Sports
University Daily Kansan / Thursday, March 28, 1991
13
Kansas continues to prepare for Final Four
Randall ignores Sports Illustrated cover jinx Hawks strive for respect of media, opponents
By S. J. Bailey
Kansan sportswriter
As Saturday afternoon's Kansas-North Carolina game draws nearer, it's time to get caught up on interesting Jayhawk news tidbits.
For openers, senior forward Mark Randall graces the cover of this week's edition of Sports Illustrated.
"I didn't even know about it," Randall said to reporters at Tuesday's news conference.
When asked about the jinx associated with being on the Sports Illustrated cover, Randall responded. "I don't believe in that stuff I happens. I'm going to think you jinked us since you asked me that."
Randall also will join some of college basketball's top athletes when he competes in the Orlando All-Star Classic from April 10 to 12.
Houston Coach Ron Koehler 8 to 6 Kansas coach Roy Williams will
coach the West team in the competition.
Other players scheduled to compete include North Carolina State's Rodney Monroe and Chris Cordiani, Colorado's Shaun Vandiver, Iowa State's Victor Alexander and Nebraska's Rich King.
In other Final Four news, senior guard Terry Brown was invited earlier this season to participate in
the three-point shooting competition Sunday in Indianapolis.
"I think I've got just as good a shot of winning the thing as anybody else," Brown said. "It's going to come down to who can get off to the hottest start and who doesn't get nervous."
However, Brown said that if the Jayhawks beat North Carolina and advanced to the final Monday, he would skip the shootout Sunday.
"I think that I will have more important things on my mind if we beat North Carolina," he said.
Finally, Williams said he was never so happy to have to postpone his golf game another week.
When asked what he would have said if someone had told him at the beginning of the season that he would be conducting a pre-Final appearance, Williams said. "I'd have thought you were Looney Toons."
By S. J. Bailey
Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas basketball team has been trying all season to gain the respect of the media as well as the other teams throughout the nation.
But the fact that most people still consider them to be the underdog in this weekend's race for the national title is just fine with them.
After posting a 26-7 record and advancing to their third Final Four in six years, many of the Jayhawks thought they deserved to be mentioned along with the top teams in college basketball.
Williams said he had to keep reminding the Jayhawks that the best team in college basketball was already the one that captured the crown.
"We might be the long shot," Kansas coach Roy Williams said, "but sometimes long shots come in."
"In 1893, I don't think the best team was North Carolina State," he said. "In 1984, I don't think Georgetown was I thought we (North Carolina)
'We might be the long shot, but sometimes long shots come in.'
— Roy Williams
Men's basketball coach
were, and we didn't even make the Final Four. In 1985, I don't think Villanova was, and in '88 I don't think Kansas was.
"But in the record books, it says they're champions, and that's what counts."
that being the underdog really didn't mean much at this stage of the tournament.
“At this time of the year, you really don’t care who you play,” Randall said. “As long as you’re still playing, you’re happy.”
"Underdog or not, I think we're playing some of the best basketball in the tournament right now," he said.
Junior forward Alonzo Jamison agreed.
For some of the Kansas basketball players, the lack of recognition by the other teams in the tournament provides motivation in itself.
"I'm sure Arkansas didn't think we would have a chance of beating them," senior forward Mike Maddox said after the Jayhawks defeated the Razorbacks to claim their spot in the Final Four. "I just want to thank Oliver Miller for providing us with the information. I don't know if you saw the headlines, but he knew something to the effect that Kansas would take a beating. It looks to me like Arkansas was the one that took the beating."
Williams said he thought a team could go as far as it wanted to if it did the things that made it successful and truly believed in itself.
'Hawks lose game to Wyoming team
"When kids believe in what you ask them to do, and they want the same things, they are going to make sacrifices that are going to make those who accomplish." Williams said. "I believe that's what this team has done."
By Mark Spencer
Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas baseball team lost its second straight game to the Wyoming Cowboys 7-6 at Hoglund-Maupin Stadium last night.
The Cowboys beat the Jayhawks by an identical 7-6 score Monday night,
"We have not put together nine innings all year," Kansas coach Dave Bingham said. "We've had a team that program coming out and playing every day."
The rally was cut short, however, when Kansas pinch hitters Kent Mahon and John Wuycheck were set down in order.
Kansas entered the bottom of the ninth trailing the Cowboys 7-5.
Kansas first baseman Joe Niermeier reached base on an error with one out, bringing right fielder Denard Stewart to the plate.
"I didn't think we were good hit ting-wise." Bingham said.
Stewart lashed an RBI-triple to right field, and the Jayhawks were within one run, 7-6, with a runner on third.
He also said some of the Jayhawks' difficulties were due to Wyoming's
pitcher. "I'll give their kid credit. He mixed up his pitches well, but it seems we're waiting for one guy to do it for us."
That one guy could be Niemeier.
that one guy could be Niemier.
Continuing his red-hot hitting, Niemier drove in two runs with a home run and a double last night.
Niemeier leads the Jayhawks with seven home runs and 42 RBI, eight short of the Kansas single-season record.
Despite his recent streak, Niemeier said he was more concerned with the Javahwks' success.
"We've been losing our concentration with bad at-bats in the middle innings," he said. "If you put it all on one play, it's easy to get beat on one play."
Although the Jayhawks are not playing to their capabilities, Wyoming has had a lot to do with the Jayhawks' last two losses, Niemeyer
"That team is very well coached," he said. "No doubt about it."
The Jayhawks, 14-12, will conclude the three-game series against Wyoming at 2 p.m. today at Hoglund-Maupin Stadium.
Kansas pitcher Curtis Schmidt hurts during his first complete game of the year, a 7-6 loss to Wyoming at Houlund-Maupin Stadium.
King's holiday could be issue in selection of Super Bowl site
The Associated Press
AUSTIN, Texas — Several Texas civil-rights activists want the NFL to reject Houston's bid for the 1993 Super Bowl unless Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday is recognized as a state holiday.
League representatives said team owners would be aware of the status of Texas' King holiday, but there is no evidence to recognize the slain civil-rights leader
"Nationwide, the Martin Luther King holiday is not a criterion in evaluating Super Bowl bids," league officials Greg Aiello said in New York.
North Dakota Gov. George Sinner is expected to sign a bill today making it a state holiday there, leaving only Arizona and New Hampshire or optional holiday in memory of King, who was assassinated in 1968.
A King holiday became an issue in Super Row bowl site selection when Commissioner Paul Tagliaucci recently pulled the 1993 Super Bowl from
"In my opinion, we're basically no different than Arizona," Salas said.
NFL owners are scheduled to meet with Tagliabu in Minneapolis in May and may discuss Houston's bid then, NFL representative Reggie Roberts said. He said a decision on where to conduct the 1995 Super Bowl probably would not be made until next year.
Mario Marcel Salas, co-chairperson of the Martin Luther King Jr. March Committee in San Antonio, has not satisfied with the arrangement.
"We're not asking for the state to named after him," the Rev. R.A Calhoun said.
In Texas, King's birthday is observed jointly with Confederate Heroes Day on the third Monday in January. State offices remain open at Union cremation, and people who take the day off must give up another state holiday.
Coaches: Texas should win NCAA swimming championship
The Associated Press
AUSTIN. Texas — Opposing coaches said yesterday that Texas should win its fourth consecutive NCAA men's swimming and diving championship, longhorn coach Eddie Reewe would only say, "We're one of the ones that can win the meet."
Texas outscored Southern California and Stanford for the NCAA championship last year.
Swimming
The three-day meet opens today at the Texas Swim Center, home of the Longhorns, who have been ranked No. 1 all season.
Reese said he thought only Texas,
Phoenix after Arizona voters last November defeated a referendum reinstating the naid state holiday
"I don't think anybody else can do it," he said at a news conference.
Southern California and Stanford had a chance at the 1991 title.
Southern California coach Peter Daland said Texas, 9-0 this season, should win the championship.
"Shoulda, woulda, coulda," Reese responded
and their relays are possibly better than they've ever been and they have two scoring divers.
Daland said, "I think Eddie should face that kind of pressure, especially because they've won the title three years in a row, and they're home,
"That doesn't mean he (Reese) will win, but he should win," Daland said.
He added, "I wouldn't say we were going to win. If I had to put money, I would have to put third."
Michigan swimming coach John Urbanchael said. "My pre-meet forecast was Texas, USC, Stanford, Tennessee, then the rest of us."
"Only Texas can beat Texas," Urbanchka said.
Reese said, "We're not worried about winning the meet. The thing
that it worried about is whether we go fast . . . it's no fun to put four or five hours a day on the line, then not go fast. because fast is fun.
Daland said, "The mystery team has to be Stanford . . . they could be absolutely terrific, and they could be good, and they could be average.
Among the swimmers that will be at the meet are Mike Bowman of Michigan, world record-holder in the 200-meter breaststroke and 1900 U.S. national champion, Whtarton of Southern California, former world record-holder in the 200
"Tennessee is another team that is a wild card team."
and 400 individual medlev.
Other swimmers that will be at the meet: N Anthony Nesty of Florida, 1901 world champion in the 100 butterfly; Art Woridt of Iowa, former world record-holder in the 400 freestyle; and Melvin Stewart of Tennessee, world record-holder in the 200 butterfly.
Kansas swimmer, diver in NCAA competition
in Austin, Texas, at the NCAA men's swimming and diving championships.
Kansas freshman diver Tim Davidson and sophomore swimmer Zhawn Stevens will begin competition today
Stevens is coming off a successful Big Eight Conference meet where he won three individual events and was named the outstanding performer at the meeting.
Sports briefs
Davidson competed two weeks ago in the zone meet in Fayetteville, Ark., and finished fifth in the three-meter board competition with a score of 25.4. He top five finishes from each zone to compete in the diving championships.
O'Neal voices intention to remain at Louisiana
The meet will last through Saturday.
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Shaquille O'Neal, who could be the No. 1 pick in the 1991 NBA draft if he decides to leave Louisiana State early, said he was fairly sure that he would remain in school at least another year, the San Antonio Express-News reported yesterday.
Underclassmen have until May 12 to declare their availability for the job.
O'Neal, who at 7-foot-1, 280 pounds is being touted as basketball's next great big man, led the nation in rebounding this season with 14.6 a game. He also averaged 27.7 points and five blocked shots a game.
O'Neal said the hairline fracture he sustained in his left fibula late in the season had mended.
"I don't think I am ready yet," he said. "Right now, I'm leaning toward staying at LSU. I'm pretty sure about it."
He said he realized he could risk losing millions of dollars if he suffered a career-ending injury in college.
O'Neal told the Express-News that jumping to the NBA was tempting.
O'Neal was an all-state basketball player at San Antonio Colei High School, leading the team to the state championship in 1989.
The lottery to determine the order
of the winners is May 19, and
the draw itself is June 8.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Boeing 737 jetliner carrying the UNLV basketball team made an unscheduled landing at Kansas City International Airport later afternoon after a pilot's decision to refuel.
UNLV basketball team stops briefly at KCI
The America West aircraft was carrying 140 passengers when it landed at KCI on 5:38 p.m. CST.
"Abnormal weather conditions resulted in a pilot's judgment to refuel the aircraft," said Daphne Pincott, an air traffic controller for America West communications for America West.
Winds of 63 mph were recorded at KCI before the unscheduled landing, said a representative from the National Weather Service.
The jetlin departed Las Vegas at 1:10 p.m. and did not arrive in Indianapolis until 8:30 p.m., one hour behind schedule.
"They landed at 5:38 p.m. in Kansas City and were on their way by 6:20 p.m." Dicino said from his home in Phoenix. "The weather was nice, but it was very sunny to thing to do. If the weather wasn't so bad, they would have never stopped.
“It’s called a technical stop. We felt we had to stop and refuel in case we had to circle Indianapolis. We took that precaution.”
From The Associated Press
Julie Jacobson/KANSAN
River rowers
The Kansas crew prepares to launch a shell for an early morning practice was preparing yesterday for competition this weekend in St. Louis. The crew, which had to fight strong head winds and currents, sponsored by Washington University.