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Volume 126 Issue 103
kansan.com
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
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THE MORNING BREW High school's 22-season track and field record broken PAGE 11
COMMENTARY
One and done produce mixed results
BASEBALL
Many people talk about merits of the one-and-done system. Does it work? Are the successes actually flukes? Is it good for the players?
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Edited by Nick Chadbourne
Like so many sports questions, it has a very simple answer. It depends.
John Calipari is the undisputed champion of the system. He prides himself on being a farm system for potential NBA superstars and winning with those players.
The good news for Kansas fans is Self will return three starters and much of his rotation, which should put him back in his comfort zone.
Ka'iana Eldrige fields a throw from left field Michael Suiter during Kansas' 4-2 win over Wichita State on April 12, 2013. Kansas (21-11, 5-4 Big 12) will play Iowa today.
His success this year masked the failure last year, which featured a recruiting class filled with highly-rated players, such as Nerlens Noel and Archie Goodwin. That team lost in the first round of the NIT against a school that sounds like the name of your local senator, Robert Morris.
Ultimately, the one-and done system works, but only when situation is just right, with the right coach and the right players.
His failure last year undermined his championship in 2012. That team featured one-and-dones such as Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.
The 2013-14 team put Self out of his comfort zone. Some claimed Self was outcoached much of the year. The more accurate claim is Self didn't have as much time as he normally does to get players to buy into his system. Even a split-second difference can be devastating, both on offense and defense. That split second is a learning process that takes successful players years to master.
The NIT loss aside, Calipari's system is catered to specific players. His offense focuses on the individual. With the right players, especially at the point guard position, this system works.
Bill Self's problem is he is the complete opposite of John Calipari. Not only does Self use less hair gel, but his system often takes years before players are comfortable. Look no further than Travis Reelford, Jeff Withey and Russell Robinson to understand the importance of developing within the program.
Joel Embiid and Andrew Wiggins are incredible players, but chemistry and timing are the oxygen and carbon dioxide of the Kansas basketball program. Without the proper amounts, survival is difficult.
Upperclassmen are the bread and butter of Kansas basketball. Even sophomores have an advantage, which explains why a team with Conner Teahan as its sixth man won four more tournament games that a team with two potential top-three picks. That team started two seniors and three juniors; it had Self's fingerprints all over it.
BEN FELDER STEIN
sports@kansan.com
sports@kansan.com
Kansas is coming off of a huge series win against their Big 12 rivals, Kansas State. The Jayhawks bounced back after a 10-0 shutout in the first game of the series to win two straight.
The Jayhawks are 21-11 on the season and 5-4 in their conference this season. Kansas will head to Iowa City to take on the Hawkeyes in a two-game mid-week series.
Iowa enters the series 16-12 on the season, with a 3-5 conference record. They are coming off of a three-game sweep by the Indiana Hoosiers.
Freshman infielder/pitcher Jon Hander will start for Kansas on the mound in the first game of the two-game series. Hander has a 3.24 earned run average (ERA) in 8.1 innings pitches over four appearances thus far.
Kansas has won three out of their last four games and will look to carry that success into Iowa.
Junior left-fielder Michael Suiter is batting .336 on the season while driving 21 runs batted in (RBIs). Suiter bats in the three hole for Kansas and has been on a tear since
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:
junior right fielder Connor McKay has been out of the lineup. Suiter has nine hits in his last six games improving his batting average by 16 points. He has scored nine runs in the span, bringing his total to 27 in the season. Suiter has been a catalyst for the offense in the absence of one of their best offensive players.
KANSAS WILL WIN IF..
The Jayhawks will start their mid-week series off with a win if they don't leave men on base. Kansas has left over eight runners on base in their 11 losses this season. Connor McKay still leads the team with 34 RBIs even though he has missed the last seven games. The Jayhawks will need to find run production from other parts in their lineup whether it be Suiter or someone else.
Kansas will lose their first game against Iowa if Hander cannot pitch more than six innings effectively. The Jayhawk pitching staff is short right now due to injury and struggles. Junior left-handed pitcher Wes Benjamin is still hurt, and usual mid-week starter junior pitcher Drew Morovick pitched in relief against Kansas State. Kansas
YANSAS WILL LOSE IF.
should hope that Hander can go deep into the game and have freshman pitcher Stephen Villines, who has a .38 ERA, close it out.
PREDICTION:
If Hander is able to go deep into the game, Kansas should have no problem picking up the victory. The Jayhawks have momentum on their side and will defeat the Hawkeyes 4-2, with Hander picking up the win and Villines recording his fourth save on the season.
Edited by Emily Hines
AMIE JUST/KANSAN
Junior pitcher Wes Benjamin throws one of his last pitches of the game. Benjamin went out of the game due to pain in his forearm.
GEORGE MULLINIX/KANSAN
A Kansas player tags a Wichita State player in the Jayhawks' 4-2 win over the Shockers on April 12. Kansas will play Iowa today.
SOFTBALL
AMIE JUST/KANSAN
The Kansas softball team welcomes sophomore infielder Chaley Brickey at home plate after Brickey hit a home run to put Kansas ahead of Oklahoma State. Kansas defeated Oklahoma State 4-0 on March 29.
Jayhawks face Roos in final non-conference game
The Kansas Jayhawks (28-13) close out their non-conference season Tuesday as they travel to Kansas City, Mo., to take on the Kangaroos of UMKC (12-27). First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.
The Jayhawks and the Roos have met 33 times before today's match-up, with Kansas leading the series 31-2. Last time the two teams met was April 24, 2013 with Kansas beating UMKC 4-0. Over the course of the series, Kansas has shut out UMKC on 19 different occasions.
The UMKC squad is batting. 254 on 260 hits, recording 118 RBI. Kansas is batting. 302 on 331 hits, recording 177 RBI.
For Kansas, five different players are batting more than 300 this season. Sophomore infielder
Chaley Brickey leads the charge with a batting average of .389. Junior utility Maddie Stein isn't far behind, batting .381. The other three batting over .300 are senior outfielder Taylor Haffield (.339), freshman catcher Harli Ridling (.319) and senior infielder Ashley Newman (.317).
For UMKC, three different players are batting over .300 on the season. Junior pitcher/utility Cinda Ramos is leading the Kangaroos with a .375 batting average. Junior utility Bri Wyatt (.327) and junior utility Marlee Maples (.322) are the other two Kangaroos with that distinction.
Following the mid-week non-conference game with UMKC is a conference home stand. The Jayhawks host Texas Tech the weekend of April 17, with first pitch at Arrocha Ballpark scheduled for 5 p.m.
Amie Just
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