Volume 128 Issue 84
kansan.com
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY & ANSAN
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COMMENTARY Cliff Alexander still needs to hone talent
Sophomore guard Frank Mason III attempts a layup in the victory against Kansas State on Jan. 31. Kansas is currently No.2 in the Big 12 Power Rankings
POWER RANKINGS
BEN LIPOWITZ/KANSAN
Kansas stays afloat despite upset by Kansas State
A after freshman forward Cliff Alexander
Alexander committed to Kansas, he told the Chicago Tribune he wouldn't mind extending his stay in Lawrence past this season. He should heed his own advice when the time comes.
The former No. 4 recruit in the nation has shown glimpses of exceeding talent on the jayhawks' roster, but if he were to decide against a second year after this season, he likely wouldn't be ready for the NBA.
“[I could] stay and get better,” Alexander said last March. “Some guys leave and they aren't ready. They rush in and they're rushed out.”
Though Kansas is 13-0 when the 6-foot-8 forward plays more than 19 minutes, that record doesn't portray his lack of development in his first year under Self. That can be partly attributed to his absence of playing time, especially recently, with only 27 minutes of court time in the last three games combined, despite starting in all three.
On Monday night against Kansas State, Alexander played only 10 minutes after getting into quick foul trouble. He's also struggled with general basketball IQ on the defensive end, and Self has been quick to send him to the bench when he does. Simply put: It's not that Alexander doesn't have talent, it's his inability to hone his talent that's holding him back.
College takes talented athletic specimens, progresses their skills, and matures their game. If he leaves at the end of the season, he'll deprive himself of just that. But if he stays, Self needs to be in his corner and fully support that decision. The way Self's deployed Alexander thus far isn't something that the freshman should or will be compelled to give up a big payday for.
If Alexander is going to reach his full potential in a Kansas jersey, Self can't decide to bench him even when he struggles. Having a player's back through thick and thin, helping them understand and learn from their mistakes is how a team can limit one-and-dones. If a player gets that support, they enter the NBA more refined than before.
Rather, by just plopping his struggling players on the bench, Self created a divide between himself and those one-and-done type of players who want to bring their talents to Lawrence.
Edited by Vicky Diaz Camacho
its hard to give a coach who has won 10 consecutive Big 12 titles advice, but if Alexander wants to reach his full potential, and the Jayhawks want to benefit from the presence of a top talent in college basketball on the court, then Self must do more than rush Alexander in and rush him out. They need to be on the same page.
SCOTT CHASEN
@SCHasenKU
1. IOWA STATE (20-6, 10-4) Despite trailing the Jayhawks by a half game in the Big 12 standings, the Cyclones sit at first in the power rankings, having won three games in a row and four of their last five games. In his weekly press conference, Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg said that he was happy with his team's execution as of late, which certainly was a factor in the Cyclones' win against the Texas Longhorn.
2. KANSAS (22-6, 11-4)
While the Jayhawks are technically first in the Big 12 standings, the team is just 1-2 in its last three games and 3-3 in its last six. All of a sudden, the Jayhawks are in danger of not winning the Big 12 for the first time in a decade, and it's definitely got some fans nervous. Following the Sunflower Showdown, Kansas basketball coach Bill Self said it "wouldn't surprise me at all" if Iowa State were to win their remaining regular season games, meaning that the Jayhawks would have to be perfect to retain their title as Big 12 champion.
3. OKLAHOMA (19-8, 10-5)
The Sooners have slid under the radar this year, but they're still in the Big 12 race at 10-5. Simply put, if they had just managed to take care of business against Kansas State, whom they lost to twice by a combined six points, they'd be in sole possession of first place in the Big 12. The Sooners do, however, have an incredibly tough close to the season, as they play the second-place Iowa State Cyclones on the road before finishing out the year against first-place Kansas.
told reporters he was proud of his players, saying they're relentless in a league that is likely the best in the nation. Sure enough, West Virginia has now won three straight games, two of
4. BAYLOR (20-7, 8-6)
Baylor has continued to be one of the more baffling teams in the Big 12. The Bears have beaten the likes of Iowa State, Oklahoma and West Virginia, but they also lost to Kansas State, played a close game with Texas Tech and needed overtime to beat TCU.
Regardless, the Bears managed to put together a solid season, and Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg was complimentary of the way Scott Drew coached Baylor this season, saying he'd done an "unbelievable job."
5. WEST VIRGINIA (21-6, 9-5)
Fresh off a win against Texas,
the Mountaineers come in at
fifth in the power rankings. After
the game, coach Bob Huggins
which have come against ranked opponents.
6. TEXAS (17-10, 6-8)
The Longhorns have really struggled in the Big 12, almost
seeming unprepared, but they've done something that is the mark of a good team: They've taken care of business against the proverbial bottom feeders. Texas is 5-0 against the bottom three schools in the Big 12, while Kansas, Iowa State and Oklahoma, who are generally considered the three best teams in the Big 12, have lost at least one game to that same group.
7. OKLAHOMA STATE (17-10, 7-8)
After starting 7-5 in Big 12 play,
the Cowboys have really fallen
off, dropping three in a row, one
of which came surprisingly to
the TCU Horned Frogs. After the
team's most recent loss to West
Virginia, coach Travis Ford was
pretty visibly frustrated, telling
reporters he felt the team had
managed to put together "40
minute stretches" when they
defended "as well as anyone in
the country," but it just wasn't
happening at the time.
Vo
8. KANSAS STATE (14-15, 7-9)
It's been a very rough season for the Wildcats, but they did manage to knock off the Jayhawks for a second year in a row, and they've somewhat turned their season around following a disastrous nonconference slate. After defeating Kansas, Weber even noted how big of a game it was for his own job security, saying he was told to do one thing: "Just beat Kansas."
9. TCU (16-11, 3-11)
After stringing together a perfect nonconference slate, the Horned Frogs started off Big 12 play at 1-10 before winning two of their last three games. While the Horned Frogs have virtually no chance to make the tournament, short of running the table in the Big 12 Tournament, coach Trent Johnson did say he was proud that his team hadn't quit on him, following a loss to the University of Kansas in Allen Fieldhouse.
Kansas women look to upend five-game skid
Edited by Garrett Long
10. TEXAS TECH (12-16, 2-13)
The Red Raiders missed out on a rare opportunity to get a Big 12 win on Saturday, as they fell to the Oklahoma Sooners in overtime. For the Red Raiders, their last two losses were against ranked opponents by five or fewer points. This is a promising sign, especially with their next game against the TCU Horned Frogs.
Freshman Lauren Aldridge shoots a lavup in the game against Texas Tech on Feb. 4. After a five-game losing streak, Kansas plays Kansas State tonight.
DYLAN SHERWOOD
@dmantheman2011
Kansas (13-15, 4-11) looks to snap a five-game losing streak as they host their instate rival Kansas State (15-11, 5-10) in the Sunflower Showdown tonight at Allen Fieldhouse. Both teams are on losing skids with Kansas State losing their last three games. Kansas will host Student Fandemonium, where students have a chance to win thousands of dollars worth of prizes.
Kansas sits one game back of a three-way tie for eighth-place with Kansas State and Texas Tech in the Big 12 Conference. With a win tonight, Kansas could also close the gap between it and seventh-place West Virginia, who is two games ahead of the jayhawks.
ALI DOVER/KANSAN
The Wildcats' three recent losses have come to Texas Tech, Texas and Oklahoma, the latest at home on Saturday.
sunflower Showdown for the seniors, who are looking to pick up another win against their in-state rivals and snap their losing streak. Dating back to last season, the two teams have gone back-and-forth winning games, with Kansas' last win coming in last season's Big 12 Tournament.
The teams previously met on Jan. 11 in Manhattan. Kansas got off to a good start, but a late second-half surge by Kansas State defeated the Jayhawks, 58-52. Freshman guard Chayla Cheadle led Kansas with 15 points in the game. Senior forward Chelsea Gardner added 13 points as well, but was in for tough trouble for most of the game.
averages 12.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game. Another key player for the Wildcats is senior guard Ashia Woods, who averages 10.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.
This will be the last
Kansas State is just 1-6 on the road in Big 12 play, their only road win being at Texas Tech on Jan.31,41-38.
Kansas State is led by senior forward Breanna Lewis, who
One question for Kansas is the status of senior guard
Asia Boyd, who left Saturday's game against Oklahoma State late in the first half with an ankle injury. If Boyd is out, Kansas will have to depend on just eight players suited up, and will miss Boyd's 10.3 points per game.
Kansas will need to depend on Gardner and senior guard Natalie Knight to score if Boyd can't go. Gardner averages 16.5 points and
8. 1 rebounds per game, and Knight has scored 20 or more points in her last two games, and has averaged 12.9 points and five rebounds per game.
Freshman guards Lauren Aldridge and Cheadle will have to contribute as well.
Tip from Allen Fieldhouse is at 7 p.m.
- Edited by Jordan Fox
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