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FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2008
COMMENTARY
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Men's basketball game coverage limited to fans
KANSAN SPORTS COLUMNIST
bwheeler@kansan.com
This weekend you may want to ask your friends whether they get ESPNU, or channel 141, which will host the basketball team's first road game against Missouri this Saturday at 7 p.m. CST. For those curious about whether or not you have ESPNU, it is only available to those with the "Silver TV" and "Gold TV" packages through Sunflower, which are not so moderately priced at $63.80 and $108.70 per month.
If you call Sunflower Broadband, a recorded message with a woman's voice says, "Be sure to ask how you can watch the KU vs. MU away game this weekend that is only on Channel 141, ESPNU, included in the Sports Pack. Rock Chalk Jayhawk, Go KU!" Once you get in contact with a customer service representative, that person will tell you how you can watch the game. For those who have Sunflower Broadband's "Bronze TV" package, it is an additional $7.95 per month for the sports package. If you have the "Silver TV" or "Gold TV" package, the sports package is included.
Luckily, for those who do not have ESPNU, this weekend's rivalry matchup against Missouri is the only game the rest of the season on the obscure niche channel. The rest of Kansas' games are on ESPN, ESPN2, ABC and CBS. With this considered, this is a perfect chance to satisfy your insatiable desire for chicken wings or cheeseburgers at a nearby Applebee's, Buffalo Wild Wings or Old Chicago. From a cultural perspective, these are common foods involved with sporting events in this country.
But on to this weekend's game against Missouri. The Tigers are a tough team this year. Their resume boasts a 97-84 victory over then-No. 13 Texas on Jan. 12. To put things in perspective, Texas is a team that defeated UCLA on Dec. 2, who was ranked No. 1 in the AP poll.
After the Tigers' win against the Longhorns, Missouri was recognized as a legitimate threat this season. Coach Bill Self expressed his thoughts on Kansas playing Missouri during the postgame press conference after the Jayhawks blowout victory over Oklahoma Monday.
"We won't be over-confident going to Columbia," said Self. "Missouri got everyone's attention in the league the way that they handled Texas."
Missouri also boasts an 84-70 victory over Maryland at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo. The night before defeating Maryland, the Tigers nearly made a comeback against a then-No. 11 Michigan State. The Tigers were down 51-41 at halftime but managed to make a comeback in the second half before coming up short in the final two seconds, 83-86.
On the flip side, Missouri already has six losses this season and lost it's first conference game to Iowa State 67-72 Wednesday night. Missouri's other losses came against major conference opponents Arkansas, California, Illinois and Mississippi State. Its worst loss was 75-87 against Mississippi State on Dec. 30. 2007.
This year's Missouri Tigers are playing to the level of their opponents and have an 8-0 record at home. Given the fact Kansas and Missouri are archrivals, this game is a test for the Jayhawks. The last three years, Missouri was 2-1 against Kansas in Columbia, Mo. With the tenston amongst Kansas and Missouri fans during football season, one can expect a hostile environment full of loud Tigers fans at Mizzou Arena Saturday night.
Coach Self mentioned after the Oklahoma game that he anticipated a "juiced-up atmosphere" in Columbia Saturday. He also mentioned his eagerness to travel to Columbia as well.
— Edited by Meghan Murphy
"I really enjoy going to Columbia. We're not going to vacation this summer, but I really enjoy the atmosphere of going there," Self said.
For Kansas fans who are fortunate enough to find a place to watch the game on ESPNU, this game may just be a nailbiter.
FOOTBALL
Defense coach leaves for Miami
BY ASHER FUSCO afusco@kansan.com
The Associated Press reported Thursday that Kansas defensive coordinator Bill Young has accepted the same position at the University of Miami. According to AP,
Young is in the process of filing paperwork with Miami, and terms of the deal have not been finalized.
During his six year tenure at the University, Young directed defens-
Bill Young
country in points allowed per game.
es that were consistently among the best in the Big 12 Conference. In his first year as the Jayhawks defensive coordinator, the team allowed 472 total yards per game. By his third year at the helm, Young helped whittle that figure to 303 yards per game. Last season the Jayhawks finished 12th in the nation in total defense and fourth in the
MEN'S BASKETBALL
—edited by Madeline Hyden
Young will inherit a Miami defense that ranked 33rd in the nation in total defense in 2007 and he will join a team that won just five games and failed to reach bowl eligibility.
Tigers relying on life support
The Kansas-Missouri rivalry, while still a favorite among fans, hasn't been as intense in the past few years. The Tigers are 3-11 against the Jayhawks since 2002. Missouri hosts Kansas Saturday for a match that doesn't promise a very important rivalry for players like Brandon Rush.
Kansas' dominance over Missouri hasn't sucked life out of border rivalry
BY MARK DENT
mdent@kansan.com
This weekend's trip to Columbia, Mo., carries no special significance for Brandon Rush.
"This is my third time around" Rush said. "I'm not really on that rivalry thing no more."
Maybe Rush is right. Is this rivalry all that special anymore?
The Kansas-Missouri rivalry, still a favorite of fans and most players, hasn't produced as many mesmerizing games and thrilling match ups the last few years. The Tigers are 3-11 against the Jayhawks since 2002, and Kansas has won those 11 games by an average margin of 13.5 points.
best basketball, Missouri began to flounder under former coach Quin Snyder. He led the team to the Elite Eight in 2002 then returned to the NCAA Tournament only once more before he resigned in 2006. Not only did he fail to reach the postseason, it didn't beat the
Missouri shouldn't fret too much about that record, though. Kansas has been almost that good against everyone else. From 2002 through last year, the Jayhawks have been to two Final Fours and two Elite Eights. They've won five Big 12 regular season titles and two Big 12 Tournament championships.
While Kansas was playing some of its
SEE MBB ON PAGE 6B
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Freshman duo prepare for Big 12 challenges
Kansas women's basketball player goes up for a shot against texas defense. The women's basketball team prepare for a challenge January schedule in Big 12 Conference play.
BY ANDREW WIEBE
awiebe@kansan.com
For weeks before Big 12 Conference play, senior forward Taylor McIntosh told freshman forward Nicollette Smith and freshman center Krysten Boogaard how much more intense games would become in January.
McIntosh's advice didn't fall on deaf ears.
"She told us it's going to get a lot harder, and it definitely has," Boogaard said. "We have just got to keep our composition."
After winning 11 of 13 games during nonconference play, Bonnie Henrickson's team looked primed to
"She told us it's going to get a lot harder, and it definitely has. We have just got to keep our composure."
"They are a lot more physical and they run the floor a lot better than nonconference teams," Smith said. "So you are not only having to muscle them down low but then you have to run the full length of the
KRYSTEN BOOGAARD Freshman center
and December is much different against the likes of Oklahoma State, Nebraska and Bavlor.
improve on last season's 4-12 mark in Big
12 Conference play.
The two have learned quickly that what passed for quality play in November
An 0-3 start hasn't dampened hopes for the young squad, but the freshman post duo said they knew they must continue to adapt to the change in the quality of opponents to help Kansas be successful.
court."
Despite impressing during the layhawks' fast start, Smith and Boogaard have found life against stronger and more athletic posts more challenging. Through the first three games of the conference schedule the two have struggled to stay out of foul trouble.
During the opening
During the opening three games the two have combined for 21 personal fouls, an average of more than three fouls per game each. Smith said Henrickson had stressed better defensive positioning and focus. The concentration on the defensive end has been a transi-
SEE WBB ON PAGE 7B
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