University Daily Kansan / Friday, February 3, 1989
Sports
13
Players have team meeting to discuss slump
Jayhawks hope to cure ills against Cornhuskers
by Mike Considine Kansan sportswriter
After Wednesday's 91-66 loss to Missouri, Kansas guard Scooter Barry said it was time for the Jayhawks to do some soul searching.
Barry, a senior, said that the team had a meeting to discuss its slump, which included four losses in the last seven games.
"It's really important to the coaching staff and the team that we don't hang our heads, give up and just slide," Barry said. "You have peaks and valleys but the object is to reach them, so it's harder to slide down to those levels. We've been sliding pretty quickly and we need to stop."
Kansas (16-5 overall, 3-3 in conference) will try to end a two-game streak at p.m. tomorrow in a Bakersfield game against a last place Nebraska game against last place Nebraska.
"To show character as a team, to be a team, you have to deal with the bad as well as the good," said forwards in handball. "We've had two tough games against two tough teams, but I think we're going to bounce back."
The Cornhuskers (12-9, 0-5) have lost nine consecutive conference games. They are off to their worst start in the Big Eight since 1962.
when they lost their first 10 games.
Barry said that the loss to Missouri was upsetting because it was so decisive.
"It's really disappointing not only to the team, but to the fans," he said. They still showed great support, cheered for them and it was pretty much out reach.
"But that's the kind of thing that fans here shouldn't have to go through and that players on this team shouldn't have to go through."
“It’s something that has to be handled from within, not just as a team,” Barry said. “But I think each individual has to handle it inside themselves, and then collectively we have to bring it all together.”
Barry said that he hoped the players would let the loss to Missouri sink in and hurt enough to be more motivated for the Nebraska game.
The Oakland, Calif., native said that the team's recent performances against Missouri and Kansas State were frustrating because Kansas had shown it could play against good competition earlier in the year.
The Jayhawks' two leading scorers, Milt Newton and Randall, have been in slumps recently. Newton has maintained his scoring lead despite only scoring 53 points in the last four games. His season average has fallen
to 17 points per game from 17.8. Randall has averaged 10 points in the last seven games which dropped his first from 19.4 to 16.3 for the season.
The loss of All-American Danny Manning changed Kansas' offense, Barry said.
"Some guys that aren't scorers are having to look to score, and some guys that are scorers are being shut down a little more." Barry said. "We don't have that one solid thing to go to so they can make everybody come together and give everybody equal opportunity to participate in the offense."
Nebraska ranks sixth in the conference in team offense in all games (77.5 points per game) and last in conference games (64.4 per game).
The Cornhuskers are coming off an 88-76 loss to Iowa State.
Nebraska, which has defeated the Jayhawks in Lincoln the last two years, is second to Missouri in rebound margin. The Cornhuskers, who feature 6-foot-9 Richard Van Peelguest and 7-2 King, have a 40.4 rebounding average to their opponents 35.5.
Guard Eric Johnson leads a balanced Nebraska scoring attack, averaging 12.3 points per game. Five Cormuskers average in double figures.
"Nebraska is tough, especially at home," said Randall. "Nebraska is down right now; but I know they'll be pumped up to play us, and I think we will be just as pumped up as they are."
Cornhusker guard Cliff Scales said he thought Nebraska was due to end its Big Eight losing streak
"I think the odds are on our side," Scales said. "We can rise above certain obstacles and come through with a victory. We can't look back, and we have to approach this game with a clean slate."
Barry said that Kansas needed to win to stay in the Big Eight race.
"We still have the motivation to succeed," Barry said. "Succeeding in our minds would be winning the Big Eight Tournament. Of course, we've put ourselves into a hole now, and we're going to have to struggle to get back, but it's still a reachable goal."
"It's very easy for a team to get down, but we're still confident as a team," Randall said. "There's no way we would throw in the towel. We're having too much fun this year."
Kansas will attempt to win its 1,400th game for the third consecutive time.
Game 22
NOTES
Kansas Jayhawks
Coach: Roy Williams
Record: 16-5 (3-3)
Nebraska Corhuskers
Coach: Danny Nee
Record: 12-9 (0-5)
PROBABLE STARTERS
Player Ht. PPG
F-Mark Randall 6.9 16.3
F-Milt Newton 6.4 17.0
C-Sean Alvarado 6.10 4.7
G-Kevin Pritchard 6.3 14.5
G-Scooter Barry 6.4 7.9
Player Ht. Ptg.
F-Pete Manning 6-8 10.9
F-Beuu Reld 6-7 11.6
C-R. Van Poelgeest 6-9 8.2
G-Cillf Scales 6-2 9.4
G-Erlc Johnson 6-2 12.3
Game notes: Kansas leads the series 128-62. The Jayhawks are 47-37 in Lincoln, but have lost 9 of 12 games in Nebraska's Devany Center. The game will be telecast on the Raycom Network (channels 4 and 27). It will be broadcast on KLZR 106-FM. Tipoff is at 3:10 p.m. at Devany Center.
If the Jayhawks are successful, they would join Kentucky and North Carolina as the only teams to have 1,400 or more all-time victories. Kentucky has won 1,464 games. North Carolina has 1,449 victories.
Jayhawks have made 725 of 1,339 (54.1) percent of their shots on the season.
Kansas has made just 51 of 123 shots (41.5 percent) the last two games. Despite the cold shooting,
Junior forward Freeman West, missed all six shot attempts in the Missouri and Kansas State games. West, who has a sprained thumb, had made 83 of 131 shots (63.4 percent) for the season.
Tourney pits KU against 3 top-25 teams
by Laurie Whitten Kansan sportswriter
The competition will be tough this weekend for the Kansas women's tennis team.
The Jayhawks will be matched against Indiana, Tennessee and Texas Christian, teams that are ranked in the nation's top 25, at the Indiana Quadringular, Feb. 4-6, at Bloomington, Ind.
“This will be tougher than the (quadrangular) at Brigham Young University in Kansas coach Eric Hayes. “But it’s also great opportunity for experience.”
Kansas ended the quadrangular by defeating Colorado 7-2.
The Jayhawks defeated the University of California-Irvine 8-1 at the Brigham Young Quadrantangular last Friday. Despite losing to 15th-ranked Brigham Young 9-0 the next day, Hayes said he was pleased with how his young team performed at the first meet of the spring season.
"She's very strong," Hayes said. "We can't count her out."
The Jayhawks will begin the meet tomorrow against Texas Christian, currently ranked 25th in the nation. Hayes said TCU's return is Al-naud and doubles player Tory Plunket was going to be tough to beat.
On Sunday, Kansas will play 8th-
ranked Indiana. The Hoosiers have
several top-ranked players, includ-
led Foltz, Folz the Tiger. 1 player in
the nation.
“Indiana is tougher up and down the lineup than we are.” Hayes said. “I said we might have to take ours out.” It’s important that we keep learning.
Kansas 'N.1. singles player, Eveline Hamers, currently ranked 26 national, last to Foltz 3-8, 3-6 at the Clay Courts in Hilton Head, S.C.
Hayes said she probably lost because she wasn't facing enough pressure.
Raychaudhain experienced pain in her back at the Brigham Young meet and will not be competing until she is fully healed. Hayes said.
"Eveline is just as good (as Foltz)," he said "She has a chance to win this weekend."
Besides Foltz, Indiana boasts two other nationally ranked players: Stephanie Ree, ranked 6th; Kiley Muilvib, ranked 9th; and Candy Ree, ranked 14th. Muilvib and Ree are also ranked first in the nation in doubles.
Kansas sophomore Mindy Peltz, who will play either No. 5 or No. 6 singles this weekend, said she wasn't worried about it, but ranked players coming to the meet.
On Monday, Kansas will end the meet against 20th-ranked Tennessee. Hayes said freshman Stacey Martin, who recently won the Georgia Invitational, would be Tennessee's toughest player.
"All the teams are ranked nationally, and that's good because it puts no pressure on us," she said.
"This girl was ranked 80th in the world as a pro before coming to Tennessee," he said. "She'll prob win against her car before turning pro this summer."
The Jayhawks will be competing without freshman Renee Raychauduri, who injured her back in the fall and has not yet recovered.
With Miller out, Kansas' hopes rest on Brackins
Smaller women's team will mean individual performance important
by Cynthia L. Smith Kansan sportswriter
At 6 feet 8 inches tall, Johnny Brackins stands above the competition.
Brackins led the Kansas track team to a firstplace finish at the Missouri Invitational last Saturday, in Columbia, Miss. He set personal beats in the long jump, placing second with a leap of 24.3 meters and third with a triple jump with a leap of 52 feet. He won the 202-meters in 22.7 seconds.
"My height usually helps me," Brackins said. "I have a longer stride than most in the 200, but in the 55-meters, my long stride makes it harder for me to get going."
Brackins will compete at the Jayhawk Invitational, which begins at 5 p.m. today and 1 p.m. tomorrow at Anschutz Sports will compete against 27 teams; the women will compete against 26.
Because this is his last year at Kansas, Brackins said he planned to push himself.
"I never went to nationals before, so it's now or never," he said. "I've got my guns out."
Kansas track coach Gary Schwartz said he was surprised by Brackins' success this season.
"We knew he had talent, but we didn't envision him doing this well this early." Schwartz said.
Brackins will compete in the 55, 200 and the triple jump this weekend.
Brackins placed second in the state in the triple jump in his junior and senior years. He also competed in the long jump and high jump and ran the 100, 200 and on the 400-meter relay team.
Brackins said he practiced with the sprinters three times each week as well as practicing with the jumpers.
“This year, I'm a spinner and a jumper; whereas, last year, I was a jumper who sprinted every now and then,” Brackins said.
Brackins and his teammates will compete against Oklahoma's All-American Devon Morris. Morris was a member of the Jamanican gold medal team that won the silver medal in the 1988 Olympics. Morris won the NAIA
Participating in a larger variety of events reminded Brackins of competing at Hernado High School, Brooksville, Fla.
Outdoor Championships in the 200 and 400 last season.
Other teams competing in the Jayhawk Invitational are Wayland Baptist, Oklahoma State, Kansas State, Wichita State, Fort Hays State and Johnson County Community College.
The Jayhawks will be competing without senior pole-vaulter Cam Miller. Miller, who had cracked his left shoulder blade while skiing during winter break, injured his shoulder again at the Kodak Invitational in Junction City, Tenn., last Saturday.
Miller said he also had suffered extensive muscle damage in the shoulder but would not get X-rays
"If I did refracture it, only rest will help," Miller said.
He said he would not pole-vault again until the NCAA Indoor Championships March 10-12, in Oklahoma City.
Miller said he was disappointed that he was injured again after competing in four meets because it would prevent him from red-shirting this season. Athletes are required to announce that they will finish shirring before the first meet of this season. However, in an injury case, the athlete must decide before participating in two meets.
"I'm just excited about the possibility of being healthy again." Miller said. "I've been in pain too long, but I've got to stay off the pole. That's going to be the hard part."
Miller and junior pole-vaulter Pat Manson have qualified for the Indoor Nationalists. Manson placed seventh at the Kodak Invitationals with a jump of 17-6, the fifth highest jump at the meet
"Because we are such a small team,we realize the individual
Schwartz said the KU women's team was handicapped because it had fewer atjets than other women's teams.
The Kansas women finished
sixth at Missouri. Senior Tricia
Brown, as the highest Jayhawk
finisher, is the most successful
in a career-best time of in-age.
"Manson has always done wen, but now he's ready for a breakthrough," Schwartz said.
Junior Kim Hutheefer said improved recruiting could mean a breakthrough for the women's but not for two or three years.
F. Joseph ZurgaiKANSAN
Johnny Frackins, Brooksville, Fla., senior, practices getting out of the starting block. Brackins was practicing yesterday at Anschutz Sports Pavilion in preparation for this weekend's Jayhawk Invitational. He will compete in the 55 and 200-meter dash and the triple jump.
performances are more important, but the team spirit is still there," Hutoefer said.
Huthoefer finished fifth in the 55-meter hurdles at Missouri in 8:41. This weekend, he will compete in the 55-meter hurdles, the high jump, long jump and shot put. Hutheuer said the coaches had not bothered either she would run the 800-meters.
"It's weird because it's such a
diverse group." Huthoefer said.
moneter said she was competing in a variety of events to train for the pentathlon at the Big Eight heptathlon and heptablation for the outdoor season.
Runner says Kenya played unfair to beat Ryun in Olympics
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — The truth can now be told why Jim Ryun did not win the 1,500-meter gold medal in the 1968 Olympic Games.
But Keino, with a major assist from his countryman, B Jenipho, took early pace, won the race, with Kira. The second it was, with one of the few bitter ones. It was one of the few bitter
At the time, Ryun, the world record-holder, was the favorite over Kenya's Kip Keino, whom he had been during the heats at Mexico City.
defeats during Ryun's otherwise illustrious career, which included setting four world records, at distances from 800 meters to the mile, becoming the first high school runner to break four minutes in the mile.
Ryun, a University of Kansas graduate, had another chance at an Olympic gold medal in 1972 but fell during the 1,500-meter semifinals.
So, the greatest middle-distance runner ever produced in the United States, and one of the greatest in history, was denied an Olympic gold.
Yesterday, at a press conference
for tonight's Masters Mile in the Milroe Games at Madison Square Garden, the distinguished Ryun reflected on that 1968 race. He spoke after he watched a film of the race and the circumstances surrounding it, including an interview with Jipho and the Kendall team coach, Charles Mokora.
In the film, Jipcho, who finished ninth after serving as the sacrificial 'rabbit' for Keino, said, "I feel Jim Kenya had won the gold. But I destroyed everything. It was good for Kenya, but it wasn't fair to the other guys."
Ryun said he ran cautiously early in the race because he was afraid of going into oxygen debt. By the time he began chasing Keino, who had been the second to arrive after the first two of four laps, the Kenyan had opened a 50-meter lead.
Jipcho, apparently feeling guilty, finally confessed the Kenyans' plan to beat Ryum in 1975 — seven years after the race.
Ryun said there had been suspicions that the Kenyans had worked as a team to beat him, but the admission by Jipcho was startling.
Asked if he felt vindicated when Jipho made his disclosure, Ryun said, "I don't like the word. But it set the record straight. It's not like I lost sleep over me. Life goes on."
How important were the Olympic Games to him?
"If they represent the epitome of competition, then I was a failure." Ryun said. "I never won a gold medal.
"But in the total melt pot, I'm very happy with my career. Some would say that athletics is only winning. It's not that. It's participating."