Sports THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSA
HAWKS TRY TO REMAIN UNDEFEATED IN BIG 12
Kansas heads north to face Nebraska at 6 p.m. in Lincoln. GAME DAY 16B
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2009
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Jayhawks' schedule could keep streak alive
One by one, college basketball's home win streaks have fallen in 2009.
First, it was BYU. The Cougars' 53-game home court winning streak came to an end at the hands of Wake Forest.
Only four days later, Tennessee had its 37-game streak snapped by Gonzaga.
This Saturday, Connecticut brought Notre Dame's run of 45 games without a home loss to a halt.
Kansas' 35-game home streak is now the longest in college basketball.
But is that honor perhaps more dubious than it initially sounds?
Aldrich towers over Huskers
The evidence seems to say so.
Since dropping its streak, BYU has lost two more games, including another home defeat.
Tennessee has fared worse. Since Gonzaga won in Knoxville, Tenn., the Volunteers have dropped two more home games. They first tell victim to Jodie Meeks' 54-point explosion, then lost a heartbreaker to rival Memphis by only two points.
And it now seems entirely likely that Notre Dame's home luck has run out. On Monday, Marquette dealt the Irish their second consecutive loss in South Bend. Ind.
Kansas can avoid its first home court loss if it maintains its outstanding form at home.
But no venue wins games by itself. For that, the players have to be pretty good. During the course of those 35 games, Kansas hasn't had a problem in that department. Even though this year's team doesn't have the same talent that last season's squad did, the drop-off hasn't been as precipitous as some had anticipated.
It's also important to note that Kansas' remaining home schedule isn't terribly threatening. Its Big 12 North-heavy schedule bodes well for Kansas' conference title hopes. It also puts the Jayhawks in position to be definitive favorites in all but one home game for the remainder of the season.
Only Texas will be expected to offer a genuine challenge in Allen Fieldhouse. And, thankfully for the young Jayhawks, the Longhorns won't visit until March 7. By that time, Mario Little should be 100 percent and Kansas' youth will no longer be a viable excuse.
And what a home it is. Make no mistake about it: Allen Fieldhouse is an amazing place. Unlike so many of the generic monoliths littering campuses nationwide, the venerable building has a distinct personality. The banners, the retired jerseys, the students and even the opening video package: All are unmistakable pieces of Allen Fieldhouse's mystique. And more importantly, all combine to craft an intimidating atmosphere that few opposing teams can overcome.
Edited by Grant Treaster
But first things first. Colorado is the next home opponent this Saturday. And if the Buffaloos' last meeting with the Jayhawks is any indication, 35 straight home wins should become 36.
Sophmore center Cole Aldrich jumps for a basket during the Jayhawks' Saturday game against Iowa State University. Aldrich's height could play a big role against Nebraska, which doesn't have any players of Aldrich's size who make major contributions.
Weston White/KANSAN
6-foot-11 center's size will likely play a role in tonight's game at Nebraska
BY CASE KEEFER ckeefer@kansan.com
Sophomore center Cole Aldrich stands at least three inches taller than every Nebraska player who has appeared in a game this season.
The 6-foot-11 Aldrich averages nearly 10 rebounds per game, putting him second in the Big 12 Conference. Nebraska has no one in the top 20. Every Cornhusker averages fewer than five rebounds per game.
This sounds like a mismatch. Tonight's game against Nebraska at 6:30 in Lincoln's Devaney Center could be the perfect opportunity for Aldrich to compile a career night against an undersized front court.
Aldrich doesn't think that way. In fact, he said he didn't look forward to playing against teams without a traditional center.
"I usually like another big guy," Aldrich said. "It's a little more fun for me, just for the fact that I've got another big guy I can bang with. But whatever teams have, you've got to deal with it."
Nebraska has guards. A lot of them. Out of the Cornhuskers' eight rotation players, only one is listed as a forward.
The other seven players are guards at an average height of 6-foot-2. But they are spunky and efficient. The Cornhuskers compensate for their weak rebounding numbers by ranking first in the Big 12 in scoring defense — they're allowing only 57 points per game — and second in steals with nine per game.
The Nebraska guards won't be able to push Aldrich around in the post, but they'll try to pester him into committing turnovers and
SEE ALDRICH ON PAGE 3B
@ KANSAN.COM
Before hitting the road for Nebraska, Case Keefer
thoughts
on tonight's game and Sherron Collins' favorite cookie.
Team eagerly awaits Morris' return
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
BY JAYSON JENKS
jjenks@kansan.com
Players use absence to learn but are ready to have junior guard back
For almost two weeks, junior guard Sade Morris knew little more than darkness and quiet.
In the first half of the game against Texas Tech on Jan. 17, Morris drove by a defender, spun near the basket and fell to the ground after a foul. At first, Morris tried to shake off the
"I got to sleep a lot, I guess, but it was still boring," Morris said. "I couldn't do anything but lie down and eat."
No TV, no radio, no basketball.
She didn't return to the game and also missed Kansas' next two games
Then, with trainers on each side, Morris woozily made her way back to the Kansas bench.
injury, slowly rising before falling back down.
after Kansas lost to K-State. "We need her back."
with a Grade 2 concussion. The Jayhawks lost all three games.
"We need her back; everybody knows that. We need her back."
BONNIE HENRICKSON Kansas coach
"We need her back; everybody knows that," coach Bonnie Henrickson said last weekend
It appears the layhawks may have her Saturday against Texas & M.
Doctors still haven't cleared her for full-contact practice or games, but Morris began participating in shooting drills and
oung the stationary bicycle at Monday's practice for the first
SEE MORRIS ON PAGE 3B
Ryan McGeeney/KANSAN
Junior guard Sade Morle (center) could rejoin the Jayhawks this Saturday after missing the past two games recovering from a head injury she suffered early in the Jan. 17 Tech game.