UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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Monday, December 4, 1995
3B
BOARDS: Kansas uses 1-3-1 zone and packs paint
Continued from Page 1B.
Bruins had athletic players such as freshman center Jeliani McCoy and junior forward Charles O'Bannon that could jump over Jayhawk rebounders. His coach agreed.
"He and Jelani really made it so difficult for us because they're so athletic, so quick, jump so high," Kansas men's basketball coach Roy Williams said. "They made it difficult for us, particularly around the boards."
So Kansas went into a zone, 1-3-1 defense during the second half. The zone effectively packed the Jayhawk defenders in the lane and countered the Bruins' athleticism.
"Their big guys did a good job of boxing out," McCoy said. "We weren't hungry enough."
Being hungry and hitting the boards weren't solely emphasized to the Kansas big men either. While LaFrentz and Pierce led the team with 11 and eight rebounds respectively, Kansas junior guard Jacue Vaughn was the third leading rebounder with five. Jayhawk guards Jerod Haase and Billy Thomas added three boards each.
"We did a better job in the second half," Haase said. "We worked harder and really hit the boards hard."
Crowd's force pushes Jayhawks
Motivation helps team outscore Bruins 59-29 in the second half
Ryan Robertson played in a state championship basketball game and national all-star games before becoming a Jayhawk.
By Jenni Carlson Kansan sports editor
Students in the Allen Field House crowd toss a fan during "The Hey Cheer." The fans helped prop Kansas to an 85-70 victory against UCLA on Saturday.
But the Kansas freshman guard never experienced an atmosphere like the one that surrounded the No. 2 Jayhawks 85-70 victory against No. 2 UCLA on Saturday.
Kathleen Driscoll/KANSAN
"I've never played in anything like that," said Robertson, who played in his first regular-season game in Allen Field House on Saturday. "It got so loud sometimes that the sound wasn't sound anymore. It was something else."
Even though Robertson couldn't pin down exactly what the intense crowd noise was, UCLA freshman center Jelani McCoy had a pretty good idea.
"It was like a force," he said.
It was like a force, he said.
And it was the force Kansas needed to overcome a 15-point halftime deficit.
The Jayhawks began the second half with a 6-1 run that Kansas junior guard Jerod Haase capped
with a steal and basket. Even though Kansas still trailed by 10 points with 18:30 remaining in the game, the score was as close as it had been since the 5:41 mark in the first half.
And the Kansas faithful knew it. It seemed that their Jayhawks were attempting to come back, and they were going to help them,
"It's great for the home team," Haase said of the crowd. "On defense it really sparks us. Offensively, we have to maintain our composure."
The Jayhawks must have maintained that composure because an ally-oop from Kansas junior guard Jacque Vaughn to freshman Paul Pierce cut the Bruins' lead to eight points, UCLA's first single-digit lead in more than 10 minutes.
The dunk did more than cut further into the Bruins' lead, though. It nearly brought the house down.
"Allen seems like it's going to erupt," Pierce said as a big smile spread across his face.
But it was the Jayhawks that erupted to outscore the Bruins 59-29 in the second half.
"The second half was lots of fun," Kansas men's basketball coach Roy Williams said. "I enjoyed watching it."
As did the crowd that packed
the field house. The game had been sold out for several weeks. Before the game, the line of student-ticket holders extended from the north doors back toward Naismith Drive, wound past the parking garage and down the sidewalk adjacent to Irving Hill Road. Many students camped out for seats for more than a
"There's nothing like having 16,000-plus on your side like that," he said. "I loved everything today."
week and then stood in line outside for several hours Saturday morning.
Kansas did not disappoint them, in part because the Jayhawks felt an obligation not to. Vaugh said.
When you pick up the
Kansan...
please pick up all of it..