Sports
University Daily Kansan / Wednesday, March 21, 1990
11
KU looks back on successful season after loss
Bv Moliv Reid
Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas basketball season came to an abrupt halt Sunday, and forward Mark Randall said it would be while before he realized it was over
Kansas guard Kevin Pritchard tries to shoot in his final college game along with seniors Freeman West and Jeff Guildner.
Men's basketball
"It hasn't really hit home. It'll sink in next week when the other teams start playing," he said referring to round of record of the NCAA tournament.
The Jayhawks finished 30-5 and won the Dodge NIT and BMA Classic championships. Kansas tied Oklahoma for second place in the Big Eight with an 11-3 record.
It was only the second time in Kansas history that the Jlayhawks have won 30 or more games. Only the Four Team, 38-4, had more victories.
The Jayhawks, unranked in the first Associated Press poll, defeated the preseason No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the conference. The Preseason NIT Tournament finals.
Eric Montgomery/KANSAN
Kansas qualified for the semifinals by beating No. 2 LSU 89-83 and then advanced to the finals with a convincing 91-77 victory against No. 1 UNLV.
The Jayhawks defeated St. John's
65-7 to win the preseason NIT title.
The victories made people take notice, but Coach Roy Williams said he wasn't surprised by his team's performance.
"I kept preaching that I thought we could win," he said. "People thought we had no chance. I like those situations.
"I really thought we'd be pretty good. The question was how good was Pekka (Markkaanen) and how would Jordan (Jordan) and Terry (Brown) fit in."
Pekka Markkanen took on a defensive role, and he was selected by United Press International as captain of its Big Eight All-Defensive team. He was also named to the All-Surprise team.
The 6-foot-10 center from Finland tallied the most blocked shots in
Kansas history, with 36 and was fourth in the conference.
Brown set a new Kansas single-season record with 89 three-point field goals. He averaged 2.5 three-pointers a game, second in the Big Ten and fourth in the fourth-highest scoring average for Kansas, averaging 11 points a game.
Along with junior Mike Maddox, Brown was selected to the UPI AllBench team.
Jordan, a freshman, averaged 3.2 points and 3.1 assists a game. He was named to the Phillips 66-Big Eight All-Freshman team and received a freshman All-American honorable award from Basketball Times magazine.
Ten Jayhawks averaged between 10 and 27 minutes of play a game. The bench contributed 36.6 percent of the team's scoring.
Senior point guard Kevin Pritchard was the team leader in scoring (14.5 a game) and assists (5.1). He was a consensus All-Big Eight selection but the only Jayhawk to receive honors from Associated Press voters.
Randall was chosen by a third team All-American by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. The junior forward averaged 13.3 points and 6.2 rebounds. His honors included selection to the AP and UPI All-Big Eight second teams and the academic All-Big Eight team.
Rick Calloway was the third-leading scorer (13.1 a game) and received an honorable mention from both wire services. The Indiana University transfer was runner-up for Big Eight Newcomer of the Year.
Senior guard Jeff Gueldner was the only other Jayhawk to receive an All-Bie Eight honorable mention.
"I told them they should feel good about their accomplishments." Williams said of his players. "Their pride has meant a lot to them."
Williams was honored as Big Eight Coach of the Year, CBS broadcaster Billy Packer's national coach of the year and the United States Basketball Writers' Association Coach of the Year.
After the four NIT victories, the Jayhawks went on a 15-0 winning streak that pushed them to the top of
the national polls. They gained the No.1 ranking Jan. 8 and kept it until they were beaten 95-87 in Columbia by Big Eight rival Missouri.
Kansas recorded its second loss to the Tigers on Feb. 13, 77-71. Its third and fourth losses were against Oklahoma, 100-78 and 95-77 respectively.
The fourth loss came in the semifinals of the conference tournament in Kansas City, Mo.
The Jayhawks had the best field-goal percentage in the nation, hitting 53.3 percent. They scored 100 points or more eight times, beating two teams by 55 points. Kansas set a
Randall said he wished that the Jayhawks had advanced further than the second round of the NCAA tournament.
school record for most points in a game by defeating Kentucky 150-95.
Randall said that many people were telling him what a great season was, but that it was hard for him to realize that so early after the loss in Atlanta.
that wins the NCAA," he said. "It's college basketball. Anything can happen on any given night."
Ogden welcomed back after victory
"But it is not always the best team
Kansan sportswriter
By Brent Mavcock
Kansas men's golf coach Ross Randall had one thing to tell John Ogden after Ogden captured first place at the Pepsi-USF Invitational Golf Tournament in Tampa during the weekend.
Men's golf
Welcome back.
John Ogden
Odgen's highest finish in three tournaments during the fall was an eighth place finish at the Miami Sun and Fun Invitational. The senior took first place in the tournament' in 1988.
"It was a very important finish for me," Ogden said. "I struggled all through the fall. I didn't play very well at all, and I didn't help the team at all. I played only up to a third of my ability."
Ogden said the victory would help
his performance and the team's perform-
ance.
"It's going to help me and get me going," he said. "Hopefully, I'll get a snowball effect. Now that I've got one, I'll start just letting it go. It's going to help the team because I'm going to start helping the team a lot more than I have been."
Randall said Ogden had been trying too hard and wasn't relaxing.
"It's his senior year, and he really wants to do well," Randall said. "He has tried so hard that he has made it good and tried to play with confidence and relax."
Despite Ogden's fall slump, Randall said Ogden was one of the most consistent players on the team.
"John has the potential to be one of the best players in college," he said.
"Nobody I have ever coached worked harder than he does. He has been frustrated by a lack of performance, but not by effort."
Odeng's hard work perhaps saved him from another middle of the pack finish at the Pepsi-USF Invitational. Odeng shot an opening-round score of 78, hardly the type of score it would take to win the tournament.
"I didn't really play that bad. I just didn't think very well and made some mistakes that I shouldn't have," said Coach Hodgson. "And Coach just told me to be patient."
Randall's advice paid off as Ogden fired a second-round 68, the lowest score posted by any golfer in the tournament on rounds; he was tied for sixth place.
"It kind of surprised us," Randall said. "He played a great round despite missing six putts from five feet. He came off and said, 'Boy, I blew it all.' We have won this tournament." We thought he would finish in the top five."
Odgen had a final-round score of 72 and edged out Greg Heinecke of Mississippi and John Cowgill of Cen- single stroke for first place honors.
Oden's success, however, is not surprising to Randall.
"When he gets it going and plays with confidence, he can play as well as anybody," Randall said. "This was really a good thing for him because it gets him back to a good confidence level."
Randall said strength and determination were Ogden's most important assets.
"He's a very hard working and highly motivated player." Randall said. "He hits the ball very long by college standards."
After he graduates from the University of Kansas this spring, Ogden said he planned to turn professional. Randall, who spent eight years on the Professional Golfers Association had the skills to play professionally.
"He's mature enough to understand what it takes to play professionally," Randall said. "I think he has a good chance, but he needs to work on areas of weakness, particularly his short game."
Randall said maintaining confidence could be the key to Ogden's survival as a professional.
"There is a fine line where the golfer is confident and where he loses his confidence," Randal said. "I think this best golf is still ahead of him."
Women's tennis coach still enjoys first victory
By Paul Augerl
Michael Center still was savoring last week's victory, his first as coach of the women's tennis team, at yesterday's practice.
Kansan sportswriter
Kansas tennis
After reminiscing about Kansas' 5-4, come-from-behind victory against Georgia Tech, Center said the Jahawks were capable of adding more victories to their winning foundation.
Kansas rallied from a 4-2 deficit against Georgia Tech and swept the Yellowjackets in doubles. The Jayhawks last won a match 11 months ago when they beat Nebraska 6-3 in Lincoln.
"This is the start of a new season for us," said Center, who began his coaching career last September. "The victory felt good; it was a great success."
Kansas, 7-1, will play Houston at 11 a.m. today in the Brigham Young University Utah. Utah. Kansas plays No. 13 BYU on Friday and No. 21 Utlah on Saturday.
showed me they want to succeed."
Mindy Pelz, who will start against Houston at No. 5, singles, said she was confident that the Jayhawks would win in Georgia against Georgia Tech and win in Utah.
At last year's quadrangular, Kansas defeated California-Irvine and Colorado. The Jayhawks lost only to BYU.
Becky DeSalme and Laura Hagemann clinched the match with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 victorv at No. 3 doubles.
attitude has been real important. We were going into doubles and needed to win all three. When we pull together, we can do it."
"There is a whole lot of talent on this team," Pelz said. "The Georgia Tech match was a good example. Our
The competition at the quarter-
lar, like last week's matches, reflect
the strength of the Jayhawks' schedule.
Kansas plays 12 of the nation's
20 top teams. Center inherited it from
former women's coach Eric Haves.
"Houston is not fanatastic. They are very beatable," Pelz said. "And the teams we have played so far are better than BYU, so (BYU) is very much within our reach. All the teams
Pelz critiqued the competition at this year's quadrangular and said the tournament field would test the Jayhawk's ability.
are good, so a win against any of those three will help our confidence."
We have one of the toughest schedules in the country." Center sales
Illinois quarterback gives up last year of eligibility for NFL
Page Goinis, who will start at No 2 singles, said nationally ranked competition serves as an incentive for Kansas players.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois quarterback Jeff George, whose outstanding football career has been marked by tough decisions, announced yesterday that he would relinquish his final year of college eligibility to enter the NFL
"When we play against top-ranked players, they just bring out the best in our games," Goins said. "Our schedule is the toughest of anyone in the Big Eight."
The Associated Press
George, who endured a year on the sidelines and three years without a scholarship in order to play at Illinois, took his decision nearly to the wire — college juniors must declare their intentions to the NFL by tomorrow.
draft
"I'm disappointed that Jeff George has decided not to play football for the University of Illinois in 1908, but we wish him well in his endeavors with the National Football League," football coach and athletic director John Mackovic said in a statement.
The 6-foot-4, 216-pound George completed 474 of 789 passes in two years with the Illini, and his 5,189 yards place him third among all Illinois quarterbacks. He fired 31 touchdown passes for Illinois and was intercepted 22 times.
Kansan sportswriter
By Brent Maycock
A five-run sixth inning boosted 20th-ranked Creighton to a 5-0 victory against Kansas yesterday at the Creighton Sports Complex in Omaha, Neb.
Kansas baseball
The Jayhawks managed only three hits against Bluejay starter Dan Smith and were shut out for the first time this year.
"Steve Renko pitched a great game," Kansas coach Dave Bingham said. "One inning got away from us, and it cost us the game."
The loss dropped Kansas' record to 8-11. The Jayhawks will play Missouri's Tartikie College at 2 p.m. at Hogwain-Mound Stadium.
Renko, 3-3, surrewarded only one hit through the first five innings. However, after a three-hit, five-run sixth inning, Bingham replaced the senior with John Wuycheck. Wuycheck allowed just one hit in two innings.
Creighton right fielder John Pivovar led off the six with a triple and scored on a double by first baseman Jason Judge. Left fielder Steve Hinton hit a ball to center field which Pat Karin misplayed, allowing Judge to score and Hinton to advance to second base. Hinton then moved to third
on a wild pitch by Renko.
Creighton catcher Ryan Martin-dale hit into a fielder's choice, but Hinton scored ahead of Kansas catcher Mark Moore's tag. Creighton designated hitter Chad McConnel followed with a two-run home run providing the Bluejays their final two runs.
"Their guy pitched an outstanding game." Bingham said. "We looked bad hitting, but Smith had a lot to do with it. He really dominated us at the plate. He is an outstanding college pitcher."
Smith, ranked 15 among collegiate prospects for the Major League draft by Bill Mazeroski's Baseball magazine, improved his pitching average to 0.91. He also struck out 12 Jayhawks while walking only two.
Kansas' only threat came in the third. Jawahk left fielder Meeks and shortstop David Soull opened the inning with walks. However, Meeks was picked off at second base.
Soult was forced out at second when Karlin hit into a fielder's choice. After Karlin stole second, first baseman Mike Bard struck out to end the inning.
"I was pleased with Renko's and Wuychech's performance," Bingham said. "Offensively we just didn't get the job done."
Moore had two of the three Jayhawk hits.
DePaul shows up NCAA as it rolls along in NIT
The Associated Press
The DePaul Blue Demons, who couldn't make their point with the people who run the NCAA tournament, are making all the crucial points in the NIT.
Stephen Howard's bank shot with two seconds left gave DePaul a 61-58 victory against Cincinnati in a second-round NIT game last night and extended its Alumni Hall winning streak to 44 games.
David Booth led DePaul (20-14) with 18 points, Kevin Holland added 15, and Howard had 13. Andre Tate led the Bearcats (20-14) with 17 points, Leveritt Robinson had 16, and Louis Banks scored 15.
DePaul won its last 42 games at its on-campus Alumni Hall before moving to the suburban Rosemont Horizon in 1980. However, the Blue Demons couldn't play their NIT opener at the Horizon because of a previously booked soccer game and chose to play at Alumni Hall last night as well.
New Mexico 90, Oklahoma St. 88
Luc Longley grabbes his only offensive rebound and scored the winning points — only his second basket of the game — with two seconds left. New Mexico (19-10), in the NIT for a record seventh straight time, advanced to the quarterfinals for the third consecutive year. Oklahoma State ended its season at 17-14.
New Mexico got a career-high 24 points from Kurt Miller and 23 from Rob Robbins.