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Volume 126 Issue 115
kansan.com
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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COMMENTARY
BASEBALI
Recruit would make Kansas a title contender
Kansas has the chance this week to land Myles Turner, a consensus top 10 recruit and probable future NBA player. For many programs, this could be the highlight of the year. For the Jayhawks, it's a Wednesday.
Jayhawk fans are so accustomed to competing for top recruits that announcements seem to all blend together. But this announcement is different; Turner could be the difference between a Big 12 championship and a national championship.
Wednesday at 3 p.m., Turner will choose between Kansas, Texas, Southern Methodist and Duke, among others. Kansas and Texas are thought to be the biggest threats.
Kansas was at a point like this last year before the Andrew Wiggins commitment. Before Wiggins, Kansas was expected to battle for a second place Big 12 finish behind a Oklahoma State. After Wiggins, the Jayhawks made the leap to title contender. Despite a disappointing finish, that team was a title favorite throughout the year.
That's not to say that Turner is the program-changer that Wiggins was hyped to be. Kansas doesn't need to add a Wiggins to the talent already amassed. This year's team will have substantial talent with top-recruits Kelly Oubre and Cliff Alexander. What it does need is a Myles Turner.
Currently, Kansas' two starting big men and likely first big man off the bench stand at 61" or shorter. Perry Ellis compensates for his lack of height with crafty moves and an outside touch, but he has not demonstrated that defense is one of his assets. Jamari Traylor is a good weak-side defender, but can be beaten on the post by taller opponents.
Self loves having a tall interior presence on defense. Sasha Kaun, Cole Aldrich and Jeff Withey have all anchored that position and led some of Kansas' best defenses. Joel Embiid was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year this year. Turrer would help continue this tradition.
Kansas will be talented, with or without Turner. The ultimate difference will be the team's ceiling. Without Turner, Self will have trouble maintaining a championship-quality defense.
Turner would fix this. He stands at 6'11" and has displayed instincts on defense that Self will love. Turner did an excellent job defending Duke commit Jahil Okafer during the McDonald's All-American game, using his length to force him into difficult shots.
In addition, Turner can stretch the floor. He can step out and shoot from behind the 3-point line, which makes him virtually unguardable at the college level. This will provide a contrast to Alexander, who does his damage in the paint.
With Turner, the sky is the limit.
Edited by Emily Hines
ACE IN THE HOLE
Jayhawk receives Big 12 Pitcher of the Week Award
SHANE JACKSON sports@kansan.com
Senior right-handed pitcher Jordan Piche's list of achievements in his two-year career at Kansas just keeps on growing. In his short Jayhawk career, Piche has been recognized as 2013 Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, 2013 American Baseball Coaches Association All-Midwest Region Second Team, 2013 All-Big 12 First Team, 2013 Phillips 66 Championship All-Tournament Team and 2014 Preseason Stopper of the Year Waich List.
The 6-foot Greeley, Colo., native can now add Big 12 Pitcher of the Week to his long list of achievements. On Monday afternoon, Piché was recognized as conference pitcher of the week after his stellar start on Friday night against the Baylor Bears down in Waco, Texas, that snapped a four-game losing streak.
His recognizable performance down in Waco, where he tossed his first career complete game, allowing one hit in the 1-0 game one victory, was just his fourth start in a crimson and blue uniform. Pitch eclipsed his career-high pitch count with 106 pitches, walking a pair and striking out five.
After giving up a leadoff single, Piché would not surrender another hit. He allowed the fewest hits by a Kansas starter since Shaefer Hall tossed a no-hitter against Air Force, Feb. 20, 2009. The one-hit shutout performance secured his fifth win on the year and pushed his record to 5-5.
GEORGE MULLINIX/KANSAN
Big 12 Pitcher of the Week honors will be the senior's first achievement as a starter. All other prior
GEORGE MULLINIX/KANSAN Senior catcher Ka'iana Eldredge and senior pitcher Jordan Piché visit on the mound during the ninth inning of Kansas' win over Oral Roberts on March 11. Piché's role has changed throughout the season from closer to starter.
SEE PICHÉ PAGE 7
--mance. The second game of the series was coach Ritch Price's 1000th career win.
BASEBALL
GEORGE MULLNIX/KANSAN
Junior outfielder Connor McKay stretches out to catch a ball during Kansas' 5-6 loss against Missouri State on April 23. Kansas plays Wichita State Tuesday night
Jayhawks to carry momentum to Wichita
BEN FELDERSTEIN
sports@kansan.com
The Jayhawks head to Wichita State Tuesday to face the Shockers for the second time this year. Kansas comes off a three-game sweep of the Baylor Bears over the weekend.
The Jayhawks scored 19 runs this weekend and out-scored Baylor by 12. The weekend was highlighted by pitcher Jordan Piche's complete game, one hit shutout in the series opener. Piche received Big 12 Player of the Week honors for his performance. The second game of the series was coach Ritch Price's 1000th career win.
Kansas has been struggling as of late, but is looking to turn the corner and finish the season strong.
Kansas improved to 26-20 on the season and returned to .500 in conference play. The Shockers are coming off a series loss to Tulane this past weekend.
KANSAS WILL WIN IF...
Junior left fielder Michaael Suiter continues to be hot with the bat. Suiter leads the
jaynawks with a .350 batting average, which ranks third in the Big 12. Suiter drove in three runs this weekend and recorded three hits against Baylor. Last week against Missouri State, Suiter went five for five, increasing his batting average by 20 percentage points. Suiter has also played stellar defense in left field this season, evidenced by his perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.
KANSAS WILL LOSE IF...
KANSAS WILL LUSE IP... Its offense struggles. In the beginning of the season, the
Jayhawks were atop the Big 12 in hitting. The offense has struggled as of late and has caused the team to struggle as well. When Suiter and the rest of the, offense swing the bat well, they win ball games. Kansas only scored six runs in its series loss to Oklahoma State, but scored 19 runs this past weekend. The team picks up momentum when the offense is hot.
Junior outfitter Connor McKay has been struggling lately. For the first time all
PLAYER TO WATCH.
season, the righty has seen his batting average fall to below .300. McKay has been having a tremendous season this year, ranking second in the conference in home runs (nine) and RBI's (10). Until recently, McKay had been leading in both categories and it would benefit Kansas if he returned to the top. The Jayhawks offense has followed McKay's hitting this season, starting hot and struggling as of late. If Mckay's bat can heat up, the Kansas offense will likely improve as well.
Edited by Nick Chadbourne
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