By Gary Bedore, Tuesday, December 2, 1980
KU guard Tony Guy talks about No. 1,200
Jim Harrick, like everybody else in Allen Fieldhouse Monday night, heard Kansas' fans buzzing each time Booty Neal touched the basketball.
But, Harrick, Pepperdine's second-year coach, says he really couldn't figure out why the Jayhawk boosters got so riled up each time Neal let loose with one of his long-range missiles.
"The funny thing is, the people up in the stands expect him to make those shots every time," said Harrick, after Neal dumped in 14 second-half points and 16 overall, to spur the Jayhawks to their 81-67 victory over the stingy Waves.
"He was tough tonight," Harrick added, "but when you live by the outside shot, you'll also die by it."
On this night, however, only the Waves were left for dead after Neal's shooting exhibition. Booty hit two consecutive 20-foots shot to switch a 45-43 deficit into a 47-45 lead with 11:$4 to play -- and the Jayhawks wouldn't look back again.
Neal added a 25-foot basket, two 22-footers, a slam dunk and two free throws by game's end to tie his career high 16-point effort against the Waves a year ago. That time, however, KU lost, 96-89, in Malibu.
"What is that guy, a freshman?" asked Harrick, obviously forgetting the senior Neal's performance against Pepperdine last year.
The talkative coach, however, didn't entirely forget last year's contest. He said he's noticed a big change in the Jayhawks' game.
"When we played them Dec. 27 last year, they weren't as good in the middle," he said. "They didn't have have Crawford (John, 14 points) hitting those shots on the baseline, and Giles (Chester, KU center who graduated) gave them no inside game. Mitchell (Victor, KU's 6-9, 250-pound center) digs into you. You've got to gap him, and keep him out of there. He's big, strong and nasty. They're improved in the middle, but that isn't what beat us tonight."
No, KU's outside shooting doomed Pepperdine, a team which rallied from a 15-point first-half deficit to trail by just two at half.
"I don't know what caused our slow start," said Waves' junior guard Boot Bond, who tied KU's Tony Guy for game-high scoring honors with 23 points. "I don't think it was the crowd. That just happens in basketball sometimes. But I know that early spurt, and our effort near the end beat us."
The Waves managed just six free throws and no baskets from the 9:46 to 3:!1 mark of the final half, and during that span, KU increased its lead from four to 12 points.
"We weren't hitting, but we figured they'd have to start missing too," said junior center Dave Netherton, a transfer from Colorado, who chipped in seven points. "KU is so tough to beat here. I'm 0-4 here now."
Netherton praised the play of KU's senior guard Darnell Valentine, who scored 12 points, but more impressively, dished out 11 assists.
"Darnell looks like he's really become a leader," said Netherton. "He's learned to recognize defenses and he does what the team needs. He seems to sacrifice some shooting to get the ball to open players."
Harrick also pointed to the play of Valentine as an overall key to KU's win. When comparing Neal to Ricky Ross, the KU guard who burned Pepperdine for 30 points last year, but who left KU's team this year, Harrick mentioned Valentine.
"Ross might be a better talent (than Neal)," said Harrick. "But when you play with Darnell Valentine; he makes you a better player. Darnell takes the pressure off the people he plays with. That's what you people will find out next year."