If playing in front of 16,000 Jayhawk fans weren’t motivation enough for the Kansas University women’s basketball team, their opponent added more fuel to the fire Friday at Late Night in the Phog.
KU played an eight-minute scrimmage against the “Dream Team,” a collection of KU male students who practice against the women day in and day out to make them better.
When the Dream Team took the court, they were decked out in black and gold apparel — Missouri colors.
Needless to say, they weren’t received very well by the festive Allen Fieldhouse crowd. Actually, everything they did was greeted with a chorus of boos.
The Jayhawks and the Dream Team battled to a 14-all tie in a pre-midnight exhibition Friday, one that, because of NCAA rules, first-year coach Bonnie Henrickson and her staff weren’t allowed to be present for. Instead, Kansas governor Kathleen Sebelius acted as honorary coach for KU.
The real coaching staff did videotape the scrimmage, though, and they’ll hammer out the details of what went right — and wrong — when the first official practice gets under way at 10 a.m. today.
“It’s always ugly,” Henrickson said of the scrimmage. “That’s just the way it is.”
All but two of the Jayhawks played Friday.
Senior Blair Waltz sat out because of an injury suffered earlier this week, and sophomore Sharita Smith sat out due to a coach’s decision.
Both are expected to be back in practice soon.
Before the scrimmage, Henrickson was introduced to KU fans with a rousing ovation. She then spoke briefly, asking the Jayhawk fans to help bring women’s basketball to the same elite level the men have enjoyed for so long.
“I thought it was very positive,” Henrickson said of her reception. “But we’ve gotten that since we got here.”
If Friday’s scrimmage was any indication, the Jayhawks will be well-balanced in 2004-05. KU’s seven field goals were scored by six different players. Junior Kaylee Brown led the Jayhawks with four points, including a sweet lay-in after she juked around a Dream Teamer decked out in black and gold.
Needless to say, Brown’s shot had the crowd going bonkers.
Anything that gets the best of a Tiger will do that.
6Sports video: KU fans cheer season’s start
Hear Bill: Late Night in the Phog comments
Photo Gallery: Late Night in the Phog 2004
Oh, what a (Late) Night