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Volume 128 Issue 95
kansan.com
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
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COMMENTARY What if Alexander had played in the last 8 games?
If you don't live under a rock,you know Kansas was eliminated in the NCAA Tournament's Round of 32 by Wichita State on Sunday.
it was another season that ended in, "what if?"
This season it was: "What if Cliff Alexander could have played?"
ended in. While it
last season it was: "What
if Joel Embiid had been
healthy?"
Alexander was pulled from the lineup before the final Texas game and never returned. From Feb. 28 onward, Kansas was 5-3, two games in which Kansas lost by a combined six points (lost by two against Oklahoma and by four against Iowa State). What if Alexander had suited up in those games? Would it have made a difference?
Whatever happens, all Kansas fans can say is, "what if?" and wait for some news — good or bad.
Will Alexander come back?
No one knows. Honestly,
no one knows anything
about Alexander and his
predicament. If he leaves,
he won't play many minutes
in the NBA right away.
Alexander is most likely
to get significant playing
time in the D-League or
in Europe. However, if he's
deemed eligible and he stays,
he could have a better chance
of suiting up and potentially
starting in the NBA.
Edited by Emma LeGault
Would Kansas have won the three games it dropped after Alexander rode the bench? Maybe, maybe not. The stats say it's a possibility.
I'm not some kind of magical genie. I can't turn back time, but let's play it out, this hypothetical question.
BEN LIPOWITZ/KANSAN
In the games Alexander played, he averaged 17.6 minutes, 7.1 points and 5.3 rebounds. All in all, those stats weren't phenomenal, but he did lead the team in field-goal percentage, shooting 56.6 percent from the field.
Keep in mind, his season high of 16 points came versus Tennessee in November.
In Alexander's last four games, he scored six points (four against Baylor, zero at West Virginia, two against TCU and zero at Kansas State). In those games, he averaged 30 percent from the field on 3-of-10 shooting. The most he was on the floor during those games was for 21 minutes against Baylor, and then his minutes drastically were cut. He had only 27 minutes combined in his final three outings.
If the trend were to hold, Alexander wouldn't have been on the floor for many minutes and wouldn't have scored many points. Of course, this is completely based on numbers and doesn't matter whatsoever because Alexander didn't play.
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Junior pitcher Hayden Edwards throws a pitch for a strike in the game against Central Michigan on March 10. This week the Jayhawks travel to Springfield, Mo., to play Missouri State. BEN LIPOWITZ/KANSAN
KYLAN WHITMER
@KRWhitmer
The Jayhawks (9-14) will play away from Hoglund Ballpark for the first time in three weeks as they travel to Springfield, Mo., to play the Missouri State Bears (13-7).
This single-game series will be the final game for the Jayhawks to prepare for Big 12 play, which begins this weekend.
The Jayhawks hosted the past 10 games and recorded a 4-6 record against Utah, Central Michigan, Michigan and Iowa. In each series, the Jayhawks managed to put themselves in a position to win the series in a rubber match but were only able to close the series against Michigan.
In the Jayhawks' most recent series against Iowa, the bats were active as they managed 29 hits throughout the series. However, the team struggled to capitalize on these hits as they had only 10 runs batted in while 36 runners were left on base.
Tuesday's game against the Bears marks the last game for Kansas pitchers to further improve before conference play. All 14 of the lahaywks pitchers have played at least an inning and will all be a key factors for the Jayhawks' success in Big 12 play.
The Bears have been solid this season as they boast a winning record of 13-7 through the 20 games they've played.
Missouri State has experience against familiar faces for the Jayhawks as the team has played two Big 12 teams this season in Oklahoma State and Kansas State. The Bears lost their only game against Oklahoma State and were only able to grab one win away from Kansas State in their three-game series against the Wildcats in Manhattan.
ine Bears are coming off a series win against Indiana State to start off their Missouri Valley Conference campaign.
The Jayhawk pitchers will need to be wary against all of the Bears' batters at the plate as their top seven batters have all recorded double-digit RBIs this season. Missouri State's Jake Burger is a player to watch for as he leads the team with 24 hits. Eight of Burger's hits have been doubles and he has also tacked on a triple and two home runs.
First pitch will be at 6:30 p.m.
at Hammons Field in Spring-
field, Mo.
Edited by Miranda Davis
Outfielder Dakota Smith heads to first base during the game against Central Michigan on March 10. The Jayhawks lost 8-2 against the Chippewas.
BEN LIPOWITZ/KANSAN
Softball looks to defend undefeated home record No.22 Jayhawks take on Drake Bulldogs at Rock Chalk Park
DEREK SKILLETT
@derek skillett
After completing a productive sweep in the Rock Chalk Challenge, the No. 22 Jayhawks will be back in action Tuesday as they face off against the Drake Buildings at 6 p.m. in Arrocha Ballpark at Rock Chalk Park.
The Jayhawks are coming off the weekend's sweep of the Rock Chalk Challenge, as they defeated Eastern Michigan, UMKC and Georgia State over the weekend. Kansas also improved its home record to a perfect 8-0.
On Sunday, coach Megan Smith reached 300 career wins with a 5-4 victory against
The Drake Bulldogs come into Arrocha Ballpark with a 14-11 record. Most recently, they have won five of their past six games and are coming off a three-game winning streak against Evansville. One of the most notable victories for the Bulldogs was a 12-0 victory against Texas Tech in the Cowgirl Classic at Lake Charles, La., on Feb. 27.
Senior pitcher Rebekah Schmidt, who plays a dual role on offense and defense, statistically leads the Bulldogs. Schmidt has a .358 batting average, has only recorded 19 hits and has scored five runs. She ranks second on the team with 16 RBIs and three home runs. Schmidt leads the team with seven doubles.
Georgia State. Coincidentally, this was also the game in which senior Maddie Stein recorded her 141st RBI, setting a school record.
Kansas' home record this season
Sophomore outfielder Megan Sowa ranks second on the
Bulldogs with a .354 batting average, leading the team with 28 hits and 17 RBIs. Sowa ranks second on the team with 17 runs scored. Freshman infielder Kelsey Wright leads Drake with 21 runs scored on 21 hits, despite recording a .280 batting average.
collectively, the Bulldogs have recorded a .265 batting average, 171 hits, have scored 113 runs and have hit 101 RBIs.
Freshman Nicole Newman leads the Bulldogs' pitching staff with a 2.55 ERA and has struck out 66 batters while allowing 45 hits and 23 runs. Schmidt ranks second on the pitching staff with a 3.20 ERA and has struck out 88 batters
while allowing 86 hits, 49 runs and 11 home runs. The collective pitching staff has a 3.15 ERA and has struck out 155 batters while allowing 143 hits and 81 runs.
This will be the first time fans can watch the Jayhawks from their homes, as the game will be televised on the Jayhawk Network and ESPN3.
This will be the final non-conference game before conference play begins Friday against the Texas Longhorns, who have received votes in the ESPN Top 25 softball rankings. The Friday game against Texas will also be televised on ESPN3.
- Edited by Chandler Boese
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