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Volume 126 Issue 108
kansan.com
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
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COMMENTARY Kansas searches for new center
By Matt Corte sports@kansan.com
Although Andrew Wiggins was coined as the once-in-a-generation player coming into the University of Kansas, he's not the one fans should worry about replacing next year.
No player will provide the same athleticism or amount of skill that Wiggins possessed, but with wings such as Wayne Selden, Brannen Greene, Andrew White and Kelly Oubre, there's plenty of talent for Coach Bill Self to fill the small forward spot.
Rather, it's Joel Embibd's anouncement to declare for the NBA draft last week that has left a gaping hole at the center position. Embibd was the only center listed on the Jayhawks' roster, while senior forward Tarik Black also provided veteran leadership at that position. But Black is gone, too.
This leaves redshirt sophomore Landen Lucas as the only player on Kansas' roster who played the majority of his minutes at center.
Could Lucas be our starting center next year? Possibly, but after a year in which we saw Lucas play only 22 games with minimal minutes on the floor, it may be asking too much of him.
Another option is Arkansas transfer Hunter Mickelson. The junior broke an Arkansas freshman record with 72 blocks in 2011-2012, and at 6-foot-10 he has prototypical height for a center.
Sitting out a year of college basketball because of transfer rules won't help anyone as much as playing could though, so I don't foresee Mickelson being the Jayhawks' starting center either.
Thankfully for the University, help could be on the way shortly. Myles Turner, the No. 2 ranked high school center according to ESPN.com, and the last unsigned McDonalds All-American has Kansas on his short list of schools he will play for next season.
"Coach Self told me himself that if Embiid stays, it's not worth my time." Turner said while answering fans questions during a live chat on USAToday.com.
The answer Turner gave shows Self being brutally honest with the recruit, but that honesty also may have worked. The 6-foot-11 Trinity High School recruit gave Self nothing but respect for telling the truth, something that could play a huge role in landing Turner.
Oddly enough, the opportunity to land Turner only came because of Embid's decision to leave for the NBA.
Not all is lost if Turner doesn't choose Kansas, as highly touted recruits Cliff Alexander and Kelly Oubre will certainly make a mark during their freshman seasons. However, what separates these two from Turner is simple; Alexander and Oubre are wanted, while Turner is needed.
He's needed if Kansas wants to retain its prominence with big men. He's needed if Kansas wants to win an 11th straight Big 12 regular season championship. Most importantly, he's needed if Kansas doesn't want another early exit in the NCAA tournament next season.
Edited by Jamie Koziol
BASEBALL
Kansas struggles in midweek series
Sophomore Drew Morovick gave up 2 runs in 5 innings against Grand Canyon.
SHANE JACKSON sports@kansan.com
GEORGE MULLINIX/KANSAN
The Kansas Jayhawks (22-16) took longer than usual, to break down from their post-game speech from head coach Ritch Price. The message seemed clear after Kansas 3-5 loss to Grand Canyon, and that was the Jayhawks have got to get better in their midweek games if they want to make the tournament.
"I told our guys, we got a 19-game race to the finish line. We put ourselves in position to make it to the NCAA tournament if we continue to play good," said Price.
For the third straight time, sixth overall, the Jayhawks have left the diamond in a weekly contest in defeat. The home loss to the Antelopes pushes their week play record to now, 2-6 on the year.
The stage was practically set for the Jayhawks to turn their weekday misfortunes around. After perhaps their most complete performance all year, a 5-1 win over Texas Christian University, the Jayhawks were set to take on the Grand Canyon Antelopes in a two game set at Hoglund Ballpark.
"It's an inexcusable loss. It's a bad taste in the mouth. That's one of those games you got to win. Weekdays are just as important as the weekend games," said senior catcher Ka'iana Eldredge.
"I was so proud of the toughness we showed against TCU. We can't go forward and back like that, tonight is a clear example. They got five runs off six hits and that's basically mathematically impossible to do," said Price.
Grand Canyon is in its first year as a Division One program and has a lot of younger players who are relatively new to big league collegiate baseball. Most notably, its freshman pitcher, Zebastian Valenzuela, who made just his
innings of work.
Junior pitcher Drew Morovick got the start for the Jayhawks. He struggled with his command and gave up two early runs off four hits
"It's an inexcusable loss. It's a bad taste in the mouth. That's one of those games you got to win."
KA'IANA ELDREDGE Senior catcher
second start Tuesday night.
He had tossed just eight innings prior to game one and walked 10 guys. He walked just two Jayhawks, allowing three runs off seven hits in five
through the first three innings. He would eventually settle down, retiring the next six Antelopes in order before giving the ball to junior Dakota Smith.
Smith did quick work in the sixth, the Jayhawks third consecutive 1-2-3 inning, before taking the lead in the home half of the sixth. After his job on the mound, Smith led off with a single and swipe second to put him in scoring position with no outs. He would later slide home on the third Kansas sac fly to take their first lead of the game at 3-2.
Just when it looked as if the Jayhawks would get that midweek monkey off their back, they had a catastrophic seventh inning. Smith struck out the first batter but walked the next two. A couple of passed balls by Eldredge, and an error on Aaron Hernandez, and the Antelopes scored three
runs off just one hit.
As if that weren't enough, another mental mistake in the eighth ended any hope the Jayhawks had. After a lead-off double by Smith, he was caught leaning too far towards third and was thrown out to end any rally they might have had.
"I am more disappointed in myself than my team. I walked a couple guys I messed up on base running. A lot of this is on me, not the team," said Smith.
Kansas will look to avoid the sweep as they play game two today. First pitch will be at 6 p.m.
Edited by Kate Shelton
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Self reflects, looks forward at banquet
BLAKE SCHUSTER
sports@kansan.com
"From here on forward all we have to say is '10," Kansas athletic director Sheahon Zenger told the crowd. "And everyone in the country knows what we're talking about."
For as much as the Kansas men's basketball banquet was about remembering a season that ended in despair, there was still one message that stood out from the rest.
Beyond the quick roasting of the players and staff by Bill Self, the 2013-14 Jayhawks were brought together for the last time as teammates to celebrate as Big 12 champions.
WIGGINS NAMED
MR. JAYHAWK
Freshman Andrew Wiggins entered the year with his name mentioned in the same breath as Kansas legend Danny Manning. It's only right that he leaves Kansas the same way.
Wiggins was given the Danny Manning "Mr. Jayhawk" Award after a season in which
Self also gave a nod to Manning, who recently accepted the head-coaching position at Wake Forest, saying how happy he was for his family.
he set the Kansas freshman scoring record (597 points) and grabbed 205 rebounds.
Self repeatedly said that there was no possible way that Wiggins could live up to the hype he received coming into the year, but that shouldn't take away from what he was able to accomplish in his short time at the University.
"It meant a lot to me," Wiggins said. "It kind of caught me off guard. I didn't have a speech prepared. I'm honored to get it."
"He was the best player on a Big 12 championship team that has brought as much exposure to this school in a positive way as much as anybody has," Self said. "I thought it was very deserving."
GETTING HEALTHY
It seems Joel Embid's back wasn't the only nagging issue during the season. Self announced that Wayne Selden Jr. recently had a minor procedure to correct an issue in his knee that had been bothering him since the beginning of the season.
While Self said the playing on the injury couldn't make it any worse, Selden never had any issue getting on the court.
"It was just bad enough not to do anything about it," Self said. "You could tell he probably didn't have the same pop he had back in August and September."
Selden is expected to be healthy going into the summer.
Tarik Black has also been banged up recently. The senior who has been preparing for the NBA Draft recently tweaked his left ankle but also plans to get back on the court soon and continue working out.
BEN LIPOWITZ/KANSAN
Andrew Wiggins accepts his award for Mr. Jayhawk at the men's basketball end-of-season banquet Tuesday night.
LOOKING FORWARD
While most of the night was spent looking back at the previous year, there wasn't much time wasted in setting expectations for next year.
And before leaving the final Kansas basketball function of
Self quipped that his favorite part of last Monday's National Championship game was that once it ended the 2014-15 season had begun.
the year, the coach gave one quick scouting report.
"There's no reason why next year's team couldn't be better if things fall right."
Edited by Cara Winkley
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