THURSDAY APRIL 7.2005
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
7B
ht he then, pretty
ien is
yone
was
ansas
named
car by
nual was a ward,
ud of
accom-
had a
s very
de the way inended a sour giving was a d not
only stay in on and
a first
arican,
will be
Allen
anoth-
return
n't a nn for in g in," did. "I m ed but I but I ured it g. But great will-
elf dis of his
PAGE 8B
PROFILE
NIT bid next goal for coach
BY BJ RAINS
brains@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTSWRIER
With a few weeks remaining in her first season at Kansas, coach Bonnie Henrickson received a phone call that would have shocked most Jayhawk fans before the season began.
A representative from the National Invitation Tournament told her that the Jayhawks had a good shot at being selected for this year's tournament if they could get their record to at least .500, a requirement needed to be eligible.
After Jayhawk fans endured four consecutive losing seasons and a combined record of 57-79, expectations were not high for this year's team, which ended last season on a 10-game losing streak and a 2-14 record in conference play. But Henrickson and her staff's progress with the team this year has left the possibility of the NIT within reach.
The Jayhawks were unable to get the required number of victories to compete in the NIT, finishing the season at 12-16. Still, that can't take away from the successful season that the Jayhawks had, Henrickson said.
"We're very excited about the growth and progress that we made this season," Henrickson said. "It was definitely a step in the right direction."
Success is nothing new to Henrickson, who made the postseason seven consecutive seasons at Virginia Tech and compiled a 158-62 record before leaving to become the coach at Kansas. She was the Atlantic 10
Conference Coach of the Year and a finalist for the National Coach of the Year in 1999. She averaged 23 victories per season, and won two conference championships. It's a weird feeling not playing in one of the postseason tournaments, she said.
"It was a bit difficult, as you might imagine," Henrickson said. "Usually we're preparing for the NCAA tournament once the' conference tournament ends, so that was different. We got right into recruiting and I was even able to a take a vacation. It wasn't easy, but I'm not going to sit and dwell on it and
look past the growth that we made this season."
Henrickson has some experience turning programs around. When she became Virginia Tech's coach in 1997, she had the task of rebuilding a team that finished last in the Atlantic 10 with a 10-21 record. She overcame the challenge and led the Hokies to a 22-10 record, the school's first conference title and an NCAA second-round appearance in her first season.
Coaches throughout the Big. 12 Conference already have noticed the improvement of the Jayhawks, and are ready to give Henrickson all the credit.
"The improvement of the
Robertson, whose team won the national championship on Tuesday, said she noticed a difference in the energy level of the Kansas players. That is a key in turning programs around, she said.
"What happens when you have a new staff is that you get a renewed sense of enthusiasm and energy from your players," Mulkey-Robertson said. "I feel like, from an outsider looking in, that is what Bonnie is getting. She is getting effort, they are executing offenses and they are really exploiting each other's individual strength. She's to be commended for the job that she has done in a short period of time."
"When we met with this group for the first time, it was very clear how much they expected to be successful," Henrickson said. "They believed that they could win, which was surprising to me after the careers they have had here."
The Jayhawks' confidence level was a big factor in Henrickson's ability to turn the team around. Soon after she was hired, she said she met with the team and was amazed by what she heard. Even after enduring losing seasons throughout their entire careers at Kansas, her players said they thought they could be successful right away, she said.
Henrickson and her team played a number of close games this season. They only had two games with first-half blowouts and were a few plays away from a number of upsets. Once
SEE COACH ON PAGE 12B
BY BJ RAINS
brians@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWRITER
Quality coach, quality person
She received the Carol Eckman Award, given annually to a women's basketball coach who possesses Eckman's spirit, integrity and character through sportsmanship, commitment to the student-athlete, honesty, ethical behavior, courage and dedication to purpose. Eckman established the women's National Invitation Tournament and coached West Chester to the first WNIT title.
Even though the Jayhawks weren't playing in the Women's Final Four in Indianapolis last weekend, coach Bonnie Henrickson made the trip to Indiana for a good reason.
"Bonnie demonstrates a genuine dedication to her student-athletes, fellow colleagues and the game of basketball," said Women's Basketball Coaches Association CEO Beth Bass. "She is a true model of what the Carol Eckman Award symbolizes."
Henrickson was presented the award on April 3rd at the WBCA Awards Luncheon presented by State Farm and Jostens at the Indianapolis Convention Center. The luncheon was one of many events held in conjunction with the 2005 Women's Final Four.
Henrickson, who joins Marian Washington on the list of KU coaches to win the award, was nominated by a former assistant coach. She said she was shocked to hear that
she had won the award.
"I was very surprised when they called me and told me I had won," Henrickson said. "I was taken back. It's a big honor for me to accept the award, but I also accept the award on behalf of my entire staff."
Henrickson attributed the award in part to her relationship with former players and coaches, who consistently are involved with her team.
"I have a great relationship with my former players," she said. "A lot of them always want to come back and work camps or stop by and watch practice. I take pride in that."
She said the award was special to her because it was not based on victories and defeats. In fact, this is her first award that is not a direct result of her team's performance.
Other awards she has received include the Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year and a National Coach of the Year finalist in 1999.
"There are so many quality coaches out there, but there are also a number of coaches who are quality people," she said. "It's an honor to be considered as one of the coaches who is a quality person."
Henrickson will soon meet with the returning members of next year's team to start preparing for next season, one that Henrickson hopes will end with postseason competition.
Edited by Ross Fitch
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Jayhawks overcome tough schedule, beat expectations
BY PAUL BRAND
pbrand@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWRITER
For most teams, a 12-16 record would be reason for a program to rethink its path. For the Kansas women's basketball team, the 2004-05 season marked progress in the first year of coach Bonnie Henrickson and showed some promise for the coming years.
"For the most part, we have grown a lot and we have more to grow on," junior forward Crystal Kemp said.
One of the biggest positives from this year's campaign was the eighth-place finish in the Big 12 Conference.
"We were expected to finish 11th in the Big 12," Kemp said. "So I think we did great as far as finishing eighth."
Prior to the regular season, the Jayhawks were selected to finish 11th by the league's coaches' poll, but patched together an undermanned roster to and ended with a 5-11 conference record.
Two victories each against Missouri and Colorado showed that Kansas was on its way out of the Big 12 cellar. A home upset of Nebraska, 67-53, was the final victory the year and showed the potential of the current program.
The final product that finished ahead of expectations in the league was much different from the team that opened the year with a 53-49 home loss to Texas-Arlington.
After struggling with the tough season opener, the Jayhawks notched three consecutive victories against Sacred Heart, UMKC and Denver, but still struggled to find an offensive identity.
In an in-state match-up against Washburn, the Jayhawks were dealt a stinging 62-59 defeat to the eventual Division II Champion Lady Blues and found themselves searching for any momentum.
Momentum would be difficult to find, however, in a schedule that would pit the Jayhawks against a continuous schedule of Top 25 teams.
Kansas' faced its first ranked opponent in its first road game of the season, a 62-45 defeat at then No. 18 Minnesota. Despite the setback, the smaller Kansas roster held the Golden Gophers in check for the first half before losing control after the break.
A tough road defeat did not deflate Kansas, though, but rather prepared them for the grueling road ahead in the Big
12 Conference regular season schedule.
The Jayhawks took four of their next five contests to charge into the league with a 7-4 record.
Once conference play started, the strength of the Big 12 asserted itself in the form of four consecutive defeats, three at the hands of ranked opponents. The fourth setback was a heartbreaking 62-60 loss at Texas A&M.
Even with the early problems of the difficult schedule, Henrickson remained confident in her team's development.
"We had a couple disappointing performances certainly, but I'm proud of the kids for staying off the roller coaster," Henrickson said.
SEE SCHEDULE ON PAGE 12B
Rachel Sevmour/KANSAN
Erica Hallman, junior guard, drives around Missouri's Carlynn Savant during the second game of the season on Feb. 5 in Columbia, Mo. Hallman ended the game with 12 points and 26 minutes of playing time, leading the Jayhawks to a 60-48 victory.
amenities
- Indoor fitness center
- Paid utilities
- Indoor fitness center
* Swimming pool
* Rock Chalk Cafe
* On KU bus route
* On site laundry facilities
* Outdoor basketball court
* Computer center
- Fully-furnished
- 24-hour study lounge
- Convenient on-site parking
- Convenient onsite parking
- Unlimited meal plan included
- Complimentary Housekeeping
- Transmission
• Radiator
• Brakes
• Exhaust
• Electrical
• Batteries
• A/C Service
• Clutch
• C-V Joints
• Batteries
• Tune-Ups
• Computer Diag
• Starters
• Engine Repair
• Alignment
• Quick Lube
• Struts & Shock
• And more!