GANSAN
5,2008
SPORTS WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TO TAKE ON A&M PAGE 7B THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN WWW.KANSAN.COM FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2008 PAGE 1B
BASKETBALL
Nebraska coach displays confidence
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
KASHAN FILE PHOTO
Although his team is last place in the Big 12 Conference, Nebraska coach Dod Sadler thinks that his team will come to Kansas ready to play.
SPOTLIGHT
Jayhawks ready to face Cornhuskers
BY RUSTIN DODD rdodd@kansan.com
Nebraska Coach Doc Sadler understands why people could be questioning his team's confidence level. Sadler's Nebraska team has suffered three pridesqueleching losses in the last three weeks. After losing 79-58 to Kansas on Jan. 12, Nebraska lost on the road against Colorado and at home to Baylor.
And look who's staring the Cornshukers right in the face. It's No. 2 ranked Kansas Jayhawks - a program that has beaten Nebraska by an average of 31.3 points in the teams' last three games - and a trip to Allen Fieldhouse on Saturday.
"I think that's the question people are justifiably asking." Sadler said on a Tuesday conference call, when asked if his team still lacked confidence.
But Sadler, whose team sits at 0-3 and last place in the Big 12 Conference, said he thought his team's mindset was fine.
"If you look at the effort, and that's where you would, the fact of the matter is if we would have made free throws in two games, we would be two and one right now," Sadler said.
Nebraska shot 21 of 34 from the free throw line in its 72-70 loss to Baylor on Jan. 19, but the Cornhuskers did shoot 13 of 17 during their 55-51 loss at Colorado on Jan. 15.
"We're not getting easy baskets in transition," Sadler said. "You're two wings, whoever are playing in those two positions, aren't giving us a lot offensively and we have to get better in that area."
Nebraska's loss to Colorado was especially surprising. Colorado is 9-9 and 1-3 in the Big 12 in its first season under new coach Jeff Bzdelik, while Nebraska started its season 11-2 with non-conference victories against Oregon and Arizona State.
Sadler pointed to offensive woes to try to explain Nebraska's poor Big 12 start.
Kansas witnessed Nebraska's perimeter problems in-person when the Jayhawks traveled to Lincoln, Neb., on Jan. 12. Senior center Aleks Maric had 19 points, but Nebraska's four starting guards combined for 17 points on five of 24 shooting.
Still, despite their recent success against the Cornhuskers, sophomore forward Darrrell Arthur said his Jaiyah teammates know Nebraska will come into Allen Fieldhouse ready to play.
"It was pretty tough going there and beating them," Arthur said. "They pressured us pretty good."
Edited by Jared Duncan
Moving to the big times
Freshman thrilled to get minutes, blocks
BY MARK DENT mdent@kansan.com
During his high school days in Bloomington, Minn., Cole Aldrich would often curl up on the couch of his home and watch Big Monday basketball games on ESPN.
Oklahoma's Longar Longar often caught his attention on the TV. The Sooners' lanky center was a Minnesota native as well, and Aldrich thought it was "big time" that Longar played for OU.
Jon Goering/KANSAN
So when Aldrich banged around with Longar and even blocked one of his shots last week on the same telecast he enjoyed watching as a high school kid, you can bet he was excited.
Freshman center Cole Aldrich goes up for a shot against two defenders. The McDonald's All-American currently averages 3.2 points per game this season.
"I thought it was a thing where I could prove to myself I could hang with the big boys in the conference," he said. "With Longar Longar being one of the best big men in the conference and even the country, I had some pretty good moves against him and even got a piece of his shot, too."
Aldrich, a freshman center and McDonald's All-American, hasn't hit the big time just yet, but he's getting closer. He's averaging 3.2 points and 3.4 rebounds in about nine minutes a game and continues to come off the bench, even as the games and opposing forwards get tougher in conference play.
The Oklahoma game must have given him some extra confidence, because he came out against Missouri last Saturday and made a difference. Sophomore forward Darrell Arthur picked up two early fouls, and senior center Sasha Kaun wasn't performing at his highest level. The frontcourt needed a lift.
Aldrich came in and grabbed four rebounds and scored two points. OK, two might not be a great accomplishment, but he made sure the Tigers would remember his one basket. Aldrich broke free from DeMarre Carroll, one of the conference's best big men, and threw down a lob for an alley-oop.
The only surprise about Aldrich's stat line from the Missouri game was that he didn't get a block. He rejected two shots Wednesday against Iowa State, giving him 21 on the season.
"It was exciting." Aldrich said.
Aldrich has loved getting blocks since his high school days, when he averaged about four a game. He says blocks "tickle his fancy."
Arthur often finds it difficult to go against Aldrich in practice for that very reason. He knows every time he goes up against the freshman he could become his next shot-block victim.
"I always kind of joke around in practice when I block somebody," Aldrich said. "I'm like 'you got Spalding written on your forehead'."
"It's hard to score on him with his long arms," Arthur said. "It's pretty tough."
Arthur, Kaun and senior forward Darnell Jackson are the main reasons Aldrich has been getting limited minutes this season. At most schools, a McDonald's All-American like Aldrich would be playing at least 20 minutes a night his freshman year. That can't happen at Kansas.
Arthur and jackson are the team's top scorers. Kaun is playing better basketball since moving to the bench. The only way Aldrich can get in is when they need a breather or one of them gets into foul trouble.
"It's big for us to get guys minutes," Self said about Aldrich, "but that's not our focus going in. If you have Darnell, Shady and Sasha, people are telling me, 'you're only playing those guys 24 minutes a game?' Those guys deserve to play more to be real honest with you."
Next year, though, Aldrich might have to be the man. Kaun will be gone. So will Jackson. Arthur, who is projected as a late lottery pick, could leave early for the NBA Draft.
experience. I think it's going to workout for the best of me. Going against Darnell and Shady and Sasha is really making me better."
"Most guys who come in freshman year want to get X amount of minutes and score this many points and this many rebounds and all that," Aldrich said. "But for me, it's a learning
players in the country.
Aldrich said hed be ready to take on an increased role next season, but for now, he's enjoying getting the most out of his spot minutes and practicing with some of the best post
COMMENTARY
Edited by Russell Davies
Jackson shines as 'most valuable player'
In the first four seconds of Kansas' home conference opener against Oklahoma, senior forward Darnell Jackson came up big, making a dunk off the opening tip. In just the opening seconds of the game, Jackson made the same statement he had been making all year on the basketball court: he is Kansas' most valuable player.
Kansas players certainly let Jackson himself know how they felt about the dunk shot. "Brandon (Rush), Mario (Chalimers) and Russell (Robinson) told me that the dunk is what set the tone for the game," Jackson said after the game. "I was just trying to make sure that I hustled the ball down and then next thing I know, I was looking for a dunk."
Once again, in Kansas' road game against Missouri, Jackson made a key lay-up while being fouled by sophomore guard Keon Lawrence. Jackson went to the free-throw line and sank his bonus shot, giving the Jayhawks a 56-49 lead, their largest of the game at that point, with 12:31 remaining in the second half.
On Wednesday night against Iowa State, Jackson had his first double-double of the season, scoring 21 points and getting 11 rebounds. Before Wednesday night's game against Iowa State, Jackson had scored more than 20 points in three other games
Before conference play began on Dec. 31, Bill Self said on his Hawk Talk radio show that Jackson was Kansas' most improved player. Now, four games into conference play, Jackson is averaging 12.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. For a player who averaged 5.5 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, Jackson clearly has more than improved and has been a vital
After Julian Wright's early departure for the NBA last season, it was unclear who would fill in for the vacant spot at forward. Wright, who averaged 12 points per game and 7.8 rebounds, was a key part of last year's success in reaching the Elite Eight. Sophomore Darrell Arthur has done a great job at forward, averaging 13.4 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, but it is Jackson who is Kansas' most complete player.
Whether Jackson is making a jump shot, a lay-up in the paint or a mid-range jump shot, the 6-foot-8 forward is very consistent, which is reflected by his .682 field-goal percentage. For Jackson however, it is not about statistics.
part of Kansas' frontcourt.
"I don't care about any of the points. If we win, then I am glad," Jackson said after scoring 21 points in the first game of the season against Louisiana-Monroe. "If I would have had two points, I would have been happy with that as long as we win."
"It hasn't really sunk in yet. I always talk to my mom and ask her 'Can you believe it?' and she'll always say, 'No, I can't believe it,' said Jackson after the Iowa State game. "This is just out of the blue, I don't know why it's happening. I'm just trying to go out there and help my team."
Jackson started the season as Kansas' sixth man off the bench, now he is playing to the level of an all-conference player To Jackson, his improvement and role in becoming a key player on this season's jayhawk team have all come as a surprise.
With Kansas ranked No. 2 in the AP poll and 19-0, 4-0 in conference play, Jackson will be a key part in Kansas' continued success in its quest for its fourth straight B12 title. Given Jackson's stellar play and size, he might just find himself drafted by the NBA after the season, somewhere during the second round, if projections are correct. One thing is certain though; Jackson is Kansas' most valuable player right now.
- Edited by Jared Duncan
》 CLUB SPORTS
Having a home-ice advantage KU hockey to play host to first season matchup
BY JOE PREINER jpreiner@kansan.com
The team, whose record currently stands at 9-9-2 for the season, looks to continue its recent undefeated streak when it hosts Nebraska this weekend at Pepsi Ice Midwest in Overland Park.
KU club hockey notched two consecutive victories on the road at Texas A&M and Texas last week to open the semester. The road trip was refreshing for the team. Kansas effectively ended its four-game losing streak, scoring 13 goals to its opponents' four. Team president and player Dan Guilfoil, Eden Prairie, Minn., senior, said he enjoyed playing on the road.
The KU club hockey team plays its first home games of the semester tonight at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 3 p.m.
"Our road trips are a lot of fun for the team," Guilfoil said. "We get to experience cities we've never been to and it's a great way for our players to connect off the ice. ... This year our biggest wins have come on the road."
Kansas defeated Nebraska away from home in its two previous contests this season. In the last three years the Jayhawks have not lost a game against the Huskers, although one meeting ended in a tie.
"I expect us to have some competitive games against Nebraska," Guilfoil said. "But I expect us to win by at least four goals. Earlier in the year we beat
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Kansas Club Hockey will play against Nebraska in their first home game of the spring semester.
them 6-2 and 7-1 and I'm expecting a very similar outcome this week."
"I've only heard good things from our fans that make it to our games, especially the ones who've never been to a game before," Guilfoil said. "They are just overwhelmed by the speed and atmosphere that a hockey game contains and once they go once, they are hooked for life."
"I definitely feel some extra pressure, especially when we play against the good teams." Bredesen said. "Our first line has been looked to during the season to produce most of the goals and if we don't put a couple away, there is a good chance our team loses. Also, I personally need to stay out of the penalty box, but as long as we get two W's [this weekend] I'll be happy."
—Edited by Samuel Lamb
Winning by four goals seems to be a lofty expectation, but the team appears confident that it is an expectation it can meet. The team's leading scorer, Erik Bredesen, Crystal, Minn., junior, knows he needs to continue to contribute offensively if the team wants to win.
The arena at Pepsi Ice Midwest is almost always full for KU games. It never hurts to catch a weekend game and help cheer on your school.
schedule
Tonight, 8 p.m. vs. Nebraska Saturday, Jan. 26, 3 p.m. vs. Nebraska
Upcoming KU club hockey games,
all at Pepsi Ice Midwest;
1
Feb. 1-3, Big 12 Classic Tournament
Friday, Feb. 8, TBD, vs. Iowa State
Saturday, Feb. 9, TBD, vs. Iowa
State
For schedule, stats, game photos and directions to Pepsi Ice Midwest, visit the KU club hockey Web site at www.kuhockey.com.
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