+
Volume 128 Issue 114
kansan.com
Monday, April 27. 2014
+
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY & ANSAN
COMMENTARY LeBron's first round dominance underrated
Scott Chasen
@SChasenKU
Rings. So often this is the argument when talking about players' legacies, especially when it comes to the NBA. However, another statistic can say a lot about a player.
Don't get me wrong. Finals victories and appearances are incredibly important in the legacy discussion. After all, Michael Jordan had six of each, Magic Johnson had five and nine, respectively, and Bill Russell posted 11 of each.
Leading a team to an NBA Championship is an incredible achievement, but it's certainly not the be-all and end-all. However, it is worth noting that James has started to reach the territory of the elite in that category, in his 12th season.
First round record.
Right now, it's possible (and maybe even probable) James could get back to the finals this year, but looking at the 11 seasons he's completed, his numbers stack up quite well.
At 30, James has reached the NBA Finals five times and has two rings to show for it, but for a player just halfway through his career, it's not completely accurate to compare his accomplishments to players who have completed their careers.
However, as far as first-round record is concerned, the numbers are quite telling.
In his 10 postseasons, James hasn't been eliminated in the first round, and barring something dramatic this year, he'll have never been eliminated from the playoffs in 10-or-fewer games in his career.
Michael Jordan, who seems to be the person James is always compared to, was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in each of his first three years in the league, and he was eliminated in 10-or-fewer games in the playoffs five times.
Now compare that to other legends. Magic Johnson was knocked out in the first round of the NBA playoffs twice. He made it fewer than 10 games three times. Larry Bird lost in the first round two times. He played 10-or-fewer games five times.
It took Jordan five NBA seasons to get past that 10-game mark; it took James three.
Considering how bad some of James' teammates have been over the years, this accomplishment is exemplified greatly. Here are the players who started alongside James in his first playoff game: Drew Gooden, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Eric Snow and Larry Hughes.
And in that first game, those four combined to score 33 points on 13 made field goals.
By himself, James scored 32 points on 12 made field goals, playing all 48 minutes of the game. And with James leading the way, the Cavaliers won the game.
Ultimately, a mark like first- round success isn't something that will be considered in legacy talks, nor is it something that carries the weight of perhaps 20 other career accomplishments.
However, LeBron's first-round record is extremely impressive in this day and age, especially considering how bad some of his teammates were, at least before he teamed up with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami.
Edited by Kayla Schartz
New football coach David Beaty looking for his best 11 in spring game
CHRISTIAN HARDY
@HardyNFL
It was a muggy, rainy day, but the Kansas football team was finally playing in Memorial Stadium in front of fans. Even though it was with a new head coach, a new offense and a new motto, they were on the field, and there was plenty to keep eyes peeled for.
It was a slow first half, which ended in the blue team (first-team offense) leading 3-0. But the second half gave Memorial Stadium a glimpse of the sun peeking through the clouds, and the play on the field reflected that. The game was more exciting, as the blue team marched to a 20-7 victory behind upcoming junior quarterback Montell Cozart.
But with the injury to senior quarterback Michael Cummings, the score was of little importance in the full spectrum of Saturday's game.
It has been said before, and it will be uttered many more times this season: Everything on this Kansas team is up for grabs and will have to be earned, according to coach David Beaty. "Everything" includes the Jayhawk decals on the sides of player helmets and names on the back of their jerseys.
"EARN IT"
"We're trying to take that blue-collar approach," Beaty said. "We're not going to worry about things that don't help us win until that time comes... We're going to wear just a helmet and just a jersey, and we're going to focus on trying to become better players."
"I just wanted them to play straight up football today because that's something we haven't done." Beaty said. "There was no blitzing today. There were no fake reverses, no reverses. There were hardly [any] misdirections offensively."
Another thing fans didn't see Saturday was the tempo Beaty wants to play at. Rather than the up-tempo pace seen at practice, Beaty slowed it down for teaching reasons.
Just like every college team in the country, Beaty didn't want to lay all his cards on the table just yet. However, on future Saturdays, fans can expect to see a much faster and diverse offense than the one they saw this past Saturday.
THE BEST 11 PLAYERS WILL PLAY
as senior Tre' Parmalee, who features mostly as a slot wide receiver, lined up all over the field. Six-foot-five junior tight end Kent Taylor lined up outside for his 85-yard-touchdown catch late in the fourth quarter.
The "best 11" isn't a new way to coach, and it's often times played up to be more than it is, but Beaty seems genuine about this best 11 format. On Saturday, we got a glimpse of that with the wide receivers,
"We're going to find our best 11 guys." Beaty said. "If you're one of those, you're not going to be standing by me. We will not hesitate to move you and put you in another spot. At wide receiver, we will play our best four. We won't tab you as an X or a Z or a Y or a H."
The most devastating situation to come out of the spring game was Cummings' left knee injury. He took a shot from senior safety Michael Glatzzak, although there is a no-contact rule for quarterbacks during spring football. After getting his knee wrapped on the sideline, Cummings was able to limp to the locker room. Beaty didn't have an update yet, but said he was being evaluated by the medical staff.
The hit from Glatezak was inexcusable. He dove into Cummings and landed right at his knee. Even on first look, it wasn't good.
"They know they're not supposed to touch those guys," Beaty said. "When they do, you get a mouthful from every coach on our staff.
not just me. [Coach] Clint Bowen, he is a raging lunatic at practice if you get close to that quarterback, because he understands that that guy is the key to the movement of this football team a lot of times."
Cummings told Beaty he thought it was an accident, telling him Glatzcak "didn't mean to do it," and "he got pushed into me." Cummings also told Beaty he was "OK."
Cozart finished the remainder of the game for the blue team, finishing with 219 yards and two touchdowns. Eighty-five of those yards came off a late mishap from the defense — junior tight end Kent Taylor's receiving touchdown.
BATES HAS A FIELD DAY
Transfer junior safety Bazie Bates IV was the standout on the defensive end for either team. He led all defenders with seven total tackles and was a constant force inside the box. Beaty has had his eye on the Texas native for years and initially tried recruiting him to Texas A&M while he was coaching there.
He comes downhill, and he will hit you," Beaty said. "He can get you on the ground. He runs all over that field, and he will strike you. We think that he could be a really good player for us."
Of course, Bates has a long
way to go to jump junior safety Fish Smithson on the depth chart. But he's making plenty of progress — and quickly. Saturday was a good indication of how well he's fitting into this defense and the changes at the Division I level.
Upcoming senior wide receiver Rodriguez Coleman and sophomore running back Corey Avery weren't in uniform for Kansas' game, and Beaty told media exactly why after the game.
INDEFINITELY SUSPENDED:
COLEMAN AND AVERY
"There are a couple guys who are suspended for violating team rules," Beaty said. "Rodriguez Coleman is one of those guys, and Corey Avery is another one. Their futures are uncertain."
Beaty added that both are indefinitely suspended. Coleman was expected to be a starting receiver for the Jayhawks this season after the team lost a hoist of guys to the NFL draft. Avery led the team in rushes and rushing yards in 2014, and was also expected to compete for the starting position with plenty of depth.
Beyond violating team rules, nothing is known about the two suspensions at this time.
Edited by Samantha Darling
FACE OF THE STREAK
Keith Langford vs. Brandon Rush
Langford spent four seasons at Kansas and became one of the program's most prolific scorers of all time. Langford was a sharp-shooting lefty at the shooting guard position and averaged double-digit scoring in his final three seasons. As a sophomore, Langford earned a spot on the NCAA All-Final Four team and was a Wooden Award Finalist as a junior. Langford is part of Kansas' 1,000-point club, and since the streak began, only one player has surpassed him in points scored (Sherron Collins).
- Ranked second on Kansas in points, rebounds and assists per game in 2003-04
KEITH LANGFORD
BRANDON RUSH
Rush led the 2008 National Championship team in scoring at 13.3 points per game, earning Third Team All-American honors from the National Association of Basketball Coaches in his final season as a Jayhawk. He was the first freshman in conference history to make First Team All-Big 12, winning Big 12 Freshman of the Year in the process. During that year, Rush led the team in scoring, rebounding and three-point percentage.
- Big 12 Freshman of the Year in 2005-06
- First Team All-Big 12 for three seasons
Vo
Kansas baseball unable to complete WVU sweep
WESLEY DOTSON
@WesleyDu23
In the top of the second, the Jayhawks got on the board first when junior Ryan Pidhaichuk walked with the bases loaded, which brought in sophomore Michael Tinsley.
For the second consecutive game, the Jayhawks were able to produce another scoring outburst all in one inning.
@WesleyDee23
In Sunday's series finale against the West Virginia Mountaineers, the Kansas Jayhawks were unable to complete the sweep, falling 5-4 in Morgantown, W.V.
In the second inning, Kansas delivered a four-spot, which would turn out to be the only runs it would score in the contest.
The next batter, senior Connor McKay, smacked a single back up the middle that would allow sophomore Joven Afenir to score.
In the bottom of the second, West Virginia's Shaun Wood would cut the lead in half with his two-run
Another walk by junior Tommy Mirabelli would force in senior outfielder Dakota Smith and make it 2-0, Kansas. Senior Justin Protocio would then deliver an RBI-single to make it 3-0.
Kansas sophomore starter Sean Rackoski escaped the Mountaineer threat when he struck out Justin Fox. This was Rackoski's fourth strikeout, and the Jayhawks retained the lead, 4-3.
Rackoski settled in for the remainder of his start. He wound up striking out seven batters in five innings, while allowing seven hits and three earned runs.
After freshman Blake Weiman came in for Rackoski, the lefty had a
home run.
Shortstop Taylor Munden later singled in the inning to score Caleb Potter and cut the lavihawks' lead to one.
"He [Weiman] did a really good job today, but their best player [Munden] put a good sving on the ball and he didn't miss it," coach Ritch Price said after the loss.
Despite the loss, the Jayhawks still went on the
Weiman finished with three innings of work, allowing two hits — one of them the game-winning home run — and he was tagged with his seventh loss of the season.
strong sixth inning of work, but he gave up the go-ahead two-run blast to Munden in the bottom of the seventh inning that made the score 5-4, West Virginia.
road and captured a huge Big 12 series victory this weekend (3-1, 9-5, 4-5). They have now improved their Big 12 record to 6-9 as a result of the series win.
On Friday, the Jayhawks cruised to a 3-1 victory behind the arm of junior lefty Ben Krauth. Krauth improved to 6-3 on the season thanks in large part to his eight strikeouts.
A sacrifice fly by Afenir in the top of the fifth inning would score Mirabelli and tie the game, 1-1.
To read the rest of this story, visit www.kansan.com.
Edited by Lane Cofas