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SPORTS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1995
Rushing numbers are down
The numbers — and my instincts
— just don't lie.
SECTION B
Something has happened to the Kansas football team's highly regarded running backs — senior LT. Levine and junior June Henley. They've undergone a metamorphosis. Maybe it's aliens. But whatever it is, I don't quite know what to think.
First, their rushing numbers are down. Before the Kansas State embarrassment, they combined for an average of almost 200 yards a game. Levine had the fifth-highest rushing average in the Big Eight Conference with 96.3 yards a game. Henley wasn't far behind with 84.0 yards a game.
After the Kansas State game, both players' averages fell by about 10 yards — Levine's to 86.4 and Henley's to 73.5. The running backs' averages rose a bit after the Jayhawks' victory against Missouri but fall again after the 41-3 loss to Nebraska. Both still are among the Big
SPORTS EDITOR
night's top 10 rushers, but Levine's 83.5 yards a game average and Henley's 68.2-yard average are considerably less than in previous weeks.
I see three possible explanations for this change. Two of the explanations I like, and the other appeals to me about as much as playing Nebraska again.
The first one that I like is that Kansas has started using these guys a lot more on the pass. Kansas football coach Glen Mason vowed before the season that the Jayhawks would pass the ball more this season. Henley and Levine have figured into his plan.
Against Nebraska, Levine caught nine passes, while Henley hauled in three. But when their averages dropped against K-State, they only combined for four receptions.
I accept their new roles in the offense as a possible reason for their slumps, but wouldn't Kansas be more of an offensive threat if Levine and Henley could catch a dozen passes out of the backfield and rush for almost 200 yards each game?
The other thing I realize is that the backs have been up against some of the nation's best defenses in the past three games. K-State allows a stingy 223.3 yards a game. The Wildcats' outstanding defense shone against the Jayhawks, who gained 34 yards rushing and 136 passing in their 41-7 loss. That might explain why I consider the game to be Kansas' worst this season.
Nebraska's defensive average also is just less than 300 yards a game. Even though Kansas lost by more to the Cornhuskers than it did to the Wildcats, the Jayhawks looked much better offensively. They had 345 yards of total offense, which was 30 less than the powerful Cornhuskers. But included in that total was a mere 72 yards rushing.
That was something that I hadn't seen in some time. Levine and Henley just aren't running. They get the ball and are hesitant about running over someone.
Kansas sophomore running back Eric Vann had 40 yards, more than half of Kansas' total, on eight carries against Nebraska. Even though the Cornhuskers were playing their second-string defense, which would be as good as most teams' first strings, Vann showed something that I hadn't seen all day or in the past few games: all-out running.
Sure, they do it every once in a while. In the second half of the Missouri game, for example, Levine dragged Tiger defenders with him to the 6-yard line as he refused to go down.
When Vann got the ball, he exploded through the line or around the end. He busted tackles and made defensive players miss.
Runs such as this used to be common with Levine and Henley. They're not anymore. And until the old L.T. and June come back, I'd let someone else touch the football a little bit more.
Jayhawks to battle young Slovakian team
By Bill Petulla
Kansan sportswriter
But this performance only will be a dress rehearsal, as the Jayhawks take on the Slovakian National team in an exhibition game at 7 tonight in Allen Field House.
The curtain has been drawn, and the Kansas women's basketball team soon will take center stage.
"It's been a month on the court, and you can only take so much of that." Kansas junior guard Angie Halbleib said.
The Slovakian team will feature a
young cast of players.
Arkansas women's basketball coach Gary Blair, whose team faced the Slovakian National team Nov.11, said the Slovaks were an inexperienced squad.
"They're a very young team. They have three 16-year-olds and two 17-year-olds," Blair said. "We played very mediocre and still won by 34 points. I think Kansas will win pretty handily."
The Razorbacks had five players reach double figures and forced 37 turnovers on the Slovakians.
Petra Dubovcova led the Slovakian national team against Arkansas with 11 points.
Kansas women's basketball coach Marian Washington said tonight's matchup should give her an opportunity to get differing looks at the team's offense.
"We'll have a chance to work on some different combinations," Washington said. "That is something we need to do."
Blair said the Slovakian National team plays solely zone defense.
Although the Jayhawks will not be able to work on their man offense against the Slovakian zone, Washington said the Jayhawks still would be able to improve their game.
"We have not spent a lot of time working on our zone offense," she said. "They'll force us to set it up and look at some zone, which is good because I understand that DePaul will try to zone us some."
The Jayhawks will open their season against No. 14 DePaul Nov. 26 in Rosemont, Ill.
Kansas junior guard Tamecka Dixon will be listed as questionable for tonight's game. Dixon is recovering from a nagging knee injury
that she suffered last summer.
Dixon said she expected to play against DePaul.
"I think I'm about 70 percent right now," Dixon said. "I don't have a vertical leap, and I really can't jump off of it that well right now."
Despite playing a younger and less experienced team, the Jayhawks said that tonight's game would be an important measuring stick.
"I think we've matured and taken on a lot of responsibility," she said.
Kansas won't overlook Cowboys
Oklahoma State's ability impresses Jayhawk players
By Robert Sinclair
Kansan sportswriter
For most ranked football teams with a bowl game forthcoming, finding motivation might be difficult against a team that has struggled to a 3-7 record this year.
That won't be the case when No. 15 Kansas takes on Oklahoma State at 2 p.m. tomorrow, though.
"They're a very much-improved football team," Kansas football coach Glen Mason said. "Coming off of their big (12-0) victory over the Oklahoma Sooners, I'm sure they're fired up."
The Jayhawks stand at 8-2 and virtually are assured of a post-season appearance. Kansas is 4-2 in the Big Eight Conference, good enough for a second-place tie.
While Kansas has no chance of winning the conference after falling two games behind Nebraska last week's loss, it still is not looking past its final regular season contest.
"I want to win first," Kansas junior center Jared Smith said. "If you overlook the next game as a win, you're sitting at home for Christmas eating your mother's cooking."
And just because the Cowboys only have three wins doesn't mean they aren't to be reckoned with.
In fact, junior running back David Thompson and sophomore running back Andre Richardson are both ranked in the conference's top 10.
"The offense has some key players that are capable of big plays," Kansas junior outside linebacker Chris Jones said. "They don't always necessarily get them, but they are capable of
them. We've got to be very disciplined on defense."
Thompson's average of 116.8 yards a game is second in the Big Eight only to Iowa State sophomore running back Troy Davis' 183 yards-a-game average. Thompson has 1.168 yards rushing with eight touchdowns, while Richardson has 657 yards with four touchdowns.
File Photo / KANSAN
Oklahoma State junior quarterbaek Tone' Jones has completed 80 of his 171 pass attempts for 930 yards and five touchdowns. However, he also has thrown 10 interceptions, tying him for the most in the Big Eight.
"He's a heck of an athlete," Mason said. "He, along with their skill players, especially their running backs, they're the type of guys that can take it the distance anytime that they get their hands on the ball."
"Obviously, if they had that type of talent across the board at every position, they'd be in a better situation."
Even though the Cowboys have given up an average of 30.3 points a game, the Jayhawks aren't overlooking them.
"Defensively, as every other team, I have respect for them," Smith said. "You can't take anybody lightly, otherwise you're liable to slip up."
Maybe that is what happened to Oklahoma in Norman, Okla., last weekend.
The Sooners may have been looking past the Cowboys toward their Nov. 24 game with the Cornhuskers. Whatever the reason, Oklahoma State shut out an Oklahoma team that scored 17 points with 248 yards rushing against Kansas on Oct. 21.
"We've played Oklahoma; we've played in Norman," Mason said. "So that when you put on that game film, and you see them performing against the same players, I think it really opens your eyes."
That, more than anything, should get the Jayhawks' attention.
Nebraska senior middle linebacker Doug Colman trips up Kansas senior wide receiver Ashauntai Smith. The Jayhawks hope to avoid being triped up at 2 p.m. tomorrow against a 'much-improved' Oklahoma State team.
Pigskin Predictions
Nov. 18 and 19,1995
Jenni Carlson
Kansan Sports Editor
Record: Last Week 4-1; Season 37-16-2
Tom Erickson
Kansas Associate Sports Editor
Record: Last Week 3-2; Season 37-16-2
Chris Austin
Senior Vice President, KU Alumni Association Guests' Record: 36-16-2
Guest of the Week:
Kansan Sports Columnist
Record: Last Week 2-3; Season 39-14-2
Kansas @ Oklahoma State Colorado @ Kansas State Alabama @ Auburn Houston @ Kansas City Dallas @ Oakland
KU 28 OSU 13 KSU 35 CU 31 Aub. 17 Ala. 10 K.C. 28 Hou. 7 Oak. 24 Dal. 17
KU 30 OSU 7 KSU 24 CU 21 Ala. 17 Aub. 14 K.C. 41 Hou. 10 Oak. 10 Dal. 9
KU 30 OSU 7 OSU 33 III. 21 Aub. 14 Ala. 10 K.C. 35 Hou. 28 Oak. 21 Dal. 13
KU 17 OSU 14 KSU 21 CU 14 Aub. 21 Ala. 21 K.C. 38 Hou. 21 Oak. 24 Dal. 10
Andy Rohrback/KANSAN
Men's basketball means closeness
Tom Leininger / KANSAN
kansas freshman Ryan Robertson and senior Sean Pearson team up against a member of the Converse All-Stars. The Javahawks work together on and off the court.
By Matt Irwin
Kansan sportswriter
The select few that are recruited to play for the Kansas men's basketball team are chosen only if they have specific qualities that fit the fraternity. A high school player must be able to play with some of the best college players in the nation — no small feat. Possibly more important is that the high school player also should fit in with the other members of the team.
The majority of people can only dream of joining. Most are chosen while they are still in high school—but only after years of study.
It's the most exclusive fraternity on campus.
The Kansas team is unlike any other. It may be closer than any other in the nation.
"At Kansas, we all get along." Kansas junior center Scot Pollard said. "We don't form groups within the team and not hang out with somebody. We all hang out with each other. Nobody has a beef with anybody else on our team. I know that's rare to have a team like that."
Pollard said the Jayhawks hadn't always been so close.
"My freshman year, there was a little bit of I just talk to you because you're on my
The team's chemistry was so good that Pollard thought that it would help them reach the Final Four, he said. Two of last year's seniors, Greg Gurley and Greg Ostertag, lightened things up and helped keep the team close by being funny.
we don't really get sick of each other." Pollard said. "A lot of times you get sick of each other, and towards the end of the year you don't want to be around each other anymore."
"I think it helps in a big way." Pollard said. "When you're getting beat and you go in at halftime and you've got guys that don't really like each other or don't know each other off the court, much less know what to say to get them motivated, you can pretty much kiss the second half goodbye. You can't really say anything to them.
Being such a close team also helped the Jayhawks when they weren't playing well.
team," he said. "But that was at the beginning. By the end, we were all a unit again.
"And last year, that was a really close team. Everyone on that team got along. We could all joke around and give each other a bad time and know it was good-hearted."
"If you've got a team like ours last year, we could tell each other stuff at halftime before coaches even got in there. We'd
"We could become even closer this year since we've got so many guys back, or we could be not quite as close because those two (Gurley and Ostertag) kept a constant air of casualness," Pollard said.
Pollard's biggest concern is that the team might be too serious and won't have a team clown to lighten up the tense moments.
Kansas junior guard Jerod Haase said he thought the Jayhawks wouldn't have a problem finding a new comic.
"I don't think the team is any more serious," Haase said. "We enjoy joking around. I think Scot Pollard maybe will step up and fill the shoes of Greg and Greg."
say, 'You need to do this. You need to do this. You need to do this.' We had that closeness so we could handle people saying. 'Hev, you're messing up.'
Akansas men's basketball coach Roy Williams also doesn't see a problem with the team locking around.
"This team will have an unbelievable amount of fun," Williams said. "I'm not real concerned about that. I think they'll laugh a lot."
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Williams said that the team members were close and joked around, but they had been focused when their activity involved basketball.
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