THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2008
3B
football notebook
» Kansas didn't need to leave Lawrence to find a replacement for former defensive coordinator Bill Young. The Kansas City Star reported Monday that the Jayhawks' new defensive coordinator will be Clint Bowen. Bowen has
worked in various capacities on the Kansas coaching staff for nine seasons after playing at Kansas for three seasons. He served as co-defensive coordinator with Young for the past
Bowen
two seasons in addition to coaching the team's safeties. Bowen grew up in Lawrence and played football at Lawrence High School before working as a graduate assistant at Minnesota and Kansas and coaching the Topaka Knights of the IFL. Other possible internal options included linebackers' coach Steve Tovar and cornerbacks' coach Je'Ney Jackson. Kansas is in need of a wide receivers' coach after the departure of Tim Beck to Nebraska earlier this month.
» According to recruiting Web site, www.nvals.com, junior college offensive player of the year Jocayre Crawford verbally committed to Kansas over the weekend. The 6-foot-1, 220-pound running back originally committed to Texas Tech but backed out and later chose Kansas. Crawford, who will be a junior in the 2008 season, ran for 1,935 yards and 19 touchdowns last season at Cisco Junior College in Cocoa, Texas.
» Three former Jayhawks made the trip to Houston for last week's East-West Shrine Bowl, but only two participated. Former Kansas wide receiver Marcus Henry and running back Brandon McAnderson both played for the West team. Henry caught one pass from nine yards.
Defensive tackle James McClinton had a seizure early last week, forcing him to miss the game. The West defeated the East 31-13 in the
McClinton
exhibition that many players use as a showcase for professional scouts leading up to the NFL Draft.
the HIGH/LOW
-Asher Fusco
Self says Big 12 too early to call despite surprise start
Moving through the second week of Big 12 Conference play things have yet to take full shape
BY RUSTIN DODD
dodd@kansan.com
In his fifth season at Kansas, Bill Self has learned some valuable lessons about the Big 12 Conference. Lesson number one: keep an open mind.
"Nothing in league play surprises me," Self said Tuesday during the weekly Big 12 teleconference.
But isn't Self just a little surprised that Big 12 conference stalwarts Texas A&M, Oklahoma and Missouri are 1-2 in conference play, while Baylor, a usual B12 bottomfeeder, is 3-0 and tied with Kansas atop the B12 standings?
"It's still early, and we shouldn't read too much into any of the records right now." Self said.
After all, Self pointed out that Kansas started 1-2 in the Big 12 in 2005-06 and went on to share the league title with Texas, but that doesn't mean that other people aren't surprised. Texas and Texas A&M, the two teams expected to compete with Kansas for the league title are sitting at fourth and sixth in the Big 12 standings. It's Kansas
Big 12 Conference Standings
| | Overall | Conference |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Kansas | 18-0 | 3-0 |
| Baylor | 15-2 | 3-0 |
| Kansas State | 12-4 | 2-0 |
| Texas | 15-3 | 2-1 |
| Iowa State | 12-6 | 2-1 |
| Texas A&M | 15-3 | 1-2 |
| Oklahoma | 13-5 | 1-2 |
| Missouri | 11-7 | 1-2 |
| Texas Tech | 10-7 | 1-2 |
| Colorado | 9-8 | 1-2 |
| Oklahoma State | 10-8 | 1-3 |
| Nebraska | 11-5 | 0-3 |
Self said he didn't think you could count out the Aggies and the Longhorns.
State, who is sitting at 2-0 with victories against Oklahoma and Texas A&M, and Baylor who are challenging Kansas for the Big 12 lead.
"A&M and Texas will still be challenging for it, and K-State all along we thought would have a great chance." Self said.
Other surprises include
Nebraska, who followed up a strong nonconference season by starting 0-3 in the conference, and Iowa State. The Cyclones have defied expectations by starting 2-1 with home victories against Missouri and Oklahoma State.
"It's still early," Texas coach Rick Barnes said during his conference call. "I think if you look around the country the first couple weeks of conference play, there's a lot up in the air about who's this or who's that. Some people have had a little more favorable schedule, possibly than others. That's why as you play the season out, it'll all play out."
But one thing most people can agree on is that the Big 12 is stronger than last year. With Kansas, Texas A&M, Texas and Baylor in the AP Top 25 poll, and Kansas State and Oklahoma receiving votes, the Big 12 is getting more attention.
"From top to bottom, you could make a strong case that this is as good as there is in America," Self said.
—Edited by Russell Davies
five games to watch this week
Kansas can go 19-0 with a win against the Iowa State, but the Cyclones' 2-1 league record is one of the surprises in the Big 12.
iowa State at Kansas 6 p.m., ESPN
Baylor at Texas A&M
7 p.m., No TV
TODAY
Baylor sits a 3-0 after victories against Iowa State, Oklahoma State and at Nebraska, and Texas A&M started 15-1, but has now lost consecutive B12 road
games to Texas Tech and Kansas State by double-digits.
Kansas State at Colorado 7 p.m., ESPNU
Kansas State's 2-0 start in the Big 12 is impressive given the way they won at Oklahoma and then beat Texas A&M at home. Can they continue to win on the road?
SATURDAY, JAN. 26.
Texas A&M at Oklahoma State
1 p.m., ESPN
What happened to Texas A&M?
The 1-2 Aggies will try to get back on track against the Oklahoma Cowboys.
Texas Tech at Texas 7 p.m. ESPN Plus
7 p.m. ET, 5 P.M. FS Texas Tech coach Bobby Knight has made a habit of engineering upset wins during the last two season. Last year Texas Tech beat Texas A&M and Kansas. They already have one win against Texas A&M this year. Can they give Texas a scare at home?
》 BIG 12 SENIORS
Underclassmen like Kansas State freshmen Michael Beasley and Bill Walker, Kansas sophomore Darrell Arthur, and Texas sophomore D.J. Augustin have been getting all the attention. But don't forget about the guys who have stayed in school: the seniors. Some of these players might not be stars in the NBA, but they still play the game the right way. Here's the High/Low's
Big 12 All-Senior Team.
Russell Robinson
6-foot-1 Kansas guard The glue of the best team in the conference.
Stefhon Hannah
6-1 Missouri guard Hannah held his own against Kansas' three-headed monster — Robinson, Mario Chalmers and Sherron Collins.
Richard Roby
6-6 Colorado guard
6-6 Colorado guard Roby's NBA career could be more notable than his tenure in Boulder, Colo. a rare feat.
Darnell Jackson
6-8 Kansas forward
He's overcome tragedy and is now a possible second-round NBA pick.
Aleks Maric
6-11 Nebraska Center He's 6-11 and 270 pounds,but it's his hands and footwork that will give him a 10-year NBA career.
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