The Salina Journal from Salina, Kansas • Page 13

it Salina Journal Sports Saturday, March 23,1991 13 40 Minutes of Hell' awaits KU Arkansas stands in 'Hawks'path to Indianapolis By HAROLD BECHARD Sports Editor CHARLOTTE, N.C. Kansas coach Roy Williams had about 12 hours to savor Thursday night's remarkable 83-65 victory over third- ranked Indiana. But, at high noon on Friday, Williams' thoughts turned to the second- ranked Arkansas Razorbacks. "We have a heckuva challenge facing us," Williams said at a Friday afternoon press conference. And, just what does 12th-ranked Kansas face today at 3:40 p.m.

when it'meets the Razorbacks in the finals of the Southeast Regional at Charlotte Coliseum? Well, in Arkansas, the Jayhawks will see: A team with a record of 34-3 and seeded No. 1 in the regional. A team with seven players scoring between 7.5 and 20.3 points a game. A Razorback team that has scored under 90 points just eight times in 37 games. And an Arkansas team, whose defense, appropriately named "40 Minutes of Hell," takes no prisoners with its relentless full-court pressure.

Arkansas used that philosophy to pound Alabama, 93-70, on Thursday and head coach Nolan Richardson said there won't be any changes for the Jayhawks. "Our game plan never changes," Richardson said Friday. "We try to do the things we do well and let the other teams try to stop that. We don't change plans for The Arkansas plan is simple: Wear down its opponent with pressure de- Kansas vs. Arkansas STARTING LINEUPS Pos.

KANSAS (25-7) Alonzo Jamison (6-6, Jr.) Mark Randall (6-9, Sr.) Terry Brown (6-2, Sr.) Adonis Jordan (5-11, Jr.) Tipoff 3:40 p.m. Where Coliseum Charlotte, N.C. Television (5); KWCH (12). Radio Series Kansas leads, 7-4. (34-3) ARKANSAS (6-8, (6-8, Jr.) Isaiah Morris (6-9, Jr.) Oliver Miller (6-2, Jr.) Lee Mayberry (5-10, Sr.) Arlyn Bowers Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson bases his gameplan on pressure defense.

fense and then run it into the ground with a blazing fast-break offense that is averaging 100.1 points a game. That plan has produced 141 wins in six years at Arkansas for Richardson, but there won't be any joy in Fayetteville unless the Razorbacks reach the Final Four set for next week in Indianapolis. The Final Four is a goal Arkansas achieved last year before losing to Duke in the semifinals. "The players set several goals this season," Richardson said. "They wanted to win the conference, get to the Sweet 16, to the Final Four and win (the national championship)." In order to reach Indianapolis, the Razorbacks must get past a Kansas team which has flourished in the underdog role in its last two games against Pittsburgh and Indiana.

Despite his team wearing the tag of a heavy favorite, Richardson isn't underestimating the Jayhawks, who bring a 25-7 record into today's game. "There's always talk about teams that are overrated, well, Kansas is a team that's underrated," Richardson said. "Roy's a newcomer into this thing, but he's a great coach. He's one of Dean's (Smith) people. "Roy, I like, but when I step on the floor it's war.

I'll have my game face on, I'll tell you that, well before midnight." The Southwest Conference champions have the players back up their coach. Todd Day, a 6-foot-8 junior who scored 31 against Alabama, leads the way with 20.5 points and 5.3 rebounds a game. Oliver Miller, who at 6-9 and 275 pounds is Arkansas' answer to Iowa State's Victor Alexander, averages 15.7 points and 7.7 rebounds a game. Then there's 6-2 junior Lee May(See Kansas, Page 24) iyAP Kansas forward Richard Scott celebrates the Jayhawks' win over Indiana on Thursday night at the Southeast Regional in Charlotte, N.C. Teams pass gamble of signing Jackson Bo clears waivers, becomes free agent By BEN WALKER AP Baseball Writer PHOENIX Bo Jackson's baseball career was left in limbo Friday when no team was willing to gamble that he would recover from his hip injury and ever play again.

Any club could have claimed multi- sport, multimedia star for $1 on the waiver wire. Jackson Instead, the afternoon deadline passed without a single bid and Jackson limped away a free agent. Jackson can now negotiate his own deal and his agent, Richard Woods, said some unidentified teams were interested. Jackson, however, likely would get far less than the $2,375,000 guaranteed by the Kansas City Royals before he was released Monday because of his football injury. Jackson will collect $391,483.52, about one-sixth of his salary, from the Royals because they cut him before opening day.

It's uncertain how much more this week's sudden developments will cost him on and off the field. The New York Yankees, who coveted Jackson for nearly a decade, had the first shot at claiming Jackson. Deposed owner George Steinbrenner said this week that he would pursue Jackson, but the team backed (See Bo, Page 24) Jordan to face Arkansas' pressure By HAROLD BECHARD Sports Editor CHARLOTTE, N.C. Adonis Jordan is in the national spotlight and on the spot as well. That's the position a player must handle when he's thought of as the major barrier between Arkansas and a second straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament's Final Four.

When the Jayhawks and Razorbacks tip off this afternoon's Southeast Regional championship game, it will be Jordan's responsibility to handle Arkansas' brutal full- court pressure. The 5-foot-ll sophomore says he's up to the task. "Tomorrow, I'm just going to play my game," Jordan said Friday to a gathering of the media at the Omni Hotel. "I've faced a lot of pressure before so I don't think it's anything I haven't seen this Jordan may be looking at today's game through rose-colored glasses, but then again, he's in a position to back up his statements. Jordan, in short, has been the catalyst for the Jayhawks this season.

"I've faced a lot of pressure before so I don't think it's anything I haven't seen this season." Jordan After playing a backup role to Kevin Pritchard a year ago, Jordan blossomed into one of the Big Eight Conference's better guards during his sophomore season. "Adonis Jordan will be an extremely important player in tomorrow's game," Kansas head coach Roy Williams said. Jordan's numbers have improved dramatically from his freshman to sophomore season. He currently averages 12.3 points and 4.5 assists a game and was the only player in the Big Eight this season to be listed in the top 10 in field goal, free throw and 3-point shooting percentage. "Everyone said at the beginning of the year, 'How are you going replace Kevin Williams said.

"Well, my goal in a couple years is to have people say how in the dickens are you going to replace Adonis Jordan." Williams and Jordan have a special relationship which began in November, 1988, when Jordan honored his verbal commitment and signed a letter-of-intent with KU despite be aware of the Jayhawks going on probation. Two other highly-recruited players who had committed to Kansas at that time Harold Miner (Southern Cal) and Thomas Hill (Duke) went elsewhere. "A lot of people thought I was crazy," said Jordan, who played his final two years of prep ball at Cleveland High School in Reseda, (See Jordan, Page 24) Barton Co. stumbles in semifinals ByTROYPALENSKE Sports Writer HTJTCHINSON To the average fan, Arizona Western coach Chic Hess pulling for Barton County in its NJCAA Tournament quarterfinal game against Faulkner State (Ala.) on Thursday may have seemed a bit unlogical. The Cougars had a lot of things going for them.

Not only were they playing in their own backyard, but they had emerged as the odds-on- favorite to win the tournament. Barton County impressively coasted past Kaskaskia, 111. and State while No. 2 ranked Kankakee, 111. 'the team to beat heading in was upset in the quarterfinals.

"I thought we would matchup with the Kansas team than the team," Hess said. Hess got the matchup he wanted and the Matadors responded brilliantly in the semifinals. Racing to a 22-point lead early on, Arizona Western posted a 105-99 victory but not before holding off a furious Barton County comeback. "To beat this team we had to play smart," Hess said. "We wanted to hold the ball and let them know we will control the tempo and you're going to have to take it from us." Barton County has to look only to the play of Matador guards Derrick (See Barton, Page IS) CLASS 4-5-6A ALL-AREA BASKETBALL TEAMS Name, School Brook Berringer, Goodland Brian Henson, McPherson Kevin Jacobs, Russell Bryan Vincent, McPherson Darren Webber, Ellsworth Nome, School Aaron Bachelor, Salina Central Jordy Canfield, Abilene Tom Stucky, Salina South Jeff Tauscher, Hays Joshua Wilkens, Ellsworth BOYS FIRST TEAM Hgt.

6-4 6-1 6-4 6-3 6-6 SECOND TEAM Hgl. 6-4 5-9 6-3 5-11 6-2 Yr. Sr. Sr. Sr.

Sr. Jr. Yr. Jr. Jr.

Sr. Sr. Jr. Pos. Pos.

Name, School Lori Billinger, Hays Heather Blue, McPherson Keela Downing, Goodland Kim Strong, Abilene Nikki Stroud, Abilene GIRLS FIRST TEAM Hgt. 5-7 6-1 5-10 5-10 6-0 HONORABLE MENTION Chad Creamer, TMP-Marian; Chad Davis, Ellsworth; Jason Hickson, Goodland; Corbin Knoll, TMP-Marian; Aaron Larsen, Concordia; Brady Scott, Beloit; Michael Willey, Abilene. BOYS AT-A-GLANCE PLAYER OF THE YEAR Brian Henson was a consensus all-stater for the second straight year after leading McPherson to a second straight Class 5A state championship. He averaged 20.2 points a game, breaking the single-season scoring record held by Brad Underwood, and surpassed his brother Steve as Mac's all-time leading scorer with more than 1,100 points. Henson will play for Kansas State next season.

REST OF FIRST TEAM Brook Berringer is one of the state's best athletes. He has already signed to play football with the University of Nebraska. Berringer averaged 18 points and 7 rebounds a game this season in leading Goodland to the Class 4A state Like Berringer, Kevin Jacobs also excelled on the football field. He'll play in this year's Shrine Bowl in August. On the basketball court this season, Jacobs averaged 19.5 points and 13 rebounds a game in leading Russell to its first winning season in 11 years Bryan Vincent was a two-year starter for McPherson.

This season, he led the Bullpups in field goal shooting at 67 percent. He averaged 15.1 points and 7.2 rebounds a game Darren Webber led the Central Kansas League in rebounding (11.2) and was second field goal percentage (57). He averaged 19 points and 4 blocked shots a game. Webber has played in three state tournaments. SECOND TEAM Name, School Hgt.

Jennifer Beemer, Chapman 5-5 Stacy Brown, Colby 5-9 Stacy Griffin, Salina South 5-9 Dawn Gronewoller, Beloit 6-0 Michelle Stirrett, Clay Center 5-9 Yr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr.

Sr. Yr. Jr. Jr. So.

Jr. Jr. Pos. Pos. HONORABLE MENTION Carey Brouillette, Goodland; Roxy Hofer, McPherson; Jemelle Holopirek, Colby; Jaquelynn Nowak, Russell.

GIRLS AT-A-GLANCE PLAYER OF THE YEAR Kim Strong finished as Abilene's all-time leading scorer with 1,159 points. Her 15.1 career scoring average also ranks first. Strong averaged 22.3 points and 5.4 rebounds a game this season in leading Abilene to the Class 4A state tournament. She established single- season school records for field goals (220), field goal percentage (53), total points (535) and scoring average. She was a unanimous All-North Central THURSDAY: Class 1A FRIDAY: Classes 2-3A TODAY: Classes 4-5-6A SUNDAY: The All-Area Team Kansas League pick the last three years.

REST OF FIRST TEAM Lori Billinger was a four-year starter for Hays and one of the state's best outside shooters. She averaged 17.5 points a game over the last two years and 21.1 this season. She finished as Hays High's all-time leading scorer with 1,063 points. She made a school-record 43 3-pointers this season and had six in one game Heather Blue was a force inside for McPherson the last two years. Blue was a unanimous All-Ark Valley League player this season after averaging 15 points and 11 rebounds a game Keela Downing was a power forward for Goodland, scoring 16 points and grabbing 9 rebounds game this season.

Goodland lost to eventual state champion Larned in the sub-state finals Nikki Stroud was a dominating force inside for Abilene all season, blocking a school record 101 shots. She averaged 16.6 points and a game. If Harold Ml Bechard JOURNAL SPORTS EDITOR Kansas cashes in amazing game against Indiana CHARLOTTE, N.C. The afterglow of an amazing night in the NCAA Tournament was still evident several hours later as Kansas head coach Roy Williams met the media Friday afternoon. When asked to make some opening comments about today's Southeast Regional title game with Arkansas, the Kansas coach couldn't help but take a look backwards.

"If you like basketball, you had to like to way the kids played last night," he said. "I'm proud of the way they accepted the challenge." The challenge was third-ranked Indiana, a team the Jayhawks dispatched with remarkable ease Thursday night at Charlotte Coliseum. The final score was Kansas 83, Indiana 65, but it wasn't that close. The Jayhawks' lead was never less than 11 points in the final 36 minutes and 30 seconds of the game and peaked at 24 points early in the second half. "I'm sitting up here with some pretty good feelings right now," Williams said.

Thursday night's loss was the worst in NCAA Tournament history for Indiana a span of 56 games and 20 appearances. The worst previous loss was 13 points to Seton Hall in the 1989 West Regional semifinals. Indiana head coach Bob Knight, who was as gracious as they come during the media briefings here, was philosophical after his team's setback. After all, this is an Indiana team despite their high national that has nine freshmen and sophomores on its 12-player roster. "I'm proud of our team," Knight said.

"We got beat right where we ought to have been beat. "We're not a Final Four team, and I know that better than anyone," he added. "We may have met one tonight. Kansas is the better team right now. Certainly tonight they were a much better team." Kansas will be seeking its ninth appearance in the NCAA Tournament's Final Four.

Only three other schools UCLA (14), North Carolina (9) and Kentucky (9) have been there more. However, all eight of KU's regional championships have come in the Midwest Regional. For those of you who turned on your TV sets at 9:10 p.m. Thursday to watch the KU-Indiana game, you only have Arkansas and Alabama to blame for missing the Jayhawks' amazing 26-6 run to open the game. The Razorbacks and Crimson Tide may have played the quickest NCAA Tournament game (one hour, 35 minutes) ever after starting at 6:40 p.m.

A normal TV game lasts around two hours. The KU-Indiana game, which started 30 minutes after the Arkansas-Alabama contest, tipped off at 8:45 p.m. 25 minutes ahead of schedule. Arkansas head coach Nolan Richardson said Friday he would have offered KU freshman Richard Scott a scholarship, but already had several players at Scott's position on his team's roster. Scott, a 6-7 forward from Little Rock, signed with Kansas during the early signing period in November, 1989.

"We couldn't guarantee him (a scholarship) early because of a large number of players already at his position," Richardson said. "But, heck yes, we would have tried to sign nun. He's a very fine player." Richardson also recruited KU forward Mike Maddox out of high school (Oklahoma City) and guard Terry Brown out of junior college (Northeastern Oklahoma Williams said the power of the Big Eight Conference speaks for itself these days. With his team and Oklahoma State in the Final Eight of the NCAA Tournament and Oklahoma and Colorado reaching the semifinals of the NIT, the conference has a lot of be happy about these days. "I don't think anyone has to brag about the Big Eight anymore," Williams said.

"They see what we can do." Kansas fans were outnumbered 2-to-l by Indiana's faithful (2,000 to 1,000) Thursday night, but the Jay- hawks picked up a lot of support with their dazzling play. With seven minutes remaining in the game, Indiana fans started heading to the exits. Who could have imagined such a thing?.