NSAN
2009
eity
Sports THE MORNING BREW
PLENTY OF STARS ARE GOING TO TEXAS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
The Longhorns have secured top recruits for 2010. MORNING BREW 12B
GOLF TEAM TAKES FIRST-PLACE FINISH
Miles
WWW.KANSAN.COM
an that,
itter-
come
urt of
Six players rank in top 15 in Arizona invitational. WOMEN'S GOLF 17 B
TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 2009
ATHLETE IN ACTION
Faith and fellowship
Weston White/KANSAN
PAGE 1B
Above: Darrell Stuckey, junior, listens to guest speaker Joe Knight of the Harvest Time Productions in Manhattan, Kan., on March 3 in the Burge Union during an FCIA meeting. Below: Stuckey wipes up Texas Tech wide receiver Jacoby Franks during Aug. 10, 2008, game at Memorial Stadium. The Red Riders defeated the Jawaharks 63-21.
Prayer brought junior safety Stuckey to Kansas, where he leads no matter the path
Ryan McGeeney/KANSAN FILE PHOTO
BY STEPHEN MONTEMAYOR
montemayor@kansan.com
On this morning, the junior safety is up to answer a higher calling — though in an environment no less lively than Memorial Stadium on a fall afternoon.
It is early Sunday on a cold first of March. Darrell Stuckey has had plenty of time to heal old bruises from last season and think about spring practices beginning in a week.
Those in attendance wave back and forth like a Kansas plain. There is jumping, singing and wailing, Tears wiped away and fresh ones streaming. Little ones on laps. Hands clapping, bodies twisting.
An energy showing no indications of digressing, only new ways to outdo itself.
Having exchanged a blue jersey for a tan sweater pulled over a dark brown collared shirt, and pads and cleats for jeans and cream-colored shoes, Stuckey surveys this crowd rather than vice-versa.
Having completed Bible Study an hour before, he is working the sound booth at Ninth Street Baptist Church. Sitting on his knees and balancing on a red felt chair, he rocks in tune to the music while responsible for those harmonies resounding in perfect balance.
"Hallelujah, Hallelujah, I love to praise His name," he sings along.
Suddenly he jumps up out of his
chair and looks about. His fingers still tap to the music but he appears concerned. Something is disconnected. The service can be heard just fine over the speakers, but it is not recording for the archives.
al colleges on his trail. On this particular day, though, he happened to be suspended 45 feet above the ground at the Outlook Tower at William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo., for a Fellowship of Christian Athletes leadership camp.
More than four years ago Stuckey was a standout athlete at Kansas City's Washington High with sever-
His partner in this challenge was barely half his size and the two of them were blindfolded. Unable to
SEE STUCKEY ON PAGE 3B
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Jon Goering/KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Members of the 2007-2008 KU men's basketball team celebrate their 2008 Big 12 Championship victory. This year's tournament will be the toughest test for Kansas.
Conference tournament ups the ante
BY CASE KEEFER ckeefer@kansan.com
Kansas coach Bill Self could be considered an expert on the Big 12 Tournament.
Self's teams are 11-2 in the tournament and have won the last three titles in a row. So it's worth noting Self's thoughts on the 2009 Big 12 Tournament, which will run Wednesday to Saturday in Oklahoma City.
"I think it will be the hardest tournament to win three games," Self said. "In other years — no disrespect to other years — I've felt like maybe you didn't have to play great all three nights to win."
BIG 12 TOURNAMENT
Kansas vs.
Baylor/Nebraska
Thursday, 11:30 a.m.
Ford Center
Oklahoma City
As a result of winning the Big 12 regular season championship, Kansas received a bye on the first day of the tournament and won't play until 11:30 a.m. Thursday against the winner the No. 1
TV: ESPN2 (Channel 34)
vs. Baylor first-round game.
vs. Baylor is first round game.
Both of these teams scare Self.
Although Baylor, the No. 9 seed in the tournament, went 5-11 in Big 12 play, it was picked third in the conference at the start of the year, and Self said it has the talent
to upset any team, Nebraska, the No. 8 seed, nearly knocked off Kansas early in the year before Kansas pulled off a narrow 68-62 victory at the Devaney Center.
But Self's feelings on the tournament extend past Baylor and Nebraska. It's about the depth
"There are going to be some good, really good second round games."
BILL SELF Kansas coach
in the conference.
Self mentioned how sixth-seeded Texas A&M was on a six-game winning streak and how seventh-seeded Oklahoma State has won six of its last seven games.
"There are
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
There are going to be some good — really good — second round games," Self said. "Because as the league has gone on, what we've found out is there are a lot better teams
SEE MEN'S ON PAGE 6B
Senior guard helps lead the team
Ivana Catic helps coach fellow players in her role as 'Bonnie on the court'
BY JAYSON JENKS
jjenks@kansan.com
During games, coach Bonnie Henrickson stands on the sideline, only inching onto the court to briefly shout instruction.
As Kansas' point guard, Catic shoulders the on-court responsibilities of a coach. During huddles, Catic is often in the center pass instructions to teammates. On offense, Catic noticeably directs players into the correct position.
In such instances, when Henrickson's realm is limited to a tiny striped box near the Kansas bench, the Jayhawks turn to senior guard Ivana Catic.
"My biggest responsibility is the prep and practice," Henrickson said. "Players play. That's when a lot of your leadership and coaching comes from your point guard on the floor."
Basically, as Catic put it, her role is to be "Bonnie on the court."
"It does get confusing and it's
FIRST ROUND
not the easiest job in the world." Catic said. "But if you embrace it and you learn to love it and love the responsibility, then it's a really fun job."
Kansas vs. Nebraska Thursday, 1:30 p.m. Cox Convention Center Oklahoma City
In Kansas' recent turnaround, Catic has played the part more than adequately.
True, Catic has only averaged 3.4 points in Kansas' last five games. But Catic's job description has never included scoring many points.
Instead, Catic is expected to operate Kansas' offense and place others in favorable scoring positions. Catic is averaging 3.2 assists per game and is the only Kansas
player with a positive assist-to-turnover ratio.
Catic playing her best games this season in Kansas'recent fourgame winning streak isn't a coincidence.
"She's been steady," Henrickson said. "The W's of a point guard — who, what and where — she's done a good job with those."
Yet, for Kansas' first 10 games
into Caitlin. Caitlin found herself starting games on the bench. But during that time when junior guard LaChelda Jacobs earned the starting spot, Catic watched the game with, fittingly, a coach's perspective.
"In the beginning of the season it taught me to see the bigger picture." Catic said. "Then, as I got my role as a starter, it helped me to be more confident and play more relaxed."
Teammates and Henrickson constantly praise Catic's calm manner and approach to the game. Actually, Henrickson often pleads with Catic to "fuss more" at her teammates.
Although Catic leaves that responsibility on Henrickson's shoulders, Kansas' players are well aware of her leadership abilities.
"A good leader is basically a coach that's on the court. And I think she's been doing that."
"A good leader is basically a
DANIELLE McCRAY Junior forward
coach that's on the court," junior forward Danielle McCray said. "And I think she's been doing that."
The end of Catic's college career is quickly approaching and as much as any of her teammates, Catic said she's desperate to make the NCAA tournament.
SEE WOMEN'S ON PAGE 6B
.
Weston White/KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Senior guard ivana Catic drives the basket for a layup. Catic helps direct her fellow teammates on the court in her role as point guard for the team.
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