WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Kansas fights to end longest losing streak in history. See page 8B.
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SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WWW.KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
1B
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2009
COMMENTARY
Andy Davies adavies@kansan.com
Women to win one in Big 12 psychic says
Whv?
I'll admit it. I don't want the Kansas women's basketball team to go winless in Big 12 Conference games. Call me biased or whatever else you want to, but I'll be rooting for the Jayhawks to win at least one Big 12 game.
I don't want to see Marian Washington, a coaching legend in her 29th year at Kansas, suffer through the embarrassment of not winning a game in the Big 12, and I usually pull for the underdog. But mostly, I don't want to hear stupid jokes about how bad Kansas is.
If the 'Hawks do win a Big 12 game this season, I want fans to know when it will happen, so they can help cheer Kansas to victory. For that reason, I decided to contact an old acquaintance, psychic Ida Fonie.
Ida and I go way back. She's helped me repeatedly in the past, giving me study hints and telling me where to avoid smokers exhaling their toxic fumes at the entrance of campus buildings.
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
I asked Fonie about each of the seven games left to play and the likelihood of a Kansas victory.
At Oklahoma (2-2)
Kansas is 2-7 on the road and has lost its road games by an average of more than 20 points. Led by All-American Stacey Dales Oklahoma is ranked No.4 in the country and tied for first in the Big 12. Don't count on Kansas getting its third road victory in Sooner Nation.
Iowa State (2-6)
Kansas has two games left against the No. 12 Cyclones. After being one of the top teams in the Big 12 the last two years, the Cyclones have struggled this year. Iowa State is just 4-5 in Big 12 play. Still, Iowa State has won two of its last three games in Lawrence. Behind all-time leading scorer, rebounder and shot blocker Angie Welle, the Phog won't be much of a factor. Look for Iowa State to get it done.
The game in Ames, Iowa, on Feb. 26 should have the same result. The Cyclones have lost just three home games in the last three seasons. Don't expect Kansas to make it four.
At Missouri (2-9)
Junior guard Kirk Hinrich fires a ball over the head of former Colorado guard Jose Winston last year. Hinrich has started every game this season for the Jayhawks, averaging 14.4 points per game. Kansas has won 25 consecutive games against the Buffaloes, including a 97-85 victory on Jan. 5 at the Coors Events Center.
The Tigers routed the Jayhawks 66-48 at Allen Fieldhouse last month and have defeated the 'Hawks four straight. Even so, Mizzou is only 3-5 in Big 12 play. As usual in games between these two rivals, look for the Jayhawks to play their hearts out. But also look for a Missouri win.
Nebraska (2-13)
This is Kansas' best chance for a win. The 'Huskers are 2-6 in Big 12 play. The Jayhawks will be trying to avenge a 73-59 loss in Lincoln, Neb. If you're looking for a Kansas game to attend, go to this one. Get there early and stay late because the Jayhawks will pull out a win.
Kansas State (2-17)
In a game between programs going in opposite directions, look for No. 10 K Kansas State to win in Lawrence for the first time in 11 years. K-State is tied for first in the Big 12 and looks capable of making a postseason run. The Jayhawks will play for pride, but that won't be enough.
Texas (2-26)
It'll be a battle of coaching giants when Jody Conradt and No. 14 Texas come to town. Conradt has won more games than any coach in the history of women's college basketball. But Kansas has won the last four games in this series. This year Conradt will end that streak.
Davies is a St. Mary's senior in journalism. Contact him at adavies@kansan.com.
Ready to rumble
Men prepare for physical game with 'tough' Colorado
By Brent Wasko
Kansan sportswriter
Kansas probably wishes it could play Colorado for every game.
The Jayhawks have beaten the Buffaloes 25 straight times, and if Colorado is to end the streak, it will have to pull off the upset at a place where no Kansas opponent has won this season — Allen Fieldhouse.
Kansas coach Roy Williams said he didn't see the game as an automatic victory for the Jayhawks. Colorado, which is 12-6 overall and 3-4 in the Big 12 Conference, might be a more difficult opponent than it looked on paper.
paper.
"They've played very well against us, and their team has gotten better and better." Williams said. "They were a load for us to handle out at their place and they'll be a load against us here on Saturday."
On Jan. 5, Kansas, which is 18-2 overall and 7-0 in the Big 12, took advantage of a strong second-half effort to sneak past Colorado 97-85 to open Big 12 play.
Junior forward Drew Gooden paced the Jayhawks in that contest with 27 points and 14 rebounds. Senior guard Jeff Boschee and junior guard Kirk Hinrich also had big days, tossing in 20 and 19 points, respectively.
Despite the Jayhawks' large winning streak against the Buffaloes, Kansas and Colorado have developed a bit of a rivalry.
Games between the two teams have recently been characterized by very physical play.
During the teams' last meeting, officials whistled players for fouls a combined 44 times, including an intentional foul on Kansas and a technical foul on Colorado. Each squad had three players with four fouls.
Sophomore forward Bryant Nash said the Jayhawks expected a physical
KANSASVS.COLORADO
Game Time: 3 p.m.
Place: Allen Fieldhouse.
On TV: Channels 4, 13
On Radio: 90.7 FM KJKJ, 105.9 FM
KJZR, 1320 AM KLWN.
"There's no bad blood with them." Nash said. "It's all part of the game. You just have to blow it off. We're just going to go out and play ball."
game no matter who they faced, and Colorado was no different.
Colorado is playing better basketball of late. The Buffaloes have split their last eight games, including a 95-88 victory last Wednesday at home
SEE BASKETBALL ON PAGE 8B
Nash may fit Williams' role of forward
By Doug Pacey Kansan sportswriter
A former coach asked Bryant Nash last fall if he wanted to transfer from Kansas.
After red-shirting his freshman year, playing in just 24 games and scoring 16 points last season, it was a legitimate question.
But, Nash said, he had no plans to leave Lawrence.
"It's a good place," the soft-spoken sophomore said.
While this season hasn't been much different from last year — Nash has played more than five minutes only seven times this season — the swingman has shown offensive improvement, and if his defense improves, he might be the small forward Roy Williams has so desperately tried to find.
"He is the one player that if you draw a picture of what we need, it's him," Williams said. "You can pass the look tests and it doesn't mean you can play. He definitely passes the look tests and has all the characteristics we need for a small forward."
At 6-foot-6, Nash would give No.2 Kansas (18-2 overall, 7-0 Big 12 Confer-
SEE NASH ON PAGE 8B
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Sophomore forward Bryant Nash dunks the ball against Kansas State last year. Nash is averaging 1.5 points per game coming off the bench.
Team wants final home victory
Molly O'Connor, Carolyn Horwitz, Carrie Kirkham and Rebecca McFall are the four seniors on the KU swim team, which has its final home meet tomorrow in Robinson Center.
JOHN NOWAK/KANSAN
Bv Ali Brox
Kansan sportswriter
For the four seniors on the Kansas swimming and diving team, tomorrow's noon meet at Robinson Center takes them one step closer to the end of their careers.
Seniors Carolyn Horwitz, Carrie Kirkham, Rebecca McFall and Molly O'Connor will have extra fan support as all are expecting family and friends to attend their final home meet. Plus, the rest of the team is likely to do everything it can to make the seniors last meet memorable.
"The coaches keep saying 'do it for the seniors,'" O'Connor said. "Hopefully we can get the win."
According to coach Cathy Burgess, each senior swimmer brings different but equally important qualities to the team.
"Carrie has the perfect mix of swimming ability in the pool and leadership out of the pool," Burgess said.
"Carolyn is the type of person who gives 100 percent at everything she does not just to swimming, but everything in life. And Molly is a naturally chosen leader among her peers."
She's been one of our most consistent trainers in the pool all four years."
Diving coach Kevin Lawrence spoke of McFall's importance to the team.
"First and foremost she brings leadership to the team," he said.
"She's not afraid to stand up and tell the underclassmen what they need to do."
The Jayhawks are coming off of a
dominating 185-94 victory in their previous dual against Nebraska. Kansas hopes to improve on its 6-2 record against the Arkansas Razorbacks and remain focused on using their remaining three meets as preparation for the conference meet. .
Contact Brox at abrox@kansan.com.
This story was edited by Justin Henn-
ing.
By Matt Norton Kansas sportswriter
Tracksters wonder who will show up
By Matt Norton
The Kansas track and field team will compete in the Jayhawk Invitational today, but it may not know who's coming until the team buses start pulling into the parking lot outside Anschutz Sports Pavilion.
The University of Missouri-Kansas City-area junior colleges and Division II and III schools are scheduled to compete against the Jayhawks, but this week's inclement weather may keep many of them at home.
Tim Weaver, meet director, said the decision was made yesterday to have the meet.
"These junior college teams really look to this meet as one of their main qualifying opportunities for their national championships, to get on our oversized track," said Weaver of Kansas' 252-yard track. "Fort Hays State doesn't have a lot of indoor opportunities. Colby, and some of these community colleges
SEE TRACK ON PAGE 8B
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