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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8,2008 PAGE 1B
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BASKETBALL
Battle of the guards
BY RUSTIN DODD
dodd@kansan.com
Russell Robinson has heard about what Baylor's guards have been doing to opposing teams this season.
"You can see I'm in the gym early today," Robinson, said after getting in a few extra shots before Thursday's practice. "We're going to have a tough weekend."
Those are words that might not have come out of the mouth of a Kansas player during the last few years. But this Baylor squad is different. At 17-4 and 5-2 in the Big 12 Conference, fifth-year head coach Scott Drew has Baylor head for third in the Big 12.
Waco, Texas wasn't always a paradise for Drew. He arrived in 2003 after one of the ugliest scandals in NCAA history. Carlton Dotson, a former Baylor basketball player, killed teammate Patrick Dennely and was sentenced to 35 years in prison. The situation turned uglier when then-coach Dave Bliss resigned under allegations that he tried to cover up the situation and portray Dennely as a drug dealer.
A myriad of NCAA sanctions came down on the program, and Drew – the new coach – was left to pick up the pieces.
Drew slowly turned the program around, and the main reason for Baylor's success this season has been the play of its quintet of guards.
"Baylor is probably as deep at the guard position as anybody in the country, one through five," Self said.
Senior Aaron Bruce, junior Curtis Jerrells, junior Henry Dugat, sophomore Tweety Carter, and freshman LaceDarius Dunn have a combined average of 56.7 points per game.
SOFTBALL
Jerrells, a honorable-mention All-Big 12 last season, is leading Baylor with 14.4 points per game.
Dugat can score as well, Carter's a former McDonald's All-American, and Dunn is a threat from the outside.
"You can line them up and play anybody"
Self said.
"They got a little bit of everything' Robinson said.
Baylor could provide just the right test for a Kansas team trying to raise its defensive play. Kansas has only produced nine steals during its last three games. Self said he expected his team's steal to decrease when Big 12 play began, but he says he's still concerned with his teams defense.
"We're getting beat way to much on the bounce, because we're lunging and reaching too much." Self said. "We're not forcing turnovers. It's a bad combination."
Robinson has heard Self's complaints.
"Coach calls it fishing and missing," Robinson said. "We're doing a little bit of gambling, a little out of synch, our help defense hasn't been great."
Kansas guards Robinson, junior Mario Chalmers, junior Brandon Rush, and sophomore Sherron Collins will be expected to contain Baylor's backcourt. Kansas backcourt - a group that many have called the best in the country - will be challenged by one of the few
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
A Kansas softball player drops to catch the ball. The team's first game of 2008 will be against Central Arkansas at the Central Florida Invitational in Orlando. Fla. at 8:30 a.m. The team's last game was in early October.
High hopes for spring
BY KELLY BRECKUNITCH
kbreckunitch@kansan.com
The University of Kansas softball team has high hopes for the coming season.
Yes, the team lost National Player of the Year candidate Kassie Humphreys, but coach Tracy Bunge said there was plenty of reason for optimism. Bunge said the team voted junior shortstop Stevie Crisosto, senior first baseman Addy Lucero and junior catcher Elle Pottrorf as captains.
Crissto said that by being a captain, she wanted to set an example for her teammates.
"I want to be more disciplined on and off the field," Criso told.
Bunge said she thought the team would have a very balanced lineup this season. Bunge said she expected Potorf and freshman catcher Brittany Hile to be great defensively behind the plate and she also expected Crisosto to play well at shortstop.
"I expect her to have a really solid year for
and really be as good as anybody in the big
12 at that position.' Bunge said.
With the loss of Humphreys, the pitching rotation will be relied upon in a different way.
Bunge said she didn't need the pitching staff to shut out opposing teams, but just to limit opportunities, because of the strength the Jayhawks have offensively and defensively.
"We're going to have to really pitch smart this year and pitch well." Bunge said.
Bunge spoke highly about this year's freshmen class as well.
Freshman second baseman Kolby Fessmire, Hile, and freshman outfielder Liz Kocon are all competing for starting positions, Bunge said.
their bats.
"They've given us a lot more depth," Bunge said. Bunge said she believes the offense will be very balanced and take some of the pressure off of the pitching staff. She believes many of the Jayhawks can contribute with
"I don't think it's going to be one person that carries the load." Bunge said.
Of course, Crisosto was the team leader in batting average last season, but Bunge added that a healthy Pottorf and junior outfielder Dougie McCaulley, a left-handed batter, would help solidify the Kansas lineup.
"We've got a lot of production possibilities in our lineup." Bunge said.
The lajhayws have a lot of goals for the season, Bunge said. Of course increasing their win total is one, but Bunge also said the team is striving for a high fielding percentage, around .975 or .980.
Crisoš took it even farther, saying the team wanted to make regional postseason play and finish in the top five in the Bie 12.
Bunge said the weather has hindered the team's preparation and that the warm weather team's may have the advantage early in the season, but this Jayhawk team will be dangerous. The Jayhawks are coming off a fourth
projected starting lineup
Position Name Year
C Elle Pottorf Junior
1B Amanda Jobe Sophomore
2B Sara Ramirez Sophomore
SS Stevie Crisoste Junior
3B Val Chappote Junior
OF Betsy Wilson Senior
OF Dougie McCaulley Junior
OF Ally Stanton Sophomore
consecutive season with 30 wins. Where do they go from there?
"40 wins is a big number." Bunge said. The Jayhawks have a lot of returning players to help achieve that goal.
Edited by Russell Davies
backwards that can claim to be Kansas' equal.
Self's still confident.
"We still have the best defensive guards around," Self said. They just haven't played to that level. You don't go from being a great defender to a bad defender in a week."
—Edited by Russell Davies
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Baylor's Curtis Jerrels drives past Texas Tech's Trevor Cook for a layup. Baylor defeated Texas Tech, 80-74 Wednesday in Waco.
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
》 COMMENTARY
Jackson's comeback an amazing feat
The 6-foot -8 Oklahoma City native's story is really a remarkable one; one that not many of us will ever be able to top. It's a story of sorrow, sadness, emptiness and now triumph. His well-documented past, including the deaths of four family members and two close friends, has given Jackson a path to success that few others will be able to achieve.
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Tragedy after tragedy continued to follow Jackson in recent years, and he thought more and more about quitting school and returning home to be with his family. He almost did, according to a recent article in Sports Illustrated magazine that I recommend you read. Not one of us would have questioned his decision, and we would have supported Jackson and wished him the best. Family comes first, and it would have been too much for almost any of us to take.
Think you're having a bad day? Darnell Jackson has had worse. Hurting because you lost a family member? Darnell Jackson has hurt worse. Having the time of your life? Yup, Darnell Jackson can top that, too.
But not Jackson. He decided to do the opposite, turning a sub-par KU career into one that will probably ensure his selection in the upcoming NBA draft. He turned 6.3 points and 4.9 rebounds average his sophomore year into a 12.9 points, 7.6 rebounds average this season. And it's not a coincidence that Jackson's improved play has coincided with the layhawks' 22-1 record. The team's scoring balance, probably the best in the nation, was accomplished in large part because of Jackson's contributions on the offensive end.
Most teams can boast two low-post threats similar to Darrell Arthur and Sasha Kau, but
few can say they have three as the Jayhawks now can with the emergence of Jackson. Add in Brandon Rush, Mario Chalmers, Russell Robinson and Sherron Collins, and the Jayhawks have arguably the best top-seven in all of college basketball.
And Jackson, who didn't start playing basketball until ninth grade, is one of the main reasons why. Though his numbers have gone up and he now hears his name announced during the starting lineup on a regular basis for the first time in his career, Jackson continues to play each second as a tribute to those he has lost and those who still support and love him.
After each made free throw, Jackson taps his heart three times with a closed right fist. One tap is for his Grandmother Evon, who died tragically from injuries she sustained after being hit by a drunk driver in May 2005. One tap is for his mother, Shawn, who was injured severely during that same car wreck and continues to be Jackson's best friend and driving force in his turnaround. And one tap is for his friend and mentor Don Davis, who illegally paid him $5,000 in benefits, which
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Despite past sorrows, Darnell Jackson proves to be an important part of the team.
forced Jackson to sit out nine games during the beginning of the 2005-2006 season with a NCAA-issued suspension.
Three simple taps to his chest, but a constant reminder of the past struggles he has overcome and the current success he is enjoying.
"Everything is coming true," Jackson said. "I am having a great time. I am enjoying every minute of it."
And for those who have followed Jackson's career at Kansas and the troubled past that he has overcome, we, too, are enjoying every minute.
Edited by Patrick De Oliveira
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