UCLA BASKETBALL
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JIM HARRICK, fired as UCLA's basketball coach for lying about an expense report, has accepted the school's offer to settle the remaining four years of his contract and will not sue, said athletic director Peter Dalis.
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN SPORTS
Harrick requested a meeting last week with Dalls and other UCLA officials and accepted the school's offer a few weeks after his Nov. 6 firing. Dalls said Sundav.
Harrick apparently will receive his $140,000 base salary for the 1996-97 season as stipulated in his contract in the event of firing but will not receive the rest of his compensation package, which totaled about $440,000 a year.
Schmidt left the Pirates* spring-training camp Sunday after a routine examination and heart monitor readings revealed an irregular heartbeat. He will undergo more
PIRATES PITCHER
Tests conducted yesterday on Pirates right-hander JASON SCHMIDT showed no heart abnormalities.
COACH WITH 702 VICTORIES RETIRING
RICHARD "DOC" SAUERS, whose 702 victories make him one of the nation's winning basketball coaches, announced his retirement after 41 years at Albany State.
Sauers, who will be 67 on April 3, said he was stepping down for several reasons including the desire to spend more time with his family.
tests today.
TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 1997
Schmidt 24, started two exhibition games this spring and is 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA. He was acquired in a trade from Atlanta last August and went 2-2 with a 4.06 ERA in six starts for the Pirates at the end of last season.
PAGE 10
NCAA announces times for opening-round games
The NCAA announced yesterday the times for first and second-round games in the men's and women's basketball tournaments.
In the men's tournament, Kansas will play Jackson State at 1:13 a.m. Thursday in Memphis, Tenn. The winner of that game will play at 1:30 p.m Saturday.
The Kansas women's basketball team opens tournament play at 8:30 p.m. Saturday at Allen Field House against Detroit Mercy. The winner will play at 7 p.m. Monday.
Men's AP Top 25
The Top 25 teams in The Associated Press men's college basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through March 9.
rank team rec pts prv
1. Kansas (70) 32-1 1,750 1
2. Utah 26-3 1,578 3
3. Minnesota 27-3 1,571 2
4. North Carolina 24-6 1,566 5
5. Kentucky 30-4 1,559 6
6. South Carolina 24-7 1,365 4
7. UCLA 21-7 1,343 9
8. Duke 23-8 1,245 7
9. Wake Forest 23-6 1,223 8
10. Cincinnati 25-7 1,014 10
11. New Mexico 24-7 949 14
12. St. Joseph's 24-7 856 19
13. Xavier, Ohio 22-5 765 11
14. Clemson 21-9 713 13
15. Arizona 19-9 654 12
16. Coll. of Charleston 28-2 599 17
17. Georgia 24-8 524 24
18. Iowa State 20-8 485 18
19. Illinois 21-9 437 15
20. Villanova 23-9 387 21
21. Stanford 20-7 371 23
22. Maryland 21-10 344 22
23. Boston College 21-8 255 —
24. Colorado 21-9 244 18
25. Louisville 23-8 226 20
Women's AP Top 25
The Top 25 teams in The Associated Press women's college basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through March 9.
rank, team rec pts prv
1. Connecticut (38) 30-0 1,020 1
2. Old Dominion (2) 29-1 980 2
3. Stanford (1) 30-1 951 3
4. North Carolina 27-2 899 4
5. Louisiana Tech 29-3 854 5
6. Georgia 22-5 765 7
7. Florida 21-8 752 6
8. Alabama 23-6 741 8
9. LSU 23-4 645 10
10. Tennessee 23-10 638 11
11. Kansas 24-5 588 9
12. Virginia 21-9 516 14
13. Auburn 21-9 506 19
14. Texas 21-7 498 19
15. Notre Dame 27-6 442 13
16. Illinois 22-7 325 16
17. Texas Tech 19-8 304 15
18. Colorado 21-8 246 —
19. Stephen F. Austin 27-4 218 17
20. Vanderbilt 18-10 212 20
21. Clemson 19-10 200 21
22. Geo. Washington 25-5 189 18
23. Tulane 26-4 183 18
24. Michigan State 21-7 133 23
25. W. Kentucky 21-7 132 23
Kansas legends go to bat for Sports Hall of Fame
KU sports broadcaster Max Falkenstein and former mile record-holder Wes Santee told a Senate committee that money continued to be a problem for the sports hall.
TOPEKA — Two prominent Kansas sports figures appeared in the Statehouse yesterday to make a pitch for the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame.
The Abilene sports hall now receives funds from a $2 surcharge on games designated by the Board of Regents schools and Washburn University.
Max Falkenstein, a former chairman of the hall's board of trustees, and Santee, the current chairman, supported a bill to legislate what was now a contractual agreement with the state universities. The bill also would include high school basketball championship games.
All-America team tabs Raef LaFrentz
The Associated Press
Jacque Vaughn is on second team
By Bill Petulla Kansas sportswriter
the All-America first team yesterda y LaFrentz will become the first Kansas All-American since Danny Manning, who was named to the squad in 1988.
He's been superb for the Kansas men's basketball team all year, and now forward Raef LaFrentz has caught the eye of those around the country.
"Raeh has been sensational for us all season l o ng , " K ans as men's basket ball coach Roy Williams said.
LaFrentz, a junior who averages 18.7 points and 9.1 rebounds, was selected to
All-America Teams
FIRST TEAM
Roundting out the first team was Wake Forest center Tim Duncan, Utah forward Keith
Tim Duncan, Wake Forest, Sr.
Keith Vorn Horn, Utah, Sr.
Ron Mercer, Kentucky, Soph.
Raef LeFontz, Kansas, Jr.
Dannv Forson, Cincinnati.
SECOND TEAM
■ Brevin Knight, Stanford, Sr.
■ Antawn Jamison, North Carolina.
Jacque Vaughn, Kansas, Sr.
Chauncey Billups, Colorado,
Soph.
Bobby Jackson, Minnesota,
Sr.
THIRD TEAM
Shee Seals, Tulsa, Sr.
Adonal Foley, Colgate, Jr.
Keith Booth, Maryland, Sr.
Ed Gray, California, Sr.
Andre Woolridge, Iowa, Sr.
HONORABLE MENTION FROM
THE BIG 12 CONFERENCE
Tony Battle, Texas Tech; Cory Carr, Texas Tech; Reggie Freeman, Texas; Paul Pierce,
Kansas; Scot Pollard, Kansas; Dedric Willoughby, Iowa State
Raef LaFrentz reaches back to snag the rebound in Saturday's game against Iowa State. LaFrentz was named an Associated Press first team All-American yesterday.
Van Horn, Cincinnati forward Danny Fortson and Kentucky forward Ron Mercer.
Kansas guard Jacque Vaughn was a second-team All-America selection. Stanford guard Brevin Knight, Colorado guard Chauncey Billups, North Carolina forward Antawn Jamison and Minnesota guard Bobby Jackson also were named to the second team.
Vaughn averages 10.5 points and 6.2 assists per game. He made the second team despite suffering a wrist injury, which kept him out 10 games.
LaFrentz, the Big 12 Conference Player of the Year, stepped up his game in the absence of center Scot Pollard, who was sidelined for one month with a broken foot. LaFrentz scored at least 20 points in each of the nine games that Pollard was hurt.
Although few distinctions'are more prominent than being a first-team All-American, LaFrentz told the Associated Press yesterday that he would trade it for a championship trophy.
"I'm fortunate because I am surrounded by an extremely talented, extremely unselfish group of guys who are genuinely excited for me to be named an All-American," LaFrentz said. "As thirled as i am, I have to admit I would trade it in for an opportunity to cut down some nets later on."
Van Horn and Fortson were both secondteam selections last season.
Duncan was the only one of four underclassmen on last year's All-America team who returned to school. Marcus Camby of Massachusetts, Allen Iverson of Georgetown and Ray Allen of Connecticut all declared for the NBA draft. The other first-team member was senior Kerry Kittles of Villanova.
Seniors Shea Seals of Tulsa, Ed Gray of California, Keith Booth of Maryland and Andre Woolridge of Iowa were joined on the third team by Colgate's junior Adonal Foyle.
The Associated Press contributed information to this story.
Kansas goes to Big Dance ranked No.1 team to beat
By Bill Petulla
Kansan sportswriter
The Associated Press rankings came out yesterday and for the 15th consecutive week, the Kansas men's basketball team has held the No. 1 ranking in the country.
Although the top ranking in the nation is nothing new to the layhawks, this is the first time in Kansas basketball history that it has been ranked No. 1 at the end of the regular season
Kansas men's basketball coach Roy Williams said he had never coached a Jayhawk team that was the team to beat in the NCAA Tournament.
Basketball analysts Dick Vitale, Billy Packer and Digger Phelps each have chosen the Jayhawks to go to the Final Four in Indianapolis on the weekend of March 29-31.
"It's probably the only time that we've been the favorite." Williams said. "Even when we've been a No.1 seed, there were other teams that were a heavier favorite."
"My gut feeling is Kansas will follow Kentucky's pattern of a year ago," Vitalte wrote in ESPNET. "That's right, the odd-on favorite will go in and win it all."
Vitale also picked North Carolina, UCLA and Wake Forest to play in the Final Four.
Kansas will play Jackson State at 11:25 a.m. Thursday at The Pyramid in Memphis, Tenn. The Jayhawks will practice tonight and take a chartered flight from Topeka to Memphis after practice.
Oklahoma State and Nebraska will play in the National Invitation Tournament. The Cornhuskers are the defending champions.
■ Five teams from the Big 12 Conference were selected to play in the NCAA Tournament. Kansas, Iowa State, Colorado, Texas and Oklahoma will represent the Big 12.
"I was very happy for the league." Williams said. "I think Iowa State, Oklahoma, Colorado and Texas will play very well in the tournament."
Williams praised senior guard Jacque Vaughn for his performance in Sunday's 87-60 victory against Missouri. Vaughn also was named to the All Big 12 Tournament team.
"Jacque was sensational." Williams said.
Vaughn was sidelined for the first 10 games of the season because of a torn ligament in his wrist. However, he said he was physically ready for the tournament.
Jacque was sensational, Williams applauded Vaughn's passing, noting that he had 12 assists to one turnover in the 29 minutes he was on the court.
"My body right now is the best it's been all year," Vaughn said. "The X-ray showed that my wrist was even stronger than before I got hurt."
Chris Hamilton / KANSAN
Forward Lynn Pride reaches for a loose ball in front of Kansas State's Andria Jones. The Jayhawks will face Detroit Mercy at 8:30 p.m. Saturday.
1A01L7354
Big 12 basketball talent rewarded as six teams head for tournament
By Tommy Gallagher Kansan sportswriter
Among the coaches was Deb Patterson, Kansas State women's basketball coach, whose Wildcats were 19-11 this season. The No. 10-seeded Wildcats will play No. 7-seeded St. Joseph's in an East Region game on Friday in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Coaches around the Big 12 Conference were pleasantly surprised to learn that six teams from the conference received invitations to the women's NCAA Tournament, which starts on Friday.
"We had no expectations in terms of seeding, but we were very positive that we would make the tournament." Patterson said. "It's neat to be part of the NCAA Tournament, but we must keep a business approach to it. There's not going to be much hype or publicity because we'll be on the road so we have to look at it as we would any other road game."
The Wildcats had been 16-10 during the regular season. In the Big 12 Tournament, they won three games before losing the championship game to Colorado.
Also in the East Region is No. 3-seeded
Some history exists between Conradt and the coach of Texas' first-round opponent, which is just 30 miles away.
Texas women's basketball coach Jody Conrad said there was not much to the postseason except for playing the games.
"This is the time where everyone has an equal opportunity to win any game," Conrad said. "You'll hear every coach say the same cliches as you've heard all season long. We just have to win these first two games because you never want to lose on your home court."
Texas, the Big 12 South champion during the regular season. The Longhorns will play No. 14-seeded Southwest Texas State on Saturday night.
Conradt coached Texas to a national championship in 1988 when it defeated Southern California in the title game. Linda Sharp, who had coached at Southern California, is now the coach at Southwest Texas State.
Kansas, Texas and Colorado have the home-court advantages for the first- and second-round games of the NCAA Tournament, while Kansas State, Texas Tech and Iowa State must travel to their first-
No. 8-seeded Texas Tech will play No. 9-seeded Montana in Stanford, Calif., and No. 12-seeded Iowa State will play No. 5-seeded Utah in Charlottesville, Va. Both teams will play on Friday.
round sites.
The No. 3-seeded Jayhawks will play host to No. 14-seeded Detroit Mercy on Saturday in the West Region. No. 2-seeded Colorado will play at home against No. 15-seeded Marshall in the Midwest Region on Friday.
The SEC landed a conference-high seven teams in the NCAA Tournament, while the Big 12 tied the ACC with six teams.
Patterson said that there was reason for everyone to celebrate the Big 12's first- year success.
"It's nice to see that the committee understood the quality of play across the board in this conference," Patterson said. "Combining the Big Eight and Southwest conferences will keep us up there with the SEC and ACC year-in and year-out. It is a tremendous step for the conference, and I believe we will continue to make similar strides in the future."