Volume 124 Issue 107
kansan.com
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
COMMENTARY
Big 12 title a surprise
Kansas' 70-58 victory against Oklahoma State on Monday night clinched the Jayhawks' eight consecutive Big 12 title, and all I can say is "Wow."
This wasn't supposed to happen, right?
This is a team that returned just one starter, point guard Tyshawn Taylor, lost the Morris twins and Josh Selby to the NBA, and relied on a mostly unproven Thomas Robinson to become a superstar.
This is a team with no depth; the first two players off the bench are walk-ons.
This is a team that lost on neutral courts to Kentucky, Duke and Davidson.
This is a team that plays in a conference with the senior-heavy Missouri Tigers and the ultrafalented Baylor Bears.
But, ultimately, this is a team that danced in Gallagher-Iba Arena's visitor locker room with the Big 12 championship trophy.
The 2011-12 edition of the Jayhawks are clearly a flawed group, but at the same time, those flaws don't hold Kansas back. Where previous Kansas teams have failed, this year's group succeeds.
Down 19 points with 16 minutes, 24 seconds left in the game, the jayhawks showed resolve that would send the 16,300 people at Allen Fieldhouse into an unprecedented 127.3-decibel frenzy. At the moment when everything seemed wroug for Kansas, Self's team stopped trying to be an "elite" team and instead played to its strengths.
Bill Self's last two teams were considered elite from day one and went the whole season listening to pundits build them up. When March rolled around, Kansas played with a reckless sense of invincibility that proved costly in a pair of shocking upsets to Northern Iowa and Virginia Commonwealth.
Kansas lost a heartbreaker at Mizzou Arena on Feb. 4, and in Saturday's highly anticipated rematch, Missouri looked poised to run Kansas out of the gym.
The Jayhawks executed the high-low offense to perfection as Robinson showed a national audience why he's one of the leading candidates for National Player of the Year. Taylor made plays, and Conner Teahan found his range, knocking down all four three-point attempts.
Kansas chipped away the Missouri lead with such composure that Self's emphatic reaction after the final buzzer says it all:
For a team picked to finish atop the Big 12 standings in the preseason, the Jayhawks play the everyone-is-doubting-us card well. Instead of pleading for the nation's approval or calling out doubters, Kansas lets the game do the talking.
8
This team will surprise you.
— Edited by Gabrielle Schock
FLORIDA CHALLENGE Kansas golf faces tough tournament PAGE 8
Kansas" new strength and conditioning coach Scott Holsopple wants to instill dedication and discipline in the Jayhawk football program. He was hired two months ago.
CHRIS BRONSON/KANSAN
FOOTBALL FUNDAMENTALS
RENEWED DISCIPLINE
MIKE VERNON
mvernon@kansan.com
Sitting calmly in his chair, new football strength and conditioning coach Scott Holsoppe told a story of discipline. The tale consisted of a player calling Holsoppe to tell him that he was stuck in traffic and would be late to that day's practice. Instead of offering sympathy, Holsoppe insisted that he get out of his vehicle and run.
This exemplifies the dedication that Holsopple wants from his players. It embodies the new, discipline-first mindset of the Kansas football team that originates with Holsopple himself.
"That's what I expect from them, because I would do the same thing." Holsopple said. "If my truck broke down an hour away, I'm going to run to make sure I'm here. I'm going to run."
While the new coaching staff tries to preach discipline to its players, Holsoppe has the added task of conditioning them the way coach Charlie Weis would like for the spring.
THE ROAD TO KANSAS
Just two months ago, Holsopple was the top assistant on the Florida Gators' strength and conditioning staff.
Holsopple spent five years at Florida. He won a national championship in 2008. He helped coach and mentor 18 players who were drafted in the NFL, six of whom were first-round draft picks.
Shortly after Weis left his position as offensive coordinator at Florida to take the Kansas job, he spoke with Holsopple about coming to Kansas to run the strength and conditioning program.
Florida's record during his time was 50-17, but the decision for Holsop to leave one of the nation's most elite programs to come to a Kansas team that went 2-10 last season was an easy one.
"In my head, the decision was
made when I hung up the phone with him," Holsopple said. "I just knew. When you get a great opportunity like this, you don't waver or hesitate."
In addition to his respect for Weis, Holsopple said he had a folder that helped with the decision. In this folder, there are pictures of every football facility in the country and a list of every exercise machine each school has.
better facilities than what the University of Kansas has here." Holsopple said. "They're the best of the best."
So Holsopse knew all about the state-of-the-art, $31 million Anderson Family Football Complex, which he now has at his disposal.
During his short time at Kansas, Holsopple has received advice from special teams coordinator Clint Bowen.
"You're not going to get any
And those attributes come to fruition in the weight room with Holsopple.
Bowen coached with former head coach Mark Mangino in 2008 during one of the Kansas' winningest football seasons.
Bowen said Mangino's coaching philosophy emphasized three key concepts: toughness, conditioning and smarts.
"In college football, no one spends more time with the players than the strength coach," Bowen said. "His role is invaluable."
Additionally, Holsopple has received rave ratings throughout his career in coaching.
Holsopple, a former All-American boxer at Penn State, coached at his alma mater and Notre Dame in the years after graduating. He then spent five seasons as Marquette's strength and conditioning basketball coach, where he received praise from former head coach Tom Crean.
"Scott Holspole would be the MVP of our staff right now." Tom
Now, it's time for Holsopple to do the same at Kansas.
Cream said to gomarquette.com during the 2001 season. "He's done a tremendous job of building their bodies over a period of time."
"I don't expect anybody to be able to get through it right now," Holsopple said. "You're not supposed to. It shouldn't feel good. It's never going to. It's part of the price you pay that makes winning so sweet. I don't judge somebody for being down. I judge them for not standing back up."
— Edited by Taylor Lewis
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Senior Day's focus falls on Sutherland
RYAN MCCARTHY
rmccarthy@kansan.com
When it comes to recent Kansas women's basketball history, there are a few players that roll off the tongue when chatting about the team around campus: Danielle McCray, Angel Goodrich and Carolyn Davis.
All of these players have received high praise for their efforts on the court, but one player sometimes slips through the cracks.
That's never bothered senior forward Aishah Sutherland, even though she's been one of the Jayhawks' top contributors throughout her career in Lawrence.
"I just did what I need to do to help this team," senior forward Aishah Sutherland said. "I didn't try to do anything outstanding. I wasn't really in the spotlight all the time, but I just did what I needed to do to win."
Tonight, Sutherland will have the stage to herself, as she is the lone senior for Kansas. They Jayhawks will face off against the Oklahoma State Cowgirls for Senior Night.
For one night, Sutherland will take in all the emotions that come with playing her last game at Allen Fieldhouse.
"It's my night," Sutherland said with a smile on her face. "We'll
stay focused. We need to win this game, but after that, it's all the fun, walking and hugging everybody, and it will always be just about me."
Since Sutherland was recruited out of Paris, Calif., Kansas coach Bonnie Henrickson knew that if Sutherland brought her size and athleticism to the Kansas program, Henrickson could turn
"You don't play in this league and at this level, and with the players she's played with, and put up those numbers and not be significant," Henrickson said.
Sutherland into a special player
"I just did what I need to do to help this team. I didn't try to do anything outstanding."
Even with all the emotion that will happen tonight, the Jayhawks must take care of business. Unsure about its postseason placement, Kansas hopes a victory against Oklahoma State will help it move closer to the NCAA Tournament.
The Cowgirls come into this game in a similar position as the Jayhawks, battling to move up in the Big 12 rankings.
Currently, Kansas (18-10) sits in sixth place with a 7-9 conference record. Oklahoma State (14-11) only trails by one game, with a 6-10 record.
Throughout the season, two players have stood among the Cowgirls. Sophomore Tiffany Bias continues to show improvement as Oklahoma State's point guard. Bias has challenged some of the top players in the Big 12.
AISHAH SUTHERLAND
Senior forward
"A team that's in the same boat we are," Henrickson said. "Both staring at each other and saying 'We need to get you.'"
Freshman Liz Donahue has also been an offensive force for Oklahoma State, leading the team with 12.8 points per game.
B u t,
Sutherland will
be the focus for the Oklahoma State defense. Last time the two teams played, she grabbed a season-high 22 rebounds.
- Edited by Corinne Westeman
No matter the outcome, Kansas knows Sutherland has made a long-term impact on the program.
"The most important is for us to win and send her out of here with a big win on Senior Night," Henrickson said.
CHRIS BRONSON/KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Aishah Sutherland is Kansas' only senior this year. She will be honored tonight.