SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
KU ANNOUNCES NEW DEFENSE COORDINATOR
WWW.KANSAN.COM
COMMENTARY
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2008
PAGE 3B
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Young's move to Miami affects players, students
BEHIND THE SCENES
On Jan. 3, the Kansas Jayhawks perched near the top of the college football world, improbable Orange Bowl champions and one of the sport's feel-good stories.
Four days later, the exodus began.
Wide receivers coach Tim Beck headed north to fill a spot on Nebraska's coaching staff. All Americans Aqib Talb and Anthony Collins announced their intent to enter the NFL Draft after their junior campaigns. And defensive coordinator Bill Young accepted the same position at Miami
During his six-year stay at Kansas, Young was anything but an attention-grabber. He looked more like a grandfather than a guru. When talking football, Young spoke in honest terms, free of common coach-speak and platitudes. He didn't mince words and wasn't afraid to acknowledge weaknesses, as he did early in the 2007 season when he said the Kansas pass-rush needed some serious work.
For Jlayhawk football followers still basking in the warmth of a 12-1 season and admiring their South Beach tans, the biggest news of January might have been the ever-expanding row of awards lining up on Mark Mangino's mantle. For fans who have peeled off their rose-colored sunglasses and stopped sipping fresh-squeezed Florida orange juice, the loss of Young is a definite cause for concern.
Young could locate talent in the most unlikely of places, a valuable skill in a region high on demand for football players and low on supply. He helped pluck Chris Harris out of Bixby, Okla., late in the recruiting process last year. A lightly-recruited high school wide receiver-turned Big 12 cornerback, Harris made 65 tackles and two interceptions as one of the Jayhawks' defensive mainstays.
Is Bill Young irreplaceable? Probably not. Tough to replace? Most definitely.
Whether it was a cause for or a symptom of his success, Young connected with his players at Kansas - and made a lasting impression.
"Coach Young is a great guy. He's one of those guys you could go fishing with and just waste the whole day away because he's a great conversationalist and a great person," safety Darrell Stuckey said. "I like being around people like that — people you can learn something from because they just breathe success and want to improve life for all of us. He promotes life and knows that football isn't everything, but it's a great game and he loves it and puts his heart into it."
Young could develop average-looking players into major contributors and coach undersized defenders into stars. Four years ago, James McClinton arrived at Kansas a too-short, so-tail three-star recruit. Three weeks ago, McClinton ended his collegiate career as a second-team All-American and Big 12 Conference Defensive Lineman of the Year. During his seasons spent learning from Young, McClinton harnessed his talents, learned how to properly release those talents, and went from afterthought to the worst nightmare of every offensive lineman in the Big 12.
Young's slate of tangible accomplishments at Kansas is impressive. He inherited a train wreck of a defense that allowed 472 yards per game in his first season as coordinator. That number slipped to 412 the next year, 345 the next, 303 in 2005, kicked up to 378 in 2006 and shot back down to 317 last season. During that span, he coached current professionals Charles Gordon and David McMillan and future NFL Draft pick Abq Talib.
If next year's jayhawk defense isn't quite as stout as it was in 2007, some fans will lament the losses of Talib to the NFL and McClinton to graduation. In reality, Young's under the radar flight to Miami could have a greater effect on the team's fortunes.
Sade Morris, sophomore, guard, (top left) and Chakeitha Weldon, freshman guard, (bottom) share a laugh with Taylor Mcintosh, senior forward, (right) as the three watch a DVD scouting report on Baylor last Tuesday night at the Hilton Waco in Texas. Coaches instructed the players to watch the DVD before going to bed.
Following the away game
A glimpse at the hard work and stylish travel of the KU women's basketball team
BY B.J. RAINS
bjrains@kansan.com
Editor's note: The Kansas women's basketball team granted Kansan sportswriter B.J. Rains excuses, behind-the-scenes access on their recent road trip to Waco, Texas, to face the sixth-ranked Bears. Thanks to the women's basketball program for help with this
story. Here's a look at day one; look for part two of this story Thursday.
When we see two teams take the court for a game, we often fail to realize how much preparation and time has been put into getting the teams ready for the game. We also don't think about the travel schedule, hotel accommodations, meal schedule or many
other things that actually play a big role in the road team's preparation and readiness to be on the field or court at game time.
On Jan. 15 and 16, the Kansas women's basketball team and coach Bonnie Henrickson allowed me to travel with the team and sit in during all the teams' meetings and practices leading up to their game against No. 6 Baylor in Waco. I tried to find
out as much as I could about how a team prepares for an upcoming game and what happens that the average person doesn't get to see. My observations were interesting, and I thank coach Henrickson for being so accommodating on the trip and allowing me exclusive access.
SEE BEHIND THE SCENES ON PAGE 6B
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Early foul trouble negates commanding start
tbern@kansan.com
BY TAYLOR BERN tbern@kansan.com
Kansas took the opening tip-off and stormed out to an 18-8 lead over Colorado Tuesday night. Then a cold spell worse than anything Lawrence has experienced in the last two weeks hit the Jayhawks, and the Buffaloes were happy to take advantage with a 21-4 run.
Things only got worse in the second half as turnovers plagued Kansas (12-6, 1-4) while Colorado (13-5, 2-3) efficiently put the game of reach, cruising to a 59-41 victory.
"The team's got to dig in and be more
The two shining stars of Saturday's victory over Missouri, freshman Krysten Boogaard and sophomore Danielle McCray, were each in early foul trouble and forced to watch much of the first half from the bench.
McCray's exit sparked Colorado's big run, something that's been a problem for Kansas in Big 12 play.
In the Jayhawks' three other conference losses, Oklahoma St., Nebraska and Baylor used runs of 16-3, 17-2 and 16-4, respectively.
tough-minded," said a hoarse coach Bonnie Hendrickson at the game. "We didn't and that's what is so frustrating."
In the second half, the Jayhawks failed to slow down the Buffs offensive attack and committed turnovers on most of their offensive possessions.
Thanks to their run, Colorado went into halftime with all of the momentum and a 29-22 advantage.
after McCray left the game in foul trouble.
Whether it was traveling, charging, a moving screen or just bad passing - nothing was going right for Kansas as they turned the ball over a season high 27 times.
That poor play at the end was worse in Henrickson's eyes once she thought about
her team's terrific start.
"For 14 minutes we were as good as we've probably been on the road all year," Hendrickson said, "and where that goes is beyond me."
McCray was 0-for-4 from beyond the arc but still finished with a team high 12 points and 10 rebounds, her second straight double-double. She was the only Jayhawk to score in double digits.
Kansas has little time to recover with No. 21 Texas A&M coming to Allen Fieldhouse for a 7 p.m. tipoff on Saturday.
—Edited by Daniel Reyes
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Quick whistle adds to Kansas' vulnerability
BY MARK DENT
mdent@kansan.com
Referee Ed Hightower drew lots of cheers and a few laughs from the Missouri crowd Saturday night after exaggerating hand symbols for several foul calls he made. It's unlikely the layhawk players were laughing, though; referees have caused them trouble all season.
If Kansas loses tonight against Iowa State at 7 p.m. or anytime this season, the Jayhawks might look to the referees as the biggest reason for the loss and not the opponent. Kansas has struggled in tightly officiated games this year. The team's four closest victories, against Southern California, Georgia Tech, Arizona and Missouri, have been foul-filled, grind-it-out battles.
Referees whistled 45 total fouls in Arizona and Kansas players in November, 40 at USC, 44 at Georgia Tech and a
whipping 52 on Saturday in the Missouri game. In blowouts against Oklahoma, Boston College and Nebraska, referees called 35 fouls or less. Against Ohio in December, a physical game according to Kansas coach Bill Self, only 23 fouls were called.
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Fouls, by Kansas or by its opponents, prevent that from happening. In the four close victories, the layhawks have averaged just 67 points per game in regulation. The team is averaging 87 points per game in all its other victories.
A large number of fouls slows the pace of the game, and senior forward Darnell Jackson said it was particularly costly for the Jayhawks.
"We like to get out and run, try to get easy layups in transition and get lobs," jackson said.
SEE FOULS ON PAGE 6B
figure it out
Fouls Called Opponent Final Score
45 Arizona 76-72 OT
40 USC 59-55
44 Georgia Tech 71-66
52 Missouri 76-70
Jon Goering/KANSAN
The Kansas basketball team has been receiving questionable calls from referees in tight games, such as the November game against Arizona, shown above. Referees have caused the lajwahays total all season.
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