Ever wondered what Bill Self thinks of the internet?
Check out Ryan Colaianni's story on the new kansan.com
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
FRIDAY, IANUARY 20, 2006
WWW.KANSAN.COM
PAGE 1B
ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT
Jayhawks raise bar
BY ERIC JORGENSEN
ejorgensen@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
The cover of the University of Kansas Athletics Department five-year strategic plan features a pristine Kansas sky. That sky is what the department is aiming for with its recently released plan to make Kansas the nation's premier athletics institution.
"We want this athletic department to be one other athletic departments strive to be like," said Jim Marchiony, associate athletics director. "That goes from teams to quality of coaches to money raised and quality of facilities."
The department released its strategic plan last week in a 23-page booklet named "Unparalleled Excellence." The plan covers everything from facility construction and renovation to increased strength of schedules to improved halftime shows.
The goals of the plan started coming to life last year, including the new video boards at Memorial Stadium and Allen Field-
house. A few of the noteworthy goals in the plan are:
Increase football revenue
The department's goal is to increase football revenue 10 percent each year for the next five years.
"The first goal is to increase season ticket holders," Marchiony said. "The second is to sell more game-day tickets."
Marchiony said the key would be more winning football seasons and successful marketing.
Strengthen ability to maintain and recruit coaches of "high value"
The department recognizes the importance of keeping its coaches when other programs come knocking, Marchiony said. The plan stated that the department wanted to create an environment that would draw coaching prospects and retain current coaches.
"It's what needs to be done to keep the coach," Marchiony said. "It's a combination of providing a good package with an atmosphere that would make someone not want to leave."
Increase number of female coaches and staff.
In the past three years, tennis, women's golf and women's basketball all hired female head coaches. The department wants to continue monitoring potential female coaches and personnel for future positions, according to the plan.
Kansas women's tennis coach Amy Hall-Holt is in her third season as head coach and her eighth season at the University. Hall-Holl said there were plenty of opportunities for female coaches in the department and that she had received good treatment.
"I've been treated with nothing but open arms," Hall-Holt said.
Increase fundraising goal
The department hopes to increase its donations and fundraising income by 10 percent each year for five years.
Kirtland said the Williams Fund, an athletics scholarship fund, used techniques such as increasing the amount of money required to obtain game tickets
to encourage more donations.
The department's goal to add and upgrade facilities will not include a new basketball arena.
Allen Fieldhouse received upgrades last summer and will continue to be home to basketball for years to come, according to outlines of the plan.
"Allen Fieldhouse is an important part of the University and Lawrence's history," Marchiony said. "That was not even part of the thought process."
Marchiony said there would be no new arena in the next 10 years.
The department is convinced its goals are within reach. Marchiony said the strategic-plan is a challenge. However, he said the purpose was to make the University more appealing for student-athletes and the students, and the department would work hard to make these goals reality.
- Edited by James Foley
BASEBALL
George Long/KANSAN
Freshman catcher Buck Afenfir fires the ball to stop the runner. Afenfir will compete to replace two-year starter Sean Richardson.
Tough schedule pays off for KU
BY ALISSA BAUER
abauer@kansu.com
KANASAN STAFF WRITER
This spring's preseason Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) rankings, posted last month on SEbaseball com, lists the Jawahars at No. 26. Primarily based on each team's overall intended strength of schedule, that No. 26 spot is 74 spots higher than Kansas began last season.
The Jayhawks have taken another step in the right direction to reach the NCAA tournament by scheduling tougher teams to play.
"The hard part is that we have to play now. It's one thing to have those kinds of expectations. It's another thing to play up to that level."
Winning games in what SEbaseball.com calls a "power conference" like the Big 12, automatically gives the team a postseason look. Tack on the weight of their non-conference schedule and, if Kansas can record its fourth consecutive 30-win season, it will be nearly impossible to deny the trip to Price's team.
"Obviously it's exciting to pick up a Baseball America and see that they're projecting us to be in the field." Coach Ritch Price said.
Price said he was pleased with his team's work ethic. He added that his team could secure a comfortable top 20 RPI spot by winning a few games and series here and there against top opponents going into the Big 12 season.
"We've made significant steps in the last three years and have experienced players back," Price said. "When I did the schedule. I wanted to make sure that there was absolutely no way that we got left out of the tourney if our kids went out and elevated our play one more notch this spring."
To prepare, the Jayhawks started work on Saturday, practicing five times a day in the week leading up to the spring semester.
The Jayhawks will play their first 15 games away from home, and only stop in Lawrence long enough to play four games before another 10 name road stint.
"The key with this team, with all due respect to our freshman, but we're a veteran team," Baty said. "We have a lot of experience. It's time to make a stand for Kansas baseball this year."
Baty, one of the three team captains, showed similar confidence in the season ahead.
— Edited by Jodi Ann Holopirek
▼ WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
OKLAHOMA STATE VS. KANSAS 1 P.M. SUNDAY AT ALLEN FIELDHOUSE
Kansas Javhawks (12-3, 1-3 Big 12)
Player to watch:
Freshman guard Ivana Catic has turned heads with her spectacular play on the offensive side of the ball, but has struggled against Big 12 Conference competition on defense. In the same way that the Jayhawks can count on Catic to make a big pass, they need her to make stops on the other end of the court.
Kay to victory:
Opponents have defeated Kansas with zone defenses that keep the ball from getting inside to senior forward Crystal Kemp. When the Cowgirls start to move defenders closer to the basket, the Jayhawks' three-point duo of senior guards Erica Hallman and Kaylee Brown will be called on to hit some big shots. Season in review.
Entering the season, the Jay
hawks just wanted to play somewhere in March. After a 12-0 start, the Jayhawks started to get national attention, including a spot on ESPN's Bracketology. A three-game losing streak has brought fans back to earth, but winning Sunday would put the Big Dance back into play.
Previous Meeting:
After a huge February victory against Missouri in 2005, Kansas failed to build momentum, losing to Oklahoma State 57-54 in Stillwater, Okla.
The 'Hawks led most of the game, but surrendered the lead with four minutes to play. The team's record dropped to 10-11. Kansas did not reach .500 for the remainder of the season.
- Michael Phillips
Oklahoma State Cowgirls (6-10, 0-5 Big 12)
Player to watch:
Junior center Whitney Pegram enters the game as the team's leading scorer, averaging 17 points and 5.6 rebounds a game. Pegram is a force on the defensive end. She ranks sixth in the nation in blocked shots. Key to victory:
Pegram could present a defensive problem, matched up against Kansas senior forward Crystal Kemp. If Pegram can hold Kemp under her season average of 19.5 points per game, the Cowgirls could pull out a victory. The key for Oklahoma State will be to shut down Kemp and force Kansas' streaky shooting guards to make shots.
Season in review:
The Cowgirls come to Lawrence under new coach Kurt Budke on a five-game losing streak. The only games Oklahoma State has won this season have come at home against the likes of Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Texas Â&M-Commerce. Playing away from Gallagher-IBal Arena hasn't been as kind. The team has dropped 23 consecutive road games dating back to the 2003 season.
Previous meeting:
Previous meeting:
The Cowgirls won only their second and final conference game last season against the Jayhawks. They won 57-54 in Stillwater, Okla. A 15-3 Oklahoma State run early in the second half sealed the victory against a cold-shooting Kansas team. Junior center Christian Hood, the Cowgirls' only returning starter, scored 12 points and pulled down seven rebounds. The victory was Oklahoma State's last conference victory.
Ryan Schneider
DOWN THE HALL
Hope remains for young team
I went out to the movies Wednesday night and of course I saw the one sports movie that's currently playing — "Glory Road."
The University of Kansas was well-represented in the film. One of the longest scenes in the movie was of the Final Four game between Kansas and Texas Western in which Texas Western prevailed.
I personally loved the film, which is ranked the number one movie at the box office, according to imdb.com. It was no "Hoosiers," but it was a well-done sports movie that told the story of the national champion 1966 Texas Western Miners.
Aside from sending the message to treat all athletes equally, regardless of race, the movie effectively represented the history and pride of Kansas basketball, especially in 1966.
One thing I have learned from being a student at Kansas for
TIM HALL thall@kansan.com
the past three years is that the Jayhawks have passionate fans who will stay behind the team no matter what. But like all schools, there are always critical fans who get overly upset after two straight losses. If you want proof, just check out today's edition of the "Free for All."
But this season should come as no surprise.
This season, the basketball team is 10-6. It has lost two in a row. However, I like to think the team has won seven of its last nine.
Inconsistencies will naturally creep up on a team that starts
But you can bet the young Jayhawks will protect their home court and not let a three-game losing streak occur. Even though they are young, they are capable of realizing the importance of tomorrow's game.
The Jayhawks will face one of the better Cornhusker teams in the past decade tomorrow. Coach Barry Collier has his team and his fans energetic and ready to play at 12-4. Fans rushed the court after a home victory against Oklahoma. Nebraska also won on the road at Kansas State.
Before you get quick to jump on Kansas coach Bill Self for losing to Kansas State for the first time in 12 years or senior forward Christian Moody for missing two free throws, just realize that we all have the oppor-
two freshmen and two sophomores. Let's not forget the Jayhawks have the entire Big 12 schedule in front of them.
After I saw Glory Road I thought of how we are able to enjoy college basketball for what it is. We don't have to deal with the hate and the racism that Texas Western endured. Haskins paved the way for the advancement of NCAA basketball to make it what it is today—a sport in which the best players can play regardless of their race.
We've come a long way since 1966 even here at Kansas. Four of five KU starters are African American. So instead of being critical of a young team, let's all just be grateful to be a part of this rich history. Let's go out there and play Kansas basketball.
unity to be a part of the third winningest program in Divison I basketball history. We have the privilege to bring in the most talented players in the country year after year.
Hall is a Woodbridge, Va., senior in journalism.
Y