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Volume 128 Issue 76
kansan.com
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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COMMENTARY
Kansas set to bolster NFL presence in 2015
The top name, though maybe not the most likely to succeed in the NFL, is inside linebacker Ben Heeney, who stands at an undersized 6-foot, 230-pounds. He's been the Jayhawks' leading tackler and soul of the defense for three years, but it's not going to be easy for him to make a 53-man roster.
Although football season at the University of Kansas has underwhelmed over the past half-decade under the likes of Turner Gill and Charlie Weis, every so often, fans have the NFL Draft to look forward to.
has been drafted. This year, Kansas has a few draft-eligible players that are worth keeping an eye on, starting with the NFL Combine next weekend.
Edited by Victoria Kirk
Luckily for Heeney, he's been known for his motor and relentless work ethic, despite average athleticism. If he gets drafted, a team will snag him around the seventh-round for special teams purposes. If he sticks, he'll be a reserve on an NFL team, but with his motor, it will be hard to cut him.
The draft process has already began with all of these Jayhawks, but the combine is where it will all culminate, in front of scouts from every NFL team. When April rolls around, we're sure to hear a few names called "from the University of Kansas."
Kansas freshman forward Cliff Alexander shoots against Texas Tech's Isaiah Manderson during Tuesday night's game in Lubbock, Texas. Alexander, sophomore guard Brannen Greene and junior forward Perry Ellis combined for a total of 30 points during the game.
ZACH LONG/ASSOCIATED PRESS
The player with the most NFL promise from this Jayhawks team is cornerback JaCorey Shepherd, who led the Big 12 in defended passes in 2014. If there's one position where the Jayhawks strive in the NFL in recent years, it's cornerback.
Punter Trevor Pardula will work out at the combine on Feb. 20 with specialists, where he will likely solidify his spot as a top three punter in the draft class. Last year, only one punter was taken in the NFL Draft, so it's unlikely that he will be drafted. If he hooks on with a team, it'll be as an undrafted free agent in a punting battle to make the final 53-man roster.
THREES, PLEASE
Combine measurements will be big for Shepherd, but I'd currently expect him to go in the fourth or fifth round of the draft. He has the best shot of any Jayhawk to make a real impact with a team in the NFI
At 5-foot-11, Shepherd won't play as an outside corner in the NFL as much as he did at Kansas; instead, he'll play in the slot. Shepherd doesn't show great feet on film, or have standout speed, but he does have the wow factor, as he snagged five interceptions over the last two seasons.
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He's great in man coverage with good hips, which he exhibited in January's East-West Shrine Game.
Three-pointers secure victory for Jayhawks
BEN FELDERSTEIN
@Ben_Felderstein
Kansas fans are used to seeing names like Cole Aldrich, Thomas Robinson and Jeff Withey getting easy, buckets in the paint. This season, the Jayhawks are struggling with size and are gaining their points in a different way.
The three-point basket was prevalent again in Kansas' 73-51 win against Texas Tech. The Jayhawks didn't just put up a lot of shots behind the arc, they were also effective and efficient.
The Jayhawks' ability to hit the three-point shot has been both surprising and frustrating. Entering Tuesday night's game, Kansas led the Big 12 in three-point-shooting and ranked among the bottom of the conference in two-point field goal percentage.
Right out of the gate,
sophomore Wayne Selden,
Jr. knocked in a three-point
basket to get the Jayhawks
on the board. Selden has
been on fire from deep,
coming into the game having
converted on nine of his last
12 threes.
Selden stayed on fire, shooting 4-7 from three and leading Kansas with 16. Texas Tech was able to keep things close heading into the half due to turnovers as Kansas had eight of them in the half.
Sophomore Brannen Greene entered the game leading the Big 12 in three-point percentage, at 62 percent. Greene did not see the floor much in the first half, playing only two minutes and not scoring. Greene finished the game 2-3 from deep with ten points.
By the half, the Jayhawks had already shot 13 threes, but had only converted on five. Kansas erupted from deep in the second half, shooting 6-7. Junior forward Perry Ellis added a three of his own, scoring 14 points and adding nine rebounds.
Freshman Cliff Alexander got his second start of his young career and made this one count. Alexander recorded ten points on 4-5 shooting, adding four blocks.
Sophomore Frank Mason continued to be one of Kansas' most important players, extending his scoring streak to 21 games and adding eight. Mason was also 2-2 from the three-point line.
Kansas shot 55 percent from the three-point line while shooting only 53 percent from the field in total. This Kansas team is scoring points differently than in years past. Threepointers can only carry a team so far when it comes to March Madness. If Kansas is on from deep, it will win, if the Jayhawks are struggling to knock in the deep ball, they'll lose.
Next up for the Jayhawks is a matchup against the No. 16 Baylor Bears at home. Kansas defeated Baylor 56-55 earlier in the season in one of Kansas closest conference games.
—Edited by Vicky Diaz Camacho
ZACH LONG/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kansas head coach Bill Self talks with Brannen Greene during Tuesday's game in Lubbock, Texas.
Late charge falls short for Jayhawks
@dmantheman2011
Looking for its third road win in conference play, Kansas (13-12, 4-8) made the long-trip east to Morgantown, W Va. to take on the Mountaineers. Senior forward Chelsea Gardner recorded her seventh double-double of the season but it was not enough, falling to West Virginia 59-56.
IDYLAN SHERWOOD
Senior Asia Boyd had a strong second half, but a three-pointer that was made after the buzzer did not count to force overtime.
The Jayhawks did not get off
It was the Jayhawks' lowest point scoring in the first half all season. West Virginia junior guard Bria Holmes, nearly outscored Kansas in the first half alone, as she had 14 points.
Kansas came out of the locker room outscoring West Virginia 10-4 in the first 3:27 of the second half, which sparked back-to-back 3-pointers from Boyd and freshman guard Lauren
to a good start trailing early, only scoring 15 points total in the first half.
The Jayhawks went the last 5:16 of the first half without a field goal or a point scored.
After Kansas trimmed the deficit to two points, the Mountaineers extended their lead by to 10 points with under five minutes remaining in the game.
Aldridge.
Kansas sparked, trailing 37-27 with 14:56 remaining, sparking on a 7-0 run on a jumper by Gardner, a layup and 3-pointer from Boyd and a layup by Knight.
In the first 6:29 of the second half, Kansas already had eclipsed their point total from the first half with 19 points.
Boyd would then be fouled on a three-point shot and made all three free throws to get Kansas back to one.
West Virginia guard Brie McDonald would make four straight points to break the tie to give the Mountaineers a four-point lead with 24 seconds remaining.
cutting the deficit down to two points. An 8-0 run from 4:03 to 2:16 remaining on a baseline jumper by Gardner to give the Jayhawks their first tie since 0-0.
Kansas had one more shot at the Mountaineers
West Virginia's Linda Stepney added two more free throws to force Kansas to goal for a three to force overtime,
but time had expired.
Kansas shot 42 percent on 23-of-55 from the field, including 62 percent in the second half, seven-of-21 from three for 33 percent and were three-five from the line for 60 percent. Boyd attempted all the free throws.
Gardner led Kansas with 18 points and 12 rebounds.
Boyd added 18 points as well for Kansas.
Kansas will host Texas on Saturday at 7 p.m.
Edited by Garrett Long
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