BIG 12 Kansas athletic director Bob Frederick gives his reaction to the decision to put the conference office in Dallas. Page 3.
SPORTS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1996
SECTION B
Roy's trust cultivates new talent
Kansas freshmen Paul Pierce, Ryan Robertson and T.J. Pugh have, in my mind, officially shed their titles as newcomers.
No, the three men's basketball players haven't completed enough credits to be sophomores, but they have shown the maturity and poise of veterans. And that is exactly what the No. 3 Jayhawks will need for the rest of the season.
How did these — to borrow a term from Dick Vitale — "Diaper Dandies" elevate to such great
heights? One
heights? One would have to start with Kansas coach Roy Williams.
SPORTS EDITOR
Williams puts his full confidence and trust in every player, from the fifth-year seniors to the freshmen. Pierce, a starter in every game this season, has been given even more of Williams'
trust than his fellow newcomers.
And it has worked. Despite struggling a bit in his first few games, Pierce has become one of the Jayhawks' leading scorers and a rock-solid defender. His ability to shoot from almost anywhere between the three-point line and the basket is incredible.
Although Robertson and Pugh are not part of Kansas' starting five, they form two key elements of the second team. I can recall watching Robertson's St. Charles West High School team win the Missouri state championship last season on television, thanks to great passes and shots from Robertson.
What I saw that afternoon may have been a preview of what the Jayhawks will see when Robertson becomes the starting point guard in 1997. But for now, he rarely sees any playing time at the point and has yet to start a game.
The demotion doesn't seem to bother Robertson, however. With senior Calvin Rayford running the second-team offense, I think it has given Robertson a chance to work on his ever-improving shot.
Pugh's situation is similar to Robertson's in that the playing time and scoring averages are way down from his days at Creighton Prep in Omaha, Neb., but he continues to improve some raw skills.
Quietly, Pugh comes in for junior center Scot Pollard and sophomore forward Raef LaFrentz, plays tough down low, and sits back down again. But I have noticed many big improvements in Pugh that aren't always so easily seen.
Although his scoring average is just more than four points a game, Pugh seems to follow his shots and pick up key rebounds on offense and defense. His stamina has also been given a lift, most likely from practicing against Pollard, LaFrentz and junior forward B.J. Williams everyday.
I can't think of a replacement word for these freshmen, but they have definitely dropped the freshness from the title and become men.
After seeing two technical foul calls on Kansas' last two opposing coaches, there is much more to like about Roy Williams.
Kansas State coach Tom Asbury should consider enrolling in some sort of 12-step program to alleviate his anger. After he was whistled for arguing with officials yesterday, the television camera focused on Asbury, and my girlfriend read his lips. Let's just say his words were not suitable for children.
I was courtside on Wednesday night when Oklahoma State coach Eddie Sutton stormed toward the officials, his actions resulting in a technical. The noise of the crowd prevented me from hearing what was said, but I can only guess that it wasn't nice.
Coach Williams seems to have a better grasp on his temper, and that leads to success in the win column. I have no doubt that Williams gets angry from time to time, but at least he has the class to keep it bottled up.
Good players are the direct result of good coaching, and that is why I believe Kansas is consistently a winner.
Jayhawks skin Wildcats, 72-62
Kansas edges intrastate rival
By Jenni Carlson Kansan sportswriter
Tom Asbury said a little bit too much.
During the second half of Kansas 72-62 victory yesterday in Allen Field House, the Kansas State men's basketball coach walked to midcourt during a timeout, yelled at the referees and promptly picked up an technical foul.
But as to what the verbal outburst was about, Asbury was mum.
"Let's not talk about it." he said
The technical was part of a sixpoint possession when the No. 3 Jayhawks led 57-50. When the Wildcats got the ball again, with 5:05 remaining in the game, they trailed by 13 points, 63-50.
"Lots of times coaches do that early in the game to get their team fired up," Kansas freshman guard Ryan Robertson said. "But today, I don't know why the coach would do that."
Asbury might have seen a chance to fire his team up after Kansas junior guard Jacque Vaughn was whistled for his fourth personal foul with 6:05 left.
But the Jayhawks didn't appear to miss Vaughn as his replacement, senior guard Calvin Rayford, started the six-point possession.
Rayford caused a Wildcat turnover and started a fast break. He found Kansas sophomore forward Raef LaFrentz, who hit a lay up and was fouled by Kansas State senior forward Tyrone Davis.
But the Jayhawks kept possession because of the technical.
"It's really a tough position to come off the bench cold and shoot." Robertson said. "But we all
have roles. When I don't fill my role, that's disappointing."
The momentary disappointment was quickly overshadowed when Kansas junior forward B.J. Williams hit a 14-foot jumper from the top of the key. The field goal completed the Jayhawks' six-point possession.
Kansas built its lead to 13 after that but K-State never let the game get completely out of reach. The Jayhawks held the Wildcats off, pushing their record to 18-1 overall and 6-0 in the Big Eight Conference. K-State fell to 14-6 overall and 5-3 in the conference.
"I don't know if it was a turning point, but we definitely used it to our advantage," Yaughn said.
"They're playing great basketball right now," Kansas junior center Scot Pollard said, "and I'd be surprised if they didn't make the NCAA tournament."
K-State senior guard Elliot Hatcher led all scorers with 30 points, hitting 10 of 23 shots and seven of nine free-throw attempts.
But Hatcher was outscored in the second half by LaFrentz, who had 16 points compared to Hatcher's 15. LaFrentz finished the game with a career-high 24 points, including 10 of 13 free-throw attempts.
"Today was the best we've done for awhile in getting the ball inside," Kansas coach Roy Williams said. "But we missed some from point-blank range. That happens when you've got two good defensive teams because you feel like they're always coming at you, even if they aren't."
in the second half, LaFrentz improved on his two-of-six first-half performance, hitting five of nine shots from the floor.
LaFrentz said he happily accepted big games such as yesterday's whenever he could get them. Nonetheless, he understands individual players rarely shine because of the team's depth.
But LaFrentz's efforts are not overlooked by his teammates.
"He's not forgotten by me," Vaughn said. "In the second half, there were three or four plays in a row that I called his number."
Kansas forwards Paul Pierce and Reaf LaFrentz both soared up to catch a pass from sophomore Billy Thomas. "It wasn't a very good pass," Kansas coach Roy Williams said. "I don't know if he knew who he was throwing it to."
Tyler Wirken / KANSAN
Tyler Wirken / KANSAN
Kansas junior guard Jacque Vaughn throws a pass to a Jayhawk teammate in yesterday's game. Kansas used a strong second half to win, 72-62.
'Hawks come from behind again to win
Kansas has won three games this season after being down at halftime
O
Bv Bill Petulla
Kansan associate sports editor
Although the Jayhawks shot just 33 percent from the floor in first half, Kansas men's basketball coach Roy Williams said he wasn't nervous.
"At halftime I was discouraged about how we played," Williams said. "But I was confident that in the second半长we'd show up and play. I didn't give them one of those hell-fire, win-one-for-the-Ginner kind of sneeches."
Whatever he said, though, the Jayhawks responded in the second half, hitting 46 percent of their field goals.
No. 3 Kansas overcame a four-point deficit three minutes and 14 seconds into the second half when sophomore forward Raef LaFrentz got fouled as he tipped in a missed shot. That basket gave the Jayhawks a lead they would not relinquish.
Kansas junior guard Jerod Haase felt Kansas had scoring
Kansas State coach Tom Asbury said he was pleased with the Wildcats' defensive effort in the first half, but felt they didn't give that same effort in the final 20 minutes.
"I think the main difference was in the first half we were getting good shots and they just weren't falling." Haase said. "But you've got to give credit to their defense. They play extremely hard and made things tough for us."
opportunities in the first half but credited the Kansas State defense for the Jayhawks' stymied shooting.
"I thought we did a nice job on our defense," he said. But he added that the Jayhawks didn't need to resort to sleight-of-hand to win. "They're not No. 3 in the nation by using mirrors. We just simply didn't come out in the second half."
Yesterday's victory marks the third time this season that the Jayhawks have won when trailing at the half.
Williams said that he was proud of the team's maturity and ability to improve its shooting at halftime.
"It was one of those games when our outside shot wasn't going and we missed from point blank in the first half," Williams said. "But we have an intelligent team and they have the ability to make adjustments and adapt to what we tell them in the locker room."
Matt Flickner / KANSAN
Weekend split helps, hurts Kansas
Kansas junior guard Tarnkee Dixon tries to get a pass past over two Missouri defenders in yesterday's game.
Women's basketball team upsets No.14 Colorado, but Missouri returns favor
By Evan Blackwell
Kansan sportswriter
COLUMBIA, Mo. — The Kansas women's basketball team took one giant step forward and then took one giant step backward in the Big Eight Conference race this weekend.
The Jayhawks lost to Missouri 86-66 yesterday at the Hearnes Center, just two days after they took sole possession of first place in the Big Eight with a 67-57 win at No. 14 Colorado Friday night. Kansas is now 13-8 overall and 6-3 in the Big Eight.
The Tigers jumped on Kansas early, led by senior forward Erika Martin, who scored 17 points in the first half. Martin got to the free throw line 11 times, making nine.
Foul trouble hampered the Jayhawks most of the game. Kansas was forced to play most of the first half without the services of junior guard Tamecka Dixon and senior guard Charisse Sampson. Both picked up two fouls in the first ten minutes of the game.
With the Jayhawks' two leaders on the bench, Missouri pulled away to a 44-26 halftime lead and never looked back.
Kansas pulled within 11 several times in the second half but could never all the way back. The Jayhawks were unable to stop Martin, who finished with 36 points.
"They got 12 points from the foul line in the first half," Kansas women's basketball coach Marian Washington said. "You just can't let that happen."
Missouri women's basketball coach Joaun Rutherford said the strategy to get the ball in Martin's hands was obvious.
"I told her to start taking the ball because I knew they couldn't stop her," Rutherford said. "She's too quick on the wing."
While Martin dominated on the offensive end, Rutherford said she was just as impressed with her player's defense.
"I look at her D more than I do the offense," Rutherford said. "She held Sampson to eight points."
Washington said the team was not able to overcome the physical and emotional fatigue from their win Friday night in Boulder, Colo.
"We weren't as rested as them, and it showed," Washington said. "We were a step behind all day."
Kansas took hold of first place with its come-from-behind triumph against the Buffaloes. After trailing by seven points at halftime, the Jayhawks took control with a 10-0 run midway through the second half.
"I didn't feel we played that well in the first half," Washington said. "But we came out of the locker room with much better defense and more action on the boards."
Junior guard Angie Halbleib led Kansas in scoring both games with 18 against Colorado and 20 against Missouri.
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