UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Tuesday, January 16, 1996
5B
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Missing the sites but hoopin' it up in France—C'est la vie
European pro teams defeat the Jayhawks
By Jenni Carlson
Kansan sportswriter
Four Jayhawk guards really couldn't have waited much longer.
The No.4 Kansas men's basketball team was in its last day of sightseeing in Paris. The Jayhawks had traveled to France to compete in the Buckler Challenge and to spend two days in the country's capital.
Until the final night of their stay, guards Jacue Vaughn, Jerod Haase, C.B. McGrath and Ryan Robertson never wanted to see the Elfel Tower.
Until now.
It is 10:30 p.m., and the four Jayhawks have just finished dinner. Somebody suggests taking the elevator to the top of Paris' well-known attraction.
There is only one problem.
The elevator stops at 11 p.m.
"The running joke was that Elle MacPherson was at the top," Robertson said.
The supermodel who just happened to be on the team's flight from New York City to Paris a few days earlier.
With that kind of incentive, the four guards hopped on the nearest subway and hopped off about a mile from the tower. Then the running really began.
"The people of Paris are enjoying their evenings," Robertson said. "We all have our blue jackets on, and here we are sprinting to the Eiffel Tower."
If they hadn't already got the attention of many Parisians, the Jayhawks caught the eyes of some
"They followed us for a couple seconds." Vauhn said, smiling.
policemen.
Despite everything, Vaughn, Haase, McGrath and Robertson made it to the Elifel Tower with five minutes to spare, but the last people allowed to buy tickets were the ones right in front of them.
The Kansas guards unsuccessfully begged the ticket takers, saying if they ever came to the United States and wanted to see the Statue of Liberty, they could get in.
The Jayhawks had a lot to laugh about and enjoy during their six-day trip to France, the first trip overseas in team history.
"I laugh about that all the time still." Robertson said.
"It was an incredible trip," Haase said. "Everything was first-class."
The Jayhawks flew from New York City to Paris on Dec. 26. A flight that would normally take
"It exemplified the trip," Haase said. "They had a sign saying how fast we were going—Mach 2."
about eight hours was considerably shorter for the Jayhawks. They took a Concorde jet and cut the trip down to 3 1/2 hours.
The following day the Jayhawks traveled to Strasbourg, France, for — oh, yeah — two days of basketball.
The tournament featured Kansas and five European professional teams. No collegiate team from the United States ever had won a game in the Buckler Challenge, including Massachusetts, which went 0-3 in the tournament last season.
Kansas didn't fare any better. But it might have helped if they had known the rules.
The Jayhawks opened competition with two mini games, each consisting of 20 minutes. In their first against Pau-Orthez, Vaughn
picked up his third foul and was told he had fouled out. None of the Jayhawks knew that three fouls in the mini games meant disqualification.
"Maybe it is our responsibility to know that," said Roy Williams, Kansas men's basketball coach, "but it makes it difficult when you don't know the rules."
Even with Vaughn on the bench Kansas still led 28-18 at halftime. However, consecutive three-point goals with 4:47 remaining gave Pau-Orthez a 37-33 lead it would not relinquish, winning 45-38.
In the second game, the Jay-hawks hung even closer to the host team, Strasbourg. Kansas led until 3:12 remained in the game, and a Haase three-pointer pulled the Jayhawks to within one point, 45-44. Strasbourg sealed the game with a layup and a three-pointer, winning 50-48.
On the tournament's second day, Kansas played a regulation game against Benfloo from Lisbon, Portugal. The Jayhawks trailed by as many as 13 points in the first half but led 87-80 with 4:45 remaining after Hasek hit a three-point shot.
The teams battled back and forth before Benfico pulled away, winning 101-93.
The games in Europe contrasted with the Jayhawks' style. Kansas freshman forward Paul Pierce said the teams had not been as physical, and the referees called games closer.
The Buckler Challenge didn't translate into the best performances for the Jayhawks, but the games, which do not affect their record, didn't seem to be the most important aspect of the trip.
"I think we got closer as a team," Vaughn said. "There were not too many people pulling for us. That created a bond."
Holiday schedule leaves the Jayhawks with no time for a vacation
By Jenni Carlson Kansan sportswriter
Some members of the No. 4 Kansas men's basketball team are probably asking when the vacation starts.
Playing 10 games during winter break, there wasn't much time for the Jayhawks to rest. Kansas played in arenas from California to Florida as well as four games in Allen Field House.
Dec. 7, 1995
The No. 1 inx is gone.
KANSAS 101, at SAN DIEGO 71
Playing their first game as college basketball's top team, the Jayhawk defeated Rice 83-63. Kansas has been ranked No. 1 the last three seasons but then lost its next game after being bumped up to No. 1.
Kansas junior guard Jacque Vaughn had a season-high 13 rebounds in addition to scoring 10 points. Freshman forward Paul Pierce led the Jayhawks with 13 points.
With final exams just days away, the Jayhawks knew this would be their last chance to play for a week.
They took advantage of that with a 101-71 victory.
But the Jayhawks got a scare when Vaughn injured his left wrist with 7 minutes remaining. Results of X-rays showed no injury.
Kansas sophomore forward Raef LaFrentz hauled down 11 rebounds, his third consecutive double-digit rebounding performance. The Jayhawks held a 47-24 rebounding advantage.
Dec. 16,1995
KANSAS 91, INDIANA 83 at Kansas.City.Mo.
Kansas Citv.
Some of the Jayhawks lived through the 19-point loss in Bloomington, Ind. For those who hadn't or who might have forgotten, Coach Roy Williams helped jog their memory. He played a video tape of the loss during the team's bus ride from Lawrence to Kemper Arena in
Kansas did not want a replay of last year's loss to Indiana.
Despite 26 points from Indiana's Brian Evans, the Jayhawks responded with a 91-83 victory.
"It was what I expected today — two teams that believe in playing on the defensive end of the floor," Williams said. "We have a little more depth, and we got their big guys in a little foul trouble."
Kansas took advantage of that. The starting front line — Scot Pollard, LaFrentz and Pierce — combined to score 46 points and grab 21 rebounds. Pierce led the Jayhawks in scoring for the third consecutive game with 21 points.
Dec. 18, 1995
Dec.9,1995
At KANSAS 103, PITTSBURG STATE48
It was the starters, however, who led the way. Pollard scored a game-high 16 points while LaFrentz grabbed 12 rebounds.
Every Jayhawk got some playing time in Kansas' 103-48 victory against this Division-II opponent.
the fieldhouse for a $22,000 guarantee stipend. Emporia State, Washburn and Fort Hays State have accepted the offer in the past.
Each season, Kansas gives a small,
In-state school a chance to play in
At TEMPTLE 75, KANAS 66 (OT)
No one can blame Jerod Haag.
Dec. 22.1995
Sure, the junior guard missed a pair of free throws with 8.2 seconds remaining in the game that would have given the Jayhawks a come-from-behind victory. But he scored 30 points while the Kansas offense sputtered, hitting just 28.3 percent of its shots in a 75-66 loss. It was the Jayhawks' first of the season.
The Owls pounded the Jayhawks in the paint. Temple out-rebounded Kansas 56-44, and center Marc Jackson scored a career-high 31 points.
Jan. 2, 1996
At KANSAS 100. CORNELL 46
AKANSAS 10, CORNELL 40
When Haase hit a three-pointer with 13:45 remaining in the game, the Jayhawks scored their 10th point of the second half.
Cornell never reached that point. Kansas' defense held the Big Red
to nine second-half points in the Jayhawks' 100-46 victory.
Five Jayhawks scored in double figures, led by Vaughn's 16 points. He was of 4 from behind the three-point line.
"I'm not going to shoot if I don't have to," Vaughn said, "but when a team tries to use that against me and make me shoot it, I'll always take the challenge."
Jan. 4 1996
The comparisons can begin in earnest.
With Pierce's 30-point performance in the Jahawks' victory, he narrowly missed the all-time Kansas freshman record of 35 points, which was established by former Kansas All-American Danny Manning.
"Danny Manning was a great player in his time here," Pierce said. "To be in his class would be a privilege."
In addition to Kansas' highest point total of the season, the Jayhawks held their opponent to less
than 50 percent shooting for the 41st consecutive game. East Tennessee State made 39.3 percent of its shots from the floor.
Jan. 6, 1996
AT KANSAS 83, SOUTHERN
METHODIST61
As if he didn't have enough fan support, LaFrentz had his own cheering section.
A bus filled with people from his hometown of Monona, Iowa, witnessed the Jayhawks' 83-61 victory against SMU. They also saw their homegrown product score a game-high 17 points.
The team did well. However, the Jayhawks' 41-game streak of holding opponents to less than 50 percent shooting came to an end. The Mustangs hit 51.1 percent of their shots.
"We take a lot of pride in our defense," Vaughn said. "But streaks are meant to be broken."
So what about opening Big Eight Conference play in Stillwater, Oka,
See SCHEDULE,Page 8.
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