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Volume 128 Issue 106
kansan.com
Monday, April 13, 2015
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COMMENTARY
Perry Ellis is crucial to extend Big 12 streak
Following the Jayhawks' defeat in the NCAA Tournament, the conversation about players who might declare for the NBA draft began, focusing solely on the freshmen. At the time, the thought of junior Perry Ellis going pro wasn't really on anyone's mind.
On Thursday, however, multiple media outlets, including the Lawrence Journal-World and Kansas City Star, reported Ellis received information on his draft stock from the NBA Undergraduate Advisory Committee, which caused a stir within the KU community.
However Ellis' decision may end up, it may prove to be a crucial one for Kansas next year
Early last season, coach Bill Self acknowledged that Ellis hadn't been at his best, but as the year went on, he showed improvement. In fact, late in February, Self said Ellis was playing like he was "the best player in the league," and had been "absolutely dominant."
It wasn't quite the storybook ending for Ellis, who suffered a knee injury over the last month of the season, and the play of the team mirrored that; Kansas finished the year 3-3 in its last six games.
That is why Ellis' decision means so much.
Oklahoma is also a possible contender, returning all but one key player from last year's team, which finished 24-11, earning a No.3 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Oklahoma will also add Christian James, who ESPN has as a four-star recruit.
If Ellis were to move on, the Jayhawks would be without their two starting big men from the year before, finding themselves in a conference where some of the other teams seem poised to make a run.
After all, Iowa State has emerged as a serious contender, with numerous returning standouts, including Georges Niang, who was All-Big 12 First Team last year.
Additionally, Kansas went 14-3 in games in which Ellis scored 15-or-more points before his injury. However, when he scored 10 or fewer points, Kansas went just 8-5 for the year - a stretch that accounted for more than half of the team's losses.
Prior to his injury, Kansas was 14-2 when Ellis played 30 minutes of more. But when he failed to hit that total, the team went just 9-4, with a win percent drop-off of nearly 20 percent.
It's also worth noting that both Oklahoma and Iowa State are ranked in the top 10 of ESPN reporter Eamonn Brennan's "Way- Too-Early Top 25," with the Cyclones all the way up at No.4 — four spots ahead of the Jayhawks.
Ultimately, without Ellis, the Jayhawks will likely start the year as the third or fourth conference favorite. And while they've certainly overcome tough odds in the past, at some point, the magic is bound to run out.
- Edited by Mitch Raznisk
Freshman designated hitter Owen Taylor takes a swing at the ball during the first game of the series against Oklahoma State. The Jayhawks fell to the Cowboys 7-2 Friday evening at Hogland Ballpark, but won the following two games to secure the series.
MISSY MINEAR/KANSAN
Kansas baseball takes first Big 12 series
LEVAN RIGGS
@EvanRiggs15
The Kansas Jayhawks (15-21, 3-6) clinched their first Big 12 series win, winning two of three games, with a 4-2 victory against the No. 9 Oklahoma State Cowboys (24-11, 8-4) on Sunday.
"I think we're going to take off after this," senior first baseman Blair Breck said. "It gives us a lot of confidence. I think it's a big momentum booster."
No pitcher dominated like senior Drew Morowick on Saturday, but the Jayhawks had great efforts from three pitchers: freshman Blake Weiman and sophomores Sean Rackoski and Stephen Villines.
Weiman went 5.1 innings and gave up just one run. Rackoski pitched 2.1 innings and gave up one run with three huge strikeouts.
"We've been trying to get [Rackoski] to be tougher and more competitive," Kansas coach Ritch Price said. "He took a huge step forward today; those were two huge innings he pitched for us against the meat of their lineup with guys on base."
Villines emphatically shut the door with 1.1 innings pitched, no runs allowed and two strikeouts. He was awarded the save for the second consecutive day.
yourself. He had all of those qualities."
"He had a really tough weekend last weekend," Price said. "For him to bounce back to get two saves against that team shows you how competitive that kid is."
The Cowboys struck first with a solo home run in the second inning by catcher Bryan Case, but the Jayhawks didn't blink.
"He knows he has one of the hardest roles in baseball. When you give up a late lead, that's devastating to you and the entire team. You have to be the toughest guy in the dugout, you have to have the most swagger in the dugout and you have to believe in
You have to play all nine innings and get all 27 outs," Price said. "You have to be as tough and competitive as your opponents in the other dugout. The energy in both dugouts was really good, both teams wanted to win the series badly."
In the fourth inning, after two walks and a single by junior second baseman Colby Wright, Beck delivered a two RBI double, just as he did Saturday.
centerfielder Joe Moroney up to bat. Moroney drilled a pitch to center field, but Oklahoma State's Ryan Sluder made a sliding catch to end the inning.
"I've watched a lot of film on my swing," Beck said. "I struggled a bit at Oklahoma and I had to make an adjustment. The guys in front of me are seeing good pitches and hitting well, and that's allowing me to do the same."
The Jayhawks loaded the bases again in the same inning with redshirt junior
"That could have changed the game," Price said. "We could have blown it open right there."
Senior right fielder Dakota Smith added another run for the Jayhawks in the sixth inning with a solo home run to make it 3-1.
in the seventh inning, senior shortstop Justin Protacio hit a leadoff double and advanced to third on a passed ball. Sophomore catcher Michael Tinsley provided the Jayhawks with an insurance run with a RBI single to make the score 4-1.
Case added another solo home run for the Cowboys, but it was not enough to overcome the Jayhawks.
The Jayhawks turn their attention to Missouri State (24-8) on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Hoglund Ballpark.
Edited by Yu Kyung Lee
MISSY MINEAR/KANSAN
Senior first baseman Blair Beck hits the ball while up to bat during the first game of the series against Oklahoma State.
Senior first baseman Maddie Stein rounds second base during the first game of the series against Texas. The Jayhawks lost 0-6 at Arrocha Field.
MISSY MINEAR/KANSAN
Softball drops weekend series to Texas Tech
DEREK SKILLETT
@derek_skillett
The No. 22 Jayhawks (33-7, 4-5) were unable to carry momentum from a weekend sweep of the Oklahoma State Cowgirls into the weekend series against the Texas Tech Red Raiders (18-23, 2-7), losing the series 2-1.
The Jayhawks began the weekend dropping the first game of the series by a score of 8-7 Friday. The Jayhawks led the Red Raiders by a score of 6-2 entering the bottom of the third inning, when Texas Tech began to make a comeback. The Red Raiders scored six runs over the final four innings of the game to take the win.
"Offensively, we came out really hot and our pitching didn't support it," Kansas coach Megan Smith said, according to a University release. "Instead of our offense continuing to battle, we just kind of struggled down the stretch. We were hot and cold in that game, offensively."
Senior Maddie Stein led the Jaylawks in Friday's game with three hits and two runs. Freshman Daniella Chavez added two hits and three RBIs. Senior pitcher Alicia Pille started Friday, striking out three batters in three innings pitched. Sophomore Sophia Templin and freshman Bryn Houlton also pitched in Friday's game, striking out a combined three batters.
The Jayhawks got back into the win column Saturday, defeating the Red Raiders by a score of 11-9 in 10 innings. Seniors Chanin Naudin and Stein led the Jayhawks in the 10th inning; both recording clutch hits that helped Kansas put the game away.
The game was tied in the 10th inning until Stein batted in a three-run RBI to give the Jayhawks the lead. Naudin added to the Jayhawks' lead by hitting a two-run home run to secure the win.
"We kept putting pressure on them, which I liked," Smith said, according to a University release. "Maddie was clutch with that hit and Chanin was huge coming through with the home run
Junior Chaley Brickey led the Jayhawks on Sunday with three hits and three RBIs. Sophomore Lily Behrmann, Naudin and freshman Jessie Roane added one hit apiece for Kansas. The Jayhawks and the Red Raiders both recorded nine hits each Sunday.
The Jayhawks were unable to win the series Sunday, falling to the Red Raiders 5-4. After trailing 5-0 entering the seventh inning, the Jayhawks scored four runs in a furious rally attempt that fell short.
to score two more runs in that inning. I wasn't sure five was going to be enough, but lucky for us it was."
Houlton got the start Sunday, striking out two
batters and allowing two runs in her 2.2 innings pitched. Senior Beth Wilson replaced Houlton, but could not strike any batters out while allowing three runs. Templin finished out the game for the Jayhawks, striking out two batters while not allowing the Red Raiders to score.
This is the second series of the season the Jayhawks have lost, having been swept by the Texas Longhorns to begin Big 12 play.
Up next, the Jayhawks will face off against the Tulsa Hurricanes on Saturday and Sunday inside the Collins Family Softball Complex in Tulsa, Okla.
Edited by Samantha
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