BYU SNUBBED Despite a 13-1 record, No. 5 national ranking and Western Athletic Conference championship, Brigham Young University was spubbed by the bowl alliance. Instead of going to an $8 million alliance game, the Cougars will play No. 14 Kansas State in the $2 million Cotton Bowl. "I'm obviously disappointed," said BYU athletic director Rondo Fehlberg. "I think BYU clearly had a team and a season that deserved to be in the alliance." UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN SPORTS See college football bowl story, Page 4B MICHIGAN WINS AT DUKE Michigan pulled off one of the rarest feats in college basketball yesterday — winning a nonconference game at Duke. Robert Travlor's dunk with 6.2 seconds left capped a closing 16-3 Michigan run that gave the No. 7 Wolverines a 62-61 victory against the No. 10 Blue Devils. See yesterday's basketball scores on 2B KEY SIGNED MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1996 Jimmy Key, who won the clinching World Series game for the New York Yankees six weeks ago, signed a two-year, free-agent contract with rival Baltimore yesterday. Last month, Key was committed to retuning to the Yankees in 1997 after they offered him salary arbitration. But last week's labor agreement between players and owners allowed Key and several others to become free agents, and he quickly settled on the Orioles. Under the agreement, Key could begin negotiating with teams on Saturday afternoon. It took about 24 hours for him to reach a deal with Orioles general manager Pat Gillick. SECTION B Editor says farewell with many thanks and thoughts 'Hawks will be winners of NCAA championship Whew. It's almost finished ... yet another semester to file away. So, at this time, I would like to take a look back at some of the most memorable moments of this semester, look ahead to next year and say a few words of thanks. First, I would like to congratulate James Brown — not the Godfather of Soul or your friendly Foxy studio host — the Texas quarterback who looks like a genius right now. The best thing about his prediction — besides the fact that it gave the media something to talk about the week before a game that no one really thought would be competitive — was that it wasn't really a prediction at all. He simply said that Nebraska could lose to Texas by as many points as they were favored and, in the process, set up Nebraska's biggest loss of the season — the loss of any real chance for the national championship. Here are a few predictions for the new year: If anyone had told me Albert Belle would 1) be in a White Sox uniform next season and 2) indirectly be the cause of peace between the owners and players in the form of a labor agreement (finally!), I would have laughed long and hard in his face. Arizona State will win the college football national title next month. Why not No. 1 Florida State? Florida and Steve Spurrier, whose arrogance I find strangely endearing, not only can get revenge for their loss two weeks ago, but what could they find more fulfilling than keeping their biggest rival from the biggest prize in the land? The San Francisco 49ers, after being basically ignored because of the hype surrounding Green Bay and the continuing saga in Dallas, will sneak into the Super Bowl and beat Denver by two touchdowns. And on a local note, the underachieving Chiefs won't make it out of the first round of the playoffs. It will be the battle of the K's in the NCAA championship game — Kansas and Kentucky will meet in Indianapolis and this year's Jayhawk squad will win Roy Williams his first national title (of many here at Kansas, I hope). Now for the thank-you's: Thanks to the sports staff — the greatest group of sportos on earth. Even when I was tearing up your stories, believe it or not, you guys made this fun. And to the incoming staff, good luck and treat the section well. (By the way, Dan and Spencer, if you ever need someone to do Scores and More, you know whom to call.) Warm, fuzzy thanks to BD and D2 (a.k.a. Dorothy and Rose) for everything — the Files (yeah, big cheesy grin), the kitchen fires, the Kansan mantra and everything I can't put in print — long live the Barnabus Group. (In a related note, thanks to Chris and Steve for consistently keeping me offbalance this semester.) Last, but absolutely not least, my biggest and most sincere thanks to Bill Petulla, the best partner in crime and sports coverage anyone could ask for. You made this whole crazy ride a blast. I also would like to take this time to refute something a concerned student wrote to Bill a while ago — no, Bill doesn't keep me locked up in a back room so I won't write columns. I'm a copy editor by birth, a columnist only through my job description. The three I have written this semester are right about my limit. But thanks for your support. Kansas women win Dial title Dixon named MVP of Classic by Adam Herschman and Mike Alzamora Kansan sportswriters The No. 18 Kansas women's basketball team captured the 1996 Dial Soap Basketball Classic title with a 76-61 victory against Washington yesterday in Allen Field House. Kansas (5-1) won its 11th Dial Soap Basketball Classic title in 14 years. The four team, two-day tournament was in the field house and featured Northeastern Illinois, Houston, Washington and Kansas. In the first half against the Huskies (1-4), the Jayhawks were seeing red, Jamie Redd to be exact, Redd, Washington sophomore guard, scored 16 of her 32 points in the first half and helped pace the Huskies on a 21-2 run to end the half. Kansas entered the locker room down 32-25 at halftime. The Jayhawks countered with a 14-2 run to start the second half and took the lead 41-34. Washington never regained the lead as Kansas outscored the Huskies 51-29 in the second half. Kansas women's basketball coach Marian Washington said Kansas got into a rhythm in the second half. "I'm very pleased with the performance,today," Washington said. "We played twenty minutes of very aggressive basketball." Kansas senior guard Tamecke Dixon was voted the tournament's Most Valuable Player with her 19-point performance against Washington. Dixon won the award despite missing Kansas' 62-45 opening round victory against Northeastern Illinois Saturday night because she was ill with the flu. "Tamecka showed tremendous courage coming back tonight," Washington said. "I thought if we Kansas 76. Washington 61 KANSAS (5-1) Pride 3-8 0-8 FT TP 6 Trapn 2-4 0-2 4 6 Sanford 3-9 2-4 8 Habbleb 2-6 8-8 10 Dixon 5-8 9-10 19 Payment 6-9 6-9 19 Scott 0-1 0-0 0 Reed 1-2 1-2 3 Canada 1-1 1-1 3 Grayer 1-8 1-2 3 Toffee 24-56 12-32 78 Washington (1-4) FG FT TP Hall 4-10 3-6 11 Tulsa 1-10 1-2 5 Pokie 3-7 0-3 9 Redd 11-21 7-8 32 Niemela 4-8 0-0 9 Rogers 0-2 0-2 0 Teal 0-2 0-0 0 Lynch 0-2 0-1 0 Totals 23-56 11-17 61 could just get her on the floor for even two or three minutes it would give this team a lift. Dixon played 25 minutes and scored 17 of her 19 points in the second half. "In the first half I got wined really quick, I ran up the court once and was ready to come out," Dixon said. "As the game progressed, I felt a little better out there." Kansas sophomore guard/forward Suzi Raymant also scored 19 points against the Huskies and earned a spot on the Dial Soap Classic All-Tournament team; Washington reached the championship game by defeating Houston 86-52 on Saturday night. In the consolation game yesterday, Northeastern Illinois defeated Houston 71-62. Washington said she was pleased with Kansas' offensive performance against the Huskies' zone, which the Jayhawks faced almost 90 percent of the game. "I'm anticipating that probably once we get into the conference schedule we're going to see a lot more of it," Washington said. "I think we'll have a lot more confidence in our zone offense." Tamecka Dixon, senior guard, breaks for the basket against Washington. The Jayhawks defeated Washington last night in Allen Field House. Geoff Krieger / KANSAN KU win looks like last year First-half explosion defeats rally chances By Evan Blackwell Kansan sportswriter LOS ANGELES — Apparently, Kansas remembered the lesson it taught UCLA last season. On Saturday, the No. 1 Jayhawks showed it by building a huge halftime lead and defeating the No. 17 Bruins 96-83 at Pauley Pavilion. Kansas improved to 7-0. "They're a talented team, and we didn't think they would give up," Kansas sophomore forward Paul Pierce said. "We knew they would give us their all in the second half. But we didn't let down at all." One year ago, it was UCLA that came to Allen Field House and built a 15-point halftime lead before Kansas rallied to an 85-70 win, outscoring the Bruins by 30 in the second half. Kansas junior guard Billy Thomas was a key component of the Jayhawks' first-half run, scoring 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the floor. This time, the Jayhawks only led 22-18 with seven minutes left in the first half when they exploded on a 28-3 run that pushed the lead to 54-26. Kansas led 54-33 at halftime. "That's my job to come in and spark things up," Thomas said. "Being comfortable is the biggest thing. (Before) I was always thinking about making a mistake, but today I was comfortable." However, the Bruins weren't able to complete the comeback, due in UCLA tried to make a run at the Jayhawks in the second half, cutting the lead to 68-54 after a basket by junior forward J.R. Henderson with 13:40 left. "They were like a buzzsaw cutting through people." Steve Lavin UCLA basketball coach Kansas junior forward Raef LaFrentz dominated the Bruins' inside duo of Henderson and sophomore center Jelani McCoy. LaFrentz scored a career-high 31 points and pulled down 11 rebounds. LaFrentz, who has been hobbled by an injured ankle since the Dec. 1 win against San Diego, said he was motivated by what he called a poor performance in the Jayhawks' previous game against Cincinnati. "There was a lot of sloppy basket-ball today. Both teams made a lot of mistakes," said Kansas coach Roy Williams. "We had too big of a lead, and they had too big of a mountain to climb." "Individually, I didn't play well at all (against Cincinnati), so I was very, very pleased with tonight," LaFrentz said. "I don't know if I adjusted because of the ankle; I just try to ignore it." large part to their own sloppiness. UCLA finished with 26 turnovers. The ankle didn't seem to hamper LaFrentz's ability to run the floor on the Kansas fast break, a huge part of the Javhawks' first-half run. Instead of UCLA being inspired by last season's loss, it seemed the Jayhawks were motivated by a homecoming of sorts. Six current Kansas "We got our fast break going and Ryan (Robertson) and Jerod (Haase) did a great job of passing the ball, and I was able to finish the play." LaFrentz said. Kansas 96, UCLA 83 KANABA (7-0) P. Pierce FG FT TP Lafayette 5-10 5-9 31 13-21 5-14 5-7 31 Pollard 3-7 4-8 10 Robertson 7-4 6-12 20 Hassan 0-12 7-12 1 Williams 0-2 1-2 1 McGrath 0-2 1-2 1 Thomas 0-10 7-10 0 Pugh 0-1 0-0 0 Branstrom 0-1 0-0 0 Brafford 0-1 0-0 0 Randorf 0-1 0-0 0 Nooner 0-0 0-0 0 20-20 0-0 0-0 0 UCLA (1-2) FG FT TP O'Bannon 6-10 7-10 20 Henderson 4-6 3-5 11 McCoy 7-8 1-2 15 Belley 5-10 2-4 14 Dollar 3-8 2-2 8 Johnson 3-9 2-4 9 Loyd 2-3 0-0 6 Myers 0-0 0-0 0 Totals 30-54 17-27 83 "Kansas was real good. They held a basketball clinic today on reversals, passing, playing hard as a team and concentration. They deserve the No. 1 ranking." Lavin said. "They were like a buzzsaw cutting through people. That's what we had two years ago on our championship run." UCLA coach Steve Lavin said his team would use the loss to what might be the best team in the nation as a way to measure his ballclub's deficiencies. players are California natives, and the win was special to all of them, but to none more than Pierce, the Inglewood native who was taunted by UCLA fans with chants of "sell-out." "It was definitely a joy for me to look up and see we're ahead by so much," Pierce said. "This is one of the better ballclubs in America, and it was great to play in front of their home crowd and do so well." Kansan sportswriter 'Hawks are still perched at top LOS ANGELES—Two games in, and the target's still there. By Evan Blackwell With its 96-83 win at No. 1 UCLA Saturday, No. 1 Kansas improved to 7-0 on the season. More importantly, the Jayhawks are 2-0 with the top ranking. The No. 1 ranking is like a target at which opponents aim. But Kansas senior guard Jerod Haase said the Jayhawks were up to the test. "It is a big target, but for us it's one of many targets," Haase said. "Just having Kansas on our chest, we could be 0-30 and people would still be gunning at us." In the past four seasons, each time Kansas had risen to the top of the polls it got knocked off within two weeks. Last season, the No. 1 Jayhawks lost to unranked Temple 75-66 two weeks after reaching the top. On three other occasions since Roy Williams has been head coach, Kansas has lost its first game after reaching No. 1. "Coach has instilled in us all the right ideas. He taught us how to play basketball. Now we need to have the emotion and go out and do it." he said. Haase said all the ingredients were in place for this group of Jayhawks to be different. Just a week after saying his team was only just as good as at least 20 to 25 other teams in the country, even Williams admitted his team would have been tough for anyone to beat in the first half against UCLA. "we had a lot of guns today. Billy (Thomas) came off the bench and gave us a big lift in the first half. Ryan (Robertson) did a heck of a job against Cameron Dollar, who's a good defensive player, and Raef (LaFrentz) was important," Williams said. To the surprise of many, Kansas has looked impressive even without injured senior guard Jacque Vaughn. Sophomore guard Ryan Robertson had perhaps his best game as Vaughn's replacement against UCLA, finishing with 11 assists and only 2 turnovers. "When Jacque got hurt, I looked at the schedule and pointed to this week as the week that would really tell if I was going to be able to handle it," Robertson said. "We're 7-0. I can't even think of a word to describe what I'm feeling right now. I really feel like I've passed the test."