Volume 124 Issue 88
Thursday, February 2, 2012
kansan.com
JAYHAWKS BEAT SOONERS IN FIELDHOUSE
PAGES 6-7
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perimeter. Drawing more detencers to guard the paint allows a slash to the basket.
Both Robinson and Withey cannot have off nights because the front-court bench players, Justin Wesley and Kevin Young, are unreliable. The Jayhawks will go as far as where their front-court offense takes them. Kansas has no business launching ill-adapted three-pointers when they can work their offense through a 7-footer and an All-American candidate.
Saturday's game against rival Missouri is one that must be won in the paint and on the boards. Because Missouri is a guard-oriented team that counts on one big man, Ricardo Ratliffe, Kansas cannot abandon its front-court offense. The Jayhawks have the height advantage against the Tigers. Ratliffe will pose problems, but Withey and Robinson have no excuse to get into foul trouble. They must be the aggressors like they were against Oklahoma and attack Missouri's big men, especially Ratliffe, and get Missouri into foul trouble.
Halfway through league play, Kansas is fighting to defend a .500 record. Going into Wednesday's game, Kansas was ranked NA.25 by the ESPN/ USA Today Coaches poll, but that excitement was lost in the overtime loss.
Texas A&M and Oklahoma.
"You look at all three of them and it has been gut-wrenching" coach Bonnie Henrickson said.
"In this league you have got to be able to take care of your home court and we have not done that."
Kansas looked like it had the game decided midway through the second half with a series of stunning offense and stifling defense. Up seven, the Jayhawks started to slide again and needed a three-pointer to send it into overtime. Junior guard Angel Goodrich and junior guard Monica Engelman hit clutch shots to keep the Jayhawks in the game and turnovers and defensive breakdowns helped lead to the swift demise of No. 25.
Edited by Amanda Gage
teams are currently ranked the Associated Press poll and another three are receiving votes including Kansas. But as the Hawks reach for their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2000, they are left with no guaranteed victories in this talented league.
Toreach that goal the Jayhawks need at least 2C wins and around nine or 10 in expanded conference play. The Jayhawks start the second wind of their round robin conference schedule this weekend. They will face three of the four teams they lost to on the road and host No. 1 Baylor
Two short weeks ago when Kansas hosted Texas A&M it was in a completely different position coming off three road wins and in sole possession of second place in the conference.
"I really believe if Kansas would have won this ball game it would have punched their ticket even this early to the tournament" Texas A&M coach Gary Blair said.
the country with juniors, guard Angel Goodrich who leads the nation in assists and junior forward Carolyn Davis who leads in shooting percentage. The team as a whole ranks sixth in the nation in overall shooting percentage, but in the last two games that hasn't translated. The Jayhawks shot just 38.2 percent from the field, well under their average of 47.9.
Personnel wise, the Jayhawks have struggled. Sophomore guard Keena Mays and freshman guard Donielle Breaux left the team earlier in the season leaving Kansas with 10 women on the roster. Even with the downsizing, freshman guard Asia Boyd who entered the program as the No. 37 recruit is playing minimal minutes.
After Texas A&M this weekend, Kansas will return home to host 'Texas before hitting the road again with stops at Kansas State and Iowa State.
Edited by Amanda Gage
CHRIS BROWN/KANSAN Coach Bonnie Hendrickson looks concerned down the court during Tuesday's game against Oklahoma where Kansas was defeated in overtime 68-72. Kansas is now 16-5 for the season and 5-4 in Big 12 play.
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