Sports
University Daily Kansan / Monday, March 26, 1990
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Kansas kicks off spring conditioning
Depth, experience encourage coach as practices commence
By Brent Maycock Kansan sportswriter
Tight ends Chad Fette (left) and Mark Smith practice blocking drills in the first practice of the spring.
Kansas football coach Glen Mason is ready to get back to playing football.
Football
"We're excited about spring practice," Mason said in a press conference Friday. "I don't think there's any doubt we've made some improvements in our program. I
don't think they are eagerly awaiting spring practice as I am, but they are looking forward to going out there, and I think it's a direct result of finishing up last year on a positive note. They feel that they are getting better."
Keith Thorpe/KANSAB
The Jayhawks ended last season with a 46-44 victory against Missouri on Nov. 18 in Columbia, Mo.
"We've been waiting a long time since we ended up our season," Mason said. "I'm especially looking forward to spring practice because we have a great majority of players back."
Kansas lost only three starters on offense. The most glaring vacancy was created by the departure of quarterback Kelly Donohoe.
The Jayhawks are coming off their best finish in the Big Eight Conference since year 1, Kansas has wasted 47 rebels in the Big Eight in the big 2-5 record.
Donoho finished his career at Kansas with 5,382 yards, enough for second place on the Jayhawks' career passing yards list. He also completed 55 percent of his pass attempts for more than 2,100 yards
last season.
"It's an unusual situation for a school to have only one scholarship quarterback for spring practice," Mason said. "We've got three guys who will work out there."
Freshman Chip Hilleary, who saw limited action in five games behind Donohoe last year, is expected to take over the quarterback slot. In addition to Hilleary, walk-on candidates Todd Caudie, a freshman transfer from Air Force, and Don Mohmaleh, an interior freeman from Rivervale, will be given opportunities to play at quarterback during spring drills.
Kansas also signed three quarter-backs during the signing period — Asheki Preston from Cardinal Gibbons High School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Fred Thomas from Alief Elski High School in Texas and Van Davis from Green Mountain High School in Lakewood, Colo.
"We tried to recruit guys that will fit into the system, but you don't know until you work with them," Mason said. "We'll get through spring practice the best we can. Development of the quarterback position is the top priority on the offensive side."
Drayton caught 25 passes for 444 yards and three touchdowns, including a 72-yard touchdown reception. Drayton caught 68 passes, caught seven passes for 171 yards.
Despite the graduation of Quintin Smith and John Baker, offensive coordinator Pat Ruel said the wide range of players most talented group at any position.
Sophomores Kenny Drayton and Jim New are the top candidates for the receivers' positions. Both Drayton and New saw action in all 11 games, ranked third and fourth, respectively, on the team in receiving yards.
On the defensive side, Kansas lost three starters from last year's squad linebacker Dan Newbrough, linebackernez and defense back Deral Bovkin.
Defensive coordinator Jim Hilms said team unity would be a key for the team.
defense has to play better," he said.
"We have to do everything we can to get a contribution from each player."
Despite the loss of Boykin, who was Big Eight Defensive Newcomer of the year in 1983, Hilles said the second quarter be the strongest defensive group.
"The coaching staff feels the
"There is good depth in the secondary," he said. "I think we have at least eight or nine individuals who can play."
The Jayhawks began spring practice Friday and will continue through
April 22. On Friday, the team worked out without pads and did individual as well as队 drills. However, because of Friday's snow, the team was forced to work out with weights in Anschutz sports on outdoor practice practiced for the first time in full pads yesterday at Memorial Stadium.
"I'm encouraged by what I've seen." Mason said.
Kansan reporters Paul Augeri and Molly Reid contributed information to this story.
'Hawks look forward to conference matches
By Paul Auger
Kansas sportswriter
Tennis player Page Goals said she would just as soon forget Kansas' 0-3 performance at the Brigham Young Quadrangular league and concentrate on the Big Eight Conference season, which is about to begin.
Women's tennis
"Once we start playing the conference teams, it will be more evident how the winning will happen in the lineup." Gains said.
"We'll probably all be fired up and pumped up one more notch for that match."
Kansas, 1-11, plays Kansas State in the Jayhawks' conference and home oneder Wednesday.
"Actually, all three matches were close up and down the lineup," Goins said. "We didn't pull out the ones we needed to win. Nobody is winning on a consistent basis."
The Jayhawks lost matches to another entourage of top-ranked teams this weekend in Provo, Utah. The 12th-ranked Utah Utes defeated the Jayhawks 8-3 Satur-
day. The Wildcats defeated to 13th-ranked Brigham Young on Friday. Houston defeated Kansas 7-2 on Thursday.
Goins was the only winner in the
BYMATCH. At N4, one妹s, she defeated Kim Chang 7-6, 3-6, 6-2. However, the majority of the sinners that Kansas lost were very close.
Eveline Hamers, the Jayhawks' No. 1 player, played, dropped a three-set match to the Cougars' Mary Beth Young. Three other Jayhawk players were within one hour forcing a second-set tiebreaker.
No 5. singles player Lauren Hageman lost a 7-6, 7-6 to match with Larry Walker at the sixth round, Kansas' Stacy Stots lost 6-3, 6-4 to Patiu Island.
"We did play some close matches, but we really have to work hard to close out matches," Kansas coach Michael Center said. "We need to get other people in the lineup to chip in."
Hamers defeated Utah's Julie Kampen at No. 1 singles 7, 4-6, 7-6. 6呞defeated Stephanie Ball at the No. 4 spot 6, 2-4, 6-3. The duo defeating Ruth Ann Stevens and Susie Costa 6-7, 6-4, 7-2.
"We must be more consistent and have a better effort up and down the line." Center said.
Center said he would like to see more of a distribution of singles victories throughout the lineup, and he is hopeful the Jayhawks will defeat the Wildcats on Wednesday.
Swimmers improve times
Two swimmers and one diver from the KU men's swim team competed in the NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships last weekend in Indianapolis.
in the 100-yard backstroke and nine- tenths of a second in the 200-yard backstroke.
By a Kansan reporter
He swam the 100 backstroke in
50.08 seconds and 200 backstroke in
1:50.11 minutes, achieving his best
career times. Stout placed 18th
nationally in the 100 backstroke and
21st nationally in the 200 backstroke.
Although the Jayhawks did not score any points, Coach Gary Kempf said he was pleased with the overall performance of the men.
"I wanted to break the 50 second bar, to break the 50 back." Stout said. "But I can tell you."
Senior Kevin Toller finished 36th nationally in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 58.50.
"The team did well." Kempf said.
"Stout swam two lifetime bests."
Men's swimming
Senior Andy Flower finished 29th nationally out of 33 divers with 406.60 points.
Final Four ready for Denver
Junior Jeff Stout missed competing in the finals by one-tenth of a second
The Associated Press
UNLV, Georgia Tech, Duke, Arkansas: They are the Final Four.
“On to Denver,” read a sign held up by UNLV's Moses Scurry as the Jummini. Rebels polished Loyola Lions' emotional ending the Lions' emotional ride.
UNLV captured the West Regional in Oakland, Calif., and Georgia Tech was a 93-91 winner against Minnesota for the Southeast Regional title in New Orleans yesterday. Duke and Arkansas advanced on Saturday.
With Georgia Tech and Duke both winning, the Atlantic Coast Conference has two teams in the Final Four for the first time since 1881. That year, North Carolina and Virginia both advanced to the championships, and the Tar Heels lost the national title to Indiana.
Six times in the '80s there were more than one team from a conference in the Final Four, including 1985 when the Big East had three.
Duke (28-8) will meet Arkansas (30-4) and Georgia Tech (26-8) will play UNLV (33-5) in Saturday's semi-final. The team, the national title to be settled April 2.
On Saturday, Duke beat Connecticut 79-78 in overtime to win the East Regional at East Rutherford, N.J., and Arkansas defeated Texas 88-85 for the Midwest Regional crown in Dallas.
UNLV is going to the Final Four for the third time. UNLV lost in the semifinals in the previous two Final Four matches Carolina in 1977 and Indiana in '87.
Loyola's emotional trip ended after
three victories and its deepest march ever into the NCAA tournament. It was all dedicated to Hank Gathers, a star for the Lions who collapsed in a game and died March 4 of heart disease.
Bo Kimble, a teammate and close friend of Gathers, scored 42 points, seven above his nation-leading average, including eight 3-pointers. But his teammates shot just 34 percent against UNLV's harrying defense.
"Going out with class, that was the most important thing," Kimble said.
"I told our team I was proud of them," Coach Paul Westhead said. "It was a good long run for us. We ran our fast break. The pace was perfect. We just didn't make enough key baskets and they got a bunch inside that really hurt. Las Vegas was just a better team today."
"There were three things we had to do," UNLV coach Jerry Tarkarian said. "We had to beat the press, we had to score when we had the numbers and we had to get back and stop the transition. We did all three."
"Believe it or not, that's not that unusual with this team," Georgia Tech coach Bobby Cremins said. "We had that happen several times this season.
Dennis Scott, Kenny Anderson and Brian Oliver scored all but four of Georgia Tech's points as the Yellow Devils earned their first trip to the Final Four.
"Them doing all the scoring is not designated. It's something that happens and just comes naturally."
Scott scored 40 points, Anderson 30 and Oliver 19.
The midwest regional championship sent Arkansas to the Final Four and gave the Razorbacks their first 30-win season since 1978. Lenzie Howell was the region MVP, scoring 25 points against North Carolina and 21 against Texas (24-9).
"I't great to be able to say I've been to the Final Four three of four years," said Duke's Ala Abdelainbah, who had 27 points and 14 rebounds. "But we've never won one. That's the next step. We want to win one."
The Blue Devils are in their third straight Final Four and seventh since 1963, although they have never won the national championship. They lost in the championship game in 1964, '78 and '86.
Duke beat Connecticut (31-5) on Christian Laetner's 15-foot jumper with 2.6 seconds remaining in the game, becoming the first school to make three straight Four trips since Houston did it it1982-'84.
The game was the 23rd so far in the tournament to be decided by three points or less. Minnesota had a chance to win, but Kevin Lynch's 3-point attempt from the side missed at the buzzer.
"Lenzie Howell has come to his hometown time and time again and proven he is probably one of the best players in the country," Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson said. "Not in the Southwest Conference — in the country."
Arkansas beat Southwest Conference rival Texas for the third time this season.
Sports briefs
JUCO CHAMPION$HIP$: Sabastian Neal scored 32 points as Connors State set a championship game record for most points scored in beating the College of Southern Idaho 103-87 Saturday for the national junior college championship in Hutchinson.
It was the most points scored since Tyler, Texas, scored 93 in 1951 and Midland, Texas, matched the total in 1962. It was the most points scored by the teams and the game since Midland and Midland had Dade North combined for 181 in 1962.
Association tournament, Pensacola,
Fla., took fifth place by beating
Kankakee, Ill., 73-71 and San Jacinto,
Texas, edged Odessa, Texas, 113-112
for seventh place.
Friday's snow forced the Jayhawks to cancel their weekend series with Regis College, which would have begun Saturday. The games have not been rescheduled yet.
Champlain, Vt., beat Three Rivers, Mo., 76-68 for third place in the National Junior College Athletic
Royals pitcher injured
Kansas, 10-11, will travel Tuesday to Wichita to meet defending national champion Wichita State. Kansas defeated the Shockers once in three
GAMES CANCELED: Weather has once again taken its toll on the Kansas baseball team's efforts.
GAME RESCHEDULED: Snowed out of a regional doubleheader Saturday against Wichita State, Kansas softball coach Kalum Haack has rescheduled the games for April 16 at Javahawk Field.
games last season
Haack said Jayhawk Field had been cleared of snow yesterday and should be playable by Wednesday if the weather remains dry. However, the KU Weather Service expects precipitation for the middle part of the week.
The Jayhawks, 16-12, will play Creighton in a 2 p.m. doubleheader Wednesday.
Weather eliminates seasonal transition
DeJeaus, who was second in the American Association with 158 strikeouts last year while pitching at Wrigley Field in a exhibition action. He is not scheduled
By Molly Reid
Kansas sportswriter
Kansas City Royals rookie righthander DeJesus yesterday landed wrong on his left foot and twisted his ankle while throwing during batting practice.
The weather would not allow it.
Kansas track
The Kansas men's and women's track teams never had the opportunity to compete in what was supposed to be the transitional meet from the indoor track season to the outdoor season.
The snowstorm that hit Lawrence on Friday forced Saturday's outdoor alumi track meet to be moved into Anschutz Sport Pavilion. The meet was intended to allow the athletes an inconsequential competition that would not be affected, ment, Kansas coach Gary Schwartz said.
Schwartz said the javelin and disc throws and the shot put were canceled as well as the 400-relay and 2,000-meter steeple chase.
"It was good," he said. "We did get some competition in, but it wasn't much of the transition I had hoped. It was under ideal conditions; I hoped we would get out in some cold and hard. They need to get accustomed to it."
"We did the best we could with what he had," he said. "It was better than not doing anything."
Schwartz said some athletes made breakthroughs in their performances.
The move indoors limited some of the competition. Only one alumnus attended, and many of the events were canceled. Paul Titus, who graduated in 1982, competed in the high jump.
Each of the first three finishers in the men's two-mile run had personal best times. The places went to Kansas runner's Steve Heffernan and Sean Sheridan and unattached runner Ladd McClain, respectively. Heffernan finished the race in 8 minutes, 58.0 seconds, and Sheridan crossed the line in 9:06.4. McClain, a freshman runner who is saving his eligibility by running unattached, finished with a time of 9:09.5.
The Royals begin their exhibition season today against the Boston Red Sox. Storm Davis, Tom Gordon, Steve Crawford and Mark Davis are scheduled to pitch for the Royals.
Mark Gubicza, who has been slowed by a tender right shoulder, is slated to throw during batting practice three times this week.
Sheridan said that he was not satisfied with his performance not only because of the poor training.
For the women, unattached jumper Marybeth Labosky won the event with a leap of 5-10 $ \frac{1}{2} $. Melissa Hart and Kim Hutheoe-Fusch jumped for second-and-third place for both 5-4 and 5-2 jumps, respectively.
"I had hoped to run faster," he said. "I've been training outdoors for about three weeks now. It's kinda weird going indoors after making the transition. It was like running in a barn."
The men's event was won with a jump of 6-10 from Johnny Brackins, who also won the long jump event with a 23-3 ¼ lean.
Schwartz said the women's and men's high jumps also turned out to be good competitions.
Donnie Anderson won the 1,500 for the men with a time of 3:55.4 and Jon Joslin came in third with a time of 4:02.5 behind an unattached runner. Joslin also won the 800-meter run in 1:59.1. Jason Teal finished second with a time of 2:00.4.
Other results include Jule Howerton's first place finish in the 1,500-meter run. Tricia Brown came in third and the team behind Howerton's time of 4:42.
Sheridan said training outside had prepared the team for its first competitive meet, even without the transitional meet. Kansas will compete in the Louisiana State Quadradular this weekend.
"It itens that all that snow and moving it indoors would have been detrimental," he said. "But we all ran hard."
to pitch in a game until Saturday.
"It always helps to get one in before a big race. But basically (the condition problems) are in your mind."
Schwartz said he wouldn't have held the meet if he thought it would hurt the team's training and performance.
The Associated Press
"It's not going to hold us back at all," he said. "It was better than not doing anything."
Valvano's lawyer is ready for fight with N.C. State
The Associated Press
RALEIGH, N.C. --- Jim Valvano's attorney is ready to fight for his client's job if North Carolina State officials decide a lawsuit is the way to oust the basketball coach.
Negotiations between university officials and Valvano's representatives are scheduled to resume
today.
But even before the meeting, there has been talk that school officials might turn to litigation in order to invalidate Valano's contract by claiming the coach did not promote the academic progress of his players.
"If they want to rattle that saber, it is not in their best interests." Woody Webb, the Raleigh attorney retained by Valvano's agent, Art Kaminsky, said. "If they want to fight, we'll fight. But most of the time, when you get involved in a courtroom battle, the only people that win are the lawyers.
"I feel confident we can meet that challenge. I would like to see
them cite that standard. I don't know what they expected Jim to do — escort them to class, do their homework for them or what
Today's meeting is scheduled to be held at the Raleigh office of Howard Manning, hired by the university to negotiate an end to Valvano's contract. Manning has refused comment.
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