THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2008
SPORTS
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Kansas played its first Big 12 road game at Nebraska on Jan. 12 and coach Bonnie Henrickson's team was handed from start to finish, falling 71-51, Cornhusker forward Kelsey Griffin scored a game high 15 points. Defensively, Griffin and center Danielle Page teamed up to harass freshman center Krysten Boogaard, forcing her to go scoreless for the only time this season. Boogaard and sophomore guard Danielle McCray gelled on the court lately, creating better opportunities for each other and a better chance for victory.
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QUESTION MARK
JAYHAWKS HOPE TO BOUNCE BACK Team ready to face Nebraska after defeating Colorado on the road
Will McCray and Boogaard combine for at least 35 points?
Each one of these players is a threat to put up 20 points on any given night, and it's not unlikely that they could both do it in the same game. Coach Bonnie Henrickson searches for a consistent third- scoring threat most of the season. The only reason to believe these two can't consistently dominate is that they're the two most foul-prone players on the team. Wednesday night McCray fouled out late in the game after picking up three fouls in just over a minute. If they can stay on the court, the Jayhawks can stay in the hunt.
McCray
NEBRASKA AT KANSAS, 2 p.m. Sunday, Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence
Boogaard
Kansas (14-9,3-7)
Danielle McCray, 5-foot-11 sophomore guard
—14.7 pp, 7.3 pp
Coach Bonnie Henrickson said she noticed an extra bounce in McCray's step leading up to the Colorado game. Apparently a little bounce is the difference between 11.3 points and seven rebounds – her average in the first nine Big 12 games – and an explosion of 24 and 10. McCray hasn't played this aggressive since the nonconference schedule and hopefully it wasn't a one game deal.
Krysten Boogaard, 6-foot-5 freshman center
— 9.7 ppq,27 blocks
In every game Boogaard is looking more and more comfortable out on the court. With every basket made and every shot blocked the colossal Canadian is announcing her arrival to the elite group of Big 12 post players. Boogaard is averaging 16.8 points and 10.5 rebounds over the last four games. That's even more impressive considering two of those garnes pitted her against Oklahoma's Courtney Paris and Colorado's Jackie McFarland, both All-Big 12 first team selections last season.
Nebraska (17-7, 6-4)
Kelsey Griffin-6-foot-2 junior forward
Ivana Catic, 5-foot-8 Junior guard
Catic doesn't have the same turnover prob lems as fellow point guards LaChelda Jacobs and the now-injured Chakeltha Weldon. On the other hand, she normally doesn't provide the same play-making ability as the other two. Wednesday night, however, she decided to assert herself more offensively and it resulted in 10 points, including a pair of late free throws. She doesn't have to be the number one option, but a few plays for Catic per game can only make the Jayhawks better.
The All-Big 12 performer has led the Cornhuskers in half of their conference games. Against Kansas in January, Griffin scored 15 points and hauled in six rebounds on only six shots, but that was mostly against an overmatched Krysten Boogaard is averaging a double-double over the last four games, but if anyone can get the freshman center in foul trouble its Griffin.
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Danielle Page 6-foot-2 senior forward
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Griffin
pg. 6.6 ppg
Page may have had a banner performance in the first meeting with the Jayhawks, but she has proven to be a reliable scorer, rebounder and defender for the Conhuskers over her four-year career. Page and Griffin form a formidable one-two punch in the post that Kansas had trouble defending in Lincoln. If Griffin gets to the line against the Jayhawks, it could be a long afternoon.
Yvonne Turner 5-foot-8 sophomore guard
Page
— 8 ppg, 45 percent three-point in conference play
After shooting 17 percent from behind the arc in nonconference play by making 6-35 attempts, Turner has turned into a sharpshooter in 10 Big 12 contests. With Turner's outside shooting and Griffin and
Page inside, Nebraska's offen has the kind of balance that wins games in the Big 12.
Turner
Boogard
Andew Wiebe
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AT A GLANCE
Three losses in their last five games have left the Cornhuskers fighting for second in the Big 12 North. Nebraska handled Kansas easily in Lincoln but that was a completely different team. The Cornhuskers only loss to Big 12 North opponents was against Kansas State in Lincoln, and if Connie Yoris' team plays to its potential that shouldn't change on Sunday.
QUESTION MARK
Can Nebraska win the free-throw battle?
It's hard to lose when you make 30-2 free throws like Nebraska did when the two teams last met. While Kansas shot 87.5 percent from the free-throw line, that was on only eight attempts. If that trend repeats itself on Sunday, Nebraska will waltz to a seventh conference victory.
LPGA
Kuehne takes SBS Open lead
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Annika Sorenstam of Sweden follows her drive off the 10th tee during the first round of the LPGA SBS Open golf tournament at the Turtle Bay Resort in Kahuku, Hawaii, on Thursday.
BY JAYMES SONG ASSOCIATED PRESS
KAHUKU, Hawaii — Kelli Kuehne shot a bogey-free 5-under 67 to take the early first-round lead Thursday in the LPGA Tour's season-opening SBS Open.
Annika Sorenstam, coming off an injury-shortened season where she failed to win for the first time since her rookie season in 1994, was 2 under through 11 holes. She played in a group with defending champion Paula Creamer, also 2 under.
South Korea's Jacqueline Yang had three birdies and a bogey on each side to open with a 68, and countrywoman Meena Lee matched 45-year-old Sharri Steinhauer with a 69.
"I hit it well and I made a couple putts, so I'm certainly not complaining about my first round of '08," said Kuehne, whose best finish last year was a tie for 24th at the MasterCard Classic. She tied for 25th a year ago at Turtle Bay.
Kuehne was in the second group off the 10th tee and took advantage of the tranquil morning conditions.
The 30-year-old Kuehne attacked the pins with several strong wedge shots from about 100 yards and made a move just before the turn by birdieing Nos. 16-18. She made
a 60-foot birdie putt on the par-3 fourth to reach 5 under.
The former University of Texas standout was considered a rising star after she won U.S. Women's Amateur titles in 1985 and '96 heft
"It was a bomb," she said.
Kuehne credited her preparation heading into the season and her caddie, Tracy Phillips, who also serves as a swing coach.
"I hit it well and made a couple putts, so I'm certainly not complaining about my first round of '08."
"Some bumps and bruises along the way. You get knocked down, you've got to get back up," Kuehne said. "I've certainly struggled. I think the struggle definitely taught me to be humble to say the least."
"He's my ace in the hole. If I follow directions,
it usually goes in," she said.
She won 1999 LPGA Corning Classic but has struggled in the past three years with only one top-10 finish. She finished fourth at Q-school to earn emptyn status this season.
KELLI KUEHNE LPGA golfer
1995 and '96 before turning pro.
The 37-year-old Sorenstam is playing at Turtle Bay for the first time and beginning her season a month earlier than usual. She is making her first appearance in Hawaii since
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winning the 2002 LPGA Taketou Classic at Wakolaoa.
The group at 70 included Michelle Ellis, Patricia Meunier-Lebouc, Meg Mallon and Gloria Park.
Sorentam was limited to 13 events last year because of neck and back injuries. She had six top-10 finishes, including a playoff loss to Meaghan Francella in the MasterCard Classic in Mexico.
Jo Shmo's 724 Mass. St. Lawrence KS www.burgersbeerbocce.com
2/13: College Dance Night w/ D.J. Ashton Martin. No Cover.
2/14: Wii Guitar Hero Valentine's Day Extravaganza.
All Week: Bocce Ball Madness. Did you practice?
All Week: Cheap Old Style, Pabst, Shlitz and Hamm's Cans.
Have you tried Ellie's Brown yet? We have it on tap.
Did we mention that we have an indoor Bocce court?
Opening events:
Open Monday Feb.11th