Volume 124 Issue 115
kansan.com
Monday, March 12, 2012
Don't overlook Titans
Kansas fans probably won't overlook any opponent in March, in large part thanks
to the Jayhawks' struggles against teams from outside power conferences.
Some fans might look at a potential matchup with seventh-seeded St. Mary's in the second round and cringe, fearing another early exit to a dangerous mid-maior.
But don't forget about 15th-seeded Detroit, the Jayhawks' opponent on Friday. The Titans have the talent to upset the Jayhawks.
Detroit point guard Ray McCallum was a four-star Rivals recruit two years ago, the 12th-ranked point guard in the class of 2010. He chose to stay at home and play for Detroit and his father, Ray McCallum Sr.
McCallum turned down offers from Arizona, Florida and UCLA.
Senior forward Eli Holman, a former Indiana University recruit, was removed from the team during non-conference play after an off-the-court incident.
Fifteenth-seeded teams with two NBA prospects are few and far between.
He returned in December and has been a double-double threat for the Titans during their conference season.
Holman may not have NBA potential, but he certainly can muscle up with Jeff Withey and Thomas Robinson inside.
But Detroit is no slouch of a 15-seed. Kansas can't just show up and expect to win with superior athleticism and talent.
The Titans are experienced. Four seniors, two juniors and McCallum play most of the minutes.
Instead of thinking of this game as a warm-up for the rest of the tournament, Kansas fans should try to think of Detroit as a team like Oklahoma or Texas A&M, one that can hang with Kansas for an extended amount of time.
In recent years, Kansas hasn't had to fret about winning its first game in the tournament. If the Jayhawks don't show up against Detroit, they could be heading home early.
I can't say that I'm going to write in "Detroit" instead of "KU" on my bracket. In fact, I know I won't.
Edited by Tanvi Nimkar
Perhaps the scariest thing about Detroit is that it might have figured things out at the right time. The Titans went into New Year's Day with a 7-9 record. Since then, the Titans are 13-4 with two victories over Butler and one over Cleveland State, a team that beat Vanderbilt in November.
A lifeless loss in Kansas City
No one else on Detroit will amaze you, but neither does their playing style. The Titans play a little faster tempo than Davidson, a team that scored the most points against Kansas this season, but they don't rely on the three-point shot like the Wildcats.
Scores,stats and more on Friday's semifinal
Instead, the Titans attack the basket and try to draw fouls. Free throws account for 25.1 percent of Detroit's points which ranks sixth in the nation.
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NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP
HIGHEST FINISH YET
MAX GOODWIN
mgoodwin@kansan.com
Saturday night will likely be remembered as one of the greatest moments in Kansas track and field history as the women's team finished runner-up at the NCAA National Championships. This was the highest finish ever for the program.
Sophomore Diamond Dixon sprinted her way to a national title in the 400-meter race with a schoolrecord time of 51.78 seconds on Saturday. Junior Andrea Geubelle then doubled the excitement by winning her own title in the triple jump and giving the Jayhawks two on the night.
Dixon won her title in convincing fashion, running the best time in the NCAA this season in her championship heat despite trailing at the 200-meter break. With 100 meters to go, Dixon still trailed Clemson's Marlena Wesh.
"I was just happy it was over because I was really nervous." Dixon said.
As the two rounded the last turn, Dixon made her move. She could tell Wesh was slowing down and used the opportunity to run wide into lane two and gained momentum from the downward slant of the track. The move seemed to propel her down the final straight away as she pulled away to an impressive victory.
It had been 16 years since the last women's title in a track event for Kansas. Dixon dropped to her knees, relieved that her hard work had paid off and that she could now be called champion of the NCAA 400-meter dash.
Watching the event from the center of the track, ready for her next attempt in the triple jump, was Andrea Geubelle. After an eighthplace finish on Friday in the long jump, with junior Francine Simpson taking sixth in that same competition for the Jayhawks, the team still had two more chances to add points to their team score. The two events remaining, the triple jump and 4x400 meter relay, were events in which Kansas led the NCAA.
Geubelle leaped 44'10.25 feet on her third jump of the day. It was a jump that not only broke her own school record and NCAA season best, but it would maintain through the rest of the competition as the best of the day.
"After Diamond won the 400, I knew that it was up to me to win the triple because that's what I came here to do. Everybody worked hard to perform the way they did this weekend." Geubelie said. "I think we surprised a lot of people."
The top-ranked Kansas 4x400 meter relay team finished the night in third.
The sixth-ranked Jayhawks move into their outdoor season in a few weeks knowing that they were close to winning a team national championship. It is a sign that the hard work is paying off, coach Stanley Redwine said.
Sophomore spinner Diamond Dixon sprints around the corner in the women's 400 meter dash. Dixon won the event and broke an Aschutz Pavilion record with a time of 53.75 seconds.
"It was a matter of preparation meeting opportunity," Redwine said of the performance of his athletes and coaches this indoor season, culminating in the runner-up finish.
CHRIS BRONSON/KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Edited by Tanvi Nimkar
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Jayhawks fail to overcome against the Aggies
ASHLEIGH LEE/KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Junior guard Angel Goodrich trips over her opponent, but maintains control of the ball during Thursday's game against Texas A&M. Kansas lost 63-78 in the Big 12 Tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.
KATHLEEN GIER
kgier@kansan.com
"It's going to be hard, but were going to wait and cross our fingers," said junior guard Angel Goodrich.
According to the NCAA website, the committee has access to box scores, game summaries, notes, rankings, polls and the coaches' regional advisory committee rankings.
Kansas ended its regular season with a victory against Oklahoma in Norman, Okla., a feat that only Baylor had accomplished before them. However, after a first round bye, Kansas fell to defending national champion Texas A&M in the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament on Thursday.
Tom Petty said it best, "The waiting is the hardest part." That is what the Kansas women's basketball team is left with until 7 p.m. tonight. Kansas has won key games and lost ones that will hurt, but the team is hopeful going into the selection show tonight knowing the decision falls into the committee's hands.
Coach Bonnie Henrickson serves on the regional advisory committee, but that does not grant the Jayhawks any assurance.
Kansas finished the non-conference season with an 11-1 record - the team's best since an 11-0 start in 2005. One of those marquee victories was on the road against Wake Forest where Kansas won by one point in the final seconds of play.
Then, Kansas started conference play with a victory against No. 25 Texas in Austin, which started a 5-1 record including an undefeated mark on the road. The Jayhawks started to struggle in the next several matchups going 2-3 before the fateful loss to Kansas State where junior forward Carolyn Davis, a starter and captain, fell, tore her ACL and dislocated her left knee. From there, Kansas
finished the season 2-5 to compile an 8-10 overall conference record.
Henrickson has referred to the Big 12 season as a roller coaster. The victories are celebrated at momentum and the losses pierce like daggers for the layhawks who are hoping to break into the tournament for the first time since 2000.
The Jayhawks have worked through two unexpected transfers and a season-ending injury to Davis, but Henrickson said they aren't using those as excuses.
"Hopefully, with their RPI and how hard their kids play without Carolyn Davis and not using that as an excuse, that's why that team deserves to go to the dance," Blair said.
"it's their full body of work, and we have won. We have won without her and we have been in one-possession games without her," Henrickson said.
After the loss to Texas A&M, Aggie coach Gary Blair took the podium and attempted to bolster Kansas' chances heading into selection.
The Jayhawks have four Top 50 RPI victories and finished conference play with the second-best road record and a six seed in the Big 12 Tournament.
Goodrich was grateful for the boost from Blair and hopeful that it would help.
"I mean, it just shows that other people see how great we are," Goodrich said. "It's good that he can do that for us."
The Jayhawks' plan to watch the selection show together when it airs on ESPNU tonight. Until then, they will continue waiting.
"I'm not sure what it will be like, but I feel like we deserve to go to the tournament," Goodrich said.
Edited by Nadia Imafidon