SPORTS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY,FEBRUARY 14,1996
SECTION B
Colorado knows it won't be easy
Jayhawks look to bounce back from recent loss
Winning in Allen Field House is not easy. At least not for visiting teams.
By Jenni Carlson
Kansan sportswriter
The last 26 opponents to play the Kansas men's basketball team there have found that out. All have lost.
When Colorado takes the floor tonight for a 7:05 tipoff, the Buffaloes won't only be faced with becoming the 27th consecutive opponent to fall in the field house. They'll also be up against a team that lost its big Eight Conference game this season on Saturday.
"We're ready to get back on that court." Kansas freshman forward
Paul Pierce said. "We can't wait to get to the next game."
The No. 5 Jayhawks, 19-2 overall and 7-1 in the conference, might have some extra motivation to win tonight. But regardless of that motivation, they are
final seconds, but sophomore guard Matt Daniel's attempt from the lane was off the mark.
The Jayhawks came away with a 80-78 victory.
But the Buffaloes, 8-12 overall and 2-6 in the conference, have gotten scoring from more unlikely sources lately. During their 64-63 victory against Kansas State on
Three Buffaloes are particularly lethal, Williams said. Freshman guard Chauncey Billups and junior forwards Mack Tuck and Martice Moore are combining to average 51.2 points a game. That is 65.2 percent of Colorado's scoring.
"We blew them out by two. They're pretty dangerous," Kansas coach Roy Williams said.
said Colorado men's basketball assistant coach David Moe.
"Maybe they are upset and will play as well as they can play," said Moe, a former Kansas graduate assistant. "That's good. We want to play Kansas when they're at their best to see how far we come and how far we have to go."
If Colorado used Kansas as a gauge the first time they played on Jan. 20 in Boulder, Colo., the Buffaloes had to feel they'd come a long way. They had the opportunity to tie or win the game in the
Wednesday,
sophomore center
Charlie
Melvin scored a
team-high 17
points.
Junior center Dennis Griffin added 10. Both players are averaging less than five points.
"Their enthusiasm for the game is still something that's at a high level," Williams said.
Patton has put his team through several 6 a.m. practices since then.
He attributes that to interim coach Ricardo Patton, who took over after Joe Harrington resigned in mid-January.
"He's preached that regardless of what time it is, we need to be ready to play," Moe said. "We did a good job with it. Everybody was there at 5:30 or 5:45 to go."
And Moe is sure that the Buffaloes will be just as ready tonight.
"Nobody believes we can win,
he said. "We have nothing to lose."
Matt Flickner / KANSAN
Kansas freshman forward Paul Pierce drives past a Missouri defender in Saturday's game, The No. 5 Jayhawks return to action against Colorado at 7:05 tonight in Allen Field House.
Coaches name Sampson an All-Star finalist
Kansas senior may finally get chance to face national team
By Evan Blackwell Kansan sportswriter
Kansas senior guard Charisse Sampson needed a little good news.
She was chosen as a semifinalist to play for a Senior College All-Star team. The team is selected by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association.
While struggling through what was one of the toughest seasons of her career because of two severe knee injuries, Sampson got that good news this week.
Sampson was one of 50 semifinalists for the team, which will play an exhibition game against the USA women's national team April 6 in Atlanta. The field comprised 74 nominations, which have been narrowed to the 50 semifinalists.
"It's great for me because I felt like I might miss out on some of these opportunities because of all my
surgeries." Sampson said.
Sampson did miss the chance to play against the national team when it came to Lawrence for an exhibition game Nov. 30.
"That's a big reason why I'd like to play for this team: Because I missed that opportunity before," Sampson said.
Pat Summitt, women's basketball coach at Tennessee, and Geno Auriemma of Connecticut will coach the team. Both coaches will work with the four members of the association's board of directors to select the final 10-player team in the last week of this month.
The possibility of being selected as an All-Star has been gratifying for Sampson as she deals with constant knee pain.
Sampson has started in the back-court for Kansas this season despite two surgeries for a partial meniscus tear in her left knee earlier this season.
Not only has Sampson played, but she also continues to lead the team in rebounds, averaging 6.5 a game. While Sampson's scoring is down from her average of 15.8 points last season, she is third on the team with 12.3 points a game.
Carol Jarosky, who has organized Sampson's rehabilitation program, said she never had been associated with an athlete who had battled back from two major knee surgeries in the same season.
Kansas women's basketball trainer
"Coach Washington gave her the option to redshirt," Jarosky said. "It's only through her own fight and determination that she has played this year."
“It’s nice to know people are looking at more than just scoring,” Sampson said. “I think I've done a lot of other things well this year.”
Richard Devinki / KANSAN
Regret doesn't enter into Sampson's vocabulary when it comes to her decision to play this season instead of redshirting.
Kansas tennis player wants to conquer the NCAA
Kansas senior guard Charisse Sampson is a semi-finalist for a spot on the College All-Star team, which will play the USA women's national team.
"It's the decision I made, and the decision I'll live with," she said.
By Spencer Duncan Kansan sportswriter
When Kylie Hunt bumped into Kansas basketball senior forward Sean Pearson as she prepared for an interview yesterday, she experienced firsthand the exposure that winning a national championship can bring an athlete.
"What's your name?" Pearson asked Hunt.
"Katie Hunt."
"That's right. Congratulations on that national championship," Pearson said.
"Who are you?" Hunt said to Pearson.
"I'm Sean," Pearson said in return. "Nice to meet you." Hunt said.
The national championship Pearson referred to was the Rolex National Indoor Intercollegiate Tennis Championship, which Hunt, a Kansas junior tennis player, won last Sunday in Dallas. With a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 victory against Vicky Maes of Arizona, Hunt positioned herself as a premier player in college tennis.
"Kyle was tough," Arizona women's coach and Maes' coach Becky Bell said. "She is mentally tough, which is dangerous in a tennis
player."
The tournament was a 32-player field of the best women players in college tennis, with the goal of finding which of them was the best. Hunt went 5-0 in the tournament and captured the championship when, at match point in the finals, Maes hit a shot into the net.
"I knew it was over," Hunt said. "I didn't have to play anymore."
The victory moved Hunt's record to 23-2 and was her second International Tennis Association Grand Slam victory. Her first occurred last fall in doubles with Kansas junior Jenny
Atkerson. This victory may elevate her current No. 7 national ranking even higher, and her coach feels she deserves anything she gets.
"It makes the school look great, but I am more proud for Kyle," Kansas head women's coach Chuck Merzbacher said. "She worked extremely hard for this victory."
The victory already is giving Hunt exposure outside Kansas. ESPN will televise highlights of the Championships and Hunt's success at 1
See HUNT. Page 3.
The first occurred when a small guard named Lou Petulla (my dad) held Ted in chook
— the Colts gave him the ax. This makes the second time that Marchibroda has been shut out.
No love in world of sports
Love is in the air today. Well, not so much in the sporting world.
ASSOCIATE
SPORTS
EDITOR
at the 1952 Oil City-Franklin (Pa) game.
Take the relationship between Ted Marchibroda and the Indianapolis Colts' front office. After Ted took a bunch of jokers to the AFC championship game — and nearly farther
So on this Valentines Day,
National Random
Acts of Kindness
Week, National
Boost Your Self
Esteem Month
and National
Condom Week,
I'll try to give you a variety of reading.
Tommy Morrison — a heavyweight boxer and.
at times, heavyweight punching bag recently added yet another brick in the wall of prominent figures who seem to feel that fame protects them from all viruses.
Although the jury is still out on how Morrison contracted the HIV virus, it doesn't take a intellectual giant to come to the conclusion that the "love 'em and leave 'em" reputation with which Tommy had become known finally caught up with him.
Although my heart goes out for Tommy, his reckless lifestyle teaches us again the timeless saying: if you play with fire you'll get burnt.
Unlike my colleague Tom Erickson, I'm not a basketball purist. Not by a longshot.
But why did "Mr. Creativity" Brent Barry do the same foul-line jam twice?
I loved watching the gimmick Rookie Game, three-point shootout, and, especially, the slam-dunk contest.
Sure, it was impressive. But if Brent has the hops to hang in the air for 15 feet and stuff it home, I have a feeling he can do other things. Like a triple-clutch reverse, kiss the rim — something other than the long-jump slam.
Speaking of All-Star Saturday, I'll certainly shed no tears for 17-year-old Demetrius Houston.
For those of you who don't recognize the name, he's the teenager who missed the three-point shot that would have put $1 million in his pocket.
What kills me is his reaction after missing it. After being given 20 minutes on prime-time television and receiving a check for $10,000, Houston hugged family members and acted as if he had just watched his dog get hit by a car.
What's even more ironic about the Foot Locker-sponsored $1 million dollar shot is that the NBA — whose slogan is "Stay in School" — seems to have no problem with the contest.
If Houston, or anyone else, were to drain the million-dollar three-pointer, his or her personal slogan most likely would change to "Why Stay in School?"
However, instead of sending out another heart-felt plea for you to go see the best free throw-shooting team in Lawrence, I just say you're missing out on some good basketball.
noticed — and judging by the attendance you haven't — the Kansas women's basketball team sits alone atop the Big Eight Conference and is beating
This team is playing at the top of its game, and barring any breakdowns in the last two weeks of the Big Eight regular season, the sky's the limit.
So maybe it's about time you boost their self esteem, sent them a few valentines, practice a random act of kindness and watch these promising players.
INSIDE: The boxing world reacts to HIV-positive test results for Tommy Morrison. Page 4.
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