Volume 128 Issue 79
kansan.com
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY & KANSAN
COMMENTARY
Though the front on the NFLs domestic violence issues has
settled and is quiet for now, it may not stay that way for long.
Last Monday, charges against Panthers impending free agent Greg Hardy in a domestic violence-related case were dropped after alleged victim, ex-girlfriend Nicole Holder, reached a settlement with Hardy.
Investigation into Greg Hardy will prove crucial
Those charges allegedly involved the 6-foot-4 defensive end throwing Holder into a bathhub, pulling her back out by her hair, threatening to kill her and break her arms, choking her, then thrashing her onto a couch with multiple assault rifles on it.
The court was unable to proceed after it could not locate Holder, even when it went to "extraordinary measures", including surveillance and calls to family members. The court's "extraordinary" search was fishy, as a quick Facebook search placed her in Denver and New York city in December. Hardy's settlement with Holder is in question as well.
Originally, Hardy was found guilty before a judge last summer, but was later granted a second trial before a jury on appeal. While he waited for his second court date, he was initially allowed to play, but when the Ray Rice situation blew up, he was retroactively placed on the exempt/commissioner's permission list. A few weeks after, Holder did her "disappearing" act.
- the suspension could be extended.
Although Holder has stayed silent, the NFL must make a clear effort to dig up the truth in the case. If the league does that, it will positively influence public perception of the NFL in dealing with domestic violence, furthering its efforts to reinvigorate the NFL's shield.
Regardless of whether the NFL decides to punish Hardy further, it needs to do its due diligence in looking into the case. If the NFL finds reason to believe Hardy is guilty — as he was in his initial trial — they will have to take action.
By rule, the NFL could still pass down a six-game suspension, but if the NFL deems Hardy's case possesses "extenuating circumstances" – which could be true if Holder's claims are confirmed
Edited by Valerie Haag
The NFL's decision on Hardy will set an outline for how the league will deal with domestic violence-related cases in the future under the new player conduct policy. Though Hardy missed 15 games on the exempt/comissioner permission list, he wasn't necessarily "suspended". All of this is new ground, and, because he was punished before his trial was completed. Hardy is the guinea pig.
LAST-SECOND LOSS
West Virginia defeats Kansas 62-61 in final seconds
BEN FELDERSTEIN
@Ben_Felderstein
Nine times out of 10, junior forward Perry Ellis converts an easy fast break layup with defenders at his back. But Monday night was that one time.
All season long, one of Kansas' major weaknesses has been handling full-court pressure, while its strength has been knocking in threes. Unfortunately for coach Bill Self and the Jayhawks, West Virginia plays 40 minutes of full-court press defense. But much to Self's delight, the Mountaineers sit dead last in the Big 12 in three-point shooting defense.
With 8.3 seconds to play, West Virginia's Juwan Staten ran the length of the floor and knocked in a layup to give the Mountaineers a 62-61 lead. Ellis' missed field goal at the other end secured a victory for West Virginia.
Leading the Big 12 in three-point percentage entering the game, the Jayhawks were able to convert on only one three-point basket in the first half. The second half was a completely different story for Kansas, as it converted on its first three threepoint attempts, helping the Jayhawks on a 10-0 run.
With minutes to play in the game, Ellis' ability to score in the paint allowed the jayhawks to trade buckets with the Mountaineers. Ellis had a strong outing, despite his large miss, scoring 19 points on 7-15 shooting.
Junior forward Jamari Trayler was in large part responsible for
Kansas' adaptation to the Mountaineers' press. Traaylor started the game on the bench, but played 26 efficient minutes, earning a second-half start.
Traylor's ability to spread the floor and hustle kept both himself and Kansas in the ballgame. The forward's impact cannot be measured in the box score, but his constant energy led to easy buckets and secure defense for Kansas.
Early in the first half, Kansas' offense could not operate, and West Virginia got off to an 11-point lead within the first 11 minutes of the game. In the first half, the Jayhawks committed nine turnovers, but were able to limit the Mountainers to only nine points off those turnovers.
West Virginia was able to fight off Kansas' comeback and spark a comeback of its own. Staten led the way with 20 points on 9-18 shooting with four assists. Staten has struggled for the Mountaineers at the end of games, but came up huge for West Virginia, as it defeated Kansas in Morgantown, W.Va., for the second straight season.
Edited by Emma LeGault
Sophomore guard Frank Mason III had a bounceback game after one of his worst outings of the season against Baylor. Mason finished with 18 points on 7-13 shooting, including three three-pointers.
Next up Kansas will face TCU at home on Feb. 21. Kansas defeated TCU on Jan. 28 in Fort Worth 64-61.
RAYMOND THOMPSON/ASSOCIATED PRESS
West Virginia guard Juwan Staten shoots while being defended by junior forward Jamari Traylor during the second half of the game Monday in Morgantown, W.Va. Traylor and the Jayhawks lost to West Virginia 61-62.
Kansas looks to end skid against TCU
Freshman guard Lauren Aldridge takes her chance to shoot the ball in the game against Texas on Saturday. Kansas lost to Texas 63-74.
DYLAN SHERWOOD
I111 STIVERSON/KANSAN
@dmantheman2011
Currently on a three-game losing streak, Kansas (13-13, 4-9) begins a two-game road trip this week, starting off with a trip to Fort Worth, Texas, to take on TCU (14-10, 6-7) tonight.
Both teams met in Lawrence on Jan. 14, with TCU pulling out an 80-63 win.
The Big 12 race for positions three through 10 are getting interesting with just over two weeks left of the regular season. Eight teams are separated by just two games in the standings. TCU is in a three-way tie for third, two games up on tenth-place Kansas. Kansas sits one game behind a tie for sixth place, which includes Texas, Kansas State, West Virginia and Texas Tech.
Like the Jayhawks, the Horned Frogs have also lost their last two games; on Wednesday at Kansas State and on Saturday at Oklahoma.
"We need to take care of the ball. We turned the ball over a bunch against them here," coach Bonnie Henrickson said. "Our effort to the glass has to be efficient, they are small but fast."
TCU is ranked last in the Big 12 in scoring defense, allowing 68.9 points per game,
while Kansas ranks seventh
in the Big 12, allowing 61.4
points per game.
Leading the way for TCU is junior guard Zahna Medley, who ranks fifth in scoring in the Big 12, averaging 15.3 points per game. Junior forward Veja Hamilton is also in the top 15 in the Big 12 scoring, ranked 14th averaging 11.5 points per game.
Kansas senior forward Chelsea Gardner still sits in third in the conference averaging 16.3 points per game. Senior guard Natalie Knight after making her way into the 1,000 point club, ranks 11th in the Big 12 averaging 12 points per game.
"I think we have to fight all 40 minutes and not let up," Gardner said. "We need to have a lot of energy to start out the game."
Kansas last won at home on Feb. 4, beating Texas Tech 71-67. Out of Kansas's four wins in conference play, two of them have come on the road.
Edited by Valerie Haag
Tipoff is 7 p.m. at the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas.
$$
\bigcirc
$$
ALI DOVER/KANSAN
Senior guard Natalie Knight shoots a layup in the game against Texas on Saturday, Kansas will face TCU in Fort Worth, Texas tonight.