Volume 124 Issue 111
kansan.com
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Teammates help freshman thrive
Mentoring in women's basketball noted as important part of younger player's success
PAGE 6
Last shot for Border Showdown
A PHOGGY START
— Edited by Christine Curtin
With virtually every media member and Big 12 basketball fan looking ahead to the potential encore to the Border Showdown, Bill Self fired the week's first shot at Missouri.
"Kansas City is more of a KU and K-State town than a Missouri town," Self said in the Monday morning Big 12 coaches' teleconference.
Comments like those from Self are what make this rivalry great. Both Kansas and Missouri go out of their way to bellittle the other. Self knew that claiming dominance over a city in Mizzou's own state would rub the Tigers' supporters the wrong way, and he said it anyway.
According to the schools' alumni associations, Kansas and Kansas State have more than 100,000 total alumni in the Kansas City-area compared to Mizzou's 20,000. Self's statement is technically accurate, but it was a definite jab at a Mizzou's "commitment" to Kansas City.
WELCOMED SURPRISE
The geographic location of Kansas City is irrelevant as Mizzou's move to the Southeastern Conference makes the former ground zero of the Kansas-Missouri rivalry look like an afterthought. However, if we are to see one more game between the two historic foes, Saturday evening has to be the time, and the Sprint Center has to be the place.
Almost.
It would be almost too perfect. Almost
Kansas City is the center of this rivalry as State Line Road literally separates future Jayhawks from future Tigers. In the 105 years of the basketball rivalry, Kansas and Missouri had met only twice with both schools ranked in the top 10; they matched that tally in 2012 alone. In its final year, the Border Showdown has never been better, and a rubber-match in Kansas City would just put it over the top.
The Duke-North Carolina rivalry may get the most national publicity, but this year was the year of Kansas-Missouri. It might be because the rivalry is ending, but this season, the entire country was exposed to the Border Showdown like never before. Both games were showcased on a national stage, and neither disappointed. In fact, both meetings exceeded lofty expectations in some of the best-ever气体 atmospheres.
The Kansas-Missouri rivalry finally got the recognition it deserves, but it was a century too late. That is why we see the pundits on ESPN urging Kansas to continue the rivalry as if the Jayhawks are at fault, which they are not.
"Missouri has to market their future. We are their past," Self explained to the media following the Feb. 25 Kansas-Missouri game.
As disheartening as the remarks may be to fans of the rivalry, Mizzou's move to the SEC takes away the series' substance. There is not much point in continuing the rivalry with nothing on the line.
But if the Border Showdown can muster just 40 more minutes of life, it would make for an absolutely epic Big 12 Championship.
Tradition is what makes college sports great, and one of the most storied rivalries is over.
MAX ROTHMAN
mrothman@kansan.com
Before it all began, before the loss to Kentucky in New York, the narrow victory over a Jared Sullinger-less Ohio State and the eighth consecutive Big 12 title, coach Bill Self had a message for Kansas fans at Late Night in the Phog on Oct. 14, 2011.
"We are going to be good," coach Bill Self said, "but you have to enjoy the process."
He was bracing the fans for the possibility of failure, something rare in these parts. Self knew he didn't have the Morris twins, Tyrel Reed or Brady Morningstar around to save the day. He knew that three recruits, Braeden Anderson, Ben McLemore and Jamari Traylor, probably wouldn't be Joining his rotation because of NCAA rules. He knew that success was possible, but that it was going to take heaps of development and focus.
Going into this week's Big 12 tournament, No. 3 Kansas (26-5, 16-2) has exceeded presseason expectations and shaped itself into what many consider a serious postseason contender.
"People definitely didn't think we were going to be No. 3 or No. 4 in the nation by this time of the year," junior center leff Withey said.
The Javahaws didn't buy into the supposed wisdom of the talking heads.
"We thought we were this good, though," Withey said. "Everybody inside the locker room, we knew that we had some talent and we could come out and play."
as a starter before this season. Last season, junior guard Elijah Johnson briefly replaced Taylor and started six games. Junior guard Travis Releford started four games last season before hurting his ankle at Michigan on Jan. 9, 2011. With the Morris twins starting ahead of him, junior forward Thomas Robinson started twice last season. And Withey started just once last season.
Only senior guard Tyshawn Taylor had extensive experience
"A lot of backup quarter-backs think they should be the signal callers," Self said. "Until it's fourth quarter, you've got to go the field of the field and they're rushing five on you or six on you every time. It's something that you've got to go through and get used to."
The once inexperienced Jayhawks now know nothing but the current way. Taylor, Johnson and Releford have all started 30 games. Robinson and Withey have started 31. With these five at the helm, Kansas has been a part of just three games that had final-score margins of four points or less.
"I think this year our schedule was a lot better," Taylor said after Saturday's Senior Night. "It made us tougher for conference. We just kind of grinded it all the way out and ended up winning."
"It's been really exciting this year just to see everything develop." Withey said.
Taylor cited the early-season hurdles against Kentucky, Duke and Ohio State among others, as learning experiences that helped the team prepare for the Big 12.
2
— Edited by Jeff Karr
There's no place like home
BASEBALL
Jayhawks look to rebound after disappointing weekend in San Antonio
ANDREW JOSEPH
aioseph@kansan.com
The Kansas baseball team returns home for the first time in three weeks to take on North Dakota Tuesday afternoon at Hogland Ballpark.
The Jayhawks (5-5), will attempt to bounce back after a winless weekend in San Antonio, Texas. Kansas lost three straight games to UT-San Antonio, Louisiana-Lafayette
and Gonzaga, after entering the weekend on the program's best start in five years.
Starting a season with 10 consecutive games on the road is never easy, but coach
The Kansas pitching staff struggled for the first time this season as the team allowed at least seven runs in all three contests. Junior pitcher Thomas Taylor
"Getting to play on our own field with hopefully our fans coming out to watch us play. It's going to be fun."
"The biggest thing that you take from playing 10 games on the road is the fact that there is such a fine line between winning and losing at the Division 1 level," Price said. "It comes down to executing the little things."
end as a learning experience for his young team.
Ritch Price said he sees the week.
THONAS TAYLOR Junior pitcher
Thomas Taylor entered his start
entered his start against undefeated Gonzaga
with a perfect 0.00 ERA in 14 innings pitched, but he allowed five runs on 10 hits in the 7-2 loss on Sunday.
home opener will be a welcome
After a tough weekend, the will be a welcome
Taylor
change for the Jayhawks.
"It's going to be great to have
a home game finally," Taylor said. "Getting to play on our own field with hopefully our fans coming out to watch us play. It's going to be fun."
Freshman right-hander Robert Kahana will make his first start of the season Tuesday afternoon against North Dakota. The pitcher from Ewa Beach, Hawaii.
has made four appearances from the bullpen this season, allowing three runs in 6.1 innings of work. Price expects to
Kahana
North Dakota enters Tuesday's game with a 0-4 record, coming off a brutal four-game series with Wichita State. The Shockers outscored the Fighting Sioux 62-3 in the four games, including a 26-0 loss.
"I thought that the progress from the previous weekend to this weekend was very good," Price said.
The Kansas batters struggled early in the season, but a 12-run weekend and even more hard-hit balls are signs of improvement for the team's offense.
- Edited by Gabrielle Schock
"I think we'll see more of a mixture," Price said. "When he comes into the game late with runners in scoring position, he has to be more of a power pitcher."
see a different approach from Kahana as a starter.
Robinson is joined on the First Team by senior guard Tyshawn Taylor, both unanimous selections. Taylor averaged 17.2 points per game on the season and led the Jayhawks with 18.6 points per game in conference play.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Junior forward Thomas Robinson was named conference Player of the Year after being the only Big 12 player to average a double-double on the season (18 points, 11.9 rebounds). His 22 double-doubles led the conference and were the second most in the nation.
The Associated Press announced its annual Big 12 awards on Monday morning, with Kansas being well represented throughout.
Jayhawks win various AP Big 12 awards
I
Junior center Jeff Withey was an Honorable Mention selection after averaging 9.2 points and 6.2 rebounds.
Missouri coach Frank Haith was selected as the AP's Coach of the Year, edging out coach BJQ Self. Haith's Tigers finished second in the Big 12 and completed the regular season with a record of 27-4 which included three victories over top-10 opponents.
Kory Carpenter