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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
1B
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2002
COMMENTARY
Andy Samuelson asamuelson@kansan.com
'Harry' Hinrich's magic hexes foes, moves him into elite player status
Har-ry Pot-ter!
Yeah right, Kansas' Kirk Hinrich looks more like Mazda's "zoom-zoom" boy but is probably faster than a '91 Protege and lately he's playing with more magic than Harry Houdini.
He might not be first-team All-America at the end of the season, but it's hard to find a more valuable player in the country right about now.
Just check the numbers. Heading into last night's game with Texas, the junior from Sioux City, Iowa averaged 18.8 points per game in Kansas' last eight outings, while shooting 62.8 percent from the field and an amazing 68 percent on treys.
Those Play Station 2-esque numbers only get more freakish when looking at the 6-foot-3 guard's numbers from the two games preceding last night's contest against the Longhorns, where the magician's stats (14 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists) looked average for the first time this month, although he did lead the Jayhawks in the first half.
Hinrich dropped a career-high 28 points in the Jayhawks' 108-81 bombing of Texas Tech last Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse.
That was on the heels of a 26-point effort Monday at Kansas State — Hinrich's previous career best. The two-game total of 54 points not only garnered Hinrich Big 12 Conference player of the week honors, but it was the fourth-best two game total for points in Kansas coach Roy Williams' 14-year career.
That's without mentioning Hinrich's defensive boasts, which two Mondays ago had the Big 12's preseason player of the year candidate, Missouri's Kareem Rush, locked up without a spare key.
"Jacque (Vaughn) and Jerod (Haase) were the two best defensive guards I ever had," said Williams. "Steve Woodberry was the best strictly with the principles, he didn't have the speed or quickness that Jacque and Jerod had. Kirk sort of combines all of that. He may be as well rounded defensively as any guy I've coached on the perimeter."
Name a more deserving All-American candidate? Sure, a slew of others, namely Troy Bell, Dan Dickau, Juan Dixon, Mike Dunleave, Jason Gardner, Udonis Haslem, CaseyJacobsen, JaredJeffries, Jason Kapono, Steve Logan, Tayshaun Prince, Rush and Frank Williams are scoring more points per game than Hinrich's 15.5 overall average.
But do any of them have the ability to control the game like Hinrich, who also averages 4.7 rebounds and 5.7 assists while shooting more than 80 percent from the free-throw line?
Yes, Duke phenom Jason Williams, who along with the Jayhawks' very own Drew Gooden are the only sure bets on the All-America team. After that, it's hard to narrow down the crowded list of exceptional players, except to say that Hinrich at the very least is in the same breath.
Hinrich's numbers aren't as big as Gooden's, who is Kansas' best player, but Hinrich is the team's most valuable asset.
After Kansas switched to a three guard line-up with the addition of freshman Aaron Miles, Hinrich has excelled at pushing the ball up the court and sparking Kansas' offensive attack
And come on, if Hinrich's stylish vernacular continues to soar as much as his game has, he might just pass Gooden as Kansas' most colorful quote. Take for instance, this recent gem after the Texas Tech game:
"Stats are like a bikini," he said. "They shows some things, but they don't show it all."
But it's Hinrich's recent play that has been more jaw-dropping than if Roy showed up on Wescoe Beach in a thong.
Samuelson is a Wichita senior in journalism.
Jayhawk bomber burns orange
Jeff Boschee hits two overtime three pointers keeps Kansas perfect in Big 12 Conference
By Doug Pacey Kansan sportswriter
AUSTIN, Texas — As the Jayhawks ran off the court, Keith Langford bounced and gripped Jeff Boschee's shoulders, and, with giant grin, slapped the senior on the back and shouted "What's up dog!?"
Moments earlier, in a rare show of
Moments earlier, emotion, BOSCEe raised his arms in victory and let loose a scream at center court to the 15,495 people at the Frank Erwin Center after No.2 Kansas' 110-103 overtime win against Texas.
Boschee didn't score the most points, rather, junior forward Drew Gooden totaled 28 after notching just six in the first-half, or hand out the most assists, freshman guard Aaron Miles had a career-high 13, but the senior guard knocked down six of 13 three-pointers and was clutch in overtime.
Leading 102-100, the senior guard drilled a three-pointer while falling backward with Longhorn point guard T.J. Ford's hand waving in his face and all but ended the game.
"I wasn't feeling anything out there," Boschee said. "I had so much
adrenaline running through my body that I felt nothing."
Not a bad thing considering he played with a sprained left thumb, something he said didn't bother him but will be sore tomorrow. Four of Boschee's three-pointers broke tie scores and his first three-pointer in overtime gave the Jayhawks a 99-98 lead after trailing.
"My shot was feeling real good and the guys were setting good screens for me on the perimeter," he said.
one of the performers Kansas (22-2 overall, 11-0 Big 12 Conference) was nearly perfect in the extra period. The Jayhawks made their first four shots and outscored the pesky Longhorns (16-8, 7-4) 14-7 who had hung with Kansas the entire game.
"We were fortunate that they missed some shots in overtime that they had made in regulation," coach Roy Williams said . "And we were fortunate that we made the shots that we did in overtime."
The teams seemed to match each other shot-for-shot in the second-half. The Jayhawks took a 91-85 lead with five minutes left in the game, but the Longhorns tugged and scratched their way to a tie game, 96-96, with 31 seconds left.
"They just made plays," said Kirk Hinrich, who finished with 14 points and sat out most of the second-half because of foul trouble. "They were breaking down penetration and they shot and guarded us pretty well."
SEE TEXAS ON PAGE 6B
Kansas junior forward Nick Collison, left , blocks Texas' T.J. Ford as he drives the lane last night at the Frank Erwin Center, while freshman guard Aaron Miles helps out defensively.
UNIVERSITY DAILY TEXAN PHOTO
Simien solves Kansas' foul woes
By Brent Wasko
Kansan sportswriter
AUSTIN, Texas — Kansas forward Wayne Simien had his best performance as a Jayhawk when his team needed him the most.
With most of the starters in foul trouble, Simien got the opportunity to show how good he could be. His clutch play throughout the contest helped the Jayhawks slip past Texas 110-103 last night at the Frank Erwin Center.
"He was key. That's what is so good
about this team — we have people that can step in and take where people left off," Kansas junior forward Drew Gooden said. "Wayne came in and picked us up."
Gooden, the Jayhawks' leading scorer this season, had a tough time making shots in the first half, hitting just two of his nine shots from the field. He also got into foul trouble, picking up his third foul with 3:12 remaining before halftime and forcing him to sit on the bench more than usual.
place of Gooden and produced. He grabbed four rebounds, nailed a jumper and dunked the ball after coming in for Gooden to close out the half.
Simien stepped onto the floor in
"I think I came out and was real active right from the start," Simien said. "I got into a flow, which was different from other games where I kind of blended into the background. Things just worked out for me tonight."
Simien finished the contest with a career-high 17 points, which was third best on the team. He was one board shy of surpassing his career-high of 11 rebounds.
"I had to come in there and pick up the team," Simien said. "Coach challenged me, and I think I stepped up the challenge. I had the support of my teammates to motive me."
The season started out rough on Simien, who sat out the Jayhawks' first five games with a knee injury. He slowly worked his way back in the lineup, but never got the opportunity to perform like he did against Texas. He ended up playing a season-high 19 minutes against the Longhorns.
SEE SIMIEN ON PAGE 6B
CHRIS BURKET/KANSAN
Dan Olson, senior pitcher, practices his fastball inside Anschutz Sports Pavilion. Kansas opens it season at 3 p.m. today against Ottawa at Hogland Ballpark.
Baseball team to open season with added offensive power
By Ryan Wood Kansan sportswriter
Take a step outside into the chilly February weather, and you wouldn't think it was time for baseball in Lawrence.
Nevertheless, the Kansas baseball team opens its 2002 season today at 3 p.m. against Ottawa at Hoglund Ballpark.
Hogland Bampink.
"We're looking forward to getting it going," junior shortstop Casey Spanish said. "We're looking forward to surprising a lot of people. I'm really optimistic."
Being one of the northernmost teams in the Big 12 Conference, the Jayhawks are one of the last teams to kick off the season. Texas Tech's first game was on Jan. 24, and it has already compiled a 6-3 record.
"It's certainly an advantage to get outside," coach Bobby Randall said. "They'll be ahead of us, but we'll catch up. I don't know if I would want to start that early even if I could."
The Jayhawks are coming off a 26-30 record in 2001. Though they struggled against Big 12 teams, they were 19-7 against non-conference opponents.
Ottawa (0-1), an NAIA school, hasn't defeated Kansas in 11 tries. The two teams' last meeting was in 1999, with the Jayhawks prevailing 10-3 at Hoglund Ballpark.
"We're ready for OU," Randall said. "We look at it as an exhibition game, a game for everybody to get out there and get their feet wet."
"We have more power up and down the lineup than we ever had."
Randall said he was excited about Olson's prospects for the season because the hurler was healthy for the first time.
Senior pitcher Dan Olson will start on the mound against the Braves. Olson, coming off of arm surgery, pitched just 11 innings last season, compiling a 1-3 record.
Run support for Olson could come from added power in the Kansas lineup. Last season's squad hit just 22 home runs, the fewest since 1978. Junior designated hitter Pat Holmes, a transfer from San Jacinto North CC, and sophomore second baseman Ryan Baty, returning from a shoulder injury, are expected to contribute a much-needed punch to the lineup.
"We have more power up and down the lineup than we ever had," Randall said. "A lot of that's maturity."
Junior outfielder Jason Appuhn is still recovering from shoulder surgery and is not expected to play today.
- Ottawa played Northwestern Oklahoma last weekend, losing 4-0. Kansas is the only NCAA opponent it will face this year.
Contact Wood at rwood@kansan.com.
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