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C
ANSAN .2009
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 11 2009
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WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
It takes more than athleticism to beat Texas teams
BY JAYSON JENKS
jjenks@kansan.com
The last time Kansas boarded a plane destined for the state of Texas, freshman forward Aishah Sutherland heard, but didn't fully grasp, the hype.
Teammates and coaches, all of whom had served witness to the indescribable athleticism possessed by teams residing in Texas, tried to warn the naive freshman of what was awaiting her once the plane landed and the ball was tossed in the air.
Yet, after that game on Jan. 31, when Kansas lost 73-60 at Texas A&M, Sutherland fully understood her teammates' warnings.
"I've been telling her that talent alone is not enough. You can't just focus on your athletic ability;" junior forward Danielle McCray said.
But it's a lesson Sutherland won't need reviewed when Kansas plays at No. 13 Texas today at 7 p.m.
"I think she's been realizing that because A&M was a big shock for her. I don't think she ever played against girls that can play like that. It's that whole thing that freshman don't know about. Until you come into the Big 12, you don't know until you play."
Similar to Texas A&M, Texas possesses a tall, quick team capable of being one of the best in the Big 12. At first, such circumstances intimidated Sutherland.
In high school, Sutherland's speed and jumping ability allowed her to dominate. But in the Big 12, one of the best women's basketball conferences in the country, those skills alone aren't enough.
"I just feel that all the teams we've played on the road are very athletic and I'm just not as good against athletic players." Sutherland said.
In practice, coach Bonnie Henrickson notices an increased excitement level from teammates
"Yeah, I'm very athletic but when it comes to other people, they jump just as high as me. They're fast like me; they have quick feet. I just have to find a way to stop them."
Much has been made of Sutherland's development: Some games she shows improvement, but in others she appears to backtrack. But, especially against the Big 12's top-level teams, Sutherland's contributions are often key for the Javahaws.
Kansas (13-8, 2-6) vs. Texas (17-5, 5-3)
P No. Kansas Ht. Yr. PPG
G 3 Ivana Catic 5-8 Sr. 2.4
G 4 Danielle McCray 5-11 Jr. 19.6
G 20 Sade Morris 5-11 Jr. 11.7
F 24 Nicollette Smith 6-2 So. 6.6
C 14 Krysten Boogaard 6-2 So. 9.6
When/Where...
Who to watch for...
Tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas.
Junior guard Brittainey Raven. The Longhorns have a lot of balance in their scoring, but Raven is the most consistent of the bunch. She's just third in three-point attempts, but she can hit when she sets her feet. She shoots more than 40 percent from deep.
What to expect...
Texas will come at the Jayhawks in waves. Ten players average more than 10 minutes per game. And this isn't balance because the starters are below-average. It's balance because the Longhorns are deeper than a public pool diving well.
Simply put, Danielle McCray is sick of losing.
Why Kansas will win...
The Jayhawks arguably played their worst game of the season at Missouri, and in order to even dream about a tournament bid, they will need to upset a Big 12 South team like Texas. Why not tonight?
| P | No. Texas | Ht. | Yr. PPG |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| G 3 | Carla Cortiago | 5-7 | Sr. 7.2 |
| G 33 | Ashleigh Fontenette | 5-8 | Fr. 6.3 |
| G 10 | Brittainey Raven | 6-0 | Jr. 13.7 |
| G 5 | Kathleen Nash | 6-2 | So. 13.6 |
| C 22 | Ashley Gayle | 6-4 | Fr. 4.4 |
Magic number...
How the game is important..
Kansas is at its lowest point of the season They don't necessarily need to beat Texas, but they need to stay competitive to keep their season afloat.
110 — Number of points scored by Texas in an early-season win against St. Mary's. They have the second-ranked offense in the Big 12. Kansas will have to play better defense if it hopes to stay with the Longhorns.
"I've been telling her that talent alone is not enough. You can't just focus on your athletic ability."
when Sutherland pieces together a solid effort.
— Clark Goble
During games, a similar situation occurs when Sutherland grabs an offensive rebound or blocks a shot.
"I think how she does it is impressive with just having that
DANIELLE MCCRAY Junior forward
kind of amateurism,
Henrickson said.
"But her teammates
know when she
plays well, she gives
us a chance to win
because she's very,
very talented."
One of Kansas' points of emphasis heading into the Texas game has
been the continued work on the inside game — both offensively and defensively. In Kansas' last game, Henrickson said, Missouri's post players went 18-for-28, but Kansas' posts made just 6-of-20 attempts.
To improve those lopsided numbers, the Jayhawks marked off a taped box around the basket. Defensively, no player should catch the ball inside the box. On offense.
the box represents the ideal position for Kansas' past players.
The Jayhawks have used the box throughout the season, but after the Missouri loss, they are reemphasizing it.
"That's just ridiculous to have no effort and no pressure on the ball," Henrickson said. "The box is to keep people out. You can't let them catch it in front of the rim."
As the conference season has worn on, Sutherland said she had developed a better comfort level playing against top athletes. For a player clearly capable of providing Kansas a spark off the bench, confidence is just as important as Sutherland's skills.
Part of that responsibility will fall with Sutherland.
"When I first started out I was feeling pretty nervous," Sutherland said. "But now, I'm feeling more comfortable with it."
MCCRAY EAGER TO PLAY RANKED TEAM
Strange as it sounds, junior forward Danielle McCray is excited for the challenge of playing a ranked team.
The last time Kansas played a ranked opponent, the layhawks nearly knocked off Texas A&M before the Aggies pulled away late.
"Personally, I love playing against ranked teams and people that are really good," McCray said. "It just shows you how much you have to improve and gives you the chance to beat them."
Playing on the road for the second consecutive time, McCray said the Jayhawks needed to change their mindset.
"We need to have our own energy on the road and our own intensity," McCray said. "We have to know that we only have ourselves. What we brought on the bus is all we have. We just have to focus on that more."
- Edited by Heather Melanson
Freshman forward Aishah Sutherland will have to bring her best game tonight when the Jayhawks play the Longhorns at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas, at 7 p.m.
Ryan Waggoner/KANSAN
The KU Alumni Association is proud to announce the 2009 HOMECOMING STEERING COMMITTEE
Co-Directors Steven Elliott Ashley Moser
Campus Outreach Co-Chairs Rachel Anderson Justin Sailer
Community Outreach Chair Emily Schuster
Awards Chair Ben Wilinsky
EXCEL and Jayhawk Jog Chair Caitlin Wise
Special Events Co-Chairs
Megan Do
Kyle Savage
Parade Co-Chairs
Joey Stromberg
Tara Truitt
Publicity Co-Chairs Cassie Fago Justin Hughes
Advisors
Finance and Sponsorship Chair Emily Shannon
Jennifer Alderdice
Elissa Hudson Duncan
Daily Events Co-Chairs
Matt Enriquez
Anne Miller
Congratulations Jayhawks!