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MONDAY, APRIL 30, 2012
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FOOTBALL
Spring game shows defensive improvement
ETHAN PADWAY epadway@kansan.com
In one of the Kansas football team's practices last week, sophomore linebacker Michael Reynolds had three different coaches talk to him about running the play full speed.
At the end of practice, coach Charlie Weis called him out for it, trying to explain to him that they are going after him because he is one of the few players on the team who can make that play.
"My whole coaching point to him
points per game in the NCAA Division I last season.
Reynolds, along with fellow linebacker senior Toben Opurum, played a hybrid linebacker/defensive end position normally seen more in a 3-4 defensive scheme than in the Jay-hawks' 4-3.
"I'm very comfortable with it because it gives me the chance to stand up and rush the passer and also play in coverage," Reynolds said.
Weis likes playing more versatile players at both positions because it allows him to keep his best players on
what his role will be in the fall. Because of Jackson's bigger build, he has the ability to play in the traditional halfback position as well as a bulkier fullback.
"He could very easily be at 230 with a couple of cheeseburgers," Weis said. "That's what were going to have to decide, what weight we want him at, but you can see he has some natural running instincts."
The zero on the board beneath the white squad's name is an impressive feat, but it must be noted that the teams were not matched equally. The
Sophomore running back Tony Pierson noon's Spring Game at Memorial Stadium
COMMENTARY
Weis'infl
On a day when the University honored one of its football program's most significant figures, former coach Don Fambrough, it embarked on a new era.
An estimated 15,000 Jayhawk fans caught a glimpse of the new Kansas football team under the leadership of new coach Charlie Weis during the spring game Saturday.
New quarterbacks Dayne Crist and Jake Heaps showed off their extraordinary passing ability that Kansas fans haven't seen since Todd
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10
KANSAS 100, TOWSON 54
NOVEMBER 11,2011
Junior forward Kevin Young gains control of the ball after stealing it from his opponent during the season opener on Nov. 11 against Towson in Allen Fieldhouse. Young had two steals in the game.
ASHLEIGH LEE/KANSAN
Despite early foul trouble Kansas trounces Towson 100-54
MAX ROTHMAN
mrothman@kansan.com
The potential of junior forward Thomas Robinson has been known and documented, even when the Morris twins starred and started ahead of him in seasons past. He's not the mystery of this year's team; it's the role players behind him. In 100-54 victory against Towson on Nov. 11 in Allen Fieldhouse, these lesser known pieces were the key to an early onslaught that never ceased.
"If it's possible to be underrated at 13th in the country, I think Kansas is," Towson coach Pat Skerry said.
Junior guard Travis Releford, a complementary piece, exhibited his usual high pressure defense on Towson ball handlers, which translated into offensive chances. He attacked the basket with quick, sharp steps and sunk timely 3-pointers.
"After getting a few layups, I had confidence in my shot," Reford said.
The same could be said for junior for
Coach Bill Self was unsatisfied with Releford in the team's first exhibition against Pittsburg State, but Friday was a different story.
ward Kevin Young, who Self said was the team's best rebounder against Towson.
Young slammed a few crowd rousing dunks and had his strongest game of the season, finishing with 13 points and 7 rebounds.
"I'm still not sure how to react after a dunk." Young said. "At Loyola, I would pat my afro."
Despite Young's solid effort on the glass, Towson outrebounded Kansas 35 to 32. Robinson said that he should be fully responsible for the deficit after picking up two fouls and spending some unexpected time on the bench early in the first half.
"That was my fault." Robinson said. "I got those two fouls, so I had to sit out of the game. I wasn't able to help my team."
Friday marked the first time Kansas finished a half without a turnover since an 81-68 victory against Oklahoma on Feb. 22, 2010. With committed on-ball defense and turnover free basketball, this kind of quick and balanced offensive attack could match up well against No. 2 Kentucky in Tuesday's New York City showdown.
"We have to go after it like men," Self said. "We'll spend our entire next three days emphasizing that."
"William Faulkner was a Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Member." What other English Literature courses and assigned novels were written by fraternity men and sorority women authors?
Which KU fraternity man was founding editor of the Book of the Month Club and ran for Kansas Governor on an Anti-Klu Kux Klan Ku Platform?
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4.