THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2009
2B SPORTS
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"We felt that we had this game in our hands and even in the second half when we made our run to get back into the game and were down one, we thought we had that game. I don't think that will hurt our confidence at all. As a team, we know we are capable of beating them and know that we'll get another chance in Oklahoma City (at the Big 12 Tournament)."
FACT OF THE DAY
Jacob Pullen on whether Saturday's loss will shake Kansas State's confidence, K-State Athletics
Kansas' last loss before its 24-game win streak Manhattan was in 1983. The Wildcats won 58-57 on January 29, 1983 in Manhattan and completed the season sweep in Lawrence on Feb. 26. The two victories gave Kansas State a five-game winning streak over their in-state rival, although Kansas won the next 10 games in the series.
-KU Athletics
TRIVIA OF THE DAY
Q: Kansas collected its 20th victory of the season against Kansas State. How many consecutive seasons have the Jayhawks won 20 games?
A: 20. Kansas has won at least 20 games each season dating back to the 1989-90 season.
@KANSAN.COM
— KU Athletics
BEWARE OF "THE BLOG"
**Blog" Allen:** For a unique view of Saturday's 85-74 victory, check out Case Keefer's "Double Overture" post on blog" Allen.
The Jay Report: The guys give you their thoughts on Saturday's game, Adam Morrison and "Beauty and the Beast." What more could you want?
Courtside: Another opportunity lost for Bonnie and the Jayhawks, another chance for Jayson COURTSIDE Jenks to break down why it happened. BLOG
The Give and Go: There were no reservations or flowers, but the guys' evening watching Courtney and Ashley Paris made for one of the more interesting Valentine's Day dates. Hear their thoughts on the night, but not on each other.
Searching for Kansas' second-best arena
COMMENTARY
BY TAYLOR BERN
tbern@kansan.com
Allen Fieldhouse is the best college basketball venue in Kansas, if not the nation. The latter statement could spark a great debate while the former is fact.
But what's the second-best college basketball building in Kansas?
On Saturday, I double-dipped my basketball chip in search of the answer. After covering the Kansas State-Kansas game in Bramlage Coliseum, I sped* south for a Wichita State-Northern Iowa nightcap in Charles Koch Arena.
*The top speed of a 1990 Oldsmobile 98 Regency Brougham is about 92 mph, in case you were wondering.
To compare the two contenders, I've come up with a few categories based on Saturday's games:
The Team
A basketball arena is nothing without the team that plays in it.
These teams combined for a disastrous 0-10 start in conference play. However, since mid-lanuary they've gone 13-3.
On Saturday, they were playing in equally important games, but only one came out on top.
Wichita State defeated UNI, the top team in the Missouri Valley Conference, to move up to sixth in the MVC standings. No team ranked lower than sixth has ever won the Valley tournament, so the Shockers kept their slim NCAA Tournament hopes alive.
On the other hand, Kansas State fumbled away its chance to secure the marquee victory that would have placed it squarely inside the NCAA Tournament bubble.
Both teams were one-point underdogs on their home courts. Both teams led 26-13 midway through the first half. Wichita State won and Kansas State didn't.
Advantage: Charles Koch
Arena
Wichita State dropped the ball here. All the students had were a couple of Twilight Zone-ish pinwheels."
Signage
Kansas State had a few clunkers (see: Always Believe in the Cats) but mostly the student section came through with thought-out insults. My favorite: 'Sorry Sherron, I'll take the stairs'
Advantage: Bramlage Coliseum
This one's EMAW vs. The Shocker.
Local Tradition
ever risked life and limb to paint it over the KU Athletics sign on 1-70.
EMAW, or 'Every Man a Wild-cat,' doesn't exactly roll off the tongue. Although, props to who-
The Shocker* doesn't need advertising. Plus, it's still hilarious to see black-and-gold-clad grandmas hoisting The Shocker without a clue what it means.
*If you're one of the seven college students who doesn't know what The Shocker is, ask the nearest male student and prepare to be appalled.
Advantage: Charles Koch
Arena
Since basketball is obsessed with rankings, try this one: No. 37. That's the March 2008 ranking for Charles Koch in Forbes Magazine's list of the world's billionaires.
In Manhattan the namesake is KSU graduate and philanthropist Fred Bramlage. What he lacks in
Koch, who inherited Koch Industries from his father, ranks three spots ahead of college dropout Michael Dell. You might be reading this on one of his machines.
The Name
dollar signs, the stadium makes up for in brashness.
Advantage: Bramlage Coliseum
A coliseum in Kansas? Count me in.
Wildcard
I know that Bramlage rarely, if ever, gets as crazy as it does when Kansas comes to town. Still, it's hard to ignore the sensational sounds when the Wildcats are roaring.
Winner: Bramlage Coliseum
Edited by Grant Treaster
the brew goes digital
It's part blog, part column,
part pop-culture melting pot.
It's The Morning Brew. A daily
dose of Kansas sports, college
life and pop culture.
from The Morning Brew guys at Kansan.com/blogs/morning_brew, and if you have any questions or comments, please give us a holler at morningbrew@kansan.com.
You can read daily postings
NASCAR
Rainy weather shortens Daytona 500
After awaiting NASCAR's decision, Kenseth was given victory for first time since 2007
BY JENNA FRYER
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Associated Press
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. The rain was coming, and Matt Kenseth knew it was time to get going.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Dale Earnhardt, Jr (88) drives past as cars slide through the grass after a crash on the backstretch during the NASCAR Daytona 500 race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach. Flg., Sunday.
It was the Daytona 500, a race where drivers wait until the very end to make their big move for NASCAR's biggest prize.
Only this time, nobody knew when the end would be.
The rain that had threatened Sunday's season-opening race all day finally rolled in moments after Kenseth slid past Elliott Sadler for the lead. Then the former NASCAR champion was forced to wait out a 20-minute delay before claiming victory after 152 of 200 laps. It was just the fourth rain-shortened 500 in the race's 51-year history.
"It's going to be really wet out here, because I'm crying like a baby," the usually cool Kenseth said as he choked back tears.
Coming off one of the worst seasons of his career, Kenseth's 2009 start seemed to be headed in the wrong direction, too. He
wrecked his primary car, had to go to a backup and started at the back Sunday.
Had rain not been forecast, he might still have been running at the back of the field with 54 laps to go, because that's where veterans usually wait out the dicey Daytona racing before making a late charge.
But the weather radar showed the rain was coming, and crew chiefs up and down pit road urged their drivers to go for it.
After two laps under caution, NASCAR stopped the race and brought the drivers to pit road.
Kenseth did not, choosing instead to sit silently inside his Ford away from his nervous supporters. He began to cry when NASCAR gave him the victory, his first in the Daytona 500 and first since the 2007 season finale.
Most climbed from their cars to await NASCAR's decision.
It was also the first Daytona 500 win for team owner Jack Roush.
"I tell you what, after last year, winning a race means a lot to me," Kenseth said. "Man, I don't know. Winning the Daytona 500
is definitely a dream moment. It's just an unbelievable feeling."
Harvick, who used a push from Kenseth to win the 500 in 2007, finished second and said Kenseth would be a popular winner among his competitors.
"I think Matt's obviously a pretty stand-up person and a great race car driver," Harvick said. "I think he's one of those guys that he can win seven or eight races in a year and never receive any credit. He's a really good race car driver. He's a champion, Daytona 500 champion."
Women's golf Central District Inv. Parish, Fla.
Women's golf Central District Inv. Parish, Fla.
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THIS WEEK IN KANSAS ATHLETICS
TODAY
Men's basketball Iowa State, 7 p.m. Lawrence
7853314243
Women's basketball
Colorado, 8 p.m.
Boulder, Colo.
THURSDAY
Baseball
Air Force, 1 p.m.
Millington, Tenn.
Softball
Oregon State, 8 p.m.
Palm Springs, Calif.
Softball
BYU, 2:30 p.m.
Palm Springs, Calif.
FRIDAY
Softball
North Carolina,
12:30 p.m.
Palm Springs, Calif.
Baseball
Memphis, 4 p.m.
Millington, Tenn.
NHL Penguins coach fired replaced by Dan Bylsma
Walmart!
PITTSBURGH — Michel Therrien, his team fading in the Eastern Conference playoff race less than a year after making the Stanley Cup finals, was fired as the Pittsburgh Penguins' coach on Sunday night and replaced by minor-league coach Dan Blysma.
NHL
Theirrien oversaw one of the NHL's best single-season turn-arounds in his first full season in 2006-07 and coached the Penguins to within two victories of the Stanley Cup last year, but this team has struggled badly since mid-November and is danger of not making the playoffs.
General manager Ray Shero decided to fire Therrien after a 6-2 loss in Toronto on Saturday night in which the Penguins led 2-1 going into the third period. The Penguins are 27-25-5 after winning 47 games each of the last two seasons and are five points out of the final conference playoff spot. They also are 1-7-1 in their last nine road games.
free wireless
Stockers and Unloaders
Save money. Live better.
Working for Walmart is the chance to be a part of a company unlike any other in the world. It's more than a job; it's a place to develop your skills and build a career with competitive pay and health benefits for you and your family. Above all, it's an opportunity to join a team 1.9 million strong who are helping the world live better every day. We do this by saving our customers money on the things they need for their families, their homes and their businesses. We do it by reaching out and giving back to the communities where our customers and our associates live. And we do it by working together to solve some of the biggest challenges facing our world today, like the environment, energy and health care. Join our team. We are currently seeking candidates for:
Deli, Bakery, Produce, Dairy and Meat Department Supervisors and Associates
"I didn't particularly like the way, the direction the team was headed,"Shero said on a conference call, not long after giving Therrien the news."I've watched for a number of weeks and, at the end of the day, the direction is not that I wanted to have here. I wasn't comfortable, and that's why the change was made."
Lawrence, KS is Welcoming a New Walmart Supercenter! Now Hiring
Cashiers, Cart Pushers, Greeters, Customer Service Desk and Maintenance Associates
RECEIVING
GROCERY
PROFESSIONAL
Supervisors and Associates for all departments
Associated Press
o apply or for more information about career opportunities with Walmart, please visit our hiring site at:
FRONT END
rhmarmacy technicians and Stockers
Walmart is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Lawrence Workforce Center • 2540 Iowa Street, Suite R • Lawrence, KS 66046
Phone (785) 840-8316
Or apply online at walmart.com/careers and reference store #5219
SALES FLOOR
Bul of th good more on th