PAGE G
TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 2012
SWIMMING AND DIVING
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Two Jayhawks qualify for Olympic Trials this summer
ALEC TILSON
atilson@kansan.com
On the first day of the Big 12 Championships two weeks ago, junior swimmer Brooke Brull approached coach Clark Campbell with an idea. She wanted to compete in the Region 8 Sectional Championships to try and qualify for the US Olympic Trials this summer.
She was nervous about how he would react, since she was thinking about a meet weeks down the road, but Campbell was all for it.
With Campbell's support,
Brull made the trip to Jenks,
Okla., this past weekend and
achieved her goal. She qualified
for Olympic Trials (June 25 -
July 2) in both the 200-meter
individual medley (IM) and the
200-meter backstroke.
Sectionals provided a rare opportunity to post qualifying times for Olympic Trials because it is raced in long-course meters. The team trains in short-course yards throughout the season. The next opportunity would have been two months away.
"I didn't want to wait. I wanted to get it off my chest," Brull said. "Since it's been a dream of mine since I was a little girl, this was my main accomplishment not only in swimming but in life."
Her first-place, career-best time of 2:19.00 in the finals of the 200-meter IM earned her the title of Region 8 Central Sectional Champion for USA Swimming in the event.
Brull became the third Kansas swimmer to qualify for the trials, joining senior Stephanie Payne and current volunteer assistant coach and former KU swimmer Danielle Herrmann.
The three now share the opportunity to compete in the biggest, most intense swim meet in the country — an event Campbell called "the best pure swimming meet in the world."
The event will feature more than one thousand of the country's top swimmers competing in Omaha, Neb., for 52 spots on the US Olympic team that will compete in London's Summer Games.
Even though making the team is a long shot, Brull knows the event will be an amazing learning experience.
"I get to compete and learn from and watch Olympians and see how they do their thing." Brull said. "And I'll see how I react with all this pressure."
Payne earned a spot at the trials in the 200-meter butterfly and the 400-meter IM during the 2011 summer swimming season. She hopes to qualify in the 200-meter IM in April.
She said that for most swimmers, the event is the biggest meet of their lives, and she simply wants to enjoy every moment of what might be the final meet of her career.
"I'm just trying to have fun and celebrate my swimming career," Payne said. "Not many people can say, I've been to the Olympic Trials.' I just want to take it all in."
Herrmann earned her trial cut in the 100-meter breaststroke during Sectionals a year ago.
The trials are more than three months away, but when the time comes, Campbell wants to see his swimmers compete at their highest individual level and not worry about anything else. He said no matter what, it's important they prepare as if they are going to make the team.
Campbell is hopeful that more Kansas swimmers qualify for Olympic Trials when they compete in the Jimi Flowers Classic in Aubrun, Ala., in late April.
"I want to see them go in with the attitude that I'm going to be best athlete I can be on my days of racing," Campbell said. "That I'm going to get in there and make a lifetime-best time and leave it all in the pool."
Edited by Max Lush
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Big 12 names Knight 'Freshman of the Week'
KATHLEEN GIER
kgier@kansan.com
Freshman guard Natalie Knight adjusted to college basketball quickly, but would still only make one or two aggressive plays a game. When junior forward Carolyn Davis was injured, coach Bonnie Henrickson turned to her young guard for more production.
She figured if Knight could make two, why not four big plays? Turns out, she could.
Freshman guard Natalie Knight attempts a shot against Oklahoma Stae during the second half of the game. Kansas lost 63-66.
Knight recorded a career-high 18 points to go with seven rebounds and three assists in the victory against Oklahoma on Sunday. She went four-for-eight from the field including three-for-six from beyond the arc.
Knight was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Week by a media panel for her performances this week. In a loss Wednesday night against Oklahoma State, Knight tallied five points, five assists and two rebounds. She was the first layhawk to win the award this season.
"It felt really good just to be able to do what I've been asked to do," Knight said.
With a six seed and first-round by in the Big 12 Tournament, Henrickson is looking again to Knight and this time she is asking for eight plays per
game.
Knight led the team to victory against Oklahoma in the final minutes after three starters fouled out. She also nailed seven of eight free throws — all coming in the final two minutes of the game.
"She has always scored", senior forward Aishah Sutherland said. "She is a great shooter. She has always been a great shooter. It is time for her to step up and be more aggressive and play. If they are going to back off of her she needs to score and that's what she did."
Henrickson has been working with Knight on how she can better capitalize on her opportunities. Knight is shooting 43 percent from the field and 38 percent from three point range. Henrickson said the first step for Knight is to shoot more.
In conference play, Knight has increased her production from the non-conference play. Her shot attempts increased from 53 to 90 while also increasing her accuracy from the field from 40 to 43 percent.
She has shot nine more three pointers in conference play and made five more than in the non-conference portion. She also increased her shooting percentage from 36 to 41 from beyond the arc across 18 games.
Behind Knight's big night and consistent performances from Sutherland and junior guard Angel Goodrich, the layhawks picked up a victory to end the regular season and give them
some momentum moving into the Big 12 Tournament.
Every Jayhawk who played in the victory scored and Henrickson said that means a lot for the team right now.
"I think the best part of it is every kid played and every kid contributed," Henrickson said. "That is kind of who we have turned into."
Knight, junior guard Monica Engelman, sophomore forward Tania Jackson and freshman guard Asia Boyd all knocked down free throws in the final two minutes to finish the game 14 of 14 from the line.
"It felt good to put together all of the pieces to pull it out," Knight said.
Kansas will prepare over the next couple days before heading to Kansas City for a 7:30 p.m. matchup with defending national champion Texas A&M in the second round of the Big 12 Tournament.
Edited by Max Lush
NATALIE KIGHT'S BIG 12 IMPROVEMENT
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Field Goals:
Overall 62-143=43
Non-conference 23-58=40
Conference 39-90=43
3-point Field Goals:
Overall 25-65=38
Non-conference 10-28=36
Conference 15-37=41
Big 12 Power Rankings: Iowa State's victory over Baylor moves it up to third
KORY CARPENTER
kcarpenter@kansan.com
KANSAS (26-5.16-2)
MISSOURI (27-4, 14-4)
Last three games: W vs. Missouri 87-36, W at Oklahoma State 70-58, W vs. texas 73-63
Two wins in this weekend's Big 12 tournament should lock up a one-seed in the NCAA tournament for the Jayhawks.
IOWA STATE (22-9, 12-6)
Last three games. L at Kansas 87-86,
W vs Iowa State 78-72, W at Texas Tech
81-59
The Tigers had one of their best regular seasons ever and still have a chance at earning a top seed on the NCAA tournament, but will probably be a two-seed when brackets are announced next Sunday, March 17.
Last three games. W at Kansas State 65-61, L vs Missouri 78-72, W vs Baylor 80-72
Coach Fred Hoiberg earned Co-Big 12 Coach of the Year honors along with Bill Self and will be the three-seed in the conference tournament this weekend.
BAYLOR (25-6, 12-6)
The Wildcats have done enough to sneak into the NCAA tournament it seems. Most mock brackets have them in the field, and a win in the conference tournament could improve their seed.
TEXAS (19-12, 9-9)
KANSAS STATE (21-9, 10-8)
A fourth-place finish was not expected in Waco this season, but the Bears are still in the country's Top 10. They have enough talent to beat nearly anyone but have struggled against a few teams this season, going 0-4 against Kansas and Missouri.
Last three games: Lvs Iowa State 65-61, W at Texas A M 76-60, W vs. Oklahoma State 77-58
Last three games: Wat Texas Tech 71-67, W vs Oklahoma 72-64, L at Kansas
Last three games: W vs Oklahoma 70-
60. W vs 77-48. L at Iowa State, 80-72
Freshman forward/guard Le'Bryan Nash's injury dashed any hope Cowboys fans had of making the NCAA tournament. Winning the conference tournament will help, and they'll need a few wins to secure even an NIT bid.
Last three games: W vs Texas A&M
60-42, L vs Kansas 70-58, L at Kansas
State 77-58
Last three games: L at Baylor 70-60, L at Texas 72-64, W vs Texas A&M 65-62
Texas probably needs to win the Big 12 tournament to earn a NCAA tournament spot, but a championship game appearance might do the trick. It's still too early to tell, though.
OKLAHOMA STATE (14-17, 7-11)
It's been a tough year for first-year Sooner coach Lon Kruger in Norman,
73-63
The Red Raiders have only one victory since New Years Day and haven't had many close losses. They've finished with 50 or less points in seven conference games this season.
Picked to win the Big 12 along with Kansas, injuries have plagued the Aggies and they plummeted in the standings.
Last three games: L vs Texas 71-67, L
at Baylor 77-48, L vs. Missouri 81-59
TEXAS TECH (8-22, 1-17)
— Edited by Gabrielle Schock
Last three games: L at Oklahoma State 60-42, L vs. Kansas State 76-70, L at Oklahoma 65-62
struggling to stay above 500 all season. The NIT will provide a few weeks of extra practice heading into next season.
TEXAS A&M (13-17, 4-14)
WALTER S. SUTTON LECTURE SERIES