2B
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
INSIDE SPORTS
FRIDAY, JANUARY 28, 2005
TODAY
Kansas athletics calendar
Swimming at Drury, 6 p.m.
Track, Jayhawk Invitational, all day
TOMORROW
Swimming at the University of Arkansas, 1 p.m.
Track, Jawhawk Invitational, all day
Tennis vs. Brigham Young University, time TBA
Men's basketball vs. Texas, 8 p.m.
Women's basketball at Nebraska, 7:05 p.m.
TALK TO US
Tell us your news, Contact Bill Cross or Jonathan Kealing at 864-4858 or sports@kansan.com
Softballteamtofacestrong opposition in South division
The University of Kansas softball team is projected to finish eighth in the Big 12 Conference this year, according to a poll of conference coaches released this week.
The South division appears to be stronger than the
BIG 12 CONFERENCE
North this season, with Texas as the favorite to win, followed by Oklahoma. Texas A&M and Baylor.
The 2005 season looks promising, however, as the Jayhawks have 10 returning letter winners — including seven starters — along with four newcomers. The team has been practicing for the past week and a half, preparing for its season-opening tournament, the Arizona Pepsi Classic, Feb. 4 through 6 in Tuscon, Ariz.
Kansas will play Oklahoma State and Arizona to open the 2005 season.
— Drew Davison
Texas to play without two 'best' players
BY KELLI ROBINETT
krobinet@kansan.com
KANSAAN STAFF WRITER
The No. 16 Texas Longhorns will not be at full strength when they take the court against the No. 6 Kansas Jayhawks on Saturday.
During the course of the past few weeks Texas has lost standout freshman forward LaMarcus Aldridge to injury, and leading scorer sophomore guard P.J. Tucker was ruled academically ineligible for the remainder of the season.
Still, Kansas coach Bill Self, who is winless in four games against Texas, knows the Longhorns pose a threat to the Jayhawks with or without two of their best players.
"One thing that Texas has is bodies," he said. "Is it a loss for them? Absolutely. But that's why you want to have jobs like Kansas and Texas. You can recruit, and when bad things happen you have guys ready to step in, and they certainly have guys to step in."
Self said he didn't think there was much of a drop-off from Aldridge to his replacement, Brad Buckman, because he was a McDonald's All-American coming out of high school.
"The difference is that they are not going to have as many big guys as they have in the past," he said. "But they are still good."
The Kansas front court will have a difficult time overcoming the physical inside play that Texas brings to the table. The Longhorns gang of big men bang with opponents on the inside and contest every rebound.
Things got so heated down low when Texas played Memphis that senior center Jason Klotz punched a Tiger forward in the stomach after the two fought for position.
Junior forward Christian Moody knows this all too well, and is preparing for nothing less than a free-for-all in the paint.
"It will definitely be a battle," he said. "They've got a lot of great big guys that like to be aggressive, and we've got to match that intensity inside."
The Longhorns also have a full cast of capable guards to replace Tucker, who is no longer playing because he failed to pass the NCAA minimum of six passed credit hours last semester.
Since adjusting to regularly playing without Tucker and Aldridge, the Longhorns have not taken much of a step back. In their first game without their two stars they gave the Oklahoma Sooners all they could handle in Norman, Okla., and defeated the Texas Tech Red Raiders by seven at home in their last game.
One of the main reasons their play has not dropped off is freshman guard Daniel Gibson. The Houston native who nearly committed to Kansas has made a strong case for not only Big 12 freshman of the year, but the national award as well.
"He's very competitive," Texas coach Rick Barnes said. "He wants to take the big shot and thinks every shot is going to go in. He're really learning how to run a basketball team."
Gibson, who recently won Big 12 rookie of the week honors, averages 13.6 points per game and has been clutch for the Longhorns so far. He has turned in key performances, such as scoring 27 points and pulling down 10 rebounds in a win against Oklahoma State.
"He has really stepped his game up in the absence of Tucker," Self said. "He has the chance to be mentioned in the same breath as T.J. Ford. He is having as good of a freshman year as anyone in America."
Gibson hasn't been alone in the relief effort. Baylor transfer and senior guard Kenny Taylor has proved to be a solid addition to the Longhorn lineup, and junior guard Kenton Paulino has also given Texas a lift.
Wayne Simien, senior forward, forces a shot around former Texas center James Thomas during last year's game in Austin, Texas. Kansas will try to avenge last year's 67 to 82 loss when the Longhorns visit Allen Fieldhouse tomorrow at 8 p.m.
Kansan file photo
Pitching roster winds up for toughest Big 12 opponents
Sophomore LHP Sean Land, No. 18, warms up before Thursday's afternoon scrimmage. The Jayhawk baseball team will play their first game in February against Hawaii-Hilo in Hawaii.
Erin Droste/KANSAM
BY AUISA BAUER
abauer@kansan.com
KANSA SPORTSWINTER
After joining the baseball staff two years ago, Abney said he looked forward to putting his own recruits into the rotation this season. He said the guys they recruited now were more suited to throw in the Big 12's high-pressure games.
"We finally have three dominant starters that can win us three games on the weekends, no matter who we face," junior left-fielder Matt Batt vallied.
Not only are the newly recruited pitchers stronger and have slightly more endurance, they are also finally starting to close the gap between the pitching speeds of Kansas and of those in the rest of the conference.
He also noted that even guys not in the starting rotation would be ready as well.
"You have to have a plan from August all the way through to the end of the season." Abney said.
But starting this February, a stronger, better-equipped staff is taking over the mound.
After last season's performance in the Big 12, Kansas pitching may seem less than credible.
Kansas pitching coach Steve Abney said he knew the importance of being prepared for Big 12 opponents. He said he realized the difficulty involved in getting anything by power-hitting teams like Texas and Nebraska.
"As a whole, the staff is a lot better this year," senior catcher Sean Richardson said.
Abney may not have his rotation fully developed at this point, but he does have expectations and predictions for the upcoming season.
"I think the balance between Land, Zagurski. Quick, Schambach and Czyz is really good," Abney said. "Zagurski needs to lead, Czyz will lead by example as will Schambach."
With the season starting in less than a week, decisions about who will throw and what each player's role will be must be made.
The team's preseason trip to Hawaii, which will begin Feb. 4, will provide some insight into the players' improvements and in how they throw in pressure situations.
"I think the best thing I can do is make myself available to the younger guys," Zagurski said of his leadership role. "As a pitcher the best thing you can do is keep your team in the game."
Mike Zagurski, senior LHP, had a 4.81 ERA in 19 appearances. He has a 4-4 record from last season but has added pitches for 2005.
Don Czyz, junior RHP, posted the best ERA in 2004 with a 3.77 in 33 appearances. By the end of last season, Abney said he saw Czyz's potential as a tough closer and planned to use him in the final innings this year, too.
5. 26 ERA in 25 appearances last spring and will most likely start this season.
But sophomore Sean Land is predicted to be the most intimidating piece of the rotation.
Clint Schambach, senior RHP, had a
"Sean Land has made vast improvements from last season. He's been our most consistent guy," said Zagurski.
At the moment, Land leads the pitching staff in raw speed. His fastball tops out at more than 90 mph.
Ryan Knippschild carried a heavy load last year, in terms of innings pitched but his graduation forces more of the load to be carried by transfers and freshmen.
Freshmen LHPs Logan Murphy and Kyle Klem are shaping up to be good foundations for the future of Kansas baseball. Abney said.
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Plus, "Murphy's got a big presence."
Senior RHP Mike Fitch transferred from Southeast Missouri State with a 5-5 record and a 6.33 ERA in 2004. Junior LHP Travis Goset came in from Palomar College with a 3.98 ERA in 2004. Kodiak Quick, junior RHP, spent his last two seasons at Stanford before transferring to Kansas this fall.
"This group has been the most rewarding," Abney said of the teams he has coached.
Together, the players will form a revamped pitching line up designed to face the most formidable Big 12 opponents.
A touch of Irish in downtown Lawrence
- Edited by Paige Worthy