From: orourke@Csli.Stanford.EDU (Michael O'Rourke)
Subject: Re: Michigan 86 - Kansas 74
Organization: Stanford University CSLI
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1993 07:54:37 GMT

In <1993Jan2.135817.13831@dg-rtp.dg.com> foerster@batgirl.rtp.dg.com
(Mike Von Foerster) writes: 

>In article <1992Dec31.083919.1076@HQ.Ileaf.COM>, raczka@HQ.Ileaf.COM
(christopher raczka) writes: 
>|> It is approx. 3:30am EST
>|> 
>|> The Michigan Wolverines just won their third game in three nights
>|> Nebraska (formerly #17),
>|> North Carolina (formerly #5), and
>|> Kansas (formerly #2)
>|> 
>|> In the first half both teams looked tired. Michigan had been up
>|> by 8 on two occassions, but then they were missing free throws and
>|> started taking poor shots which allowed the Jayhawks to stay close
>|> and it was UM 36 - Kansas 34 at the half
>|> 
>|> In the second half, Chris Webber (UM) single-handedly took over the
>|> game. He just dominated the boards and on the defensive end forced
>|> Kansas to stay outside. On the offensive end, UM went to Webber, Riley
>|> and Howard with no resistance from Kansas

>I thought Jalen Rose played pretty well. He hit some key shots and also
>hit his free-throws down the stretch.

>Pauley just couldn't do anything about it. Even if they had Oosertag back
>it wouldn't have made any difference.

I'm not so sure about this.  Granted, Ostertag is huge and lumbering,
and he seems incapable of jumping, but even so, he isn't a bad
basketball player.  You must remember that without Ostertag, KU has
only one player over 6'7" (i.e., Eric Pauley, at 6'9"), and they only
have two people at the power forward and center spots (i.e., Pauley
and Richard Scott).  Ostertag's absence hurt KU in a couple ways
against Michigan: first, by not playing at all in the tournament,
Pauley and Scott were forced to play the entire time (or at least
while the games were still on the line), and second, he was unable to
contribute defensively against the formidable frontline of the
Wolverines.  Without question a healthy Ostertag would have helped,
although his presence probably would not have led to a win for the
`hawks.

A few weeks ago, P.J. Carlesimo said that Seton Hall was the most
overrated team in the Top 10.  I would think that that title is now
the sole property of the Kansas Jayhawks (assuming they remain in the
top 10).  Adonis Jordan, Steve Woodberry, Pauley (most of the time),
and Scott have had good years so far, but the rest of the team has
been inconsistent at best and sorry at worst.  Hancock has had
difficulty adjusting to Div. I competition and is not the defensive
player he was advertised as being.  Pre-season All-American, Rex
Walters, is not even the best shooting guard on the team -- that would
be Woodberry.  Hell, Sean Pearson may even be playing better than
Walters.  Ostertag has played hurt when he has played, and Patrick
Richey has also missed several games.  Calvin Rayford has been only
adequate as a back-up to Jordan.

In addition, KU seems incapable of stopping the opponent from getting
off uncontested three-point shots.  This almost cost them against East
Tennessee State and Jackson State, and will certainly cost them at
some point if they do not address the problem.  Also, they have no
depth down low.  With Ben Davis and Chris Davis, KU is the favorite
for the national title; without them, they will have a very difficult
time slowing down teams with good frontlines (e.g., Michigan, UNC,
Michigan State, Kentucky, etc). Ostertag and Pauley are servicable at
center, but Scott has no support from anyone who even resembles a
power forward. 

Being a die-hard fan, I still hope for a run in March and April, but I
don't by any means expect it.  (Didn't the 1987-88 team play poorly
after being highly touted, get embarrassed at a tournament in Hawaii,
and lose key personnel to injuries?) Unless Kansas gets their
collective act together, they can look for losses on the road to
Oklahoma and Louisville next week, a rough time in the Big Eight, and
an early exit from the NCAA's.

I hope someone can convince me that I'm wrong.  

rock chalk
orourke@csli.stanford.edu

Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.college