COLLEGE BASKETBALL The Associated Press hands out preseason awards and rankings. Page 6B
SPORTS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY. NOVEMBER 15. 1995
SECTION B
Jayhawk basketball has arrived
Standing in the pressbox, I was lost in thought.
While my eyes followed the movements of the marching band, my thoughts focused on the 30 minutes of football that I had just witnessed. The Kansas football team had just held No. 1 Nebraska to 14 points in the first half. Had it not been for some untimely mistakes, the Jayhawks would have been right in the game.
Kansas won the half even though the score was 14-3. If they could just get a couple breaks, I think...
"Hey, Kansas has already played a basketball game. haven't they?"
It was the guy next to me. Hey, aren't we watching a football game here? What about that field goal attempt Kansas should have gotten off! What about...
"Yeah, last night."
resist. As much as I wanted to talk football, the basketball portion of my brain switched on.
Yeah, last night.
Now I was talking. I just couldn't
I was at the game against the Converse All-Stars on Friday, yelling "Pugh" at the appropriate times. Basketball is here, and the sporting life is complete for Jayhawk fans.
SPORTS EDITOR
I say complete because with the football team's success, life has been good. But everyone at Kansas waits for basketball, and now the waiting is over.
Football bowl matchups still unclear
The first, which involved yours truly, happened before the game. I won a friendly bet from a former Kansan sports editor when freshman forward Paul Pierce was announced in the starting lineup.
Even though the game would not have won the Jayhawks a national championship, some good things did happen in their 102-69 victory.
And Pierce did not disappoint in his starting role. He was 4 of 8 from the floor and grabbed five rebounds. Three of his four field goals were dunks — two on powerful, get-out-of his-way baseline drives and the other after an impossible pass that junior guard Jacque Vaughn heaved behind his back.
Pierce became the third player in the last three years to start his first game at Kansas, following Vaughn and sophomore forward Raef LaFrentz. But like those two, Pierce still has stuff to learn. Even though I rave about the guy, he's not perfect.
Right now, Pierce is trying to do a little too much. I'm sure at Inglewood High School in Los Angeles, Pierce was the offense. But he doesn't need to do it alone at Kansas. Soon enough, he'll learn that and really begin to play spectacular basketball.
Talking about the abundance of Jayhawk scoring threats, consider this: junior guard Jerd Hasee was the Jayhawks' leading scorer last year, averaging 15.0 points per game.
He scored one point against the All-Stars.
That's right. One. Uno. Haase was 0 of 6 from the floor and 1 of 2 from the free throw line. Amid the horrible performance, I am heartened by the fact that Kansas still won by 34 points and that I know Haase will have few, if any, performances like that in the remaining games.
But in the pressbox, the one tidbit that I couldn't resist telling my football reporter, who just happened to be from Nebraska, was the steal that Kansas got in T.J. Pugh. The Omaha, Neb., product is a player. Kansas men's basketball
coach Roy Williams knew that when he recruited Pugh and talked about his improvement before Friday's game, but Pugh may even have surpassed his coach's expectations.
He hustled, rebounded, shot the three and won Kansas' fans' hearts. Pugh seems fit the mold of successful Jawhawk players.
Whether Pugh or any player won any hearts on Friday is not important. But the Jayhawks won respect. This team is for real.
Jayhawks, Wildcats most likely will play in important games
By Robert Sinclair Kansan sportswriter
The No.15 Kansas football team is in control of its own destiny this weekend against Oklahoma State and — win, lose or draw — most likely is heading toward a bowl game.
With a win against the Cowboys, the Jayhawks will end the season at 9-2, their best finish since the 1968 Orange Bowl season. The Jayhawks would likely be rewarded with an invitation to the Plymouth Holiday Bowl on Dec. 29 in San Diego.
But even if Kansas falters against Oklahoma State (3-7), the Weiser Lock Copper Bowl eagerly awaits.
"We are still very interested in having them," said Larry Brown, executive director of the Copper Bowl Foundation.
Brown didn't think a loss would hurt Kansas' chances and that, if invited, it probably would play Air Force, Colorado State or San Diego State.
Another Big Eight Conference team in control of its own destiny this weekend is No. 7 Kansas State (9-1), which plays at home against No. 9 Colorado (8-2) on Saturday.
Jeff Bollig, director of the Big Eight service bureau, said that the winner of that game probably would be headed for the Cotton Bowlin Dallas on New Year's Day.
Even if Kansas State wins and No. 1 Nebraska (10-0) loses to Oklahoma (5-4-1) on Nov. 24 — resulting in co-Big Eight champions — the Wildcats have little hope of being included in the Bowl Alliance.
"It is too early to tell," Bollig said.
"But the Alliance would take the team they want, probably the higher ranked team. It is really up to them."
If Colorado loses it should end up being invited to the Jeep-Eagle Aloha Bowl on Christmas in Honolulu.
With its victory against Kansas last week, Nebraska clinched at least a tie for the Big Eight title and, with a victory against Oklahoma on Nov. 24, can win the championship outright. By winning the Big Eight, the Cornhuskers also would enter into the Bowl Alliance and have a shot at the national crown.
Bids to the Alliance are awarded to the champions of the Big Eight, Southwest, Atlantic Coast, Southeastern and Big East conferences, plus one at-large team. No 8 Notre Dame (8-2) automatically receives the at-large bid if it is ranked in the top 10 in either The Associated
See BOWLS,Page 3B.
Thursday, Dec. 14
Las Vegas Bowl At Las Vegas
The Bowl Picture
Big West champion vs. Mid-American champion, 8 p.m.
Aloba Bowl At Honolulu
Monday, Dec. 25
Alba David AA Monahua
Big Eight Conference fifth or sixth vs. Open,
2:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec.26
Independence Bowl At Shreveport, La.
SEC fffth or xkth. vs. Plown, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 27
Copper Row and Mt. Tuson Art
Big Eight fifth or sixth vs. WAC second, 7 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 28
Big Eight fourth vs. Big Ten fourth, 7 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 29
Pac-10 third vs. Big Ten fifth, 1:30 p.m.
Holdidav Bowl At San Diego
WAC champion or Pac-10 second vs. Big Eight third, 8 p.m.,
Saturday, Dec. 30
East Carolina vs. Open, 11 a.m.
Carquez Bowt Atl Miami Big East third vs. ACC fourth or SEC fifth, 6:30 p.m.
ACC third vs. SEC fourth, 7 p.m.
Peach Bowl At Atlanta
Tier 1 Alliance (selections 4 and 6), 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 31
Sugar Bowl At New Orleans
Monday, Jan. 1
Outback Bowl At Tampa, Fl.
Direc Thrd 1st, 65th 2nd, 40th
SEC second vs. Big Ten second, noon
Big Ten third vs. SEC third, 10 a.m.
Cleveland @ Orange, Els
Big East second vs. ACC second, noon
Cotton Bowl At Dallas
Big Eight second vs. Pac-10 second or WAC champion, 12-38 on m.
Rose Bowl At Pasadena, Calif.
Big Ten champion vs. Southern California, 3:30 p.m.
Kansas players reach out to children
Orange Bowl At Miami
Tuesday, Jan. 2
Joseph David AT Temple
Josh Junghans / KANSAN
Tier I Alliance (selections 3 and 5),7 p.m.
Tier I Alliance (selections 1 and 2), 7 p.m.
Kansas freshman guard/forward Suzi Raymant reads "Swamp Angel" to Mrs. Melton's fourth grade class at Hillcrest Elementary School. Five members of the women's basketball team read books to students yesterday.
By Bill Petulla
Kansan sportwriter
Kansas women's basketball freshman Nakia Sanford was unstoppable yesterday afternoon. She owned the boards, didn't miss a shot and dominated the pace of the game.
Even Phillip Millstein's taunting didn't hurt Sanford's game.
"If you can dunk, I'll give you a dollar." the fifth grader said.
Sanford stayed focused, however and controlled the game. In fact, she could have scored 100 points.
Why not? After all, her defenders were two feet shorter and about eight years younger.
Sanford and four other Kansas women's basketball players went to Hillcrest Elementary School yesterday to take part in "Readers are Leaders" program.
The players' main reason for coming wasn't to clown around with the children on the playground. Instead, they were invited to Hillcrest to read the students short children's stories.
"This is a neat opportunity for women's basketball players to get involved in this program," said Paul Buskirk, Kansas assistant to the athletic director.
Junior Shelly Canada, sophomore Tamara Gracey, senior Keshana Ledet, freshman Suzi Raymant and Sanford went into separate classrooms and read to third through sixth graders.
After Raymant read "Swamp Angel" to Mrs. Melton's fourth grade class, the group lined up for Raymant's autograph. One of Mrs.
Melton's students, Audrey Southard, walked away with her autograph smiling from ear to ear.
"I went to most of their games last year," the 9 year old said beaming. "I was really excited to see her."
Canada's presentation was also well-received. The forward read "Martha Calling" to a group of clay-molding art students. Canada told the story of a dog, Martha, which wanted to eat in a restaurant.
"See they dress Martha like a person," Canada said, as she held up a picture to the children.
Canada also enjoyed her experience among the children.
"It's awesome to have basketball players come here," fifth grader Megan Davis, 10, said.
"This is never a 'have to do' type of thing," Canada said. "We never feel obligated to doing this. We love it."
Hillcrest librarian Donna Decdeu, who played a key role in organizing the event, was pleased.
"I think the kids loved it," Decedue said. "These are really great kids, and they'll stick to everything the players saw."
Following the planned activities, the players took to the playground. At times, however, only their size separated the Jayhawks from the kids.
Kansas women's basketball assistant coach Misty Opat, who accompanied the players, had to pull them away from the playground so they could make their late afternoon practice.
"I think we do as much out of it as the kids do," Canada said.
Freshman drives dramatic basketball style
Richard Devinki / KANBAN
Kansas freshman forward Paul Pierce, one of the nation's 10 best recruits, already has created electrifying plays and dunks during a Jaiyah game.
Rv Matt Irwin
Kansan sportswriter
Allen Field House may be on its way to becoming the Hollywood of the Midwest.
With the addition of Los Angeles native Paul Pierce, the Kansas men's basketball team's performances are becoming dramatic. The show began with a little less than 10 minutes remaining in the first half of Kansas' 102-69 victory against the Converse All-Stars on Friday.
Pierce drove the baseline and electrified the crowd with a powerful two-handed slam. As the crowd erupted in cheers, Pierce stared at his defender in confusion about why anyone would try to stop him.
As a glitter freshman, Pierce's dramatics at Kansas are just beginning. But as a freshman who was rated as one of the nation's 10 best recruits and who missed the McDonald's All-American game scoring record by one point, Pierce has even more pressure than most freshmen.
"He did make a nice move to the basket," Kansas men's basketball coach Roy Williams said.
Kansas sophomore forward Raef LaFrentz, who was one of the top two recruits in the nation last year, said that the Kansas basketball program helped take pressure off the players who came in surrounded by
the hype.
"The coaching staff and the players here do a good job of isolating the individual players," LaFrentz said. "We've got a whole team of stars. It's real easy just to blend in and not stick out to much."
"I don't think it was, by any means, a great show tonight by Paul" Williams said after Kansas defeated the Converse All-Stars. "He didn't make any of his outside shots. He got so anxious. We posted him up one time and the ball hit him in a bad spot. It hit him right in the hands. It went right through them because he tried to make a move before he even caught it."
Although Williams said that Pierce was one of the most talented players he had ever recruited, Pierce doesn't always sound that way when Williams describes him.
"I hope we'll see those drives quite a bit this year," Williams said. "He is extremely talented and can do some good things."
With a fairly unassuming court demeanor, Pierce has been able to blend in — except for those few plays when he explodes to the basket and powerfully slams it.
Pierce had five rebounds and nine points in the Jayhawks' victory. He made four of eight field goals, including three dunks in the game. His skills impressed the Converse
All-Stars.
"Pierce is very athletic," said Dylan Ridgdon, former Arizona guard. "He seems to be ahead of his time."
Pierce and Kansas fans worried briefly that they might lose that athletic talent during the game against the All-Stars, though. After his third dunk of the game, the Jayhawk defense pressed the All-Stars. Pierce reached to steal the ball and
his left arm was bent back, Williams said. Pierce hyperextended his elbow and ended up lying on the floor writhing in pain. He returned to practice on Monday.
"It scared him a little bit, and we had a little fun with him because he was about to panic," Williams said. "He thought the world was ending. It scared him as it does any youngster when something like that happens."
Women's coach joins Olympic coaching staff
Kansan staff report
Adding to her list of accomplishments, Kansas women's basketball coach Marian Washington was named to the 1996 USA Women's Basketball Team coaching staff.
Selected by the USA Basketball women's staff selection committee, Washington will assist Olympic head coach Tara VanDerveer, who is coaching the Women's National Team.
aansas will be the host of the National Team at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 30 in Allen Field House.
Washington, who played for USA basketball in 1971, said that she was excited to be associated with the national team again.
"I have been very blessed to have represented the United States as a former athlete and and as a national team coach." Washington said.
In 22 years at Kansas, Washington has a 410-242 record and at least 20 victories in the last six seasons.
"I look forward to working with Coach VanDerveer and the entire 1996 Olympic Team...together I know we can achieve great things," Washington said.
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