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View Full Version : Kansas gets unwanted notoriety


schooner2
02-27-2002, 09:29 AM
Kansas becomes the first team to lose all 16 regular season Big 12 Conference games. Some quotes about the season and Washington's future:

"No one wants to have that kind of a record, obviously," KU coach Marian Washington said. "We have some records and they're very good, but you don't want to be a part of something that is a first in a negative way."

"This game [season ending loss to Texas] was a blueprint of many of our other ball games," Washington said. "We play well for 20 minutes and then we lose steam."

"This was a tough year to have to rebuild. It's unreal with so many (Big 12) teams ranked. If this had been last year, it wouldn't have been quite as glaring."

When will the Jayhawks be competitive again? "I may be mistaken, but I don't think the competition will be like it was this year," Washington said. "I don't expect it to take a lot of years."

Washington's job is not in jeopardy, but it would definitely be in her best interests if her 30th team on Mount Oread at least showed promise. This one never did.

"People have been given four or five years (to rebuild) and I hope to do it in less than that," Washington said. "We've brought in some fine young talent."

Jody Conradt, who has been at Texas almost as long as Washington has been here — 26 years — is a Washington booster.

"She's done enough to have a season like this without undue criticism," Conradt said. "If you're in this business long enough, it cycles around. It took a lot of Marian Washingtons in the beginning to get women's basketball going."

For her part, Washington waved the flag.

"Women's basketball is a major sport," she said. "We have to get behind it, embrace it and respect it. I fought for the program here when no one wanted it, and I'll still fight for it against people who still don't want it."
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My remarks:
The "She's done enough to have a season like this without undue criticism," quote is like a couple remarks already coming out from coaches that are having sub-par seasons. Nolan Richardson said basically the same thing in his tirade a couple days ago - saying he earned a down season.

I have to agree with those statements. As much as I don't like Marion Washington teams because they seem to play games without heart (at least most of the ones I see), Washington deserves our respect for what she has accomplished in her career and deserves the benefit of the doubt.

Coaches like Bob Knight and Jody Conradt, and maybe Washington some day, are starting to lay to rest the oft-used yet evidently incorrect phrase "the game has passed him/her by".

[This message has been edited by schooner (edited 02-27-2002).]

mred
02-27-2002, 10:51 AM
The last Big 8 school to go winless in the conference was ISU in 1984 (0-14).

mred
02-27-2002, 11:01 AM
Scary stat: Kansas is graduating 68% of its scoring, including the top four scorers. This on a team that only averages 58 ppg.

One thing's for sure: Kansas's incoming class could get a lot of playing time.

schooner2
02-27-2002, 11:09 AM
Originally posted by mred:
Scary stat: Kansas is graduating 68% of its scoring, including the top four scorers. This on a team that only averages 58 ppg.

One thing's for sure: Kansas's incoming class could get a lot of playing time.

Scary it what sense? Some may say they are an awful team and on top of that they are losing a majority of what talent they have. On the other hand, I say this could be a good thing for Kansas - that they are graduating people that were not good enough to produce much in the Big 12. Getting a new infusion of talent that will play from day 1 could be a great thing for Kansas. Just look at Kansas State!

carolann
02-27-2002, 11:17 AM
LOSING 68% OF THEIR SCORING?
Now that is scary. Kansas does have a quality class coming in next year. On paper, its not the kind of class that can do what KSU did this year.

As much as I don't like Marion Washington teams because they seem to play games without heart (at least most of the ones I see),....
Oddly enough, this year's team, without enough talent, skill, and depth, does appear to have played with some heart. Selena Scott, a small pg from Austin, was fairly highly rated coming out of highschool. Playing behind last year's big senior class, including Jennifer Jackson, Scott never saw that much playing time. She seemed to do a pretty decent job this year starting on the worst team in the Big 12.

mred
02-27-2002, 11:34 AM
Originally posted by schooner:
Scary it what sense? Some may say they are an awful team and on top of that they are losing a majority of what talent they have. On the other hand, I say this could be a good thing for Kansas - that they are graduating people that were not good enough to produce much in the Big 12. Getting a new infusion of talent that will play from day 1 could be a great thing for Kansas. Just look at Kansas State!

I doubt this is a good thing for Kansas on a short-term basis. However, all the playing time the freshmen will be getting will definitely help down the road. ISU's great run the past few seasons has included four people who have started from day one (Welle, Gahan, Taylor, Frese). You can't overestimate the importance of getting the young players experience right away.

dem
02-27-2002, 07:31 PM
Originally posted by schooner:
As much as I don't like Marion Washington teams because they seem to play games without heart (at least most of the ones I see). . .

They have played with plenty of heart against Iowa State, at any rate.

schooner2
02-28-2002, 12:45 AM
Yes, I must admit KU played with more heart down here in Norman this year than I've ever seen.

Coincidentally (or maybe no coincident) they don't have a prima-dona on the team.