THE UNIVERSITY JANUARY KANSAN FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2008
SPORTS
COUNTDOWN TO TIP-OFF
7B
KU TIP-OFF
ATAGLANCE
It's too early to call it a "win or go home" game, but that's exactly how coach Bonnie Henickson should be treating Saturday's tilt with rival Missouri. Mizzou at Allen Fieldhouse is as easy as it's going to get for Kansas. With a loss, the Jayhawks would drop to 0-4 in conference play with a trip to Boulder, Colorado scheduled for Tuesday. No one comes back from 0-4 in arguably the toughest conference in the nation, but 1-3 opens a few more doors.
Will Danielle McCray stay out of foul trouble?
QUESTION MARK
When McCray is on the bench, opposing teams attack – Baylor used a 16-4 run to put the game out of reach while McCray watched helplessly from a chair. Even when she isn't shooting well McCray's presence on the court sparks the Jayhawks and there's a noticeable lack of fire without her. McCray has proven that she's a much better basketball player than a cheer-leader and Kansas is a completely different team with her on the court - completely different and definitely better.
NOT THE ARIZONA YOU THINK Hawks tune up before real test
MISSOURI AT KANSAS 2 p.m. Saturday, Allen Fieldhouse, Jayhawk TV
PLAYERSTOWATCH
Danielle McCray, 5-11 sophomore guard
15.2 ppg, 6.8 pg
It's tough to tell whether McCray has been more affected by the stress reaction that sidelined her for three games in mid-December or the change in competition strength. Either way, the usually silky sophomore hasn't been the same in Big 12 play and the team has suffered with her dropping three
In a row by an average of 16 points, McCray's solid play is contagious throughout the team, and without her, they struggle to find a rhythm.
Sade Morris, 5-11 sophomore guard
12. 5 ppg, 83 percent from free-throw try Like McCray, Morris has had to battle back from an injury and her inconsistent play could be attributed to her ankle. Morris led Kansas with 17 points in its five-point loss to Oklahoma State and hit the key free throws in a 62-60 win over Xavier. However
Missouri 8-8
she completely disappeared in Wednesday night's loss at Baylor, hitting just 2-for-7 shots for four points. Morris needs to be able to step up when McCray is in foul trouble and if she can't, Kansas has almost no chance of winning.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Taylor McIntosh, 5-11 senior forward
8.3 ppq, 7.8 rpg
Mcntosh leads the team and ranks eighth in the conference with 7.8 rpg, but her offense is almost nonexistent some nights. Against Baylor, Mcntosh scored eight points but missed six shots, all in the paint. Coach Bonnie Henrickson loves to run her offense through the post and the lack of a solid inside
presence has resulted in more ill-advised outside shots. McIntosh has some high expectations that she needs to start living up to.
Alysia Hollins 5-11 junior guard
17 pts. 37 percent 3PT
Hollins is an explosive scorer that is an offensive and defensive force for the Tigers. Not only does she lead Missouri in points and three-pointers, she also averages more than two steals per contest. In order for the Tigers to be successful, Hollins must establish some sort of offensive rhythm. She dropped 25 points to lead Missouri to their long Big 12 Conference
points to lead Missouri to their lone Big 12 Conference win against Texas Tech. ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲
Jessra Johnson 6-1 sophomore forward
15.1 pts. 8.3 pg
Johnson is the thunder to Holllins' lightning. The talented sophomore provides defensive muscle and the ability to score in the paint while Holllins lights it up from behind the arc. Her statistics are even more impressive considering she only plays 24 minutes per game. Although not a significant shot-blocking
threat, Johnson plays solid positional defense and is extremely effective on the glass. Johnson's one noteworthy weakness is her tendency to turn the ball.
Toy Richbow 5-6 sophomore guard
3. 3 pts, 4.3 apg
Though not a threat to score in double digits, Richbow may be the Tigers most well-rounded player. She has started 14 of 16 games at the point guard position and averages almost four rebounds per game in addition to her assist totals. Along with Holllins, she rarely leaves the court and her 1.5 assist-to-turnover ratio is above average. If Richbow can be
to-turnover ratio is above average. If Richow can be efficient with the ball, Hollins and Johnson will get plenty of chances to cause damage.
MU
TIP-OFF
ATAGLANCE
This is an important game for both teams not only because of the rivalry ramifications, but because each is currently expected to finish in the bottom half of the conference. Missouri needs a win to get them to .500 in the conference and provide momentum for the remainder of what promises to be a difficult final 12 games.
QUESTION MARK
Can the Tigers find scoring outside Hollins and Johnson?
Kansas will try to slow down the two-headed monster that Hollins and Johnson have become by forcing Missouri to get them the ball where they aren't comfortable. The Tigers must find a third threat to force the Jayhawks to give the duo room to operate.
WBB (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
tion in her game since arriving in Lawrence, Smith said.
"In high school I never really had to play defense the way I do now," she said. "I never really had to sit down and work and that's been the biggest chance for me."
At 6-foot-5,
Boogaard began
showing flashes
of her offensive
potential against
the smaller post
players Kansas
faced before Big
12 Conference
games. Against
Nebraska, she
missed all seven
and they know our strengths and our weaknesses," she said.
"We know that the teams are scouting us a lot harder because they have more film on us."
Despite the winless start for the Jayhawks, Smith said the unpredictability of the Big 12 Conference boded well for the remaining 13 games of Big 12 play. Tomorrow's
KRYSTEN BOOGARD Freshman center
shots she took and was clearly affected by the defense the Huskers threw at her.
After benefiting from the anonymity of being a freshman, Boogaard said Big 12 teams were putting together better game plans against the Jayhawks than their nonconference counterparts.
"We know that the teams are scouting us a lot harder because they have more game film on us
matchup with Missouri is key in determining whether or not Kansas can climb back into the middle of a crowded pack.
"The rest of our games are obviously going to be tough
Conference play hasn't begun the way the pair has hoped, but both remain optimistic about their chances to surprise teams that overlook the young Jayhawks.
because it's the Big 12 and teams are good from top to bottom," Smith said. "We have already seen big upests by teams we didn't think were going to beat anybody."
Edited by Madeline Hyden
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Benefit Performance
ENGLISH ALTERNATIVE THEATRE
50 years of love and marriage Lights Fade, Curtain by Whitney Rowland Directed by Paul Stephen Lim
10 PM Saturday Jan.19,2008
Scenic & Lighting Design by Lee Saylor Sound Design by Nick Mosher Costume Design by Ione Unruh
Also featuring audition pieces by these Irene Ryan nominees and partners:
Dana Dajani with Mackenzie Wiglesworth R. Troy Hirsch with Dylan Walker Chris McGillivray with Garrett Kelly Catie Provost with Logan Walker Samantha Raines with Whitney Rowland John Volk with Megan Smith
Lawrence Arts Center
940 New Hampshire • Tel. 843-2787 $6 Students, $8 Seniors, $10 Others
KCACTF Region V Festival 40 Invited Production Omaha, Nebraska January 20-26, 2008