Wayne Gretzky is traded to the St. Louis Blues, ending many weeks of uncertainty and rumors. Page 5.
SPORTS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28.1996
Kansas truly is the best
By winning the final men's and women's Big Eight Conference basketball championships, Kansas has secured its place as the league's best program.
When historians write about the first 50 years of the Big 12 Conference, they will talk about Kansas. But that's in the future. I want to talk about 1996.
calls, many have expressed concern that men's basketball dominated Monday's sports page despite the fact that the No. 21 women's team had its senior day and championship celebration the previous day.
Besides Connecticut, whose men's and women's basketball teams are both ranked in the Top 10? I can't think of another school that will win both men's and women's conference championships this season. If anyone can think of another team, give me a call.
Speaking of
SPORTS EDITOR
I appreciate all the feedback, and
I am sorry that the story didn't get the play it probably deserved. However, research and common sense tells us that the majority of the people who read the Kansan are more interested in the men's team than the women's team.
A comparison of attendance at men's and women's home games reinforces this fact. No matter how much I love Kansas women's basketball, unfortunately, most of the stories take a back seat to men's basketball.
Attendance at Sunday's women's game was outstanding. I strolled in about five minutes after tipoff and when I saw that both sides of Allen Field House were almost full, I knew it would be an intense exciting game.
And the Jayhawks didn't let us down. When it looked like Kansas State would take control of the game, Kansas roared back and won impressively.
SECTION B
I was upset that Wildcat interim coach Jack Hartman didn't get fired up at all during the game, though. Maybe having heart surgery a couple of years ago has slowed him down a bit, because the fire just wasn't there in the heat of a close game.
I still can't figure out the Missouri men's basketball team. On paper, the Tigers are the second-best team in the conference because of their talented starting five and excellent coaching. That's not to say I'm a big fan of Missouri coach Norm Stewart, but he flat-out wins games.
The Tigers had a great chance to make their big move after defeating the Jayhawks on Feb. 10. But things just slipped away. Monday's game against No. 3 Kansas was bad enough, but consider the fact that it followed losses to Maryland, Kansas State and Iowa State.
I'm not even going to touch the Jerod Haase vs. Jason Sutherland issue. It's more than obvious who the better player is.
Any Oklahoma fans out there who want to take shots at Kansas? This space is available. Call me.
The Kansas baseball team really has surprised me thus far, and I can't wait to see them in person. Past diamond success for the Jayhawks has come from a core group of star players, most of whom are gone now. But this year's team is just that — a team.
The Jayhawks' home opener is at 3 p.m. today against Missouri Western, and this weekend they stay in town for a three-game series with Iowa. These guys probably won't be conference champions, but at least things will be a bit more interesting than they were last season.
I got a chance to see Jayhawks in Paradise, the 1995 Kansas football highlight video, last weekend. For the most part, it was a well-organized and exciting look at one of the best gridiron seasons in school history.
It is available at SuperTarget in Lawrence, so check it out. And hey, it even makes a handy Mother's or Father's Day gift.
Jayhawks to face Wildcats again
Seeds switch for tournament game
By Evan Blackwell Kansan sportswriter
The No. 21 Kansas women's basketball team was given some surprising news earlier this week.
As the Jayhawks prepare for this weekend's Big Eight Conference tournament in Salina, Kansas learned that its opponent had changed.
After winning the Big Eight regular season
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
title and securing the top seed in the tournament, the Jayhawks thought they would be playing the lastplace Oklahoma Sooners.
However, Kansas State athletic director Max Urick announced that the school had forfeited three Big Eight victories that the Wildcats had prior to the investigation of the women's basketball program Feb. 9.
The Jayhawks and the Wildcats met last Sunday in Lawrence for the final game of the regular season.
Urick said that the victories had occurred while the team used ineligible players, and a report of the school's violations had been sent to the NCAA.
The forfeiture of those three victories moved Kansas State from the seventh to the eighth seed.
The eligibility of the players in question was then restored at the school's request.
Although Kansas won 66-56, Jayhawks women's basketball coach Marian Washington said that her team didn't play as well as it could have.
"I'd like to think that game wasn't a reflection of the way we were playing." Washington said. "I hope we don't get into that situation this weekend."
ond half before the Jayhawks pulled away.
The Wildcats gave Kansas fits for most of the game, and even held the lead in the sec-
"No matter what their talent level or depth was, they always play so hard," Washington said. "They're very fundamentally sound."
Kansas State coach Jack Hartman said he thought the quick rematch for the two teams might favor the Wildcats.
"We've already prepared for them last week, so we should obviously have strong recall from that." Hartman said. "We played fairly well over there."
Jayhawks win majority of coaches' honors yesterday
Dixon, Washington get postseason awards
"We had Kansas struggling, but we didn't finish them."
The Associated Press contributed Information to this story.
The Big Eight Conference handed out its postseason awards yesterday for women's basketball, as selected by the coaches. The regular-season champs, No. 21 Kansas, brought home plenty.
Kansan staff report
Kansas junior guard Tameke Dixon was chosen Big Eight Player of the Year, and Jay-
hawk coach Marian Washington was chosen Big Eight Coach of the Year.
This year's award marks the second time Washington has been chosen for the coaching award. She previously won the award in 1992.
Dixon is only the second player in Kansas history to win the player
Tamecka Dixon
of the year award. She is the first to claim sole
possession of it. Angela Aycock shared the award with Jamillah Lang of Colorado in 1994.
"It was not an easy time for those seniors," Kansas coach Roy Williams said. "They've got players starting in front of them, particularly Sean who's
"We've enjoyed great leadership from Tamecka," Washington said. "She has really stepped up for us."
Marian Washington
Joining Dixon on the All-Big Eight first team were senior guard Stacey Coffey of Odakhar
It was the final home game for Whatley and the other two Jayhawk seniors, Sean Pearson and Calvin Rayford.
ward Erika Martin of Missouri, senior guard Pam Pennon of Oklahoma and junior forward Erin Scholz of Colorado.
Other Jayhawks honored were senior guard Charisse Sampson, who was chosen to the second team, and junior guard Angie Halbleib, who was given an honorable mention.
Oklahoma junior center Yolanda Anderson, a transfer from Connors State Junior College in Oklahoma, was chosen Newcomer of the Year.
Missouri freshman forward Kesha Bonds was chosen Freshman of the Year.
Seniors forget the struggles and smile
Final home game ties everything together
By Jenni Carlson
Kansan sportswriter
outcome of the game, which No. 3 Kansas won 87-65 against Missouri.
She watched as her son, T.J. Whatley, made a free throw late in Monday's game. The free throw didn't mean much in the
Peggy Whatley jumped to her feet with her clenched fists raised in the air.
after the game and then bid their individual farewells.
Rayford, who battled back from knee surgery to play this year, gave special thanks to his family and Kansas assistant trainer Mark Cairns for helping him with his rehabilitation.
And Rayford didn't leave out William $ ^{18} $
"I think he's the best coach in the world," said Rayford to a rousing Allen Field House ovation. "He's not only the coach. He's a father figure."
Pearson echoed
"My first year here when I didn't play, I thought the world was over."
Sean Pearson Kansas senior forward
got a freshman starting in front of him. And he started last year."
In addition to being in the starting lineup, the seniors accepted the 1996 Big Eight Conference championship trophy
No one seemed worried about that Monday.
He sat out that season as an academic non-qualifier. That ruling was later amended by the NCAA, re-instating a year of eligibility.
those sentiments and mentioned Williams' influence during his first year at Kansas.
"My first year here when I didn't play, I thought the world was over," Pearson said. "Coach Williams encouraged me to stay in school."
The ovations that Rayford and Pearson
Kansas senior forward T.J. J.
Whattey enjoys the chants of "We want Whattey" from the Allen Field House crowd after Monday's game. "I was just out there soaking it all up," he said.
"I think he's the crowd favorite," Kansas junior center Scot Pollard said. He may be a team favorite, too.
received, however, did not measure up to Whatl's.
See SENIORS, Page 5.
Tyler Wirken/
KANSAN
Gina Thombunt / KANSAN
The Kansas women's distance medley relay team of Kerri Woolheater, Latanya Holloway, Melissa Swartz and Kristi Kloster won the distance medley relay at the Big Eight Indoor Championships in Lincoln, Neb. Just weekend.
Kansas relay team runs wild at meet
Rewards include trip to NCAA meet and new school record
By Adam Herschman
Kansan sportswriter
The books are closed.
The Kansas women's distance medley team wrote the final chapter in Kansas and Big Eight Indoor Championship history when it broke school and conference records at the Big Eight Indoor Championships in Lincoln. Neb.
A provisional qualification does not guarantee a trip to the meet but their time must be beaten for them not to go.
The team of Kansas seniors Kristi Kloster, Melissa Swartz and Kerri Woolheater, and junior Latanya Holloway, posted a time in the distance medley relay of 11:26.97, provisionally qualifying them for the NCAA Indoor Championships in two
weeks in Indianapolis.
Holloway, who is recovering from a hip injury, had never competed in the relay. She was filling in for junior Carleen Roberts, who usually runs the second leg of the relay.
Roberts, who competed in the distance medley relay two weeks ago at the Husker Invitational in Lincoln, was concentrating on the 400-meter race at the conference meet.
"I was nervous that I was going to let the girls down." Holloway said.
Holloway said assistant coach Steve Guymon told her just to keep up with the girl from Missouri.
"I said, 'OK, I'll do that,' and that's what I did. " she said.
See TRACK, Page 8.