Sports
University Daily Kansan / Tuesday, November 8, 1988
9
KU holds off Express rally in 91-72 victory
Jayhawks overcome scare in second half
Kansas junior guard Kevin Pritchard scored seven points and had four rebounds in the Jayhawks 91-72 victory over the Spirit Express last night in Allen Field House.
By Arvin Donley Kansan sportswriter
Despite a scare early in the second half, Kansas defeated the Spirit Express 91-72 last night at Allen Field House in front of a crowd of more than a hundred fans first outside competition this season for the defending NCAA champions.
Kansas led at halftime 39-26, but the Express outscored the Jayhawks 17-4 during the first six minutes of the second half to tie the score at 43.
The Jayhawks finished with 21 turnovers in the game, a statistic that Williams said the team would have to improve if they wege to be successful this season.
"Basketball games have their ups and downs and we just have to hope we have more ups," Williams said. "During that stretch we had some pretty good shots and were hustling, trying to score and that concerns me because we have to take better care of the basketball."
Kansas coach Roy Williams said he was not concerned about the Jaya-hawks' chances of winning at that point.
A bright spot for the Jayhawks was the play of sophomore forward Mike Maddox, who played only 22 minutes and was the game's high scorer with 25 points on 9 of 15 shooting from the field and 7 of 8 from the free throw line. The 6-foot 7 Maddox and 6-5 junior forward² Freeman West, who played 16 minutes, were the leading rebounders for the game with 10.
Sophomore forward Mark Randall said, "Early in the second half we weren't executing like we were in the first half. In the first half, we executed and got the big lead. We came out at the beginning of the second half and were kind of lackadaisical and they got close."
Senior forward Milt Newton con
tributed 23 points for the Jayhawks
while Randall added 15.
Overall, Williams said he was pleased with the Jayhawks' effort on defense, but said the execution on offense would have to improve in the future.
"I was extremely pleased with the effort," Williams said. "I was pleased with the defense, but it's going to have to get a heck of a lot better. (On offense) we did some things, but on the whole, we have to execute much better."
The Express jumped out to a 7-2 lead with 17:38 left in the first half, but the Jayhawks outscored the Express 17-7 during the next $9_{1/2}$ minutes to take a 19-14 lead.
During the last 2-25 of the first half, the Jayhawks widened a five-point lead to 13 on two jump shots by Newton, a follow shot by Randall and layup by junior guard Kevin Pritchard to take a 39-26 lead at halftime.
The Jayhawks came out sluggish in the second half and Spirit Express went on a 17-4 run that tied the game at 48. But the Jayhawks also won a victory, 55-48 lead and never looked back, outsourcing the express 36-29 the rest of the way.
Both Williams and his players said nervousness contributed to the Jayhawks' slow start.
"Early on we were so anxious that we were tight," Williams said. "We were missing a lot of close in shots the first three or four minutes and missed a lot of free throws because we wanted to do so well, so badly."
"Two things we'll have to do better is execute offensively and boxing out. We had a little trouble with that with the Express, and they aren't that big. Against the Russians we have to do a lot better boxing out. And also we'll have to take care of the basketball a little better."
Newton said, "I think the whole team was fairly nervous and tight. You could tell by the way we shot free throws in the first half. I felt really tight and coach just told me to go out and play hard, first to the season and I wanted it to be a good one, and I wanted to perform well."
The Jayhawks will have 12 days of practice before they play the Soviet
National team, which won the Olympic Gold Metal in Seoul, South Korea. The Jayhawks play the Russians, Nov 19 in Allen Field House.
During the practices, Williams said several things would be stressed.
Maddox scores 25 in exhibition game win
By Tom Stinson Associate sports editor
Mike Maddox always knew he was an accurate shooter, he just never had combined the confidence and playing time to prove it.
"I feel confident about my shooting ability." the Oklahoma City sophomore said. "I was a fairly good shooter in high school and a fairly decent offensive player. That's probably the best part of my game."
The best part of Maddox's game provided the offensive high in last night's Kansas-Spirit Express exhibition basketball game. Maddox scored 25 points and added 10 rebounds in a 91-72 Jayhawk victory. Both totals were career-highs.
"It itt good to get in there tonight and be able to do what I can offensively," said Maddox, whose former career-highs were 12 points against Kansas State and five rebounds on two occasions. "I got to shoot a lot in high school and it was my turn tonight. The next time, when we play the Russians (on Nov. 19), I'm sure it'll be somebody else's."
"But, if the shot's open, I want to step up and knock it down."
At Putnam City North High School, Maddox set the Oklahoma high school career-scoring record by averaging 23 points a game in three seasons, and he was named Oklahoman's 1967 Player-of-the-Year in 1967.
But last night, Maddox regained his offensive form, going seven of eight from the free-throw line and nine of 16 from the field, scoring from virtually everywhere on the floor. Maddox is still between height and coach Roy Williams' constantly moving, "free lance" offense enabled him to play
Last season, as a freshman, Maddox averaged 2.5 points and 1.6 rebounds a game in 24 appearances as a reserve.
1,
like having the flexibility to play inside or outside, just depending on what kind of player you have guarding me.'
— Mike Maddox Kansas sophomore forward
he entire floor.
"I like having the flexibility to play inside or outside, just depending on what kind of player you have guarding me," said Maddox, who gained 20 pounds on the off-season to increase his strength. "If I have a bigger guy on me, which will happen a lot, it might be easier for me to take him outside and use some quickness on him.
"On the other hand, if I have a smaller guy guarding me, I can go inside and post him up."
Williams, coaching his first game in Allen Field House, praised Maddox's shooting ability.
"Mike Maddox has a good touch on the basketball," he said. "And when he gets in close, he's hard to stop unless you're a lot bigger than him. And I think he knows the team we were playing tonight was not a lot bigger than he was."
Only two Spirit Express players were over 6-6.
But, despite the size advantage, Maddox said he was pleased with his performance, but he didn't expect to see his score in double figures this season.
"I don't think it'll be quite that easy once we start playing better teams," Maddox said. "I'm not necessarily going to go out and try to score 20 points a game. This year, I think it's going to be a lot more balanced scoring. I'm just going to go out and try to do what I can to win."
Leonard KO's Lalonde
The Associated Press
The sensational victory gave Leonard the World Boxing Council light heavyweight title held by Lalonde WBC super middleweight title.
LAS VEGAS — Sugar Ray Leonard got up from a fourth-round knockdown to knock out Donny Lalonde in the ninth round and write boxing history last night, becoming the first fighter to win titles in five weight classes.
After Lalonde went down for the second time in the ninth round, referee Richard Steele didn't even bother to court, but rushed to Lalonde's aid as Leonard threw his arms high in triumph.
Lalonde seemed to have Leonard in trouble earlier in the ninth when a flurry of punches backed Leonard up. But Leonard fought back and suddenly nailed Lalonde with a right hand and followed with a flurry of punches that put the defending champion down.
Lalonde struggled up at two and took a mandatory 8-count. Then Leonard resumed the attack and smashed the Canadian to the floor, where he remained for several seconds. The time was 2:30 in the ninth.
"I knew the guy could fight," he said. "He's a champion. 'Hell, I fought like a champ.'"
Lalonde did give an estimated crowd of 12,000 in the outdoor arena at Caesars Palace their money's worth.
"He's a hell of a fighter," Lalonde said. "He was a better man tonight." For Leonard, the victory was his 25th knockout. He has lost once.
Lalonde now is 33-3 with 26 knockouts.
Leonard earned a minimum of $15 million from the match, which was shown on pay-per-view and closed-credit. Lalonde earned about $5 million.
Leonard, 32, went down at 1:27 of the fourth round from a left-rib
combination to the head, with the right being the big punch. Leonard got at up two and took a mandatory 8-count. Lalonde landed several more头 shots but Leonard escaped further damage.
Leonard moved to the attack in the fifth round, when he scored with several left jabs and a couple hard rights to the head. In the sixth round, Leonard continued his assault. The fourth punch combinations to the head. The 28-year-old Lalonde scored with several punches late in the round.
Leonard hurt Lalonde with a right and then followed with six punches to the head that had Lalonde holding on in the seventh. Lalonde fought back in the eighth, with four good lefts to the head that sent Leonard back to the ropes, where Lalonde scored with four more punches.
Then came the ninth, and it looked as though Lalonde might have Leonard in serious trouble, but Leonard called on his champion's heart to turn the tide.
Coaches looking for recruits to play center after Alvarado
By Mike Considine Special to the Kansan
Kansas may have to wait for the center it needs to replace graduating senior Sean Alvarado next season.
The Jayhawks are still in the running for a couple of good recruitment prospects, but neither will make his college choice this week.
Cornelius McNary, a 69-2, 900-bound center-forward from Ritch High School in Richton Park, Ill., will visit the McKenna Elementary Robinthene said yesterday.
Chris Heller, a 6 to 10 center-forward from Rockhurst High School in Kansas City. Mo., may not decide until second signing period in the spring.
The first national letter-of-intent signing period begins tomorrow.
Bohnenstehl said McNary had visited Purdue and Xavier. He said he didn't know if McNary had a preference.
"I'm not real sure. I haven't talked to him at length about it," said Bohnenstienhut, a Big Eight Conference selection at Kansas in 1967. "The original plan was that we'd wait until all three schools had been
He said McNary won't decide before Monday.
McNary averaged 14 points, nine rebounds and four blocked shots per game as a junior. His coach said he was quick and a strong inside player.
"His strength is his defensive game," Bohntenshi said. "He's works very hard at what he does, and he has a lot of pride."
Bob Gibbons of All-Star Sports Publications said McNary probably would not be able to start as a freshman.
"It's going to take him a while to develop." Gibbons said. "Ideally,
teller has visited Kansas, Missouri, Kansas State and UCLA. Rockhurst coach Doug Bruce said Heiler phraser taught us Island Methodist she wasekerd
"I'm not sure if he'll sign early or wait until after the season." Bruce said. "Some of the schools have first-year coaching schools. Chris might want to wait and see how their first season goes."
they'd like to groom him for a year. Down the road, he's going to be very good."
Two Oklahoma high school players who were considering Kansas have eliminated Kansas from their lists.
Jeff Webster, a 6-8 forward from Midwest City, Okla., will decide between Kansas State and Oklahoma. Charles Crane, a 67 forward from Oklahoma, a 6ka., will choose between Wichita State, Colorado and New Orleans.
Starting job suits freshman fullback
By Jeff Euston
By Jeff Luster
Kansan sportswrite
sitations. The lack of speed has forced Roben to run straight ahead and lower his head when he carries the ball.
Redshirt freshman Roger Robben doesn't get much attention as the starting fullback for Kansas, but he doesn't mind. He's just happy to be playing.
Hobben has started all nine games for the Jayhawks at fullback this season — quite a change from last season when he was not able to play in games as a redshirt.
"I think as a fullback you have to be tuned in to running that way," he said. "You just have to lower your shoulder and run over people. At fullback you're
"It was really difficult at first. I think I was in a trance for awhile the first couple of weeks after I found out I was going to be redshirted. I thought I could handle it really well, but it wasn't that easy. I wished I was out there playing."
"Roger does everything you could ask of a full back," said running back coach Vie Adamle. "He's not counted on to do much carrying of the ball. But he does a great job when he is called on. He's a hard runner, and he protects the football. And he never complains."
was out there playing.
With last year's starter Mike Rogers gone, Robben has been given the opportunity to play this season, and he has made good use of it.
40. Robben had his longest gain of the season, a 14-yard run. Robben rushed for a career-high 41 yards on 10 carries.
Saturday's 30-12 victory over Kansas State, Robben had his longest gain of the season, a 14-yard run. Robben rushed for a career-high 41 yards on 10 carries.
read shirt.
"I think we had four or five fullbacks last year," he said. "They came to me and said I was going to
The game against the Wildcats was in contrast to much of the early season where Robben usually found himself blocking for the Jayhawk tailbacks. When he does carry the ball, it usually is in short-yardage situations.
not going to be the type of guy to make a lot of moves or try to joke somebody to get around the outside. I don't have the speed to outrun anybody."
In nine games this year, he has carried the ball just 40 times for 145 yards, an average of 3.6 yards per carry.
"It was great," Robben said of the run. "Especially against OU because when you think about it, not many people score on the ground against Oklahoma. I have to give a lot of credit to the offensive line because if they wouldn't have gotten the holes for me, I wouldn't have gotten in."
The second touchdown of Robben's career, another one-yard run, came in Saturday's victory over Kansas
Robben scored his first touchdown as a Jayhawk two weeks ago against Oklahoma on a one-ward run.
"My confidence level is higher than it was last year," he said. "I feel that I've matured a lot in many ways — not just on the field.
"It's great to be starting but I know that like coach Mason says, 'On this team, you've got to battle every week.'"
Robben, whose father Robert was an end at Kansas from 1962 to 1964, chose to come to Kansas as a fullback rather than play at Missouri as a linebacker.
"In high school, I was really a better linebacker than I was a fullback," he said. "I don't have a lot of speed or a lot of agility KU just seemed like the school I played in." He also added that he just wanted to play where I could help the team."
The victory over Kansas State has given the team added confidence going into the last three games of the season.
“To win our first game Saturday was the highlight (of the season) for me,” he said. “I can see our team getting fired up and really playing hard the last three games.” He added, “We’re great to be great to finish on a three-game winning streak.”
Kansas redshirt freshman fullback Roger Robben rushed for a career-high 41 yards on 10 carries Saturday against Kansas State.