Court will be in session for the Kansas men's and women's teams this weekend. Page 4.
SPORTS ERSITY DAILY KA
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 1996
SECTION B
Williams set for 200th victory
Coach looking to get milestone win at Nebraska
By Jenni Carlson Kansan sportswriter
Kansan sportswriter
Baskin-Robbins might want to get ready.
Baskin-Robbins might want to get ready. If the No. 3 Kansas men's basketball team defeats Nebraska on Sunday, coach Roy Williams will record his 200th career victory.
"We're going to have a big-time celebration," Williams said, grinning. "We'll find somewhere to get a hot fudge sundae with extranuts."
Williams may have been joking, but his record is not one to laugh about. In his eighth season, he is 199-52 and likely will become the third coach in Kansas history to win more than 200 games. The others are Forrest C. "Phog" Allen and Ted Owens.
"I won't be disappointed if I don't get win No. 200," Williams said. "But I'll be extremely disappointed about not getting win No.16."
What may be most impressive, though, is how fast Williams could win his 200th game.
The Jayhawks lost the last four games they played there.
The Big Eight Conference's two winningest coaches, Allen and Missouri men's basketball coach Norm Stewart, didn't win 200 until much later in their careers. No. 200 came for Allen in his 265th game, and Stewart's wasn't until his 325th game.
Although getting the record so fast may not be a big deal, winning a conference game is. Tipoff is scheduled at 2 p.m. at the Devaney Center in Lincoln, Neb.
And up until Kansas' 91-68 victory last season, the Jayhawks hadn't fared well in Devaney Center.
The Jayhawks, 15-1 and 3-0 in the Big Eight, probably won't have an easy road to their 16th victory. Nebraska, 14-4 and 2-1, has won six of its last seven games.
"Going down to Lincoln is going to be pretty tough for us. I really respect the fans there," Kansas junior guard Jacque Vaughn said. "But every game is going to be tough
"Knowing Coach Williams it's not a real big deal either," Kansas sophomore forward Rael FlaFrentz said.
on the road. Every game we play is a big game for our opponent."
Vaughn and his backcourt mates will face two of the conference's top scorers. Nebraska senior guard Jaron Boone is fifth, averaging 16.3 points a game. Senior guard Erick Strickland averages 15.2 points and is sixth.
"I respect everyone," he said, "but I don't fear them."
Despite the prospect of defending Boone and Strickland, it is not a personal one-on-one battle, Vaughn said.
The Jayhawks are getting the same type of respect from the Cornhuskers. Nebraska men's basketball coach Danny Nee only had praise for the Jayhawks.
"One premier team for sure — that's Kansas," Nee said. "We pay attention to Kansas a lot."
For good reason. The Jayhawks have been ranked in the Associated Press top 10 for 28 consecutive weeks and in the top 25 for 90, but they are now the only Big Eight team ranked in the top 25.
"I think the conference is just as strong as the previous two years I've been here," he said.
However, that fact doesn't hold much weight. Vauigna said.
GOOD GRADES: Several members of the
Matt Flickner / KANSAM
UNIVERSITY: Several members of the men's basketball team compiled grade point averages above 3,5 last semester. Page 3.
Kansas freshman forward Paul Pierce and the No. 3 Jajahws will try to win the 200th game in Kansas coach Roy Williams' career in Lawrence.
Jayhawks, Wildcats ready for a thriller
Bv Evan Blackwell
Kansan sportswriter
The Sunflower State rivalry is back.
For those Kansas sports fans tired of watching lopsided Super Bowls, there will be another option this weekend.
The Kansas women's basketball team will travel to Manhattan to take on Kansas State on Sunday. The Jayhawks are 11-7 overall, and 4-2 in the Big Eight Conference.
Kansas senior guard Charisse Sampson said she's ready for the first of her final two chances to defeat the Wildcats
"You've got two teams battling in the same state. One of them is always going to be on top," Sampson said.
K-State sophomore guard Amanda Chamberlin, a native of Holton, definitely knows the significance of the two annual Kansas games.
"I know what this game means to people," Chamberlin said. "We try to show what we're made of when we play Kansas."
K-State women's basketball coach Brian Agler said his team would love nothing more than to continue their roll when they face the rival Jayhawks this weekend.
The Wildcats are coming off one of their best weekends of the season, having beaten Oklahoma State on Friday and Oklahoma on Sunday. Both Wildcat victories were at home.
Kansas State may not need any extra help from the home crowd. The Wildcats have already compiled a record of 9-2 at Bramlage Coliseum this season. Chamberlin said taking care of business at home is crucial in the Big Eight Conference.
"There's no question it's a big game," Agler said. "We get a lot of high school coaches and players from across the state that like to come in for this game."
"We really stress that a lot here," Chamberlin said. "You have to win at home, because it's so tough on the road in this league."
The Jayhawks would like to ride the
momentum of their 85-58 victory Sunday against Oklahoma State.
"It has come down to the point where it's time to stop talking," Sanford said. "We have to play the way each player says they're committed to playing."
Kansas freshman center Nakia Sanford said the Jayhawks knew what they could do, and the time to start playing consistently was now.
Both Agler and Chamberlin said slowing Kansas down and combating the Jayhawks quickness would be the keys for the Wildcats.
Kansas women's basketball coach Marian Washington said both teams stressed the importance on the defensive end of the floor.
"You're going to see two really hard-nosed defensive teams," Washington said.
Kansas State junior forward Missy Decker implored the locals to come see the latest edition of the rivalry, before that other big event this weekend.
"Hopefully, people will come out and
The Starting Lineup
KANSAS Jayhawks 11.7, 4-2
No. Player Pos. Ht. Yr.
33 Tamecka Dixon G 5-9 Jr.
3 Charise Sampson G 5-10 Sr.
3 Angle Haleleb G 5-10 Jr.
51 Jennifer Trapp F 6-1 Jr.
43 Nakla Camford C 6-3 Fr.
watch before the Super Bowl," Decker said. "It will be a dog fight."
Tvler Wirken / KANSAN
Kansas football coach Glen Mason hold up one of several awards handed out at the football banquet.
Jayhawks all smiles at banquet
By Jenni Carlson Kansan sportswriter
Rod Jones pursed his lips but it didn't do any good.
As Kansas football coach, Glen Mason talked about him at last night's Kansas football banquet, the senior tackle could only smile.
Rod Jones pursed his lips but it didn't do any good.
"He should go into TV. He's got a great smile," Mason said. "He should be an announcer or do a toothpaste commercial or something."
All of the Jayhawks had something to smile about as they relived their 10-2 season at the Holiday Inn Holdome. The 1995-96 season was the first time since
1905 that Kansas recorded 10 wins. Kansas' No. 9 ranking in the final Associated Press college football poll marked the first time in Jayhawk history that a team finished in the top 10.
Kansas Football Awards
It was clear that the night was meant to honor the players.
Ray Evans/Arthur Weaver
Senior Academic Award —
Darrin Simmons
Offensive Demo MVP — Zac
Wegner
Defensive Demo MVP —
Jerome Parks
Willie Pless Tackler of the Year
Award — Jason Thoren
Special Teams MVP — Darrin
Simmons
Defensive MVP — Keith
Rodgers
Offensive MVP — Mark
Williams
MVP — Mark Williams
The fourteen Jayhawk seniors sat at the front and were lauded during the banquet by their coach.
"Also, who can forget he had one carry for 45 yards?" wide receiver coach Vic Adamle said, referring to Simmons' fake punt against Oklahoma.
A number of individual honors were announced as well. Senior punter Darrin Simmons, who averaged 43.8 yards a kick and pinned 26 pnts inside the 20-yard line, was the special teams most valuable player.
The defensive MVP award was given to senior outside linebacker Keith Rodgers. Defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz said Rodgers characterized the defense.
"We wanted a defense that would play with great effort," Hankwitz said. "He was the kind of guy that was always hustling, making second effort plays."
senior quarterback Mark Williams was the night's last award recipient. He was named the offensive MVP and team's overall MVP. Quarterback coach Dave Warner said that it was a shame he only started 13 games in his college career.
The personal records continue to fall this season for Kansas junior swimmer Erik Jorgensen, who credits his success to faith and hard work.
"When he saw the opportunity to lead this football team starting last spring, he worked harder than any quarterback I was ever able to coach," Warner said.
Tyter Wirken /
KANSAN
Self-confidence inspires swimmer's best
Jayhawks' Jorgensen attributes his success to faith in coach, God
By Dan Geiston
Kansan sportswriter
All Kansas junior swimmer Erik Jorgensen ever had to do was believe. He believed that his faith in God and in his coach would help him become one of the top swimmers in the country.
Most importantly, Jorgensen had to believe in himself. And it is that newfound confidence that has turned him from one of the Big Eight Conference's best into one of the nation's best swimmers.
He has broken his personal record in
the 1,000-yard freestyle in each of Kansas' past two meets. Two weeks ago against Nebraska, he swam a 9.14.14, which qualified him for the Olympic trials in March. Last weekend against Georgia, he broke that mark with a 9.12.50.
"My success this year has been due to just the confidence I've had over the year," Jorgensen said. "I have confidence in my training and the fact that whatever I need to do, I just get the job done."
Jorgensen said that his frame of mind has had a lot do with Kansas swimming coach Gary Kempf.
Kempf said that Jorgensen made the
decision at the beginning of the season to truly become a great swimmer.
"You have to have total faith in the coach that's training you and I have that in Coach Kempf," he said. "I wouldn't be where I am without him."
Although consistent success on the collegiate level may be new to Jorgensen, prestigious achievements certainly aren't.
"Without my faith in Jesus Christ,
"He's on a mission to be great," he said. "He's been focused all year long on being a great distance swimmer. He hasn't had a lot of ups and downs. It's been pretty much all up."
Though Jorgensen is a graceful swimmer, he knows his accomplishments have come to fruition through the grace of Jesus Christ.
He holds the Jayhawks' all-time record for the 500 freestyle (4:24.06), the Big Eight meet record in the 1,650 freestyle (15:23.28) and is a Big Eight champion in several events.
Jorgensen will have to be strong for the Big Eight championships in February, where having a successful showing is an important goal for him.
none of this would be possible," he said. "As all college students know, there's pitfalls out there. My belief in Christ has made me a strong swimmer and a strong person."
"Last year we lost the Big Eight on the last relay," he said. "This year's so important for us to win it. I don't want to have any excuses."
Believing also has allowed Jorgensen to set higher goals for himself.
"I want to make the NCAAAs and place in the top eight, or even the top three," he said. "As for the future, I'd like to qualify for some international swimming games. I'd like to be in the Good-will Games."
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