By Chuck Woodling, Sunday, January 17, 1993
• "The year before, we played Louisville at our place and they kicked our tail. So it was a chance for us to go into their home court at Freedom Hall — and they had some great history, national championship teams in the past — so it was a big deal. We were very motivated, and I remember Adonis (Jordan) and I were going through warmups talking about how friendly the rims were. I was going through a slump early in the season, so it was great to have a game like that."
• "We were coming off a year where we thought we were the best in the nation in 91-92. We felt like we had let one slip away by losing in the tournament to UTEP the year before, so we were hungry. The addition of Darrin Hancock was really key and we had a very motivated group. For me personally, it was a desperate effort to get to the Final Four. I saw it when I was sitting out after my transfer year and I wanted to get back."
• "Always, you're very proud of the fact you played at the University of Kansas. You played for great coaching staffs and great coaches. Even though I haven't been to a game in quite a long time, it makes you feel like you're part of something bigger than yourself. The whole state gets behind us. I'm a good 15 to 20 pounds heavier than I was during my days at KU, but I'll still get recognized. You're in the airport and you see a Jayhawk or a crimson and blue shirt and it makes you proud inside to be a part of that tradition."
Louisville, Ky. — Freedom Hall's rims are safe. Rex Walters and Adonis Jordan didn't stick them in their suitcases. . .as much as they would have liked to.
"We really like the rims here," Walters said after he and his Kansas backcourt teammate put on a long-range shooting clinic in the Jayhawks' 98-77 victory over Louisville on Saturday night.
"They're like Oklahoma's. They're really loose," Walters continued.
Does that mean the rims in Allen Fieldhouse are tight?
"Yeah, I kinda think they are," Walters replied.
Walters and Jordan took five three-point shots apiece on Saturday night, and each made four.
KU coach Roy Williams, it goes without saying, was impressed by the outside shooting of the two seniors, but what's this about the rims?
"Adonis would love to play here the rest of his life," Williams said. "I don't understand why he was talking about the rims, though. His shots didn't touch the rims. They went right through the net."
Basically, so did Walters' three-pointers.
Call it the rims or call it the nets. The Jayhawks shot 64.9 percent (37 of 57) so it must have been something.
"They were friendly," was how reserve Patrick Richey described them when asked what he thought of the rims.
Friendly or loose, those rims more than negated the unfriendly atmosphere in an arena packed with 19,526 predominantly Louisville fans.
"We all like the challenge of playing on the road," Walters said. "When people say they think we can't win, we like to prove 'em wrong."
You can toss a little vengeance into the mix, too. That 85-78 defeat the Cardinals handed Kansas in Lawrence a year ago fit under the incentive category.
"That was one of only two losses in my career in Allen Fieldhouse," Jordan pointed out. "We looked at it as revenge."
Sean Pearson learned before the game that he has been granted another year of eligibility.
"I think it's great. It gives me a chance to play a little more," Pearson said.
Admittedly, Pearson was surprised because Kansas had appealed his status nearly a year ago and the NCAA rejected the petition.
"I just really stopped thinking about it," Pearson said.
Late in the first half, it appeared Pearson had stopped thinking when he launched a long-range bomb that caromed off the backboard and clanged in for a three-point goal.
"I think he had a brain lapse," Williams said with a smile. "That's the first time I can remember a Kansas player shooting from out there. . .Sean has been excited all weekend and I guess he was there."
Richard Scott, who played only five minutes Thursday night against Oral Roberts because of a bruised tailbone, logged 24 minutes Saturday night, scoring 14 points and grabbing five boards.
"It's still sore, but it's getting better," trainer Mark Cairns said. "He's moving better."
Saturday's defeat was Louisville's worst at home since Memphis State clipped the Cards, 75-52, in the championship game of the 1987 Metro Conference tournament. Earlier this season, Kentucky conked the Cards, 88-68, in Freedom Hall.
All 10 Jayhawks who played in the first half scored and none were in double figures.
"That's Kansas," Richey said. "We don't have one guy scoring 23 points a night. We have a lot of different weapons."