2005
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
S
SPORTS
es/KANSAN
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17,2005
PAGE 1B
WWW.KANSAN.COM
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Friends, coach show support
Teammates confident Jackson will rebound
BY MIRANDA LENNING
mlenning@kansan.com
KANSAN SENIOR SPORTSWITHER
Darnell Jackson's nine-game suspension for violating an NCAA extra-benefits rule is just another negative in what has been a tumultuous summer and fall for the sophomore forward.
Jackson grandmother and mother were involved in a fatal car accident that resulted in the death of his grandmother in early June. His mother survived the accident, but has suffered with health problems since.
Now, just as things were starting to look up, Jackson not only has to sit out nine games, but he will have
The suspension couldn't come at a worse time for Jackson or the Jayhawks. After sitting out the first exhibition game, Jackson played well in Monday's game against Pittsburg State. He was three for five from the field with six points and five rebounds.
to stay behind as his teammates travel to Hawaii on Saturday.
"This stung him pretty hard," Kansas men's basketball coach Bill Self said. "The guy really needed something kind of fun and positive to happen with all he has been through lately, and this is something that he was looking forward to."
Jackson's teammates said he seemed to be at a low point, but they were confident he would rebound from it.
"He might not show it, but I think that he is definitely taking it hard, pretty hard," sophomore guard Russell Robinson said. "But I'm sure he will be fine and ready to come back."
Kansan file photo
Sophomore forward C.J. Giles said Jackson's teammates, especially his sophomore classmates, were trying to be there for their friend and teammate.
"We are real close, everybody is close, even the seniors, so I think we are all taking the blow together," Giles said. "We are trying to be there for him and basically trying to handle our business and trying not to be distracted."
The suspension couldn't come at a worse time for Jackson or the Jayhawks. After sitting out the first exhibition game, Jackson played well in Monday's game against Pittsburg State. He was three for five from the field with six points and five rebounds.
"He was the top big man in practice, and he played well the other night, so it is going to be a tough loss, but I think we can hold the fort down, we have to hold the fort down until be gets back," Robinson said.
Not having Jackson in the rotation will force the other forwards — especially Giles and Sasha Kaun — to play more minutes inside and stay out of foul trouble.
SEF JACKSON ON PAGE 8R
Sophomore forward C.J. Giles and sophomore forward Darnell Jackson jog onto the court before the exhibition game against Pittsburg State Monday night. Giles and the rest of the Kansas big men will have to pick up the slack while Jackson is serving a suspension for NCAA violations.
▼ FOOTBALL
Seniors may face finale
BY DANIEL BERK
dberk@kansan.com
KANSAN SENior SWIPTERWRIVER
Twenty seniors will look to extend their final season at Kansas one more game when the team plays host to Iowa State on Nov. 26.
If the Jayhawks defeat the Cyclones, they will conclude a perfect 6-0 record at Memorial Stadium and allow those seniors to have another month together.
With six victories, the team would be bowl eligible and would have a 12th game.
If Kansas falters, it will conclude the season and careers of the seniors.
It is a senior class that has endured a 2-10 season in 2002 and the hiring of current Kansas football coach Mark Mangino before the start of the 2002 season.
Mangino said he would be sad to see the seniors go and he couldn't think of a better way to end their home careers than with a victory and a bowl trip.
"This is a special group of kids," Mangino said. "They have worked hard, some of them have been here four, five years and committed themselves to the program. They are really a great bunch of kids and we'll miss them, there is no question about that."
Highlighting the senior class are linebackers Nick Reid, Kevin Kane and Banks Floodman. The three have combined this season for 206 tackles and are the team's three leading tacklers this year.
Reid is currently third all time at Kansas in career tackles with 394. He needs nine more tackles to tie Rick Bredsen for second place.
Two more players that will call it a Kansas career this season are wide receiver Mark Simmons and running back Clark Green.
Reid already is the team's career leader in tackles for loss with 43.
Both players are in the top 10 in several Kansas career records and Simmons is the school's all-time leader in pass receptions with 145.
SEE FOOTBALL ON PAGE 8B
VOLLEYBALL
Loss hurts Kansas'
Senior middle blocker Josi Lima spikes a ball during Wednesday night's game at Texas A&M. Kansas lost the match in five games.
Contributed photo
postseason dreams Jayhawks fall to Aggies
BY MATT WILSON
mwilson@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
The Jayhawks led the match 2-1 and held a late two-point lead in the fourth game before the Aggies stormed back to win. Sophomore opposite hitter Emily Brown recorded a triple-double that included a career-high 25 kills. Senior middle blocker Josi Lima also set a new personal best with 22 kills in the losing effort.
Kansas let a golden opportunity to take a huge step toward the postseason slip away Wednesday night, losing 3-2 at Texas A&M.
"We were in control after game one, and we had an opportunity to close out the match in game four," Kansas volleyball coach Ray Bechard said. "It would have been a huge win for us, but it just didn't work out."
The Aggies came from behind to win game one 32-30. The Jayhawks led for most of the game
M"
Ray Bechard Kansas Volleyball coach
We were in control after game one, and we had an opportunity to close out the match in game four. It would have been a huge win for us, but it just didn't work out."
and held a one-point advantage at 22-21 before the Aggies turned the momentum in their favor.
Both teams were extremely efficient in the first frame. Texas A&M posted a .429 attack percentage while Kansas hit .349.
Game two was another close battle. The Jayhawks came out on top 30-28 behind a stellar defensive performance.
PROFILE
Candice Rukes/KANSAN
SEE VOLLEYBALL ON PAGE 8B
Larry Hare, assistant athletics director of equipment operations, prides himself on the little jobs he does to ensure the success of the Athletics Department. Hare supervises the handling and management of equipment for all teams in the department.
No need for thanks
BY SHAWN SHROYER
sshroyer@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTSWRITE
His prime concern is the
He plays a vital role in the success of the Kansas Athletics Department. Without him, games couldn't be played and practices couldn't be run.
success and happiness of the teams, and he works behind the scenes to ensure that they are.
Despite the importance of his position, there are probably few students who know who he is.
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SEE THANKS ON PAGE 8B
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