+
Volume 126 Issue 92
kansan.com
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
COMMENTARY
Team confidence will define Big 12 tournament play
The Big 12 tournament got a brand new meaning for Kansas on Monday night.
Edited by Kate Shelton
And who knows what happens if the Jayhawks do make it to that second weekend, and the pressure shifts onto Embid to play.
Sure, the Jayhawks need momentum and good play going into the tournament but it all boils down to one thing confidence.
How well can Kansas play without Joel Embiid?
The popular question will be answered on Thursday at the Sprint Center.
The day started with Bill Self being confident Embid will play in the NCAA tournament. It ended with a stress-fracture and a new prognosis. Embiid is unlikely to play in the tournament's first weekend.
Thus, the pressure on Kansas got heavier. And not just for the NCAA tournament. Kansas fans are rightfully biting their nails, just waiting to see if the Jayhawks can win a Big 12 tournament game. But more than that, the nation is now watching to see how Kansas holds up with its rim-protecting superstar out of the lineup.
If Kansas falls to Oklahoma State or Texas Tech on Thursday, that level of confidence takes a major hit. The tournament committee will be forced to rethink the common conception of Kansas as a two seed
Either way, the events this weekend will be crucially important for an ever-changing Kansas team.
Whoever Kansas plays in that opening weekend will feel like it has a better chance to knock off the mighty Jayhawks surrounding the late season, Embid-less struggles.
But, if Kansas can win on Thursday, if the Jayhawks can show signs of strength without Embiid, then their chances improve to advance in the NCAA tournament.
It'll be up to those upper-classmen leaders — 'Tharpe and Black' — along with Wiggins' flair to get the Jayhawks moving in the necessary direction for postseason play.
Oh, and Andrew Wiggins?
He'll have to continue to inspire the team with the kind of 41-point effort he showed in the loss at West Virginia.
BASEBALL
And the Big 12 tournament provides Kansas a perfect training ground to work toward bettering itself without Embib. Or, of course, it's a ground for the team to stumble before eventually falling to end the season.
Of course anything can happen, but winning in the Big 12 tournament only improves the Jayhawks' seeding opportunities. This, alone, gives Kansas a better chance to make it to the second weekend.
It all goes back to confidence. The Jayhawks need to convince themselves that they can play without Embiid. Naadir Tharpe will have to emerge as a leader who can make others play better even when he isn't shooting well. Tarik Black will have to play without fouling. Landen Lucas will have to contribute in ways Landen Lucas hasn't all season.
GEORGE MULLINIX/KANSAN
Senior catcher Ka'iana Eldredge drops the ball while trying to tag out Oral Roberts' Matt Brandy at the plate. March 11. Eldredge is one of five seniors on the 40-man roster for this season.
GEORGE MULLINIX/KANSAN
Junior shortstop Justin Protacio tags out Oral Roberts' Sean Leary. Kansas lost 7-8 last night in its home opener.
Jayhawks narrowly lose in home opener
SHANE JACKSON
sports@kansan.com
After nearly three scoreless innings on the mound from freshman righty Stephen Villines, coach Ritch Price gave the ball to junior righty Dakota Smith in the top of the eighth. Smith who had appeared in just over nine innings for the year, gave up his first home run on the year. A solo shot to right handed shortstop Jose Trevino, his second home run of the day, to tie it up at seven.
by Connor McKay to take an early 1-0 lead after one.
"A lot of it had to do with wind, a lot of it had to do with he is a pretty strong kid, and can barrel the ball, it's baseball you get lucky sometimes," Smith said.
The solo bomb, was followed by a double by first baseman Anthony Sequeira which was enough to give the Golden Eagles an 8-7 victory over the Jayhawks in the Kansas' home opener in its 2014 campaign.
After leaving 35 base runners stranded over the weekend in a series loss, the Jayhawks wasted no time getting their offense going against Oral Roberts University. Left fielder Michael Suitor punched in a two out double, and was brought home
"I was really pleased how we swung the bat early, I really liked our approach at the plate early, we get that 4-1 lead, then all of a sudden we had 13 nonconsecutive bats in a row, and when you do that you give your opposition a chance to get back in the game," Price said.
in the bottom of the second, The Jayhawks took advantage of an early pitching change scoring three runs, to take a 4-1 lead after two.
Coming off the Stanford series where they threw 23 scoreless innings, the Jayhawks expected their defense to continue their momentum in Hoglund. But after a four run inning, that was initiated by four straight singles, the Jayhawks quickly found themselves down 4-5.
As the weather began to cool, so did the bats of both teams. Only a solo shot by Trevino did anything to the scoreboard in Hoglund through the next three innings, and the Golden Eagles clinged to a 6-4 lead after six.
Drew Morovick got the start in the mid-week matchup.
In the bottom of the seventh, Suiter knocked in a two RBI triple to knot it up at six. He was then brought home on a Connor McKay sac ground
out, to take a 7-6 Jayhawks lead after seven.
Had the lajyhawks been able to hang on, Villines would have gotten his first win of the career. He pitched 2.1 hitless innings, striking out two Golden Eagles.
"We fought to the end, it was a good bounce-back from the lack of bats at Stanford, but give them credit they came out swinging the bat," said Suiter.
Jordan Romano was tagged with the win on the mound. The regular closer pitched the final 2.2 innings, allowing only one run off one hit, while striking out three. Smith was given the loss, for the Jay-hawks, he faced just five batters, giving up two runs, off of
The junior righty was 3-0 with a 1.31 ERA in his first three starts this spring. He was knocked around in the third, pitching only three innings, giving up eight hits, and five runs.
one hit.
With the win the Golden Eagles move to 7-8, with just their second road win on the year. After the loss the Jayhawks fall to 12-4, but still have confidence as they enter conference play this weekend.
"We have great pitching, great offense, our defense is coming along. I think we are one of the best teams in the country," Smith said.
— Edited by Jack Feigh
Sophomore second baseman Tommy Mirabelli throws to first for the out against Oral Roberts, March 11. Kansas lost 7-8 in its home opener.
GEORGE MULLINIX/KANSAN
BASEBALL
Freshman pitcher a bright spot in Kansas loss to Oral Roberts
BEN FELDERSTEIN
sports@kansan.com
Side arm pitchers can be like a crossword puzzle in the New York Times. They can confuse, baffle and throw off their opposition. They are a matchup nightmare. No hitter wants to step into the box when a side arm pitcher drops down to hurl a slider that starts at his back and finishes over the zone. It impinges on everything hitters thought they knew about hitting.
For the Kansas Jayhawks, freshman Stephen Villins is the crossword puzzle they
send out.
"He was great." senior catcher Ka'lana Eldredge said, "He did a great job of filling up the zone and throwing strikes."
"I can only remember throwing like that," Villines said. "It just feels right; I don't know any other way."
The freshman toes the rubber with the confidence of
Villines was one of the bright spots for Kansas in its 7-8 loss to Oral Roberts University yesterday. Villines threw 2.2 scoreless innings allowing no hits and striking out two of the seven batters he faced.
a senior. He pitches with the poise and control of a Chad Bradford or a Mike Myers. He brings a breath of fresh air to one of baseball's dying arts.
Villines has had a perfect start to the season so far. In his four prior appearances, he has thrown seven innings, given up zero runs, recorded a save and has struck out five.
"He has had a tremendous impact on our team so far," coach Ritch Price said. "He's done really tremendous work for us out there."
When a starter gets into
41
SEE VILLINES PAGE 8
+