ANSAN
2007
THE UNIVERSITY DAIRY IKANSAN
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20. 2007
SPORTS
3B
BASKETBALL
OCK
NIOR
:: 9-1
Big 12/Pac-10 Challenge provides marquee games
BY RUSTIN DODDrdodd@kansan.com
No.4 Kansas plays host to Arizona on Sunday in the opening game of the first Big 12/Pac-10 challenge.Teams from the Big 12 and Pac-10 will hook up 12 times —Arizona and Stanford will each play two games to make up for the conference size difference -from Nov. 25 to Dec. 22. Ten of the games will be played from Nov. 29 to Dec.2. Kansas also plays USC on Dec.2, but that game is not part of the Big 12/Pac 10
SUNDAY, NOV.25, 2007
No. 4 Kansas vs. Arizona
Outlook: These two perennial powerhouses hook up for the eighth time since 1996. Arizona won the last game, a 61-49 victory at the Maui Invitational in 2005. Arizona sophomore Chase Budinger is a candidate for Pac-10 Player of the Year, but Kansas, even without Sherron Collins, has too much depth and the Allen Fieldhouse home-court advantage.
Winner: Kansas
THURSDAY, NOV. 29, 2007
No.18 Kansas State vs.No.12 Oregon
**Outlook:** It's been the Michael Beasley show so far for Kansas State. Beasley is averaging 30 points and 20 rebounds per game, and the Wildcats are 3-0. But Oregon reached the Elite Eight last season and has returning forward Malik Hairstion and sophomore guard Tajuan Porter, who stands 5-foot-6. If the Wildcats have a healthy David Hoskins, they'll have a shot, but the Wildcats are probably a few months away from being able to team a beat of Oregon's caliber.
Winner: Oregon
Outlook: USC has super-talented freshman guard O.J.Mayo, but it also has a 96-81 loss to Mercer. Oklahoma has a talented freshman as well in forward Blake Griffin, but the Sooners most impressive victory is a 69-55 decision against Gardner-Webb. If the Trojans can work out their earlyseason cobwebs, they should have enough talent to beat Oklahoma Winner:USC
FRIDAY, NOV. 30, 2007
Baylor vs. No. 9 Washington State
last season. Baylor hopes it can be the surprise team of 2008-2009. Baylord might be improved, but the Wazzu Cougars return senior All-Pac-10 guard Derrick Low.
Outlook: Washington State was the surprise team of college basketball
Winner: Washington State
Iowa State at Oregon State
**Outlook:** A battle of conference bottom-feeders. Why is this game interesting? Former Jayhawk C.J. Giles plays for Oregon State — but wait, he's not eligible until Dec. 8. The Cyclones should win a snoozer.
**Winner:** Iowa State
SATURDAY, DEC.1, 2007
Outlook: Oklahoma State — with freshman forward James Anderson leading the way — beat Prairie View A&M 104-48 and then lost to North Texas 82-73. Washington Junior forward Jon Brockman had 31 points and 18 rebounds against Utah and is poised for a big year. The crowd at Gallagher-Iba Arena should make the
Winner: Oklahoma State
Outlook: Two programs that might be better than people think. Watch for the matchup between Missouri junior tranfer DeMarre Carroll and California senior center DeVon Hardin.
Winner: Missouri
SUNDAY, DEC. 2, 2007
Nebraska vs. Arizona State
Outlook: Two programs trying to rebuild things. One familiar name on
Arizona State is sophomore Eric Boateng, a transfer from Duke. Nebraska's senior center Aleks Maric will be the best player on the floor. Winner Nebraska
Outlook: Colorado already lost to both New Mexico and Wisconsin Give the advantage to Stanford, even though it is without sophomore center Brook Lopez, who was ruled academically ineligible. Winner: Stanford No.15 Texas at No.2 UCLA
**Outlook:** Tough matchup for the Longhorns as they deal with life after Kevin Durant. UCLA has been without starting point guard Darren Collison, but he is expected to return on Nov. 28.
ATM No.16 Texas A&M at Arizona
Outlook: Arizona gets its second crack at a top-tier Big 12 team. It might be too much to ask Texas A&M to win at Arizona as it adjusts to new coach Mark Turgeon's system.
Winner: Arizona
SATURDAY, DEC. 22, 2007
Stanford at Texas Tech
Outlook: Like Arizona, Stanford gets to double up, too. This time it gets Bob Knight's Texas Tech squad, a team with a 56-54 loss to Sam Houston State on its resume.
Winner: Stanford
Edited by Matt Erickson
VOLLEYBALL
Mahoney wraps up KU career after overcoming early injuries Senior's last season has been her best as a Jayhawk
Caitlin Mahoney and Emily Brown play their last game as Kansas volleyball players 7 p.m. Wednesday at Texas Tech. Although their careers will end at the same time, that's about all Mahoney, a senior middle blocker, has had in common with the record-breaking Brown.
Brown, a senior settter/right side, has received praise and accolades as the only player in KU history to start every game of a four-year career. Mahoney's career has been about struggles and overcome adversity
It all started about a month before her freshman season in 2003. Mahoney, who led her a St. Louis high school team to 26 victories during her senior year, hurt her knee during a preseason workout. When the results came back, her worst fears came true. She would have to miss the entire season.
To repay Bechard, Mahoney went to work. She took a redshirt and rehabled the injury for a year, only to re-injure her knee in practice after the first two games of the 2004 season. When she was finally healthy as a sophomore in 2005, Mahoney played in 14 matches, including an NCAA Tournament match against UCLA where she made her first career start. Mahoney had her best match of the season the next year against No. 1 Nebraska. She recorded a career-high two solo blocks.
"Coach Bechard didn't have to take me," Mahoney said tearfully at Senior Night, "but he still did."
Now, she's done being a Jayhawk. Mahoney might not have gained much attention for her career, but Kansas coach Ray Bechard noticed the work she did.
"She's a lady who's overcome a lot, a fifth-year player who had a real serious injury early in her career, but she's been a tremendous teammate and asset for us."
This has been Mahoney's best year yet. She's played in all but three matches and has totalled 115 kills and 64 blocks.
match preview
Edited by Matt Erickson
Kansas at Texas Tech
7 p.m. Wednesday
Lubbock, Texas
PLAYERS TO WATCH Kansas Mellissa Grieb, sophomore defensive specialist
Kansas (12-17, 5-14 Big 12) defeated Texas Tech (7-28, 1-17 Big 12) 3-0 on Sept. 22. The Jayhawks have an opportunity to sweep the season series against Texas Tech after losing both matches against Texas Tech last season.
Grieb, an Olathe native, has played in all 29 matches and is second on the team with 25 service aces. The defensive specialist also has averaged 1.70 digs per game.
Texas Tech
Alicia Ostmeyer, senior middle blocker
Ostmeyer is from Grinnell,
Kans. — the same hometown as Kansas volleyball coach Ray Bechard. She had 11 kills and four blocks in Texas Tech's first match against Kansas and averaged 2.42 kills per game.
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