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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015
PAGE 11
Christian Garrett prepares for final game at Allen Fieldhouse
BEN FELDERSTEIN
@Ben_Felderstein
When Christian Garrett was growing up, it was his dream to play basketball at a place like Kansas. In Garrett's five years on the Kansas basketball team, he's had the chance to live that dream and tomorrow night he will suit up and start for his final home game tomorrow night as he is honored as the sole senior on this year's Jayhawk roster.
"When I was young I said I wanted to go to a school with a lot of tradition and has a chance to win a national championship. I'm at exactly where I wanted to be," senior guard Garrett said. "It's been a dream come true, I cherish it and I'm glad to be a part of it."
Garrett, from Los Angeles, is studying sports management. While he has not seen a lot of playing time in his years at Kansas, he is still a crucial
Garrett
"He gives up 100 percent in practice," freshman guard Kelly Oubre Jr. said. "Even though he doesn't play in the games, he gives us his all in practice and it's inspiring to all of us."
member of the team.
Garrett redshirted his first year with the program in the 2010-11 season and has been a part of four Big 12 championships in his tenure and will go for a fifth Tuesday night.
"The first ring was cool, I kind of lucked into that one." Garrett said. "I've been blessed that every year we've won the Big 12. Some people don't get the opportunity. We expect to get two every year."
On top of four regular season titles, Garrett has been a part of two Big 12 tournament titles, two Elite Eights and one Final Four appearance. Kansas has lost only two games inside Allen Fieldhouse in Garrett's five years on the roster while posting a 128-31 overall record in his time at Kansas.
Garrett will leave Kansas having been a part of several very decorated teams.
Garrett was recently named to the Academic All-Big 12 roster for the first time in his tenure at Kansas. He was named to the Academic All-Big 12 rookie team and the Academic All-League second team last season.
credible relationships and bonds between people that he has met during his time at Kansas. He has been a part of great teams and learned a lot about the game of basketball.
Garrett said he has built in
"The Final Four freshman year was a crazy memory," Garrett said. "Every person on this team, every coach, people you meet, these relationships will last a lifetime."
Like all seniors under Bill Self before him, Garrett will lace up with the starting lineup and will have a post-game speech in front of the crowd of 16,300 attendees. Garrett will replace Oubre in the starting lineup.
"Christian is a great kid and teammate," Self said. "He gives us everything he has in practice and even though that hasn't reflected in playing time, he has done a lot for this program."
Edited by Miranda Davis
Jayhawks take on Lopes in Arizona
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION/FILE PHOTO
JOEY ANGUIANO
@Joey Anguiano
After losing to Boston College in the Snowbird Classic, Kansas travels to Arizona this weekend to face Grand Canyon
After a two-run loss to Boston College (4-6) to end the Snowbird Classic, Kansas (4-7) heads to Arizona to take on the Grand Canyon Lopes (9-3).
Earlier in the season, Grand Canyon showed their ability to hit the ball well in a 30-7 drubbing of Bradley. The Lopes recorded 28 hits against the Braves. Behind senior second baseman Chad De La Guerra, who had 9 RBIs, Grand Canyon amassed 29 RBIs.
Last time out for the Lopes saw little success from the batter's box. Grand Canyon only collected three runs on 18 hits through a two game series against the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The Lopes allowed 14 runs over the two game series to UW-Milwaukee.
As the Jayhawks head down to Phoenix, there are a few things to keep your eyes peeled for. For the Jayhawks, junior second baseman Colby Wright has found himself on base every game this season, and
is looking to extend his fourgame hitting streak. Additionally, be on the lookout for how the Jayhawks' pitching staff performs. If the pitchers can get two strong starting efforts against Grand Canyon, there is no reason to think that Kansas won't leave Arizona without at least one win added to their season total.
this season, so be sure to keep a look out when he steps in the batter's box.
the games themselves can be viewed on a local news station out of Phoenix. The first game starts Tuesday at 8 p.m., and the second game of the series will be Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.
For Grand Canyon, De La Guerra was selected as the Western Athletic Conference's Player of the Year. He showed off his batting abilities against Bradley with nine RBIs and more recently against UW-Milwaukee with a four-hit game, including a home run. De La Guerra has been attacking the ball with ferocity
Edited by Kelsi Kirwin
BEN LIPOWITZ/KANSAN
Junior forward Perry Ellis dunks the ball against Texas on Saturday. The Jawhaws won 69-64. Ellis was the Big 12 Player of the Week last week.
Over Kansas' two games in the last week, Ellis scored a combined 52 points, while averaging 11 rebounds and two blocks per game. The junior also made 19 of his 37 field goal attempts while playing a combined 76 minutes.
Kansas forward Perry Ellis named Big 12 Player of the Week
"Perry has just kind of carried us," said Kansas coach Bill Self
Perry Ellis was named the Phillips 66 Big 12 player of the Week for last week, the league announced on Monday.
following the team's victory over the Texas Longhorns on Saturday. "For the first time, I think since he's been here, he's actually playing at the level we all see him playing at."
This marks the third time Ellis has won the award this season and the fifth time he's won it in his career.
Ellis is averaging 15.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per game in conference play, and he's scored at least 18 points in each of his last five games, while shooting 53.8 percent from the field in that stretch.
Scott Chasen