Volume 124 Issue 99
kansan.com
Friday, February 17, 2012
COMMENTARY
During the Big 12 season there's not a lot of games you can write a 'W' next to the schedule before the two teams even lace it up.
There are a couple of reasons why I'm fairly certain the game versus Texas Tech (8-17) will not be much of a contest.
First, the Jayhawks (21-5) thoroughly dominated the Red Raiders in the first matchup in Lubbock, Tex., on Jan. 11 with an 81-46 victory.
Also, coach Billy Gillispie and the Red Raiders have struggled to find consistency on both ends of the floor, especially offensively.
And in their last game on Tuesday, Tech lost to the once Big 12 favorite but now bottom-feeder Texas A&M 47-38.
With all that said, it's clear this Saturday's game will be the jayhawks final chance to get some bench players the experience they need in order to become contributors down the stretch, and create some much needed depth.
Reserves may have their shot
The Jayhawks have that scenario in play when the Red Raiders come to town tomorrow.
What Kansas lacks more than anything is a second ball handler when Tyshawn Taylor takes a very rare breather.
But after that, the Jayhawks still have some holes to fill.
Senior guard Conner Teahan remains the only genuine player to see extended playing time, and really the only bench player Kansas coach Bill Self has shown some faith in.
This game would be the perfect opportunity for Tharpe to gain some important Big 12 understanding, and help create some essential steadiness if Taylor's having an off night.
Junior guard Elijah Johnson continues to be OK, but he hasn't shown enough for Self to put total confidence in him handling the ball.
Clearly I'm nitpicking with this column, but that's what you have to do when you see the possibility of a great team.
No question, the Jayhawks have a talented starting rotation, with Taylor, Robinson and junior center Jeff Withey competing at All-American levels.
Sophomore forward justin Wesley and junior forward Kevin Young must also show they can be capable backups if junior forward Thomas Robinson gets into foul trouble, but nothing more.
Through 26 games, Tharpe's role has not extended past being subbed in when the "Rock Chant" starts to bellow through the Fieldhouse.
But come March all of that might not matter unless you have depth. Some crazy things happen during the tournament, and Kansas knows this better than any team.
Young appears to be separating himself from Wesley, but I think both of them could have an impact, especially if they can establish any kind of physical presence inside.
- Edited by Amanda Gage
Tech's previous scoring low was a 53-40 loss to Arizona, in 1986.
That leaves freshman guard Naadir Tharpe to finally get a chance to develop into the other floor general the jayhawks need.
Softball team takes three-game win streak to North Carolina http://udkne.ws/yennnT
FIERY FANS
CAMPERS FUME OVER RULE Dissenters claim they had no idea despite early notice
ETHAN PADWAY
epadway@kansan.com
Camping for men's basketball games is a sacred tradition at the University. And similar to any other tradition, when an individual tries to change it, the change is often met with strong resistance.
This year, the camping organizers implemented a change in which the groups who missed no more than one lottery would get rewarded with priority entrance for the Missouri game.
"Everyone is angry at me, but I'm not dictating anybody," said Trey Johnson, a junior from Leesburg, Va., and head of the lottery. "It's not some rule that I just pulled out of thin air."
Johnson said only two of the 57 who camped on Wednesday voted against this change.
At the first four camping games this season, the issue of whether or not a reward should be given to groups who come to all the games came up, and the students who were camping agreed it would be a good idea.
"At the time, when I voted for it, I thought it was a good thing," said Mike Bull. Wichita senior. "It rewarded the groups that were willing to show up to every lottery
throughout the season, whether we were playing K-State or Townson"
The problem with establishing this rule during the first camping games is that not everyone camps then. Camping usually isn't necessary to get good seats early in the season.
Mark Gordon, a freshman from Wausau, Wis., said his group consists mostly of freshmen from out of state. "We didn't know that much about camping or the lottery, which would've hurt us in this case," Gordon said. "Also, being out of state, for the Baylor game, a lot of us weren't in town for the lottery at 8 a.m. Sunday, because we were all flying back."
After the word spread, angry students took to twitter to air their grievances. They created a hashtag, #savelottery, to spread their message, and bombarded the official twitter for camping, @KU_ BBallCamping, with tweets.
know they were the same people and left them off the list of 24 groups who might get priority entrance.
Jenna Jakowatz (@
JennaJayhawk) tweeted "the reward of camping is the 5 banners in Allen Fieldhouse. U don't change tradition bc u think ur entitled to better seats #saveletty."
Some camping groups switched up their group name on a weekly basis, and with different names each week, the organizers did not
Those who were included in the top 24 feel they should be rewarded for all the time they've spent camping out for all the games.
"Personally, I thought it was right because me and my group have camped all season long, for not just conference games, but games at the beginning of the season last semester," said Hadley Sis, a sophomore from Seattle. "So for us to be rewarded for the work that we've done, I think that's fair.
The current plan is to hold a vote on the morning of the Missouri lottery, and the students in attendance will decide whether or not the groups who camped for every game will be rewarded.
"I'm not going to make one decision for everyone by myself at all. I don't want to. Either way the voting goes is what I'm going to do. Yeah, it does suck for the people that did get a vote at the beginning of the year, to have people who didn't argue about it later on," Johnson said.
Edited by Nadia Imafidon
EXPECTED CAMP GROUPS FOR MIZZOU
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Graphic by Hannah Wise
BASEBALL
CHRIS NEAL/KANSAN
Baseball coach Ritch Price answers questions during the baseball media day at Allen Fieldhouse on Tuesday afternoon. Price begins his 10th season at the helm this afternoon.
Baseball begins season with youth and upside
ANDREW JOSEPH
ajoseph@kansan.com
ajoseph@kansan.com
The jayhawks play four games in three days against Middle Tennessee State, Bowling Green, Belmont and Lipscomb. Three Kansas pitchers are due to make starting debuts in the weekend series.
Kansas baseball is set to debut their new-look starting rotation this weekend at the Music City Classic in Nashville, Tenn.
After spending his entire freshman season as a relief pitcher, sophomore Frank Duncan will make his first career start for Kansas on Friday against Middle Tennessee State. In 2011, Duncan
"I'm sure they're excited, but at the same time I'm sure they're nervous," coach Ritch Price said. "What we're looking for as a coaching staff is how they respond to the pressure of playing in their first Division I game."
"It's pretty special for me coming from being a relief pitcher last year and seeing a lot of good players leave," Duncan said. "I have some big shoes to fill, especially on Friday nights but I think I'm up for the challenge."
posted a 0-3 record with a 3.09 earned run average in 24 relief appearances. Despite never starting at the collegiate level, Duncan is not shying away from the new responsibility.
Duncan will face All-Sun Belt Conference first baseman Justin Guildry. In 2011, Guildry led Middle Tennessee State with a .349 batting average, four homers and 39 runs scored. Kansas hitters will go up against the Blue Raiders' junior pitcher Hunter Adkins, who struggled last season with a 2-9 record and 5.44 ERA.
The weekend's starting rotation also features a pair of freshmen making their first Kansas appearances. Freshman pitcher Wes
The other freshman, Drew Morovick, makes his Kansas debut on Sunday against Lipscomb. Morovick is a 6-foot-6 right-hander from Hemet, Calif., but despite the Sunday start, he will be the Jayhawks regular Tuesday starter.
"He has a tremendous upside, great gifts and has a great future in the game even beyond KU as he continues his development," Price said.
Benjamin from St. Charles, Ill., takes the mound against Bowling Green on Saturday morning. The lefthanded Benjamin already has his coach excited for what he can bring to the Kansas pitching staff.
"He brings great maturity to the table," Price said. "He's a very poised young man with great size and tremendous upside. The main
SEE BASEBALL PAGE 5
MEN'S BASKETBALL
ASHLEIGH LEE/KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Junior center Jwitte attempts a layup against Oklahoma on Feb. 1 at Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks beat the Sooners 84-62.
Self tells his team to keep eyes on Big 12
MAX ROTHMAN
mrothman@kansan.com
twitter.com/uak_bball
As each game in the Big 12 passes, coach Bill Self marks a fresh score on a board in the team's film room. Self invites his players to look at the board, a constantly updated list of the conference standings. Heading into the weekend, No. 4 Kansas (21-5, 11-2) is tied with No. 3 Missouri atop the Big 12 with an 11-2 record.
Self doesn't encourage his team to ponder other teams' schedules, but he firmly believes in the importance of the standings. After all, the standings will eventually determine the Big 12 regular-season champions.
As the Jayhawks prepare for to morrow's 7 p.m. game at Allen Fieldhouse with last-place Texas Tech (8-17, 1-12), the Jayhawks
"I talk about it with my guys every day," Self said. "We take great pride in looking at that stuff."
know they can't afford to overlook the Red Raiders, a team that sits in the cellar of the conference standings.
Self compared this portion of the season to the last few minutes of a game. With five games remaining on the team's Big 12 schedule, the potential influence of each game is extrapolated.
"You make a mistake now," Self said, "there may not be time to come back."
First-year coach Billy Gillispie guides the Red Raiders, a team that has lost all six of its conference-road games this season. Despite Texas Tech's struggles, Self said that Gillispie has already improved his young group since the last time these teams met in Lubbock, Texas on Jan. 11, when the Jayhawks won 81-46.
"They'll come in here and try to muddy it up." Self said.
SEE BASKETBALL PAGE 5