Volume 126 Issue 112
kansan.com
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
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COMMENTARY
No more surprises from Jayhawks
Last week, Weis announced that Cozart will start at quarterback to begin the season. Weis previously stated at the spring game press conference that the QB starter would be unknown until the start of the season.
The Kansas football squad doesn't have any wow-factor players who force opposing defenses to draw up game plans around them. After a poor showing at the spring game two weeks ago, the Jayhawks needed to find something to give them an edge before games.
There goes the element of surprise for the Jayhawks; Kansas had a chance to force teams to plan for two quarterbacks with different styles of play because both quarterbacks could start.
One negative is that defenses only need to focus on Cozart more as a rusher than a passer, which gives the defense an advantage. Reagan's offense ranked 103rd in passing yards per game last season, and to open up the rushing game, Cozart needs to make plays with his arm.
Heaps, who was the 2013 season-opener starter, is a pocket passer who doesn't have much mobility, but has a strong arm.
There is a long way before the first game, but we will have to wait and see if Weis' decision was the right move on Sept. 6 against Southeast Missouri State.
Cozart flashes strength and accuracy in his arm, and his ability to escape the pocket gives him the best opportunity to score. He had two rushing touchdowns in the spring game and was named the spring game's most valuable player.
One surprise coach Charlie Weis held for opponents was the unknown of the starting quarterback. Sophomore Montell Cozart and junior Jake Heaps were battling for the spot in the spring and were supposed to continue into the summer, but that competition was cut short.
-Edited by Stella Liang
One positive of Cozart starting in the summer is that he can build a solid relationship with the wide receivers before the first game. If Weis held the starting spot open, the wide receiver would be blinded to who would be throwing him the ball because every QB has different tendencies.
Heaps failed to take control of the Jayhawks last season which opened up the starting job to Cozart. Cozart held the upper hand over Heaps after he led the Jayhawks to defeat West Virginia to give Kansas its first Big 12 conference victory in almost three seasons.
Cozart becoming the starter before the season has its pros and cons like any other situation.
Weis said at the spring game press conference that he wouldn't reveal who the starting quarterback until the start of the first game because he didn't want teams to know what part of the new offensive coordinator John Reagan's offense was going to be executed. At Rice, Reagan, who controlled the 17th ranked rushing offense last season, used his quarterback to run and throw the ball, and gave the Rice offense a dual-threat look. Weis said Reagan has different schemes that he can pick from during games.
BASEBALL
BRENT BURFORD/KANSAN
I agreed with Weis, because he said that it would be stupid to tell the opposing team who the starting quarterback would be.
Kansas freshman Jon Hander pitches during the fifth inning of a game against Grand Canyon. Hander had his first career start in the 7-1 win and only allowed one run off five hits.
Senior outfielder Tucker Tharp slides safely to third base during Wednesday's win against Grand Canyon. The Jayhawks won 7-1.
BRENT BURFORD/KANSAN
SHANE JACKSON sports@kansan.com
Kansas (23-19 6-9) is coming off a losing series in Stillwater, Okla., against the Cowboys of Oklahoma State. The Cowboys now sit atop the talented Big 12, with an 11-4 conference record, 29-11 overall, winners of seven straight. Meanwhile the Jayhawks sit in sixth ahead of West Virginia, Baylor and Kansas State.
The Jayhawks have a date set with the Baylor Bears this weekend, in what could be a defining series in terms of how they will finish in conference. Before they dance with the Bears in Waco, the Jayhawks have a midweek matchup against Missouri State (17-9 6-6) of the Missouri Valley Conference, on Wednesday at Hoglund Ballpark.
The Missouri State Bears will likely go with left-handed sophomore Andy Cheray on the mound. Cheray has made just four appearances and one start, in just over nine innings of work. He has a perfect record thus far at 1-0 and has yet to allow a run.
Kansas' coach Ritch Price will give the ball to freshman
Jon Hander to get Kansas back in the win column. He picked up his first career victory in his last start against Grand Canyon the last time the Jayhawks were in Hoglund, and pitched his way into a midweek starting role. He has a 1-1 record with a 3.60 ERA in three starts. He has only walked five batters in 20 innings of work.
Kansas has three players that are regular starters that are batting north of the .300 mark. Junior left fielder Michael Suiter is hitting. 335 with his 23 RBIs. Junior designated hitter Dakota Smith is hitting. 311 with 22 RBIs while senior center fielder Tucker Tharp is batting .305 with 20 RBIs and five home runs, including one in Stillwater.
wins, Kansas has allowed a combined three runs against Creighton, Wichita State and Grand Canyon.
Kansas will win if..
If they can continue to pitch and play defense. For a team built on defense and pitching, the Jayhawks have struggled at times in their midweek matchups. With a 3-6 season record against midweek matchups, the Jayhawks are even more desperate for a win after the Cowboys sweep. In the three midweek
Kansas will lose if..
If they don't get production out of the heart of their lineup. In their series sweep Suiter, Smith and junior right fielder Connor McKay, had a combined one RBI on the weekend. McKay who leads
the conference in RBIs as well as home runs failed to score one runner all weekend, as well as Smith. If they expect to snap this three game losing streak they need their big hitters to step up.
Player to watch
Freshman pitcher Jon Hander. Hander is coming off arguably his best performance, against Grand
Canyon, where he tossed 78 pitches, going seven innings deep, allowing one run off five hits. His performance last week is the reason coach Price decided to go with the freshman rather than junior Drew Morovick the previous midweek starter.
Edited by Jamie Koziol
CAMPUS
DeBruce Center to house Naismith's rules
BRIAN HILLIX sports@kansan.com
sports@kansan.com
Since David and Suzanne Booth purchased Dr. James Naismith's original rules of basketball four years ago, some have wondered when they would be able to see one of the most valued documents in the history of sport.
That answer became more clear this month as the University announced its plan for the construction of a building that will house the rules created by Naismith, the inventor of basketball.
that this building can be a magnet, a drawing card if you will, for people from around this area and around a larger region," said Jim Marchiony, the associate athletic director for public affairs. "A drawing card not only for this building but also for the campus of the
The DeBruce Center, named after chief donors and University of Kansas alumni Paul and Katherine DeBruce, will begin construction later this year. Together with the Booth Family Hall of Athletics, Allen Fieldhouse - as well as the University - will become an even bigger hotspot to locals and beavond.
Fieldhouse and will also be accessible through the second-floor concourse of the arena. In addition to housing the rules, it will include exhibits documenting the history of Kansas basketball, a small theater, retail dining and café, a training table
And not just to watch a basketball game.
"...the game is embedded into the history of this school. Having .the rules here just emphasizes that relationship even more."
JIM MARCHIONY Associate athletic director for public affairs
"We've always thought
University of Kansas, so that's the exciting part of this."
While a specific date hasn't been set for its official opening, Marchiony said the center should open sometime in 2015.
With a price tag of $18 million, the three-floor, 32,000-square-foot building will be located on the northeast corner of Allen
setting for both the men's and women's basketball teams, meeting areas and a catered event space.
"There will be space in this building or people to eat and meet and study," Marchiony said. "It will be a building with several uses."
But what will draw many from around the region will be the iconic rules, which
were published in 1892 and have served as the foundation to the game of basketball. The Booths purchased the rules for $4.3 million at an auction in December 2010 and wanted to display them at the University of Kansas, where Naismith worked as a physical education instructor, coach, physician, professor and athletic director for almost four decades.
"Because the inventor of the game of basketball [Naismith] was the first basketball coach here, the game is embedded into the history of this school," Marchiony said. "Having the rules here just emphasizes that relationship even more."
The discussions for the creation of the DeBruce Center started as soon as the Booths purchased the rules in 2010. Then the fundraising began, a process aided by the University of Kansas Endowment Association. Marchiony said the discussions intensified over the last year to start preparing for the construction. So far, more than 50 percent of the money required for the center has been raised.
The DeBruce Center will be part of a larger makeover for the south side of campus that will also include a new dorm for the basketball players and a new business school. Both are set to be completed by the fall of 2016.
"Really when you think about the new business school going pretty much across the street from it, [the DeBruce Center] really adds a whole new dimension to this part of campus," Marchiony said.
The University of Kansas will host a groundbreaking ceremony for the DeBruce Center on Friday, May 2 at 11:30 a.m., at the northeast side of Allen Fieldhouse. The ceremony is open to the general public.
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Edited by Cara Winkley
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