8A
THE UNIVERSITY DARY HANSAN
TUESDAY MARCH 3, 2009
SPORTS
TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2009
BASEBALL (CONTINUED FROM 10A)
Selik is a transfer student out of Grossmont College, a community college in California. But Price is very hopeful for good things to come after Selik's strong start against Memphis last week in which he only surrendered two runs in 6 2/3 innings.
"Without question we really like what he (Selik) brings to the table," Price said. "He has a very good curveball and an outstanding
changeup as well."
But one good week isn't enough for Price. He expects his young rotation to build off the performances they had this last week and work on it towards the future.
Edited by Casey Miles
"It's certainly something to build on and certainly the best we've opened the season with." Price said.
Kansas
The Jayhawks come into this afternoon's matchup with a 2-3 record that could easily
have been
have been 4-1 if not for senior closer Paul Smyth's two early blown saves.
Kansas feels good about its
Smyth
starting pitching, which is something it hasn't been able to be confident during the past couple of seasons. The offense is not following the same formula as last season's, with fewer home runs and more situational hitting and productive outs this year. The key is to see if the top of the order can get back on track
things.
against a mediocre North Dakota pitching staff. The
fighting Sioux have a team ERA of 13.50. Look for junior infielders Robby Price and David Narodowski to break out of their slumps, especially considering the return to Hoglund Park should help things
Narodowski
Price
Josh Bowe
North Dakota
The Jayhawks will look to keep the North Dakota Fight Sioux winless when they meet in Houlford Ballpark
for Kansas'
opening
home-
opener
Tuesday.
The two-
game series
will be the
fifth and
sixth of a
season-
opening.
32-game road trip for the 0-4 Fighting Sioux, whose most recent loss came in heart-breaking fashion against the Nebraska Cornhuskies. Former Husker and current Sioux third baseman Andrew Gudmunson led the offensive attack with a three-run double to give the Sioux a 4-1 lead in the top of the fifth.
Before that game, North Dakota had been swept by New
North Dakota clung to a 6-5 lead in the eighth before its bullpen imploded, giving up a five-run inning and giving up the team's best shot at a win thus far in 2009.
Mexico State in its season-opening three-game series.
Sophomore first baseman Jake Magner leads the team
going
6-for-11
in their
last three
games
after a
disastrous
0-for-4
perform-
mance in
Magner
the Fighting Sioux's opener. Offense hasn't been the
problem, however, so much as the pitching staff has been. The Fighting Sioux have only two pitchers with an ERA under five. Top starter Brandon Baumgartner has allowed nine earned runs in nine innings through his first two starts.
Baumgartner
— Tim Dwyer
Fee and donation times may vary. New donors bring photo ID, proof of address and Social Security card.
ZLB Plasma
basketball notes
The Associated Press Poll and the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll both ranked Kansas as the No.9 team in the nation in their latest polls. It's
Voters rewarded Kansas for two victories against top 11 teams Monday with an ascent in the polls.
KANSAS REACHES SEASON-HIGH RANKING
Kansas beat the only other Big 12 Conference teams included in the polls, Oklahoma and Missouri, last week. Oklahoma ranked No.4 in the AP poll and No.5 in the ESPN/USA Today poll. Missouri, meanwhile, fell to No.15 in the AP poll and No.12 in the ESPN/USA Today poll,
the best the Jayhawks have been rated this season.
Oklahoma and Missouri last week and made nine of 14 three-point shots.
KANSAS SWEEPS BIG 12 AWARDS
For the second straight week, junior guard Sherron Collins won the Phillips 66 Big 12 Player of the Week award.
Taylor scored a combined 41 points and made 13 of 20 shots from the field.
For the fourth time this season, freshman guard Tyshawn Taylor won the Phillips 66 Big 12 Rookie of the Week award.
Collins scored a combined 51 points in victories against
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Hawks find new sources of offense
BY JAYSON JENKS
jjenks@kansan.com
"Bad shot, sub. Turnover, sub." Henrickson said.
But it's not enough to simply know that the Jayhawks are winning. With that in mind, The Kansan looks at the Jayhawks' recent improvements.
During Kansas' last three games, though, senior Ivanic Catic has provided a reliable option at point guard. Catic has averaged 5.7 points, four assists and 1.3 turnovers while playing nearly 31 minutes a game.
On Jan. 21 at Nebraska, Kansas' turnovers and shoddy defensive effort allowed Nebraska to dominate the second half in a 67-58 loss. On Saturday night, the Jayhawks corrected those flaws, defeating the Cornhuskers 70-57 for their third straight victory.
Nebraska coach Connie Yori walked through the double doors that lead to the media room inside Allen Fieldhouse wearing a solenm expression — drastically different from her expression after the teams' first meeting.
"They've just continued to get better," Yori said. "And it's tough in this league when you struggle early to continue to get better."
POINT GUARD PLAY
Two weeks ago, Kansas' point guards played so erratically in a 69-54 loss to Oklahoma that coach Bonnie Henrickson repeatedly pulled one for the other.
"I thought she controlled the game on both ends of the floor," Yori said after Nebraska's loss on Saturday.
All season, Kansas has leaned on junior forward Danielle McCray for the bulk of its scoring production.
That hasn't changed, but McCray's offensive efficiency has. In her last three games, McCray has averaged 24 points while making 52 percent of her shots.
MCCRAY MORE EFFICIENT
UP NEXT
Kansas vs. No. 6 Baylor
Wednesday, 7 p.m.
Lawrence
TV: Sunflower (Channel 6)
In the three games prior to Kansas' winning streak, McCray made just 39 percent of her attempts, including a 6-of-23 shooting performance in the loss to Oklahoma.
SECOND (AND THIRD) SCORING OPTIONS
Since junior guard Sade Morris' Jan. 31 return from a concussion, Henrickson has pleaded with her second leading scorer to be more aggressive.
Recently, Morris has done just that by averaging 14 points per game. More importantly, Morris has continuously attacked the basket, and has made 20-of-23 free throw attempts in her last three games.
But she hasn't done it alone. Sophomore forward Nicollette Smith scored 13 points against Oklahoma State and freshman forward Aishah Sutherland chipped in 12 points against Nebraska.
Weston White/KANSAN
"When we're best is when everyone is playing in rhythm and is confident offensively," Henrickson said.
DEFENSIVE EFFORT
The stats may show that Kansas has played solid defense: 6.3 blocks and 5.7 steals in the last three games.
Kansas limited Iowa State, the Big 12's best three-point shooting team, to just 3-of-16 from beyond the arc.
But the jayhawks are also limiting their opponents' strengths.
Against Oklahoma State, Kansas held Andrea Riley,the Big 12's leading scorer,to just 7-of-28 shooting.
Junior guard Sade Mordre drives toward the basket during the Jayhawks Feb. 28 game against Nebraska in Alli Fieldhouse. Kansas beat the Cornhuskers 70-57.
"We've just been focusing on
Weston White/KANSAN
Senior guard brana Catic leaps over Nebraska defenders for a basket in Allen Fieldhouse. Catic has noticeably improved in both drills and scoring over the last several games.
Junior guard Danielle McCray jumps for a two-pointer in the Jayhawks' game against Nebraska. McCray scored 18 points against the Cornhuskers.
ANSWERING RUNS
Saturday night, junior guard Sade Morris answered questions, and smiles rarely left her face.
For the third consecutive game, Kansas improved in the second half and, most importantly, answered its opponent's comeback attempts.
JOURNALISM CAREER FAIR
Graduation is just around the corner and you need to figure out the next chapter of your life. You're looking for a way to land your first job. You're wanting to find a great internship but don't know where to start. It's March and you're nervous about getting a job or internship. The uncertainty of the economy is adding to your worries.
We have an easy,fun way to accomplish your career goals - attend the 2009 Journalism Career Fair. It's a user-friendly place to network with professionals in journalism-related fields such as newspaper,broadcast advertising, marketing,online and magazine. Don't miss out on this opportunity to start planning for your bright future!
Tuesday, March 3
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Kansas Room, Sixth Floor, Kansas Union
All KU Students Welcome • Professional attire
Last month, Kansas had little response for any runs, which often resulted in losses.
QU
— CI tion
1 'd ch say thir say trh annot annot corpera the p to told I told Anizo give gove
TR
And while the Jajahwaks have found answers on the court during their three-game win streak, Morris struggled to find one that accurately described the recent improvement.
Ch Cassse 2008 an NI Cassse good also p with intere
@
"We've always been in games, never really gotten blown out by anybody." Morris said. "Where we've lost it was when they made those runs on us. And we never made a run back. Now, we're like, 'We're going to answer your run and make a bigger run.'"
WH
Chief
round
pick t
Matt
The
ginia
Flow of the
starte
recor
to g
otions
com
the I
Colu
Leg pur
In not to office up to in ja
MCCRAY EARNS HONOR
incr
saul
of th
crime
proj
JE ruly stiffe spor ing Hou
Junior forward Danielle McCray was named Big 12 Player of the Week for the second time this season.
！
In Kansas two games from Feb. 23 through March 1, McCray averaged 24 points and 12 rebounds.
Edited by Grant Treaster