Woodling: Pauley trip, Bohl among monthly highlights of year

By Staff Dec 31, 2002

Month by month, I will have these 2002 moments to remember:

In January, making my first visit to legendary Pauley Pavilion on the UCLA campus and thinking it was perhaps the most unimpressive basketball arena I’d ever seen. UCLA’s players obviously liked it, though, shooting better than 50 percent and humbling Kansas, 87-77.
In February, marveling at the mass of media gathered around Bob Knight after Texas Tech bowed to Kansas, 108-81, in Allen Fieldhouse. So many media-types were squeezed into the hallway that I could only hear what Knight said. I couldn’t see him. I can’t forget, either, a woman who was obviously a KU fan walking past the mob scene and cracking: “Why don’t you all go talk to the winning coach?”
In March, sitting stunned in Kemper Arena as Oklahoma smothered the Jayhawks, 64-55, to win the Big 12 Tournament basketball championship. I didn’t think anybody could hold this Kansas juggernaut under 70 points. Nobody else did.
In April, reading all the e-mails — and answering most of them — from incensed Kansas men’s basketball fans after I wrote that the only thing Drew Gooden would gain by returning for his senior year at Kansas would be to acquire more credits toward graduation. Two weeks later, Gooden announced he was turning pro.
In May, listening as Al Bohl told the Kansas University Athletic Corp. board he was innocent of the accusation he had improperly transferred athletic department funds while at Fresno State. “I did nothing inappropriately,” Bohl told the board members in an unprecedented moment.
In June, covering the NBA Draft in Madison Square Garden and wincing as Gooden put a foot in his mouth. Asked about adjusting to Memphis, Gooden said: “I lived in Kansas and that’s probably the worst it can get.” Later, Gooden tried to extricate himself by saying he didn’t mean to disparage the Sunflower State. “I meant as far as it being out in the middle of nowhere,” he said. “It’s not bad.”
In July, reading what Kansas football coach Mark Mangino was telling boosters (“Your football team will play hard for four quarters, and they will fight until the last second ticks off the clock. They will scrap. They will fight. They will compete.”) and realizing those are not the words of a coach with a lot of talented players.
In August, wondering after Iowa State dumped Kansas, 45-3, how former KU coach Terry Allen, now on the ISU staff, could in good conscience accept a game ball after the Cyclones had whipped up on the players he had recruited. Allen called the game ball redemption for his firing. As well-liked as Allen was when he was here, I was surprised his pride clouded his compassion.
In September, watching in awe as Kansas quarterback Bill Whittemore ran for 177 yards and passed for 218 more in a 43-33 win over hapless Tulsa. That performance began a three-week stretch in which Whittemore compiled 1,058 yards of total offense — 395 against Tulsa, 325 against Baylor and 338 against Colorado.
In October, seeing Whittemore go down for the season with a knee injury at Missouri and knowing the Jayhawks’ offense would go south with him. Without Whittemore, Kansas was outscored 164-27 in its last three games.
In November, trying without success to figure why the Jayhawks’ shooting turned to scrapple in the Big Apple. In losses to North Carolina and Florida in the Preseason NIT, Kansas’ men’s basketball team shot a chilly 39 percent. Oh, well, if you’re going to shoot poorly, it’s better to do it in November than in March.
In December, responding to a slew of e-mails about a story assessing Bohl’s first 16 months at Kansas. Some readers thought it was too negative. Others wondered if a final straw is blowing in the wind. Whatever, Bohl is clearly controversial. Bohl backers love his energy and enthusiasm. Bohl bashers think he’s a overpaid cheerleader.

Woodling: Pauley trip, Bohl among monthly highlights of year

By Gary Bedore Dec 31, 2002

Month by month, I will have these 2002 moments to remember:

In January, making my first visit to legendary Pauley Pavilion on the UCLA campus and thinking it was perhaps the most unimpressive basketball arena I’d ever seen. UCLA’s players obviously liked it, though, shooting better than 50 percent and humbling Kansas, 87-77.
In February, marveling at the mass of media gathered around Bob Knight after Texas Tech bowed to Kansas, 108-81, in Allen Fieldhouse. So many media-types were squeezed into the hallway that I could only hear what Knight said. I couldn’t see him. I can’t forget, either, a woman who was obviously a KU fan walking past the mob scene and cracking: “Why don’t you all go talk to the winning coach?”
In March, sitting stunned in Kemper Arena as Oklahoma smothered the Jayhawks, 64-55, to win the Big 12 Tournament basketball championship. I didn’t think anybody could hold this Kansas juggernaut under 70 points. Nobody else did.
In April, reading all the e-mails — and answering most of them — from incensed Kansas men’s basketball fans after I wrote that the only thing Drew Gooden would gain by returning for his senior year at Kansas would be to acquire more credits toward graduation. Two weeks later, Gooden announced he was turning pro.
In May, listening as Al Bohl told the Kansas University Athletic Corp. board he was innocent of the accusation he had improperly transferred athletic department funds while at Fresno State. “I did nothing inappropriately,” Bohl told the board members in an unprecedented moment.
In June, covering the NBA Draft in Madison Square Garden and wincing as Gooden put a foot in his mouth. Asked about adjusting to Memphis, Gooden said: “I lived in Kansas and that’s probably the worst it can get.” Later, Gooden tried to extricate himself by saying he didn’t mean to disparage the Sunflower State. “I meant as far as it being out in the middle of nowhere,” he said. “It’s not bad.”
In July, reading what Kansas football coach Mark Mangino was telling boosters (“Your football team will play hard for four quarters, and they will fight until the last second ticks off the clock. They will scrap. They will fight. They will compete.”) and realizing those are not the words of a coach with a lot of talented players.
In August, wondering after Iowa State dumped Kansas, 45-3, how former KU coach Terry Allen, now on the ISU staff, could in good conscience accept a game ball after the Cyclones had whipped up on the players he had recruited. Allen called the game ball redemption for his firing. As well-liked as Allen was when he was here, I was surprised his pride clouded his compassion.
In September, watching in awe as Kansas quarterback Bill Whittemore ran for 177 yards and passed for 218 more in a 43-33 win over hapless Tulsa. That performance began a three-week stretch in which Whittemore compiled 1,058 yards of total offense — 395 against Tulsa, 325 against Baylor and 338 against Colorado.
In October, seeing Whittemore go down for the season with a knee injury at Missouri and knowing the Jayhawks’ offense would go south with him. Without Whittemore, Kansas was outscored 164-27 in its last three games.
In November, trying without success to figure why the Jayhawks’ shooting turned to scrapple in the Big Apple. In losses to North Carolina and Florida in the Preseason NIT, Kansas’ men’s basketball team shot a chilly 39 percent. Oh, well, if you’re going to shoot poorly, it’s better to do it in November than in March.
In December, responding to a slew of e-mails about a story assessing Bohl’s first 16 months at Kansas. Some readers thought it was too negative. Others wondered if a final straw is blowing in the wind. Whatever, Bohl is clearly controversial. Bohl backers love his energy and enthusiasm. Bohl bashers think he’s a overpaid cheerleader.

Woodling: Pauley trip, Bohl among monthly highlights of year

By Gary Bedore Dec 31, 2002

Month by month, I will have these 2002 moments to remember:

In January, making my first visit to legendary Pauley Pavilion on the UCLA campus and thinking it was perhaps the most unimpressive basketball arena I’d ever seen. UCLA’s players obviously liked it, though, shooting better than 50 percent and humbling Kansas, 87-77.
In February, marveling at the mass of media gathered around Bob Knight after Texas Tech bowed to Kansas, 108-81, in Allen Fieldhouse. So many media-types were squeezed into the hallway that I could only hear what Knight said. I couldn’t see him. I can’t forget, either, a woman who was obviously a KU fan walking past the mob scene and cracking: “Why don’t you all go talk to the winning coach?”
In March, sitting stunned in Kemper Arena as Oklahoma smothered the Jayhawks, 64-55, to win the Big 12 Tournament basketball championship. I didn’t think anybody could hold this Kansas juggernaut under 70 points. Nobody else did.
In April, reading all the e-mails — and answering most of them — from incensed Kansas men’s basketball fans after I wrote that the only thing Drew Gooden would gain by returning for his senior year at Kansas would be to acquire more credits toward graduation. Two weeks later, Gooden announced he was turning pro.
In May, listening as Al Bohl told the Kansas University Athletic Corp. board he was innocent of the accusation he had improperly transferred athletic department funds while at Fresno State. “I did nothing inappropriately,” Bohl told the board members in an unprecedented moment.
In June, covering the NBA Draft in Madison Square Garden and wincing as Gooden put a foot in his mouth. Asked about adjusting to Memphis, Gooden said: “I lived in Kansas and that’s probably the worst it can get.” Later, Gooden tried to extricate himself by saying he didn’t mean to disparage the Sunflower State. “I meant as far as it being out in the middle of nowhere,” he said. “It’s not bad.”
In July, reading what Kansas football coach Mark Mangino was telling boosters (“Your football team will play hard for four quarters, and they will fight until the last second ticks off the clock. They will scrap. They will fight. They will compete.”) and realizing those are not the words of a coach with a lot of talented players.
In August, wondering after Iowa State dumped Kansas, 45-3, how former KU coach Terry Allen, now on the ISU staff, could in good conscience accept a game ball after the Cyclones had whipped up on the players he had recruited. Allen called the game ball redemption for his firing. As well-liked as Allen was when he was here, I was surprised his pride clouded his compassion.
In September, watching in awe as Kansas quarterback Bill Whittemore ran for 177 yards and passed for 218 more in a 43-33 win over hapless Tulsa. That performance began a three-week stretch in which Whittemore compiled 1,058 yards of total offense — 395 against Tulsa, 325 against Baylor and 338 against Colorado.
In October, seeing Whittemore go down for the season with a knee injury at Missouri and knowing the Jayhawks’ offense would go south with him. Without Whittemore, Kansas was outscored 164-27 in its last three games.
In November, trying without success to figure why the Jayhawks’ shooting turned to scrapple in the Big Apple. In losses to North Carolina and Florida in the Preseason NIT, Kansas’ men’s basketball team shot a chilly 39 percent. Oh, well, if you’re going to shoot poorly, it’s better to do it in November than in March.
In December, responding to a slew of e-mails about a story assessing Bohl’s first 16 months at Kansas. Some readers thought it was too negative. Others wondered if a final straw is blowing in the wind. Whatever, Bohl is clearly controversial. Bohl backers love his energy and enthusiasm. Bohl bashers think he’s a overpaid cheerleader.

Woodling: Pauley trip, Bohl among monthly highlights of year

By Gary Bedore Dec 31, 2002

Month by month, I will have these 2002 moments to remember:

In January, making my first visit to legendary Pauley Pavilion on the UCLA campus and thinking it was perhaps the most unimpressive basketball arena I’d ever seen. UCLA’s players obviously liked it, though, shooting better than 50 percent and humbling Kansas, 87-77.
In February, marveling at the mass of media gathered around Bob Knight after Texas Tech bowed to Kansas, 108-81, in Allen Fieldhouse. So many media-types were squeezed into the hallway that I could only hear what Knight said. I couldn’t see him. I can’t forget, either, a woman who was obviously a KU fan walking past the mob scene and cracking: “Why don’t you all go talk to the winning coach?”
In March, sitting stunned in Kemper Arena as Oklahoma smothered the Jayhawks, 64-55, to win the Big 12 Tournament basketball championship. I didn’t think anybody could hold this Kansas juggernaut under 70 points. Nobody else did.
In April, reading all the e-mails — and answering most of them — from incensed Kansas men’s basketball fans after I wrote that the only thing Drew Gooden would gain by returning for his senior year at Kansas would be to acquire more credits toward graduation. Two weeks later, Gooden announced he was turning pro.
In May, listening as Al Bohl told the Kansas University Athletic Corp. board he was innocent of the accusation he had improperly transferred athletic department funds while at Fresno State. “I did nothing inappropriately,” Bohl told the board members in an unprecedented moment.
In June, covering the NBA Draft in Madison Square Garden and wincing as Gooden put a foot in his mouth. Asked about adjusting to Memphis, Gooden said: “I lived in Kansas and that’s probably the worst it can get.” Later, Gooden tried to extricate himself by saying he didn’t mean to disparage the Sunflower State. “I meant as far as it being out in the middle of nowhere,” he said. “It’s not bad.”
In July, reading what Kansas football coach Mark Mangino was telling boosters (“Your football team will play hard for four quarters, and they will fight until the last second ticks off the clock. They will scrap. They will fight. They will compete.”) and realizing those are not the words of a coach with a lot of talented players.
In August, wondering after Iowa State dumped Kansas, 45-3, how former KU coach Terry Allen, now on the ISU staff, could in good conscience accept a game ball after the Cyclones had whipped up on the players he had recruited. Allen called the game ball redemption for his firing. As well-liked as Allen was when he was here, I was surprised his pride clouded his compassion.
In September, watching in awe as Kansas quarterback Bill Whittemore ran for 177 yards and passed for 218 more in a 43-33 win over hapless Tulsa. That performance began a three-week stretch in which Whittemore compiled 1,058 yards of total offense — 395 against Tulsa, 325 against Baylor and 338 against Colorado.
In October, seeing Whittemore go down for the season with a knee injury at Missouri and knowing the Jayhawks’ offense would go south with him. Without Whittemore, Kansas was outscored 164-27 in its last three games.
In November, trying without success to figure why the Jayhawks’ shooting turned to scrapple in the Big Apple. In losses to North Carolina and Florida in the Preseason NIT, Kansas’ men’s basketball team shot a chilly 39 percent. Oh, well, if you’re going to shoot poorly, it’s better to do it in November than in March.
In December, responding to a slew of e-mails about a story assessing Bohl’s first 16 months at Kansas. Some readers thought it was too negative. Others wondered if a final straw is blowing in the wind. Whatever, Bohl is clearly controversial. Bohl backers love his energy and enthusiasm. Bohl bashers think he’s a overpaid cheerleader.