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Sports THE MORNING BREW
BITTER MIZZOU LOSS NOT SELF'S WORST
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Distinction goes to back-to-back losses four years ago. MORNING BREW I 2B
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2009
BRETT FAVRE LEAVES JETS AFTER A SEASON
The quarterback's retirement ends an eventful18-season career. NFL16B
WWW.KANSAN.COM
Freshman guard Travis Releford tries to snatch the ball from OSU guard Obi Muonelo during the Jayhawks' Feb. 7 78-67 victory in Allen Fieldhouse. Releford has been seeing more playing time, with better results, as the season progresses.
Ryan MrGeeney/KANSAN
Releford sees more time on court
With each game, freshman guard makes significant improvements, logs more playing time
PAGE 1B
BY CASE KEEFER ckeefer@kansan.com
Freshman guard Travis Releford stood outside of the Kansas locker room at Mizzun Arena minutes after the best performance of his career.
But he was in no mood to reflect.
His career-high nine points weren't enough to escape a 62-60 defeat to Missouri, which meant they were meaningless to Releford.
"I'm not worried about how I played. No one is going to remember how I played," Releford said. "They're just going to remember Missouri beat us."
True, but Releford has put himself in a position where he could compile a memorable game in the near future. A week ago, it wouldn't have been possible.
Releford didn't appear in Kansas' 75-65 victory against Baylor
on Feb. 2. It bothered him. It's not that Releford expected to log significant minutes this season, but he at least figured hed contribute.
That didn't happen against Baylor, and Leford said everyone
around him could tell he was disappointed about it, including Kansas coach Bill Self. Later in the week, Releford stopped by the coaches' office like he does every morning when Self approached him.
"He just stopped
me and said, 'I know you're down about your playing time.' Releford said. "But just keep your head up and keep working."
The meeting only lasted a few minutes, but Releford has clearly produced at a higher level since.
In the two ensuing games — the Missouri loss and a 78-67 victory against Oklahoma State — Reelford has played 15 minutes and scored 14 points.
"No one is going to remember how I played. They're just going to remember Missouri beating us."
That's exactly what Self is looking for out of Reiford. Self needs Reiford to be able to check in for spurts while sophomore guard Brady Mornin-rests rest.
TRAVIS RELEFORD freshman guard
When Releford is in the game, his focus should be on the details. As Self says, Releford needs
"He needs to get to where I have more confidence in him by being a great defender, a good rebounder, taking care of the ball, understanding what we're doing
to do the little things right to prove he can be trusted.
defensively and offensively," Self said. "He's gotten better, There's no doubt about that."
Releford never envisioned the transition to college being this tough. He was a four-star recruit last year — ranked No. 70 in the nation by rivals.com — and the top player out of Kansas City.
He broke out in one of Kansas' exhibition games in Ottawa, Canada, last August with 25 points. But Releford has struggled to hold down a rotation spot since the season began. Teammates think it's a consistency issue.
"The thing is playing mistakefree out there and he makes a mistake, to forget about it," junior guard Sherron Collins said. "Overall, though, Travis will be good."
Perhaps the only people more excited than Releford's teammates about his improved play lately are
the fans. Releford has noticed how loud Allen Fieldhouse gets when he checks in — even if it's late in the game with the outcome already decided.
When he throws down a dunk like he did in the last home game against Oklahoma State, the crowd's cheers reach deafening levels.
"A lot of fans like my style of ball," Releford said. "I see them outside of school and they'll say, 'You're really good,' or 'You're my favorite,' and stuff like that."
If Releford continues to play like he did against Missouri, he'll become even more of a fan favorite. After two of his better performances, Releford knows he is capable.
"When I get in," Releford said. "I make things happen."
Edited by Carly Halvorson
COMMENTARY
Your hero on drugs, big deal or no biggie?
recent events involving a certain Olympic hero and slugger may for some of
us, feel akin to the moment we first saw our parents in the nude or when we realized Santa was no more real than the bearded transient at the mall.
Reality is harsh. Once lost, innocence cannot be regained through any exorbitant stimulus package.
The Michael Phelps and Alex Rodriguez episodes have had ample time for dissection from all angles. That considered, I hope the majority of us have been able to take away the following lessons or similar conclusions.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
- However sincere or not, concise or murky, we have been treated to two admissions of guilt. Safe to say, it is time for us to drop any holder than thou arguments — we are, after all, college students. Legal or not, we or someone we know have and will partake in activities not unlike the ones depicted in Phelps' High Times audition photo. A pair of former students come to mind: Mario Chalmers and Darrell Arthur. With no history of foolishness and a respectful demeanor, the two saw their symposium ordeal quickly become an afterthought. Mario's Miracle remains his prevailing legacy — a testament to a reputable history of behavior and accountability for one's actions.
- Big Brother isn't watching us — we are. Recall how the Michael Phelps "Up in Smoke Tour" began in the first place. A photo was snapped at a South Carolina party and was subsequently shipped to a British tabloid more than eager to publish the evidence. We cannot begin to come close to delving into a comprehensive analysis of past and present stars exposed by the Web or citizen journalism. What is more important is the real-
SEE MONTEMAYOR ON PAGE 5B
Kansas falls 74-66 to Texas despite second-half comeback
BY JAYSON JENKS
jjenks@kansan.com
On the road, facing an athletic top-25 team, Kansas walked off the court at halftime with a choice: fold up or grow up.
That Kansas ended up losing to No. 13 Texas 74-66 isn't the complete story. There's no doubt that the Jayhawks' sights were set on pulling an upset as the game tightened down the stretch.
But without their leading scorer and with the Longhorns holding a seemingly insurmountable lead considering the circumstances, the Jayhawks scrapped, defended and slowly worked their way back into the game.
For coach Bonnie Henrickson, that resiliency represented a change from Kansas' previous losses.
For much of this season, the Jayhawks have struggled after halftime, surrendering leads or letting opponents pull away. But on Wednesday night Kansas switched its fortunes after the break.
"I just couldn't be more proud of them," Henrickson said. "I thought they battled and competed. They had some fight, some toughness and they played for the front of the jersey."
"I think everybody tonight made the decision that we weren't going to stop fighting regardless of what the score was or regardless of how much we got down," sophomore forward Nicollette Smith said.
Before halftime, Kansas had little answer for Texas on defense or offense. The Jayhawks went on an 8-2 run to start the second half to cut the Longhorns' lead to 41-33.
Kansas kept slicing into Texas' lead, closing the gap to four on several occasions. With 4:53 left, junior guard LaChelda Jacobs' jumper cut the Longhorn's lead to 60-57 — the Jayhawks' smallest deficit of the game.
Foul trouble forced McCray to sit on the bench in the first half for the second consecutive game. With slightly more than five minutes gone in the first half, McCray picked up her second foul when she lowered her shoulder while driving toward the basket.
Kansas did so without junior forward Danielle McCray, the team's leading scorer, for much of the game.
Then, after scoring five of Kansas' first six points after halftime. McCray picked up her fourth foul six minutes into the second half.
"Obviously, we're disappointed in Danielle's performance," Henrickson said. "But I thought of those kids grew up."
In McCray's absence, Smith and junior guard Sade Morris picked up the slack. Smith scored 18 points, while Morris added 14.
McCray fouled out with slightly more than seven minutes left, tying her season-low with seven points.
"Everybody contributed." Henrickson said. "Everybody guarded, everybody rebounded."
But the game didn't start promising for the lavwhaws.
The Jayhawks committed 14
In the first half, Texas' pressure defense completely disrupted Kansas' offense. The Longhorns used a variety of traps and full-court presses to force turnovers and score easy points.
At different stretches in the first half, the Longhorns had an 11-0 run and a 9-0 run, creating separation from the Jayhawks.
first-half turnovers, allowing the Longhorns to run and utilize their athleticism.
"We were throwing a lot of passes that they were getting hands on because of how long and athletic they are." Smith said. "I think that was a big problem for us in the first half."
Still, in cutting the Longhorns' lead, the Jayhawks showed toughness — something Henrickson said was lacking in a 74-60 defeat to Missouri on Saturday.
"I thought those kids battled, competed and played their tails off," Henrickson said. "I just couldn't be more proud of them."
— Edited by Andrew Wiebe
Photo Courtesy Jordan Sothmothermon《The Daily Texan Junior forward Danielle McCray guards a Texas player during Wednesday's 74-66 defeat in Austin, Texas.