"Even Gangs of New York isn't as excruciatingly drawn out as these seven weeks between Super Bowl Sunday and March Madness."
Bill Simmons, ESPN The Magazine columnist
6A • THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS COMMENTARY
Jonah Ballow jballow@kansan.com
Mangino signs recruits, brings experience in second year
2-10.
This is the record the Kansas football team compiled last season under first year coach Mark Mangino.
Jayhawk fans have suffered through many dismal seasons in hope of a sign that the program will change.
After helping turn around Big 12 Conference programs such as Kansas State and the University of Oklahoma. Mangino is trying to do the same for Kansas.
Wednesday marked the national signing day for college football teams. Mangino proved his worth as a coach that understands what will change a program. Instead of just concentrating on young, high school players, Manginosinged 12 junior college transfer players.
This may seem like a bold move for the headman in Lawrence.
However, the junior college transster players will give the Jayhawks experience beyond the high school level. By taking a page out of the Oklahoma Sooners book, Kansas will see instant production out of proven college players.
"We'd like to see all of them make some kind of an impact," Mangino said. "Some will sooner than others, but we're hoping they'll all be impact players for us."
If you need more proof of this theory, look to the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. Kansas' own Bill Whittemore is a junior college transfer who was the lone bright spot for the Jayhawks' last season. Whittemore threw for 1,666 yards and 11 touchdowns with a 103.4 quarterback rating.
One of the players that Mangino landed is Iowa Central weak-side linebacker Gabe Toomey. The linebacker was a red-shirt freshman for Oklahoma and then transferred to Iowa Central, which paid off because he was named as an NJCAA All-American. Toomey stands 6-feet-4, weighs 235 pounds and, according to Mangino, runs the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds.
Nine of the transfers are defensive players,which is another smart move for Mangino. Kansas needs to improve on the 42.2 points relinquished to opponents last season.
A great way to turn around a program is to find proven talent among the college level, and Mangino has set the precedent with this recruiting class.
Ballow is a Littleton, Colo., junior in journalism.
KIHK SPORTS
Play-by-play announcers for the University of Kansas radio station KJHK 90.7 FM, Mike Alzamora and John Grimmett, invite you to listen as they call tomorrow's women's basketball game against the Texas Longhorns live from the Frank Erwin Center. Below, Alzamora and Grimmett bring you their expectations for the game.
The Jayhawks cannot afford another 14-point first half output like they had at Colorado this past Wednesday. If the 'Hawks truly plan to "mess with Texas," they will have to play their best game of the season and hope the No. 11 Long-horns overlook them. Ironically, Texas has not exactly played well against Kansas in the teams' last couple of meetings. Last year Kansas nearly pulled off the unthinkable as it fell just two points short of upsetting the Long-horns in the first round of the Big 12 Conference tournament.
In what became a theme for the Jay hawks last season, Kansas played well in the first half in both games against Texas but faltered in the second half.
KJHK's coverage of the Kansas women's basketball game against the Texas Longhorns will begin live from Austin, Texas, at 1.
Austin, Texas, at 1 p.m. on 90.7 FM.
KU will have to find a formula to slow down one of the nation's best post players in Stacy Stephens and the inside-outside game of Heather Schreiber. If Crystal Kemp and Tamara Ransburg can avoid foul trouble and force Stephens into some double teams, the Jayhawks may have an answer for the Pre-season All-American. But Schreiber may be the deciding factor in this game as the 'Hawks may not find an answer for her.
has been the team's Achilles' heal throughout the season. The Jayhawks shot a combined 34.5 percent in the their last two games and shoot only 41 percent on the season. To make matters worse for the Jayhawks, they may have lost Blair Waltz to injury in the Colorado game Wednesday night. Even with all of the problems Kansas has, a win in Austin is not out of the question. Texas (14-5, 7-1) has struggled several times this season and has managed to lose five games thus far. If Kansas wants to pull off the upset they will need to do two things. First, get good open looks at the basket and make shots. If Kansas can shoot over 50 percent for the game they will have an excellent chance. Second, play defense for 40 minutes.
Mike Alzamora, KJHK
At times this season, the Jayhawks have been outstanding on the defensive end but generally can't keep their intensity for an entire game. If the Jayhawks do both of these, they will have a chance at the upset. However, look for the Longhorns to make dinner of the Jayhawks in Austin with a big-time victory.
The Jayhawks travel to Austin, Texas, this weekend for a match-up with the No. 11 ranked Texas Longhorns. Kansas is currently riding a two game losing streak after losses to Texas Tech and Colorado. Poor shooting killed the Jayhawks in both games and
— John Grimmett, KJHK
NBA
Former Jayhawk Manning signs with Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons signed free agent forward Danny Manning to a contract worth approximately $500,000 on Wednesday. It will be Manning's seventh team in 15-season career.
"I will find a niche somewhere to help this team out be it in practice or helping some of the younger guys." Manning told the Detroit Press.
The former No. 1 draft pick and NBA All-Star has not played since last season when he was with the Dallas Mavericks.
Manning played for Kansas from 1985-1988, where he became the first Jayhawk to score 2,000 points, grab 1,000 rebounds and block 200 shots in his career. He is still Kansas' leading all-time scorer with 2,951 points and career rebounder with 1,187 boards.
He has been staying in shape by practicing with Kansas a couple times a week.
"I'm thrilled for him," Kansas coach Roy Williams told reporters, adding Manning would be missed at practice. "Danny Manning added quite a bit to this squad."
Manning often played against AllAmerican candidate, senior forward Nick Collison during Kansas' practices. Collison learned a lot from the NBA veteran, he said.
"I know it helped him out being in
shape," Collison said yesterday. "But basically he was there to help us out."
SOCCER
Soccer welcomes 6 players shoots for improvement
Kansas soccer coach Mark Francis announced Wednesday six high school players had signed National Letters of Intent for the 2003 season. The incoming class includes three in-state players, two from Colorado and one from South Dakota.
"This is one of the best groups we've had since I've been here," Francis said.
Francis said he thought the players were going to come in and make a change right away and improve the team, which is what is hoped for from a recruiting class.
"These recruits will add a lot more athleticism to our team and they will fit into our style of play very well." Francis said.
The 2003 recruiting class includes:
Nicole Alvarez, Wichita Northwest High School, Wichita; Danika Erickson, D'Evelyn High School, Lakewood, Colo.; Holly Gault, Spring Hill High School, Spring Hill, Kan.; Jessica Kilpatrick, Arapahoe High School, Englewood, Colo.; Angie Miller, Boylan Catholic High School in Rockford, Ill., Sioux Fall, S.D.; Lacey Novak, Shawnee Mission South High School, Overland Park.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2003
Kansan staff reports
Donovan Atkinson/Kansan
Getting to the game
You can expect the 85-mile trip to Manhattan for tomorrow's game against Kansas State to take about an hour and a half. Directions are simple. Take Interstate 70 about 79 miles to Kansas Highway 177. Head north on 177 for 12 miles, and you are in the Little Apple. No road construction is reported. To check road conditions, call 1-800-595-ROAD
After the game:
Aggieville, the Manhattan bar district, is located on the southeast edge of the Kansas State campus. Bars like Longhorns and O'Mally's offer drinks and dancing, while places such as O'Mally's Ally and have laid back atmospheres ideal for drinking and talking with friends. While at the Ally, if you want to want to leave your Jayhawk mark, sign a dollar in crimson and blue and leave it on the wall. But beware of the Aggies' hatred for anything KU. Many bars in Manhattan boast signs referring to Lawrence in their bathrooms.
Cardinals sign pitcher plagued by injury
meant to lessen the pressure on a pitcher plagued with wildness, when the team reports to spring training next Friday.
Ankiel, 23, won 11 games as a rookie in 2000 but since then has struggled with his health and his control. He last pitched in the major leagues in May 2001.
He left his only spring training start
last year after only two innings because of tendinitis.
Ankiel will be paid $400,000 if he makes the major league roster and $320,000 if he lands in the minors. He's expected to compete for a bullpen spot
Also agreeing to one-year contracts were infielder Wilson Delgado ($305,000/$80,000); right-handers Chance Capel ($300,000/$50,000), Jimmy Journell, Jeremy Lambert ($300,000/$50,000), Scotty Layfield and Josh Pearce ($300,000); and left-hander Les Walrond ($300,000/$50,000).
ST.LOUIS — The St.Louis Cardinals signed left-hander Rick Ankiel, who missed all of last season with an elbow injury, to a one-year contract yesterday.
POLL
kansan.com How many Big 12 Conference games
The Associated Press
will the women's basketball team win this season?
- They will not win any more. They will stop at two conference wins.
- They will win three to five games.
- They will win six to eight games.
- They will win nine or 10 games.
Log on to www.hansan.com to cast your vote.
Kansas Athletics Calendar TODAY
Softball vs. Bethune-Cookman College at the Triple Crown Sports/UCF Tournament hosted by Central Florida, 12:45 p.m., St. Augustine, Fla.
Softball vs. Mississippi at the Triple Crown Sports/UCF Tournament hosted by Central Florida, 10:15 a.m., St. Augustine, Fla.
SATURDAY
Men's basketball at Kansas State,
12:45 p.m. Manhattan
**Women's basketball at Texas, 1 p.m.**
Austin, Texas
Swimming vs. Iowa State, at 2 p.m.
Robinson Natoratium
Track, Illini Track Invitational,
Champaign, Ill.
*Baseball at Arkansas-Little Rock, noon, Little Rock, Ark.
- "Baseball at Arkansas-Little Rock, 3, mnt. Little Rock. Ark.
Softball vs. Purdue at the Triple Crown Sports/UCF Tournament hosted by Central Florida, 12:15 a.m., St. Augustine, Fla.
Softball vs. TBA at the Triple Crown Sports/UCF Tournament hosted by Central Florida, TBA, St. Augustine, Fla
Baseball at Arkansas-Little Rock, 1
m., Little Rock, Ark.
SUNDAY
Softball vs. TBA at the Triple Crown Sports/UCF Tournament hosted by Central Florida, TBA. St. Augustine, Fla.
- Because of cold weather the Kansas baseball game against the University of Arkansas - Little Rock that was scheduled for today at 3 p.m. has been postponed for one day. The teams will now play a double-header tomorrow with a nine-inning game at noon and a seven-inning game at 3 p.m.
Free for All
Obviously you are watching the Chi Omega girls more than you are watching the Mizzou game, so what does that say about you?
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This is to the moron who said that Langford's tripled his minutes since last year. Langford averaged over 20 minutes last year. To triple his minutes, he'd have to play quadruple overtime every game.