NHL
Wayne Gretzky is close to making a deal with St. Louis, Page 3.
NFL
O'Donnell might become a Jet, Page 4.
SPORTS UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1996
Case closed, Mizzou
SECTION B
Short and sweet today kids. After all, anyone who watched the Missouri - Kansas blowout knows that all the doubts that there might have been going into the game were put to rest last night.
After giving yesterday's guest columnist his 15 minutes of fame make that infamy — I thought that I'd bring in today with 15 minutes of the truth.
It's a sad commentary for the state
basketball when their fans seem to be content with a 16-12 record as long as they beat Kansas once in a season.
I don't think that "Mr. Floor Burn" Jerod Haase should be Jason Kidd's towel boy. But that type of business suited him last night as he wiped up the
ASSOCIATE
SPORTS
EDITOR
court against Jason Sutherland. The weasel-like Missouri guard spent most of his night on the floor, while Hasse lit him up for 14 points.
Although they had a good showing in the match at Columbia, the "stick" twins, Simeon and Sammie, came off of their cloud last night. Raef LaFrentz and Scot — yes with one "T" like Norm Stewart in the first half — Pollard had their way with these bean poles.
In other college basketball news, I'd like to tip my hat to Villanova basketball coach Steve Lappas for not making any exceptions for team members who break the rules — even if it's the best player on the squad.
KANSAS BASKETBALL
I could go on and on about the dominance of the Jayhawks last night, but this No. 3 team has a lot bigger games to play, like the NCAA tournament. Heck, the NIT isn't even a lock for the Tigers this year.
Regardless Lappas played by the rules.
Last week Lappas told player of the year candidate Kerry Kittles that he would be wearing a suit for the next three Wildcat games because Kittles made some phone calls that were charged to another party. Although their invitation is all but sent, this move might cost Villanova a No. 1 seed to the NCAA tournament.
Which brings me to Michigan head coach Steve Fisher, who said he would suspend the five players that were involved in a late night car wreck. But it seems as though Fisher is a student at the school of Tom Osborne, where a suspension doesn't mean the player is actually suspended.
AP Top25
Kansas moved up one spot in the poll to third. After losing to George Washington, Massachusetts fell to No. 2 and Kentucky gained No.1.
rank teams rec pts. pr
1. Kentucky (84) 24-1 1,848 2
2. Massachusetts (28) 21-8 1,563 1
3. Kansas 23-2 1,498 5
4. Connecticut 25-2 1,469 3
5. Purdue 23-4 1,327 7
6. Villanova 23-4 1,727 4
7. Chickensitt 21-3 1,285 6
8. Georgetown 23-5 1,185 11
9. Texas Tech 24-1 1,174 9
10. Utah 22-8 949 8
11. Arizona 21-8 944 13
12. Penn St. 19-4 881 14
13. Wake Forest 18-6 869 10
14. Memphis 20-6 719 19
15. Syracuse 20-7 682 15
16. Virginia Tech 20-4 644 12
17. UCLA 19-7 530 16
18. Georgia Tech 18-10 450 23
19. North Carolina 19-6 361 17
20. Iowa 19-7 357 18
21. Louisville 18-6 494 21
22. Wet-Green Bay 24-2 289 25
23. Iowa SL 19-7 245 22
24. George Washington 18-5 232 —
25. Stanford 17-7 111 24
Other receiving votes: Mississippi St. 95,
Boston College Bn, New Mexico Bn, Cell of,
Charleston Bn, E. Michigan Bn, Freemont St.
4, Duke Bn, Marquette Bn, Texas 16,
Tulane Bn, Bradley Bn, Arkansas Bn, Tulane 7,
Georgia Bn, Davidson Bn.
The Associated Press KANSAN
Revenge is sweet for the Jayhawks
Kansas seniors thrill crowd in 87-65 win
By Jenni Carlson Kansan sportswriter
Putting the three Kansas seniors in the starting lineup was a first this season.
But Sean Pearson, Calvin Rayford and T.J. Whatley quickly made a lasting impression in their last home game at Allen Field House.
"They certainly gave us a great lift," Kansas coach Roy Williams said. "Sean's drive first, then Calvin's steal and layup. Their emotion was a factor in the whole game."
They got No. 3 Kansas' jump started in its 87-65 victory against
Missouri last night. The Jayhawks moved to 24-2 overall and 12-1 in the Big Eight Conference.
Pearson controlled the tipoff and drove the lane for a the Jay hawks' first basket. Before the Tigers could take the ball
across halfcourt, Rayford stole it
and hit another layup.
whistled for the first with 11:40 left when he rode the officials after junior guard Julian Winfield picked up a foul.
The second Tiger technical came late in the half with the Jayhawks leading 41-27. Missouri senior center Simeon Haley fouled Kansas senior guard Sean Pearson on a drive to the basket. Haley's reaction and words to Pearson led to a technical.
"We didn't make enough of the free throws, I can tell you that," Williams said. "We had the opportunity to score a lot of points in that time and didn't do it. But we'll take it anytime."
Kansas hit three of the four ensuing free throws, extending its lead to 17 points.
The only thing left to do was get Whatley in the scoring column. He let the opportunity slip away when a virtually uncontested layup bounced off the front of the rim.
Roy Williams Kansas men's basketball coach
Kansas sophomore Billy Thomas hit a three-point goal less than a minute later as the Jayhawks opened a 20-point lead, 47-27. They
Tyler Wirken / KANSAN
Actually, it might have been more than that. A basket might have caused an eruption in the field house.
"I couldn't believe that," Whatley said. "If I would have made that, it would have been great."
After the emotion of the game's opening minutes, it became a typical Kansas-Missouri battle.
"It would have been great to see that go in. All the seniors would have scored early," Kansas junior guard Jerd Hosae said. "But the whole game, there's not a whole lot to be disappointed with."
The Tigers picked up two technical fouls during the first half. Missouri coach Norm Stewart was
But the Tigers weren't done.
Winfield opened the second half with a three-pointer as the Tigers scored seven consecutive points.
maintained a 51- 35 advantage at half.
OK if somebody makes the run as long as we answer it."
"Missouri's a good team," Williams said. "Their going to make runs. It's
Kansas did. During the next four minutes, the Jayhawks went on a 14-2 run of their own and led 65-44. Kansas junior center Scot Pollard had six of the 14 points, including two dunks.
The Jayhawks' lead never fell below 19 points the remainder of the game, prompting the field house fans to chant for Whatley one more time. He was inserted back into the lineup, as all the seniors were, and then taken out for a final farewell.
Kansas men's basketball coach Roy Williams cuts down the net after the Jayhawks' 87-65 victory over Missouri last night in Allen Field House.
After the game, Kansas was awarded the Big Eight Conference championship trophy it secured on Saturday before the seniors gave their final farewells.
"I can live a lot longer and a lot happier knowing my last home win was against Missouri," Whatley said. "That 'We want Whatley' chant will be ringing in my ears forever."
Kansas guards shoot down skeptics
Vaughn and Haase help tame the Tigers
By Evan Blackwell
Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas backcourt didn't want to hear about outside shooting woes last night.
The perimeter shooting of Kansas junior guards Jacque Vaughn and Jerod Haase helped pave the way for the No. 3 Jayhawks' 87-65 win against Missouri in Allen Field House.
On a night when Kansas' leading scorer, sophomore forward Raef LaFrentz, was held to only eight points, Vaughn led the Jayhawks with 17 points on five of seven shooting from the floor. Haase
chipped in 14 points, 12 of them in the first half.
"Jacque and Jerod were really something today," Kansas coach Roy Williams said.
The Jayhawks led 30-23 with about six minutes remaining in the first half, when Haase nailed two three-pointers on consecutive possessions to push the Kansas lead to 13 at 36-23.
Haase, who had been battling a shooting slump throughout most of the Big Eight Conference season, said his offensive woes may be coming to an end.
"It felt good in the first half," Haase said. "In a lot of earlier games, some of my shots had a lid.
"Tonight was one of those nights they rattled in, instead of rattling out."
After trailing 51-35 at halftime, Missouri began the second half on a 9-2 run to slice the Jayhawks lead to nine at 53-44. Once again, it was a three-point shot that halted the Tigers charge.
Vaughn nailed the bomb with 16:43 left in the game that put Kansas up 56-44. The shot ignited a 12-0 Kansas run, and Missouri was never able to recover.
Vaughn, who has been fighting the rap that he still can't shoot consistently from the perimeter all season, has hit seven of 11 three-pointers and averaged 16.7 points in the last three games. Despite the recent offensive surge, Vaughn said he hasn't changed his game to focus on scoring more.
"What I care about is winning." Vaughn said.
Sweet Louisiana homecoming
Two Kansas baseball players returned home to play in Classic
By Dan Geiston Kansan sportswriter
Stephen Matthews and Les Walrond found out this past weekend that home is where the success is.
Both Kansas baseball players returned to their home state for the Lake Area Classic in Lake Charlee La.
runs scored in the first two games of the classic against Louisiana Tech and McNeese State.
Matthews, a junior left fielder, had four hits, five RBI and two
Stephen Williams
Matthews, a New Orleans native, had 12 family members in the stands for the weekend series. He said he didn't feel any extra pressure to do well, despite the presence of his family.
"It was the first time my mom and dad have seen me play since high school," Matthews said. "I was glad I could get the chance to play and perform well. I think seeing me play like I did is something they can hold their heads up to."
Matthews had plenty of reasons to hang his head last year. After transferring from Bacone Junior College, he played in just nine games for Kansas,
"I was glad I could get the chance to play and perform well..."
Stephen Matthews Kansas junior left fielder
mustering one hit in five at-bats.
"I've been working at getting some playing time the past couple of years, and I'm glad it's starting to work out," he said. "But last year was tough. I went to practice and prepared like I was going to play, but I knew that it probably wasn't going to happen."
For Matthews, the experience was disappointing.
When the left and right field positions opened up this year, Matthews knew he was going to get a shot at some playing time.
He has filled the vacancy in left field well, starting six of Kansas' nine games while batting .286. He leads the team with two triples and is third with six RBI.
So far, Kansas baseball coach Bobby Randall has been juggling the left and right field lineup — junior Isaac Byrd has started all nine games in center — and that is a big morale boost to the team. Matthews said.
"It sort of relaxes you," he said. "It's
easier to prepare when you know at any point you could be in. I think guys knowing they're going to get a shot to play has been helpful for the team."
Randall said keeping the players fresh is the primary reason for the shuffling.
"It keeps everybody ready to play," he said. "The starters know they need to make the adjustments while they're in the game, because if they don't, somebody who can will come in and do it."
Walrond, a freshman pitcher, was
born in Lake Charles and still has family there. Though he moved when he was young, he still tries to visit his relatives.
He pitched in relief in Sunday's 17-7 loss to No.20 Ohio State. After
starting pitcher junior Aric Peters allowed six runs in two innings, Walron came in and allowed two runs in four innings, striking out three.
Walrond also had family in the stands for the game.
Randall said Wakford did a good job of keeping Kansas in the game.
"I had a set of relatives up there in the stands," he said. "I wasn't trying to impress him, but I was throwing well."
"He came in, in a tough spot, and gave us a chance to win," he said. "We let them get some runs late in the game or else we could have had another chance to comeback."
Tyler Wirken/ KANSAN
The Kansas women's basketball team began to reap the rewards of a Big Eight Conference championship when the Players All-Big Eight team was announced yesterday.
Junior guard Tamecka Dixon was the lone Jayhawk on the first team. Senior guard Charisse Sampson made the second team.
Three Jayhawks were chosen honorable mention; junior guard Angie Halbleib, freshman center Nakda Sanford and sophomore guard Erinn Reed.
The Coaches All-Big Eight team will be announced today. For the Players All-Big Eight team roster see page 2.
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