Volume 124 Issue 104
kansan.com
Friday, February 24, 2012
The Kansas and Missouri basketball rivalry dates back over a century. "Hate" probably serves as the most accurate depiction between these opposing universities. Kansas leads the all-time series 171-94 against Missouri.
As the rivalry pencils in possibly the final chapter of its story, it becomes clearer what counts the most. Tradition, history, passion, heart, hustle and toughness are all examples of what we take pride in here in Lawrence and they can be summed up in one word: mentality. Why has Kansas won seven straight Big 12 regular season championships? Mentality.
COMMENTAR Voice of the fan: What counts?
It seems we constantly try to attribute success to various elements. In basketball, we credit victories to a 10-0 run or an incredible fadeaway jump shot. We blame losses on a questionable foul or a lucky shot by the opponent. But when you get down to the nitty-gritty, what counts the most?
Kansas and Missouri fans can argue until they're blue in the face about who is better, who deserves a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, or who is going to win the Big 12 title. Kansas fans usually bring up a storied tradition and past success against Missouri. Consequently, Missouri fans claim that past success has nothing to do with the current season. But Missouri fans are wrong. Kansas isn't always the most talented team in the league. Kansas isn't always the most experienced team in the league. Kansas' schedule doesn't always work in its favor. As a matter of fact, the schedule usually works against the Jayhawks. None of that changes the mentality the Jayhawks carry with them.
We are one lucky fan base. I can say I'm proud to be a Jayhawk and proud of our past success. I'm proud of the mentality that has been built here in Lawrence because of that success. I'm not saying we haven't had great players, but players come and go. The mentality, however, never leaves. And that is what counts the most.
- Edited by Max Rothman
Kansas is on the verge of clinching its eight straight Big 12 championship because there is an immeasurable, winning mentality in Lawrence. Lawrence doesn't want to share the Big 12 title with Missouri, a school departing for the Southeastern Conference. It is not acceptable to be second best in the conference because Kansas has built expectations based on past success. But to Missouri, past success doesn't matter? It matters to the players, it matters to the coaches, and it matters to the fans. That's not to say other programs, like Missouri, don't have a will to win. They just don't have the "we aren't going to let you take this from us" mentality. You can call it arrogant. You can call it a bad attitude. But maybe that what it takes to win a league eight consecutive times. We win because of the mentality we bring. We bring that mentality because we are Kansas.
By Christopher Marks editor@kansan.com
BEARING DOWN
TRAVIS YOUNG/KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Baylor forward Destiny Williams drives past junior forward Aishah Sutherland for a lay-up during the second half of last season's defeat to Baylor. Kansas will face Baylor again tonight at 7 p.m. at Allen Fieldhouse.
TURNING THE TIDE
Kansas faces undefeated Baylor needing a win to keep its season alive
KATHLEEN GIER
kgier@kansan.com
Baylor coach Kim Mulkey and Kansas coach Bonnie Henrickson have programs in two different spots right now; Baylor is undefeated at 28-0 and Kansas is 18-9, scrambling for a couple more victories to cement an NCAA appearance. However, the two coaches can communicate on a more personal level since they both recently
challenge playing against Brittney Griner, a national player of the year candidate.
Griner poses a unique challenge for opponents because she is listed at 6-foot-8 and has an even larger wingspan. She averages 22.7 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 blocks per game.
lost players to season-ending knee injuries.
Kansas junior forward Carolyn Davis tore her ACL and dislocated her left knee in the loss to Kansas State on Feb. 12. Then, on Feb. 21, Baylor sophomore guard Shanay Washington tore her ACL.
"You know the sadness," Mulkey said in a text to Henrickson.
"Griner gets her 20 or so on her end, but I have always said
"Yes, ma'am I do," Henrickson responded.
The Jayhawks have adjusted their offense considerably since the teams' last match up on Jan. 28, which they lost 74-46 in Waco, Texas freshman forward Chelsea Gardner has replaced Davis, and with only four active players in the post, the Jayhawks will have a
mutual respect, but when their teams tip off at 6:30 tonight in Allen Fieldhouse, sympathy will go out the window, and each group has to adjust to the changes.
The two coaches have a great
SEE BASKETBALL PAGE 6B
FOOTBALL
Linebacker gets invite to NFL scouting combine
Kansas linebacker Steven Johnson has been invited to participate in the NFL combine and will be the first Jayhawk to participate since safety Darrell Stuckey
and wide receivers Dezmon Briscoe and Kerry Meier did so in 2010.
Johnson led the Big 12 conference in 2011 with 128 tacles, with 124 stops in 2011. He's
Johnson
the first jayhawk to lead the conference in tackles since Roger Robben led the Big Eight in 1989.
Today Johnson arrives in Indianapolis, the site of the combine, to receive a medical exam and to get his official measurements. He'll interview with teams on Saturday and Sunday before working out on Monday.
The All-Big 12 player had 229 total tackles in his time at Kansas.
Portions of the workout will be televised on the NFL Network.
Mike Vernon
STEVEN JOHNSON 6-foot-1,237 pounds. Media, Pa.
2011 Season:
All-Big 12 linebacker
124 total tackles
66 solo tackles
6.0 tackles for loss
Two forced fumbles
Two pass breakups
One interception
One fumble recovery
Jayhawks look to remain undefeated
TOP HITTER
Maggie Hull
MVP of the Charlotte Classic
Batted .438 in the tournament
Seven hits
Four RBIs
A team-high two doubles and a triple, contributing a slugging percentage of .688
2-for-2 in stolen bases
Four putouts and two assists.
No errors on defense
As a team, the Jayhawks are hitting .297. Junior outfielders Maggie and Rosie Hull along with Kocon are hitting .400 or better. Maggie is leading the Big 12 with five doubles, and Kocon needs five RBIs to become the all-time leader at Kansas
"We just need them to do what they do," coach Megan Smith said. "All three are very good offensive players and have good presence in the box. If they are on, our whole offense will be successful."
Coming into the weekend on a seven-game winning streak, the Kansas softball team is looking to increase its wins from last weekend's Charlotte Classic in North Carolina.
"It feels good to be back in North Carolina because we did well last weekend," said senior Liz Kocon, "but bottom line, we're just going to go out and give it all we have."
SARA KRUGER
skruger@kansan.com
This weekend the team is heading to the UNC Wilmington Seahawk Classic. On Friday, the Jayhawks will play Fairfield University and Gardner-Webb University and will start their Saturday playing the University of North Carolina Wilmington.
LIZ KOCON
Senior outfielder
Freshman pitcher Alicia Pille will be on the mound for Kansas, rotating with junior Morgan
Druhan and sophomore Kristin Martinez. The Kansas pitching staff has struck out 82 as a unit. Pille earned the Charlotte Classic Pitcher MVP and 49 strike outs for the season. Of her five starts, Pille has pitched three shutout games.
Focusing heavily on offense this week, Smith said after watching video and focusing on offense, the team showed a lot of improvement. Kansas will continue going into tournaments focusing on the team and not their opponents.
"I never really know where we're going." Kocon said. "It doesn't matter. We're going to go out and just play"
Kansas will face Fairfield to begin this weekend's tournament. Fairfield, projected to finish third in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, carried a 31-22 record last season. Sophomore Rebecca Trott will pitch for the Stags. Trott was the No.2
"It's just like it is every other weekend," Kocon said. "Outplay and don't give up. Keep fighting."
Gardner-Webb (4-4) is coming off of a win in a doubleheader against North Carolina A&T Feb. 21. The Runnin' Bulldogs hit .306 as a team and its pitching staff posts a 2.27 ERA. Sophomore Alyssa Gutierrez will be pitching for the team and leads the team with 10 strikeouts. At bat, junior Melinda Dulokowski leads the team's batting average with a .412 and six RBIs.
Edited by Anna Allen
UNC Wilmington (1-4) is on a four-game losing streak. Freshman Casey Rowlans and senior Amanda Davenport will rotate pitching.
The Jayhawks will travel to Charleston, S.C., for the Charleston Southern Tournament, March 2-4, and will open the tournament against Connecticut.
starter in 2011 and had a 3-5 record. Sophomore infielder Kristen Filicia was ranked second on the team with a .305 batting average and led the team with 40 runs and 28 stolen bases.
Alicia Pille
MVP pitcher of the Charlotte Classic
Made two starts in the circle
Led the tournament with a 1.24 ERA.
Allowed only nine hits and two runs in 11.1 innings.
17-2 strikeout to walk ratio, a tournament best
held her opponents to a .214 batting average.
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