WFEDNESDAY MARCH 16.2005
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
5B
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ANSAN
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BY R.B. FALLSTROM
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Missouri toppled by DePaul in NIT
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Drake Diener scored a career-high 30 points and tied his career best with seven three-point shots, leading DePaul to a 75-70 victory against Missouri in the first round of the NIT last night.
Quemont Greer added 17 points and Draelon Burns had six assists for the Blue Demons, 20-10, who dropped to the NIT after losing three of the last four regular-season games. DePaul will play the winner of Clemson vs. Texas A&M in the second round.
Linas Kleiza had 23 points and Thomas Gardner 17 for Missouri, 16-17, which had a losing season for the first time since it also was 16-17 in 1996-97. The Tigers have been in the postseason eight straight seasons but the last two they've lost in the first round of the NIT.
Diener, who averages 13.6 points and is a 45 percent shooter from three-point range, was 7-for-11 from long range and was the only DePaul player with a three-point shot. He was at his best at the end, scoring DePaul's final seven points in the last 1:50. That included a tip-in by the 6-
foot-5 guard with 20 seconds to go for a 73-70 lead.
Diener was 11-for-15 overall, topping his previous career best of 28 points against Dayton on March 18, 2004. He hit seven three-point shots for the second time in his career. He also had that many at Charlotte on Feb. 16.
Missouri kept it close despite going almost 7 1/2 minutes between baskets in the second half and shooting 39.7 percent for the game. The Tigers hurt themselves with errant three-point shooting, going 6-for-25.
Missouri finished 14-5 in its first season at the new Mizzou Arena. The game drew 5,997 people, the lowest of the season.
Diener had four three-point shots and 16 points in the first half to help DePaul take a 41-38 lead. DePaul appeared to have taken control with a 19-6 run that put the Blue Demons ahead 35-25 with 4:42 to go in the first half, but Missouri scored the next nine points.
L. G. Patterson/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DePaul shot 49 percent but had trouble shaking Missouri. The Blue Demons' biggest lead in the second half was five points.
Missouri's Thomas Gardner falls to the court after missing the last shot last night during the team's 75-70 loss to DePaul in the first round of the NIT in Columbia, Mo.
Checkup
What is not as well documented is how much the seniors have helped freshmen Alex Galindo, Sasha Kaun, Darnell Jackson and C.J. Giles adjust to the college game.
Galindo said early in the year he felt opportunity just slipping away. He was injured. He couldn't practice. It was the most frustrating time of the year for him, he said.
CONTINUED FROM 1B
Then Mike Lee came and talked with him.
"He told me 'everybody goes through that, I went through that,'" Galindo said. "I am thankful that he said to that me. It helped me keep a good attitude."
Having four experienced leaders can bring more to a team than just talent. It is something that coaches
can't coach. It could be the ingredient in the Jayhawks' mix that sets them apart from other teams.
"It helps build your confidence," he said. "Knowing that somebody is there for you always and knowing somebody is going to have your back."
Gaiindo said it has been one of the most important factors in grooming the freshmen.
Experience is the building block of the Jayhawks. It can only help them.
Execution
After Kansas lost to Oklahoma State Saturday, some of the players mentioned that one of the reasons for the loss was because they didn't execute the little things. Sure they had played some of their best basketball in weeks, but the lack of attention to detail is something that
could hurt Kansas in the one-loss-andyou're-out system of the NCAA Tournament.
But what exactly are the little things?
"We have to focus on rebounding, we have to make free throws and we have to guard as a team," Lee said.
Self said Lee was more intense on Monday, calling out players for not doing the little things.
"I talk about the little things all the time." Self said.
Take Saturday's game against Oklahoma State for example. With just a few seconds left in the game and trailing by one point, the Jayhawks had to foul. But Self told them not to foul Oklahoma State's Joey Graham, who led the Big 12 in free throw percentage.
Kansas fouled Graham, he went to the line and nailed them both.
needs to be more aware of being at the right place at the right time, especially in the game's final minutes.
"When we trap the post, whether our rotations are right or it costs us five points late in the game. It could be late in the game not denying certain players the ball and letting their best players shoot the free throws..." Self went on.
Defensively, Self said his team
It's difficult to watch a game and see beyond points and rebounds. But those little things are what killed the Jayhawks against the Cowboys and they could be the difference in winning or losing in the NCAA Tournament.
When the game comes down to the final seconds, the Jayhawks will have to do a better job with the little things than they did on Saturday.
MLB
Cubs defeat Royals despite solid outing from pitcher
MESA, Ariz. — Corey Patterson hit a two-run singl during a six-run fourth inning, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Kansas City Royals 6-1 yesterday.
Cubs starter Sergio Mitre pitched three innings and gave up four hits and one run. Mitre, trying to make the club as the fifth starter or a reliever, walked three and struck out one.
Edited by Nikola Rowe
Derrek Lee and Todd Hollandsworth each had a run-scoring single in the fourth. Chicago's outburst came against reliever Chris George, who gave up six hits in one-third of an inning.
—The Associated Press
"I struggled with command a little bit," Mitre said. "I just need to stay on top of the ball a little bit better."
The Royals took a 1-0 lead in the third inning. Eli Marrero doubled with one out and scored on a single to right by Ken Harvey.
Kansas City got a good effort from starting pitcher Mike Wood, who worked three scoreless innings, giving up one hit. He struck out five without walking a batter.
Shehan
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The antagonist
Not to overlook the first two games, but a possible Elite Eight matchup with North Carolina presents an epic storyline that only the most ridiculous writer could create. In the movie "Kill Bill" (sorry coach Self), The Bride desperately seeks the opportunity to fight her teacher and her nemesis, Bill. The mentor-pupil relationship between Roy Williams and the remaining Jayhawks from the 2003 team still looms in students' and fans' minds. The Jayhawks want the opportunity to show how far they've come without their former coach.
In the movie, "Gladiator," Maximus must defeat some of Rome's greatest warriors before getting a shot at his nemesis, Commodus. Syracuse and UConn, two former Champions, provide suitable nemeses for the Jayhawks in their bid for a title.
Most basketball analysts have eliminated the Jayhawks as candidates for a title, which could be the greatest thing to happen to this team.
"Hoosiers." "Gladiator." "Rocky."
The recurring theme in all of these films is the low expectation of the heroes.
The Jayhawks have nothing to lose, and everything to gain. During the next two weeks, college basketball could reveal the greatest sports story to date.
It's up to the Jayhawks to determine their role.
Shehan is a Denver sophomore in journalism.
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