Sports
University Dally Kansan / Thursday, March 8, 1990
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Kansas can't wait for Big Eight
Tourney next test for 'Hawks
By Molly Reid
Kansas roadwrite
Kansan sportswriter
Kansas has eight players who have never set foot on the court at a Big Eight Conference tournament, but Coach Roy Williams not worry Coach Roy Williams.
Men's basketball
"The NIT was good experience for us: playing in a tournament situation, a lot of attention, a lot of people around," he said.
The preseason Dodge National Invitational Tournament victory put Kansas near the top of college basketball. The Jayhawks, unranked at the time, beat then-No. 2 LSU, then-No. 1 UNLV and then-No. 25 St. John's to win the tournament. After the title, the Jayhawks shot into the top four of the rankings and did not fall below No. 2 — their current position — after the second week of the season.
"We spend a lot of time talking to them about just concentrating on what's going on on the court and our bench and not to be concerned about everybody else," Williams said. "That's the way we're going to try it."
Williams said that junior Pekka Markkanen, sophomore Alonzo Jamison and were the only veteran players in the team in a major postseason tournament.
Markkanen, from Finland, had not played college basketball before this season but played internationally. Jamison was academically ineligible when Kansas played in the NIT in November.
Markkanen said that he had no idea what would take place at the conference tournament but that he was ready to work for the Javhaws all year.
"It's exciting, but we have to concentrate on only one game," he added. "We'll try to win."
Jamison said he was not worried about his inexperience because the job offered was a good one.
"All of our seniors have been through the NCAA tournament, so we're looking for their leadership to get through it," he said. "I think the adrenaline is pumping right now and that's why I think the senior leader-team has been going on all year, so I don't think it will stop now."
Freshmen Todd Alexander and Adonis Jordan said they had not given much thought to nerves.
"I think you get more nervous going to a place like Oklahoma or a college campus," he gym against just another opponent," said Alexander, a walk-on guard
from McPherson. "The seniors keep it all in perspective and keep us in focus. But, in the back of your mind you must that if you lose once, you're out."
Jordan said that playing in the NIT had prepared him for the upcoming tournament games but that he also relied on the experienced players for their leadership.
"Just playing behind Kevin this year will help me a lot in the future," the 5-foot-11 guard said about senior guard Kevin Pritchard. "I don't feel like a freshman. I feel more like a freshman and a half.
Other players unfamiliar with the Big Eight tournament are senior Rick Calloway, juniors Terry Brown and Mark McNamara, sophomore and sophomore MacMash Nolan.
"I feel comfortable when I'm in the game. In the game, my teammates don't treat me like a freshman. We're all equal."
Brown and Wagner have experience playing junior-college basketball, and Calloway transferred from Indiana in the Big Ten Conference. The Big Ten does not have a postseason. The NCAA championship loway did play for the Hosiers when they won the NCAA championship in 1987.
"I have no experience with a post-season tournament," Calloway said. "But I just look at it as another game."
Jordan said Williams did not give the Jayhawks time to be nervous about the Big Eight tournament or the NCAA tournament because they were constantly concentrating on their next game.
"Coach Williams has brainwashed us to think, 'Don't look that far ahead,' he said. "The only thing on our minds right now, one of our goals, is to win the Big Eight tournament. That's the only thing we're going to think about. Even though we know that if we lose Friday we will still be in the NCAA Tournament, to us, that isn't the point. We're going to celebrate every game until the next day."
NOTES
Kansas players played the rosters of all but one 1989-90 "All team" chosen by John Hendel of United Press International. Jayhawks Mike Maddock and Terry Brown were both chosen for the All-Bench team, with Maddock honored as captain. Rick Calloway was selected to the All-Transfer team. Kevin Pritchard was chosen to the All-Defensive team with teammate Pekka Markkanen, who was picked as captain. He played as a Jayhawk named to two teams. The 5-foot 6-inch Jeff Gueldner on the All-Surprise team. The All-Freshman was the only team that did not have a Kansas representative.
Kansas guard Adonis Jordan attempts to draw a foul from Kansas State's Steve Henson during Kansas' victory Feb. 24.
Players offer arbitration proposal
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — Baseball players proposed last night that only half of two-year players be made eligible for salary arbitration and union head Donald Fehr said he hoped the move would lead to an agreement.
The union, which had been demanding a rollback to two years, made its change after two meetings with the owners yesterday.
"They indicated they would think about it and call us back tomorrow." Fehr said at a news conference early this month, when he showed them to look at it long and hard.
"If this is not enough, then Don Fehr at least is out of ideas."
The union proposed a minimum salary of $105,000, $15,000 more than the owners are offering, and the yearly contribution to the benefit plan of $57 million, 7 million more than the owners had offered.
said they were not optimistic that owners would accept it.
Players — including Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Orel Hershiser and Cincinnati Reds pitcher Danny Jackson — said this was a last ditch effort at saving opening day games scheduled for April 2. Players at the news conference were somber and some
Owners want to keep arbitration eligibility at three years while the players had previously wanted it. But they said it was before the 1985 agreement.
The lockout finished its third week yesterday.
"It is not a fight of our making." Fehr said. "There has been over the last few weeks progress in the non-critical areas."
The union proposed that players with 2-3 years in the majors be ranked by time of service. The top half would be made eligible for arbitration; the bottom half wouldn't.
"What we did over the last 24-36 hours was review all the outstanding issues to see if there was a way to bring this unfortunate episode to the close," Fehr said. "It's no secret if this not solved in a day or two you will not have an opening day."
Earlier yesterday, owners offered to create a bonus pool of about $4 million for two-year players as a way of breaking the stalemate on salary arbitration, but source familiar with
the union's thinking said it would be rejected.
The bonus pool idea, according to a management source, was a way of giving money to two-year players without bending on the arbitration issue.
The sources familiar with the union's thinking, said the proposal would be rejected because the union believes it would not be enough of a help to players with between two and three years of major-league service. The union estimates the salaries of players in the league will increase by between $8 million and $10 million if they were made eligible for arbitration.
Management's bonus pool would be distributed on the basis of statistics agreed to by both sides, such as games started, plate appearances and, perhaps, total bases. The pool idea was brought up earlier in the negotiations and reintroduced yesterday.
The union also objects to the bonus pool concept because it is a step toward management's earlier pay-for-performance proposal.
Sports briefs
For the second time in two days, the Jayhawks were rained out. The Jayhawks were supposed to play 23rd-ranked Creighton yesterday. However, a steady drizzle for most of the game, Kansas' game against Southwest Missouri State was rained out Monday.
BASEBALL RAINED OUT: The weather has not been kind to the Kansas baseball team.
The Jayhawks will travel to Baton Rouge, La, for a three-game series.
The game with Creighton has not been rescheduled yet, but the Southwest Missouri State game has been rescheduled for April 19.
SOFTBALL POSTPONED: The scheduled Kansas softball double-header yesterday against Washburn was rained out.
Washburn officials reported wet grounds in Topeka on Tuesday, and the games were moved to Jayhawk where the games were then rained out here.
Kansas coach Kalum Haack has rescheduled the doubleheader for 3 p.m. April 26 at Topeka.
Assistant coach is not eager to leave
Bv Kate Lee
Special to the Kansan
Kansas assistant men's basketball coach Jerry Green yesterday said he would wait to apply for the head coaching position at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington until he knew more about
"I need to see what the elements of the position are and more or less go through the process of exploring opportunities," he said. "I just don't know all the elements yet, the budget and so on."
The position became available Feb. 19 when UNC-Wilmington coach Robert McPherson resigned.
Applications for the position will be accepted until March 14, a member of the UNC-Wilmington sports information staff said. A search committee will not be named until that time.
"I am很, very happy with the situation at the University of Kansas and my working relationship with my best friend for 17 years, Roy Williams," he said. "I'm in no hurry to make a move."
Green said he was not looking to leave Kansas.
About 7,000 students attend UNC-Wilmington. The school competes in the Colonial Athletic Conference.
Green, not a stranger to North Carolina or Wilmington, spent nine years as head coach and two years as an assistant at Boston. He rose to career honors last year.
"We have a beach house close to Wilmington and my family goes every summer," he said. "I love the area.
"I played against the athletic director in college and the assistant athletic director. Mel Gibson was one of the deep-sea fishing ever summer."
"Ashville and Wilmington are on opposite sides of the state, about seven hours apart," he said. "I know Wilmington has about twice as many students and is in a more developed league. They've also got an automatic bid to the NCAA to be the Big South, is now to Division 1 and won't get one until 1991."
Green said he would like to return to head coaching but only if the right situation became available.
Family and money also would be involved in any job changing decision.
"I think there are a lot of schools in the 296 Division I schools that I could help, but it has to be the right situation and emphasis," he said. "The school has to want to do it legally, and the players have to be the ultimate priority, not just winning."
"I don't think there are a lot of coaches around with a 150-108 record who have coached in every conceivable level that I have. We were NAIA, NCAA Division 2, seven times over our experience at a Division 1 high major program at the University of Kansas."
"My son loves it here," he said. "He loved it more here the first week than the 12 years in Asheville. We don't want to just jump up and move."
"Money is a major thing. The money and the people are in any job, I think. You have to think about it not only for yourself, but for your family as well. You always have to look at finances."
Green said he did not think it would be smart for him not to examine other possible jobs and opportunities.
"Right now, though, I've got a job to do and am very much into this 23-team here," he said.
Regional foes to battle
By Paul Augeri
Kansan sportswriter
Kansas men's tennis coach Scott Perelman knows what is at stake when Southwest Missouri State, a rival opponent, visits Lawrence edge.
"What's most important to us is that we win the Big Eight Conference and be the best team in this region," Perelman said.
Men's tennis
The Jayhawks play the Bears at 2 p.m. on the outdoor courts adjacent to Anschutz Sports Pavilion.
"I'm excited about this match because we have had time to work outside," he said. "Southwest is a tough place, and they always come here to play."
Although Southwest Missouri is not a member of the conference, any victories against regional opponents improve the Jayhawks' chances of qualifying for the NCAA championships May 18.
The 4-6 Jayhawks have not won a match since Jan. 27 when they won a regional match against Drake, 7-3. Southwest Missouri State is 2-2.
Carlos Fleming said a strong team outing against Southwest Missouri would compensate for the team's 1-2 finish at the USTA/TICA National Indoor Team Tennis Championships last month. Fleming has a 10-7 singles record and will start at the No. 4 spot.
"It's important for us to get a good start leading into the outdoor season," he said. "We did lose matches, and maybe some confidence. A good performance also will lead us into our California trip. This will be a good experience."
Jeff Goss will replace John Falbo at the No. 1 singles spot. Falbo is resting a sore abdominal muscle but with Chris Walker at No. 1 doubles.
The singles lineup has been jugged because of Falbo's absence and Walker's return from elbow surgery. Walker will start at No. 3 singles and Rafael Rangel will play at the No. 2 spot. Paul Garvin and Ian Goodman will start at the fifth and sixth positions.
"I am confident with that lineup, without John playing singles." Perelman said. "The longer I give him to rest, the better off he is."
"And as long as Walker's arm is strong and able, respond he will play the part."
Rangel and Gross will play second doubles. Fleming and Garvin are at third doubles.
Falbo said his absence from the singles lineup would give another player an opportunity to compete.
"We think about doing well at each individual spot," Falbo said. "The team is working so hard to win. It is working hard to doing and doing our best every day."
Kansas dropped out of the ITCA/ Volvo Div. 1 poll yesterday. The Jeyhawks had spent the last two months ranked No. 25.
Perelman said the team's performance in recent weeks had not merited a national ranking.
"We haven't done anything to deserve to be ranked," he said. "It is important that we win matches in the region.
"I want to take a look at some new and different things before our spring trip and before I make a decision about the Big Eight lineup."
Smith named player of the year
Junior beats out teammate Peeler; Jones edges Calloway as top newcomer
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Dong Smith, who averaged almost 28 points during Missouri's stretch drive to the conference championship, has been selected Associated Press Big Eight player of the year.
Smith was a clear winner over teammate Anthony Peeler for the award. But the same media panel had a much tougher time deciding between Kick Return of Kansas and Jackie Eight of Oklahoma for Big Eight newcomer of the year.
By one vote, the award went to Jones, whose emergence helped boost the Sooners to No. 1 in the final regular season poll, the third Big Eight team to hold the distinction this year.
Smith, a 6-10 junior, goes into postseason play as one of the nation's hottest players. Overcoming an early tendency, to foul, the Detroit native averaged 28 points and 14 rebounds in Missouri's last four conference games.
Smith, voted by fans to Missouri's all-decade team of the 1980s, finished the regular season averaging 19.4 points and nine rebounds.
When asked to name one Big Eight player they would choose first to start a team, most league coaches opted for Smith.
Simhwe drew 10% votes for player of the year. Peeler, a 6-4 sophomore, was the mid-season favorite for player of the year and, like
Smith, was a two-time winner of the Big Eight's player-of-the-week honor. But he ended the season in a perplexing shooting slump and got 4½ votes for player of the year votes. Kevin Pritchard of Kansas and Steve Henson of Kansas State each received one vote.
For newcomer honors, the AP panel gave three votes to Kansas State guard Jean Drouilleur. 6½ to Calloway and 7½ to Jones.
Callaway was a major reason for Kansas' return to the national elite. A transfer from Indiana, he won the 2014 national championship team.
In his only season of eligibility at Kansas, he averaged 12.9 points and had 43 steals and 91 assists.
Kansas to defend regatta title
By Brent Maycock
Like many of their fellow students, members of Kansas crew will spend their spring break basking in the Texas sun.
Kansan sportswriter
However, most of this time in the sun will be spent practicing for the Heart of Texas Regatta, which Kananaskis will be in March 17 at Austin Texas.
But women's team captain Kathy Yehle said there was no pressure for the team to repeat its past performance.
Kansas is the defending champion of the regatta. The team has won the regatta every year since the regatta was started seven years ago.
“It’s kind of a fun regatta,” she said. “We’ve been very successful in the past, and we don't expect to break that tradition.”
The regata is Kansas' first water
"Last year we didn't even get a chance to be in the water," he said.
Jewett said the team would leave tomorrow and would get to practice the entire week before the regatta. The boat was the same as the Town Lake, the site of the regatta.
"The competition depends upon what other schools have spring break at the same time we do," he said.
Yehei said the women's novice team would be one of Kansas' stronger.
Jewett said he didn't know all of the teams Kansas would be rowing against but said Kansas State, Wash. state would be among the competitors.
"I think we have a lot of promising
squads, especially the novice squad," she said. "They looked very good during the fall."
Jewett said the men's varsity lightweight squad would also be a strength. However, he said he wasn't sure which members would race on the different squads.
"We're going to evaluate them during the week of practice and put together the best combinations," Jewett said.
Jewett said Kansas would compete in both the four-man and eight-man divisions but would emphasize the eight-man races. Regardless of which division Kansas competes in, Jewett said he expected the team to do well.
"I think we'll do pretty well over- all," he said. "I'm confident that we'll be in competition for most of the medals."
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