McCRAY'S STATS MERIT RECOGNITION FROM AP
Honor would have added to an already great season. MORNING BREW 12B
WWW.KANSAN.COM
SOFTBALL OPENS CONFERENCE PLAY
WEDNESDAY,APRIL 1,2009
CONSTRUCTING SUCCESS
PAGE 1B
COMMENTARY
Women's basketball deserves support
action of columns. These pieces—some as old as the paper itself, some young enough that the ink might still be wet - all make the same point: Students should better support nonrevenue sports. Of course, these columns don't work. If they did, writers wouldn't need to keep contributing to the stack.
It's a good thing I'm not stuck writing one of those columns. Thankfully, the Kansas women's basketball team sells itself.
I suppose it's possible that you've been experiencing basketball withdrawals, unable to cope with the men's basketball squad getting knocked out of the tournament last week. If that's the case, then you may not have heard that Kansas basketball is still being played. Let me get you up to speed.
Tonight at 7, Allen Fieldhouse will serve as the venue for the semifinal round of the Women's NIT. Kansas will face the Illinois State Redbirds.
To make it this far, Kansas defeated Creighton and Arkansas at home. But the Jayhawks, predictably enough, have been good at home all year. Victories away from Allen Fieldhouse have been much more difficult to come by. And "The Pit," where the Jayhawks faced New Mexico on Monday, is a more difficult place to win than most. The Lobos fans made sure the arena lived up to its reputation. Throughout the game, they provided intense vocal support
— but that's nothing new. They also threw ice and various other objects on the court (actions
SEE BEECHER ON PAGE 6B
BASEBALL
Junior shortstop David Narodowski attempts to slide around the tag and into second base Tuesday afternoon against Northern Colorado. The Jayhawks scored seven runs in the final two innings, defeating the Bears 8-1.
Home run seals Jayhawks' victory
Kansas scores seven runs in final two innings
Weston White/KANSAN
BY JOSH BOWE
ibowe@kansan.com
jbowe@kansan.com
Nick Faunce wasn't supposed to play Tuesday. He wasn't even in the dugout when his number was called.
The senior outfielder hit a two-run, walk-off home run to seal an 8-6 comeback victory for Kansas (16-10) against Northern Colorado (8-16).
But he sure did finish the game.
Faunce originally had the game off to let freshman outfielder lake Marasco get some at-bats. When Marasco went down with a foot
"It's pretty exciting. I don't consider myself a power-hitter," Faunce said. "To see it clear the fence, I was pretty excited to win the game for us."
injury, Faune stepped into the game in the bottom of the fourth. Not only did Faune hit the gamewinning home run, but he had a key RBI double in the eighth to start a three-run rally that tied the game.
"It is definitely a confidence booster," Faunce said. "I tried to make some adjustments myself
Though the game ended dramatically, it didn't start that way for Kansas. The Jayhawks seemingly sleep-walked through the first eight innings, and the Bears controlled a 4-1 lead. Coach Ritch
and obviously to get the ball on the barrel"
SEE BASEBALL ON PAGE 4B
MEN'S BASKETBALL
High school star delays announcing college pick
CASE KEEFER ckeefer@kansan.com
Lance Stephenson is beginning to contradict his nickname.
quite ready to announce his college choice Tuesday in Miami. Stephenson had said he would reveal where he would go to school next year
Born Ready, as Stephenson likes to be called, decided he wasn't
Stephenson
among finalists Kansas, Maryland and St. John's at the McDonald's All-American Game press conference Tuesday morning.
But Tuesday morning, the All-American Game sent out a press release that said Stephenson would not make his announcement. It was
It's now unclear when Stephenson, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard and New York City's all-time leading high school scorer, will make his decision.
the second time in the past 10 days that Stephenson didn't announce on a date he had scheduled.
HENRY, WALL RECRUITING
Maybe it's all just a coincidence.
Or maybe not.
Xavier Henry, a 6-foot-6 guard from Oklahoma City and Rivals. com's No. 3 player in the nation, picked Memphis over Kansas in November.
Stephenson's decision to not announce coincided with the news of Memphis coach John Calipari's taking the vacant job at Kentucky. Calipari's move could have a major effect on Kansas' recruiting.
Henry could ask to be released from his letter of intent and reopen his recruitment per an agreement with Memphis. His options could include following Calipari to Kentucky.
John Wall, a 6-foot-3 guard from Raleigh, N.C., and Rivals.com's top prospect, hasn't decided on a school but was said to be leaning toward Memphis. But that could change now that Calipari has bolted. Kansas remains on Wall's list.
Wall, Henry and Stephenson will all appear at the McDonald's All American Game at 7 p.m. on ESPN.
CASE FINDS NEW JOB
Jeremy Case will leave Kansas to become an assistant coach at Southeast Missouri State, according to a report by the Lawrence Journal-World.
Case was a graduate student manager last season for coach Bolt Self.
Edited by Brandy Entsminger