard time to get over the potential to be a great player."
As a freshman, Randall played in 31 games, averaged 4.5 points a game on 52.9 percent shooting from the field and 2.7 rebounds. But friction soon developed between the highly heralded freshman and his coach.
Randall said that the criticism was tough but that it only inspired him to work harder.
"Any coach is going to get on you and tell you when you're doing something wrong," he said. "If the coach is getting on you, it means he wants you to do it. You've looked at it. I've grown a lot since then, and I've got Coach Brown as
well as Coach Williams to thank for that."
The growth would continue his sophomore season, but in a completely different setting - on the practice floor and on the bench.
Randall was forced to redshift his sophomore year because of surgery to correct breathing and jaw-alignment problems. His sinus cavities were drained and his jaw aligned in a process in which his upper jaw was broken in four places and plates were inserted to correct an underbite.
"I had been been in orthodontics for about 10 years because of the problems with my mouth," he said. "I could bite down, and I'd be sticking my tongue out at you at the same time. There was such a gap there that I was only touching on my four back teeth."
After the surgery, which took place Jan. 4, 1988, Randall's jaw was wired shut for eight weeks. But he said the pain was nothing compared to that of watching his teammates win the national championship without him.
"It was a very empty feeling," he said. "I did not get to practice with them and I reared all the benefits of what they had done, but because I couldn't be out on that court with them, I didn't really feel like I was a part of that team. And I was determined to go out and do whatever I could for that team when I could play the next season."
averaged 16 points and 6.7 rebounds a game and ranked 13th nationally with a field-goal percentage of 61.7 percent
Team leader
He has started every game in that three-year stretch, racking up points and awards as quickly as the scoreboard on a pinnail machine.
Since that redshirt year, Randall has become the leader of each of the past three Javhawk squads.
He also was selected second-team All-Big Eight conference and played for the gold-medal-winning U.S. team in the World University Games in West Germany during the summer.
Last season, Randall scored 13.3 points a game and snagged 2.6 rebounds while leading the Jayhawks to a 30-5 record, which garnered him a spot on the AP and UPI second-team All-Big Eight squads.
In his sophomore season, Randall
Randall said he thought Coach Roy Williams' system and the team concept that Kansas basketball revolved in a great deal of his success.
"Coach Williams' system is almost perfect," he said. "I don't feel I have to take on any more of the load than any other player. That's what makes this a team. We have so many guys that can come forward on any given night, and that's what makes our team so special. Everybody is unselfish and contributes every night, and that's Kansas basketball."
Dream season
1991 has been a dream season for Randall and every other member of the Kansas Jayhawks. For Randall, this is a moment of great personal accomplishment.
He averaged 14.8 points and pulled down 5.2 rebounds a game this season while breaking the Big Eight Conference record for field-goal percentage in a season at 64.6 percent. He also was selected to the first team and the eight squad as well as being named an honorable mention All-American.
Besides the Sports Illustrated cover, Randall's play this season has brought him accolades from many other sources as well.
"Mark Randall is a great player." Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson said. "Some people are simply able to mark Randall is a basketball player."
North Carolina coach Dean Smith also has praised Randall lately.
"I'm extremely impressed with him." Smith said. "He's a great passer, runs the floor well and is very smart."
of Mark Randall than his own coach. Roy Williams.
"He has meant everything to this team," Williams said. "He's been an unbelievable player, a leader both on and off the court, and the kind of young man that a father would want his son to grow up to be like.
"He's made me a better coach as well as a better person. He has been a coach's dream. If I can always have players like Mark Randall, Roy Williams is always going to be a better coach."
But there is no one who thinks more
Last chance for title
As the Jayhawks march into Indianapolis this weekend, Randall said he knew he was fortunate to get a shot at it. He thought that I'd feel he was a part of in 1988.
Randall said he thought Kansas
“This means everything to me because I know this is my last shot at the ultimate goal,” he said. “I don’t have any more chances so I am going to go out there and lay everything I could put in there.” But to all my teammates because every one of them has played a big part in all of this.”
had as much of a shot at this year's
title as any other team, even though
many people considered it to be the
playing in the big leagues
So what lies down the road for a man who is one of only five Jayhawks to score 1,300 points and grab 600 rebounds during his career at Kan
"I've always wanted to play in the NBA," he said. "It's always been a goal of mine and something I've dreamed about."
Coach Brown, now coach of the San Antonio Spurs, said he thought Randall would have that opportunity come summertime.
"He'll be up here in our league next year," Brown said, "but right now he's got other things to think about."
Randall couldn't have said it better himself.
"My favorite team that I follow is the Los Angeles Lakers, but when it comes down to that, I really don't care — I just want to play," he said. "But I can't start thinking about that until I'm done playing for Kansas. We still have a couple more games to go."
- Domestic and International Travel
- Airline Reservations/Tickets
- Hotel/Car Reservations
- Bus Charters
- Visa/Passport Assistance
- Study Abroad
LOWEST FARES
841-7117
Southern Hills Center
1601 W. 23rd M-F 9-5:30: Sat. 9:30-2
cro-moly main frame
cro-moly fork
Araya alloy rims
21 gears
RICK'S BIKE SHOP
916 Mass., Lawrence, KS (913)841-6642