Sports
University Daily Kansan / Friday, April 6, 1990
13
Kansas could enjoy windfall in recruiting
By Molly Reid
Kanean sportswriter
Kansan sportswriter
With the sudden departure of two Big Eight Conference basketball coaches and the approach of the basketball signing period, it may appear that recruiting in the Midwest is open for Kansas.
Men's basketball
Kansas State basketball coach Lon Kruger and Oklahoma State coach Leonard Hamilton left their schools just 10 days before the first spring signing date, April 11.
"Coaches recruit players as much as schools," said Jerry Mullen, publisher of Mullen's Roundball Report. "It's a big factor. It will be a resale. I think that's tough for K-(State)."
think that Jayhawks can count on 6-foot-8 Pat Richey of Lee's Summit, Mo. and 6-2 Richard Scott of Little Rock, Ark., who signed letters of intent with Kansas in the fall. Steve Woodberry, a 6-3 senior at Wichita South also has made plans to attend Kansas. He made a verbal commitment earlier in the year.
Two Kansas prospects considering primarily Kansas and K-State, are Hutchinson Community College center David Johanning and Butler County Community College guard Val Barnes.
Bob Gibbons of All-Star Sports Publications said Johanning was leaining toward K-State. But Johanning said he had not yet decided.
"I haven't decided anything definite yet," Johanning said. "It's kind of a shock to see Kruger leave, but I understand him leaving."
Mullen said the 6-9 Johnning, although not strong enough to be the true big man the Jayhawks are looking for, was a solid player that would take on a role in the Kansas lineup.
Gibbons said Barnes probably would be influenced by Kruger's departure, and it would be beneficial for Kansas.
for Kansas.
Butter County coach Randy Smithson said he was unsure of Barnes' situation, although he knew that Barnes was interested in Kansas. Barnes planned to visit K-State, but
the plans have been canceled, Smithson said.
Barnes, a 8-2 freshman, who can play either guard position, still was narrowing his possibilities, Smithson said. He has visited Oklahoma, Minnesota and Iowa, as well as Kansas.
nemos and Iowa. Herbert Jones, a 6-5 small forward from Butler, also has Kansas on his list, but Smithson said he would be surprised if the Atlanta native would stay in the Midwest.
say in it "Jones still is not sure whether he is going to visit Kansas," he said. "I see him going to the East."
Two other Jayhawk prospects, Kenneth Roberts, a 6-8 forward from Bingham High School in South Jordan, Utah, and Von Bonnett, a 6-8 power forward from Northeastern Oklahoma Junior College, still have not made a verbal commitment to any school.
see him going on.
Jones, who Gibbons said is capable of playing an inside or outside position, has been recruited by Alabama, Georgia, Seton Hall and the University of Cincinnati.
ary school.
Bennett will be on campus this weekend for an official visit, but his coach, Larry Gibson, said he would not make a decision until at least April 18.
Bennett reportedly was unhappy with the lack of interest the Big Eight showed him when he graduated from high school, but Gibson said Bennett still was interested in Kansas.
Roberts, who already has visited Kansas, is considering Utah and Brigham Young and may be the one of the toughest recruits to sign because he is Mormon, Gibbons said.
sull was interested.
"He's very closed-mouthed, but he's thoughtful and he'll think it through." Gibson said.
Two high school players Kansas is recruiting, 6-1 Darnell Woods, from Dunbar High School in Chicago and Bortz High School in Heights. The high school have not satisfied Proposition 48 eligibility standards for incoming freshmen.
Barnes, who as a 6-8 power forward could solve the Jayhawks' big man problem, did not achieve the Proposition 48 minimum score of 15 on his ACT exam. Woods also has not passed the ACT required score.
City is host of state rowing competition
Crew coach claims no home advantage
Kansan sportswriter
By Brent Maycock
Korean sportswriter
Although the Sunflower State College Rowing Championships are in Lawrence for the first time, Kansas crew coach Dan Jewett said his team would not have the home river advantage.
The regatta will begin with qualifying heats at 10 a.m. tomorrow at Burcham Park, Second and Indiana streets, on the Kansas River. The finals will begin at 12:30 p.m. An awards ceremony will be at 5 p.m.
"I'm assuming the course is fair." Jewett said. "Thelanes are drawn at random the day of the race so the only advantage we could have would be the people."
be the people
Kansas will compete against Kansas,
Wichita State and Wash-
burn. Jewett said that some teams from high schools in Manhattan and Topeka would compete in the juniors division.
'This is a big one for our pride. This is for the state championship.'
he said there would be 14 events on the 1,850 meter course.
— Kati O'Hara KU crew member
In addition to the race, Kansas crew has combined with Subway Sandwiches for a fund-raising subeating contest. Finals in the contest will begin after the races.
Kat O Hara, a crew member, said doing well in this regatta was very important for Kansas.
"This is a big one for our pride," she said. "This is for the state championship."
Jewett said he expected his team to compete well in several divisions.
Jewett agreed that a successful regatta was very important.
"If we have a successful event and people have a lot of fun, then Lawrence will come off well," he said. "Maybe we'll be able to continue to have the event in Lawrence."
Kansas to play leading team K-State pitching is team's key to undefeated conference record
By Brent Maycock Kansan sportswriter
Kansas will have an extra incentive to win its Big Eight Conference home opener against Kansas State this weekend.
Not only are the Wildcats the Jayhawks' biggest rival, but K-State is also the conference leader with a 4-0 record.
Kansas baseball
The four-game series will begin at 7 tonight and will continue through Sunday. Kansas' record is 14-14 overall and 2-2 in the conference.
"It's natural, the fact that they're the leaders, for there to be a little more concentration and a little more incentive," Kansas coach Bingham said. "I think it would be more dangerous
if they were a team that we overlooked, but now we won't overlook them by any means."
"That really surprised us," Jayhawk left fielder Mark Hummel said. "We know that they are for real."
over them by my team.
Last weekend, the Wildcats swept a four-game series against Oklahoma.
Kansas shortstop David Soult said the Jayhawks would be fired up to play the Wildcats.
"If we could maybe take four from K-State, then that would put us in first place," he said. "It's conference play, and we need all the wins we can get, especially home games. You've got to win those because you don't have many of them . . . When you get them you have to take advantage of them."
or them. K-State's strength its pitching staff. The Wildcats lead the conference in team ERA (4.05) and fewest earned runs allowed (79). K-State boasts two of the top starting pitchers in the conference, David Hierholzer and Sean Pederson.
Hierbolver, 4-1, has not allowed an earned run in 39 consecutive innings and has a 0.00 ERA in conference play. His ERA in all games is 0.43. Pederson, 3-2, has a 0.00 ERA in Big Egul play and an overall ERA of 2.53.
"Their pitching numbers are very good, and they are two very solid pitchers," Bingham said. "They have a good mix of pitches, which they can throw for strikes. They really keep the hitters off balance."
Although Kansas has been in a hitting slump lastly, Bingham said he thought the Jayhawks could break out against the Wildcats.
"We might actually be better
Bingham said he expected some very close low-scoring games. Both teams average just under five runs a game.
against the good pitchers," he said. "I think the good pitching will make us concentrate and even a little better."
NOTES
"These are two very evenly matched teams," Bingham said. "You look at the numbers, they're almost identical. I would expect a low-scoring affair and more than likely it's going to come down to a mistake in the game."
Kansas was 34 against Kansas State in last year's series. . . Shortstop Dajon Soult has a nine-game hitting streak. . . Right field Denard Stewart ranks among the Big Eight leaders in three of the batting averages in offering batted average (.350), second in doubles (10) and tied for ninth in home runs (4).
Season to open against Nebraska
--in a schedule change, Kansas plays
Pittsburgh State at 3:30 p.m. Sunday
at home. The two teams originally
were to play a doubleheader.
Arterburn and Sacco congratulate Hennig after her winning hit.
By Paul Augeri
Kansan sportswriter
Kansas and Nebraska open their Big Eight Conference softball seasons against each other tomorrow. Swiftly.
Kansas softball
"Every time someone gets on base for Nebraska, they are going to run," said Kansas coach Kalum Haack, who was an assistant coach at Nebraska from 1983 to 1985. "It just depends on which pitch."
The Jayhawks, 21-13, play the Cornhuskers, 13-11, in a 2 p.m. doubleheader at Jayhawk Field. Roanna Brazier will pitch the first game for Kansas. The second starter has not been named.
Kansas was rained out of a scheduled doubleheader yesterday at Creighton. No makeup date has been scheduled.
Christy Arterburn, Kansas' leadoff hitter and shortstop, leads the Big Eight in stolen bases (27) and runs scored (26).
"We have to get on base any way we can," she said. "Running is pretty much my game. My job is to get on and steal."
Arterburn has 50 career stolen bages in less than two full seasons
with the Jayhawks. However, she said Nebraska's speed is one of her concerns.
"They are very quick, with a lot of slap hitters," she said. "They are a force on the bases and will be hard to stop. But with the way we've been playing defensively, it will be hard for them to beat us."
Arterburn, who bats left-handed, is a slap hitter and hits on the run. She has 36 hits, four hits less than conference leader and teammate, second baseman Kim Sacco.
Haack said the Jayhawks' conference opener is also of regional importance.
"This is a big, big game for us," he said. "They are ranked ahead of us in the region, so this is an opportunity for us to move up."
Kansas is the fifth-ranked team in the Midwest Region, two spots behind Nebraska. The regional champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament in May.
NOTES
At one time this season, Nebraska was the sixth-ranked team in the NCAA Division I softball poll.
"Their style of play is for the left-handed hitters to put the ball in play." Haack said.
By Paul Augerl
'Hawks are ready for 'Husker rivalry
Kansas outfielder Jessica Hennig was named Big Eight Player of the Week. In five games at the Jayhawk Invitational last weekend, Hennig went 6 for 10 with three RBI. The junior had gone singling last week in the bottom of the field that gave Kansas a 1-9 victory against Iowa in the title game. The Jayhawk were 4-1 in the tournament.
Kansan sportswriter
Rafael Rangel said a Kansas-Nebraska men's tennis match usually motivated the Cornhuskers to perform well.
Kansas tennis
The same is true for the Jayhawks. Last fall, Kansas received a qualifying bid for the ITCA/Rolex National Indoor Championships when it defeated Nebraska 5-4.
"That was a very close match," said Rangel, Monterrey, Mexico, sophomore. "We won in the last set. They fight really hard when they play us."
they play us. The Jayhawks, 9-8, will meet Iowa State tomorrow and Nebraska on Sunday on the courts beside Parrott Athletic Center. Both matches will begin at 10 a.m.
"This match should be fun to play." Rangel said of Nebraska. "We have a good rivalry going with them."
However, the Jayhawks finished the 1989 season behind the Cornbushers and Big Eight champion Oklahoma State. Kansas won consecutive Big Eight titles in 1987 and 1988.
coach Scott Perelman said collect another batch of Big Eight points in the next two matches is instrumental in the Jayhawks' quest for another conference championship.
championship.
"I think it is important that we be eager and enthusiastic to play," Perelman said.
Nebraska, 13-7, is anchored by
No. 1 singles player Matthias Mueller, who has a 20-9 singles record. Three-time letter winner and No. 2 singles player Ken Feuer is 13-10.
Kansas improved its singles and doubles records with a 9-0 victory at Missouri on Tuesday. At No. 2 singles, Jeff Gross leads Kansas with a 24-14 record. John Falbo, Kansas' No. 1 player at singles, is 14-10.
Glem Wilson, Iowa State's No. 1 singles player, tops the Cyclones list with a 12-3 record. However, Perelman compared the Cyclones, 13-6, to Wichita State. Kansas defeated Wichita State 8-1 last weekend.
"It is very important that we score every point we possibly can against them," he said.
against them. Perelman also was pleased with
In the case of this year's squad, Perelman said each player had the potential to become a conference champion.
the stability his players have displayed.
"Our number one priority is what is best for the team." he said. "However, all the individuals are capable of being Big Eight champions at all nine spots."
The Kansas women's tennis team also will play Iowa State tomorrow and Nebraska on Sunday at home. Both matches will begin at 2 p.m.
The Jayhawks beat Missouri 9-0 Tuesday and won their last four matches. Kansas is 2-0 in the Big Eight and 5-11 overall.
Oklahoma avoids legal action, reinstates women's basketball
The Associated Press
NORMAN, Okla. — University of Oklahoma officials, reacting to a public outcry and facing imminent legal action, announced yesterday that they would reinstate the women's basketball program.
The announcement by Oklahoma president Richard Van Horn and athletic director Donnie Duncan was greeted by a chorus of cheers from members of the women's basketball team who attended the news conference. The announcement came a day after attorneys for the players threatened a lawsuit if the program was not reinstated.
"I think that the whole nation has to applaud what has taken place in Oklahoma," Kansas women's basketball coach Marian Washington said. "The voice that supports
Although Van Horn said the lawsuit threat was not a significant issue, Soner team captain Tammy Rogers said it appeared to be more than a coincidence that the program was reinstated on the same day a lawsuit was to have been filed.
women's athletics has been heard."
Van Horn said the outpouring of public support for the program and the state senate's resolution condemning the university for its action factored more in the decision than the threat of the lawsuit.
Van Horn said school officials started to rethink the decision to eliminate the women's basketball program after Tuesday's Senate action and the public outcry.
"I think it made the decision come a lot quicker than maybe they wanted it to." Rogers said.
He also said there would be no plans to consider disbanding women's basketball in the near future.
Attorney for the players said the disbanding violated the Title IX pro-
vorn Horn and Duncan said they had planned to reallocate the money to other women's sports, thereby giving more women an opportunity to take part in athletics. They said the women's basketball program had a budget of $300,000, which represents about a quarter of the total budget for women's athletics and involves 13 to 15 players.
10. Last week's decision to disband the program created a furor. The Women's Basketball Coaches Association threatened a lawsuit, and players rallied on campus in attempts to fight for the program.
vision of federal law requiring equal opportunities for women in college athletics.
The players were jubilant about the second chance.
at Oklahoma players had gone to athletic officials asking for a re-evaluation of the program after losing seasons the past two years. Oklahoma was 7-22 this season, Valerie Goodwin-Colbert's third year as coach. Her career record at Oklahoma is 32-51.
the second chance.
"I am so happy," junior forward Elissa Walker said. "We fight for them and all we wanted for them to do was to fight for us. All we wanted was for them to re-evaluate the program. We had no idea they would drop it. We were glad we're back."
Kenean sportwriter Brent Maycock contributed information to this story
The team will play Kansas State at 1 p.m. tomorrow at the Shenk Complex at 23rd and Iowa street
Sports briefs
SOCER PLAYS AT HOME: The KU men's soccer team will play at home this weekend for the first and possibly last season.
The game will be a rematch of last weekend's contest in Manhattan.
On Sunday, Kansas will play Pittsburg State at 1 p.m. at the Shenk Complex.
tah.
Kansas played K-State to a 9-0
Goalie. Scott Schaffer and
John Carrice preserved the shut-
out for Kansas.
**RUGBY PLAYS MISSOUR:** The KU Rugby football club will play Missouri at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow at Shenk Complex at the corner of 23rd and Iowa streets.
The game is a rematch of the chapionship game of the Kansas City Rugby Club Collegiate Invitational Tournament played last weekend in Kansas City.
weekend in Kansas defeated Missouri 15-12 on a field goal by Matt Swain.
MUSBURGER CLAIMS VENDETA: Foren CBS sportscaster Brent Musburger said last night that his recent contract negotiations with the network were a sham and accused two CBS executives of conducting a vendetta to get rid of him.
"In my opinion, it was not a network decision," Mushbur argued in an interview with Sam Donaldson. "It was a personal vendetta on the part of two people."
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