kansan.com
Volume 126 Issue 53
Tuesday. November 26, 2013
COMMENTARY Big 12 exceeds expectations
The Big 12 didn't get the memo that it was supposed to be on the decline this year. It must have gotten lost in the mail.
Even after the news of Marcus Smart's return and Andrew Wiggins' commitment, pundits seemed skeptical about the Big 12's prospects this year. The Big 12 underperformed in the NCAA tournament last year, with Oklahoma State and Kansas State suffering first round upsets and Kansas faltering to Michigan. Couple that with the fact that college basketball around the nation was supposed to be at its strongest in years.
Nevertheless, the big 12 has come up with several quality wins and, other than Kansas State, each team has met or exceeded expectations. Kansas is still favored to take the conference, but it won't be without its challenges.
Oklahoma State throttled a ranked Memphis team behind Smart, who has a new arsenal which includes an improved outside shot. The Cowboys have averaged 102 points per game. Compare that to the Jayhawks who, despite marveling scouts with their offensive prowess, have not yet reached the century mark. Kansas has not forgotten Smart's backlips on the Jayhawk logo, and Lawrence is already buzzing about the showdown at Allen Fieldhouse on Jan. 18.
Iowa State has been impressive as well, beating Michigan and BYU within four days of one another. Melvin Ejim will be a threat for Big 12 Player of the Year, and every Cyclone in the rotation can shoot the three. Kansas has exhibited difficulties closing out on the outside shooter, and Fred Hoiberg's team has the potential to drive Bill Self nuts.
Meanwhile, Baylor has gone 4-0, yet many have felt underwhelmed. The Bears' offense has been relatively stagnant, but their defense has been impressive, holding opponents to 64 points per game. Two of their four wins are against power conference teams, while junior college transfer Kenny Chery has looked effective at the point guard spot.
Kansas' non-conference schedule is notoriously difficult. But even if it emerges from the non-conference relatively unscathed, it cannot afford to overlook the Big 12 competition. Doing so could lead to a situation like last year, when Kansas dropped games to Oklahoma State, TCU and Oklahoma consecutively. The Jayhawks had the senior leadership to overcome such adversity, but it is up in the air how this year's youthful team would respond.
These three teams represent the biggest threats to Kansas, but there are several others who will keep the Jayhawks on their toes. Oklahoma has wins over Alabama and Seton Hall, and its only loss was to Michigan State in which it is competitive throughout. Texas is undefeated, which is a positive even against weak competition. Even TCU managed to beat Washington State.
Kansas is shooting for double digits in its streak of conference championships. With the Big 12's non-conference performance, it may be more difficult than anticipated.
Edited by Heather Nelson
BUSINESS NOT PLEASURE
TROPICAL STORM
High-scoring Jayhawks head to Bahamas to compete in the Battle 4 Atlantis
GEORGE MULLINIX/KANSAN
Coach Bill Self said the Jayhawks' visit to the Bahamas is a business trip, not a vacation. The Jayhawks face Wake Forest on Thursday at 2:30 p.m.
bhillix@kansan.com
IBRIAN HILLIX
No. 2 Kansas is the only team in the eight-team field ranked in the Top 20 of the Associated Press poll. Every team in the field has a winning record, and five of the eight teams are currently undefeated. Self believes as many as five of the teams could make the NCAA Tournament.
Other than Kansas, this year's Battle 4 Atlantis may not boast top-ranked teams, but the tournament should still challenge the Jayhawks.
"The field's good," Self said. "I saw where somebody ranked it as the first or second best field of all the preseason tournaments."
Each team is guaranteed to play three games in the tournament, which spans three days. If Kansas wins against Wake Forest, it plays the winner of the Villanova-USC matchup. The other side of the bracket includes Iowa, Xavier, Tennessee and UTEP. A consolation bracket will determine which teams earn fifth through eighth place.
Sophomore forward Perry Ellis is excited for the chance to play so many games in such a short period.
"It will be fun and it will certainly be good to play three good teams in three days and see how we react and go from there," Self said.
"In high school that's all we did, we'd play even like three or four games a day," Ellis said. "It's gonna be a fun time, and I'm really excited to get out there."
Kansas is the only team in the field that has played a ranked opponent this season. Villanova was the only other team in the field to even make the 2013 NCAA Tournament, while Kansas was the only team to advance past the round of 64.
The Jayhawks play Wake Forest in the opening round of the tournament. The Demon Deacons are 5-0 but have yet to play a team from a power conference. They finished 13-18 last season and only won two away games. Sophomore guard Codi Mcci-McIntyre leads the team in scoring. He has scored 20 or more points in four games this season.
Villanova will be the favorite to advance to the semifinals and face the winner of the Kansas matchup. The Wildcats are coming off a narrow win against Delaware but thumped Towson by 34 points in their previous game.
This isn't the first time Self has brought his team to a tropical environment such as the Bahamas. The team played in the Maui Invitational two years ago and is scheduled to return to Maui in 2015. Self will give his players some free time, but the team didn't come this far for a vacation.
"This is a business trip," Self said. "...We're not concerned about anything other than trying to win games."
"We all know that we're heading out there to handle business," Ellis said. "That's the mindset that we want to have going out there."
The Jayhawks (4-0) are coming off a 30-point victory over Towson on Friday, Nov. 22. The Demon Deacons defeated Citadel 82-54 in their last game.
Ellis said being in the Bahamas could be a distraction, but his team is focused on basketball.
Kansas currently leads the country in field goal percentage shooting nearly 57 percent from the floor.
Kansas plays at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 28, on AXS TV. If the layhawks make the semifinals and finals, the games will be aired on NBC Sports Network.
—Edited by Heather Nelson
VOLLEYBALL
Kansas to face Denver in Allen Fieldhouse
BLAIR SHEADE
No. 21 Kansas comes off a senior night at Horejsi Athletic Center on Saturday, where the layhawks (22-6, 12-3) swept Texas Tech. The program said farewell to seven senators that have contributed to current success.
bsheade@kansan.com
The Kansas Jayhawks play tonight at Allen Fieldhouse against the University of Denver Pioneers (17-12). This match will be the first in the fieldhouse since the opening rounds of the 2012 NCAA tournament. McNorton remembers playing in the fieldhouse last season and knows how special it can be.
"Our team gave off gifts in the locker room before we went out and we were already all crying." senior setter Erin McNorton said
"I love playing in the fieldhouse," McNorton said. "I like how we can get more fans in there and last year we had a student section."
The last match Kansas player1 in Allen Fieldhouse didn't go according to plan when the No. 11
Kansas huddles on the sidelines during a match against Texas Tech on Saturday. The Jayhawks won 3-0.
ranked Jayhawks lost to Wichita State 3-1 in the second round of the tournament.
The Pioneers fell to Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) Sunday in the Summit League Championship matchup. Coach Ray Bechard said the match in the fieldhouse should be fun for both teams.
"Denver is excited," Bechard said. "We might have the first two rounds in there [Allen Field-house]. So why not go in and get some experience in there."
ANDY LARKIN/KANSAN
Denver freshman outside hitter Moni Corrujo leads the team with 310 kills and comes off a 13-kill match against IUPUJ.
McClinton recorded one of her worst matches of the year on Nov 20 against Iowa State when she had three kills, a -0.67 hitting percentage and was benched for sophomore Tiana Dockery. McClinton came out strong Saturday with four kills on eight attacks and zero errors, but was still benched for Dockery in the second set.
"Dockery, McClinton and
Carmichael have all been good," Bechard said. "We wanted to split time between Clinton and Dockery. McClinton has been good and Dockery was good at Iowa State so we decided to play both of them."
Vol
Dockery, who started at outside hitter in the beginning of the season before redshirt senior Carmichael emerged as the starter, ended Saturday with two kills on 12 attacks and one error.
McClinton will most likely start
the remainder of the season.
McClinton and the Jayhawks host Denver at 6:30 p.m. at Allen Fieldhouse, and the match will be aired on ESPN3.
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-Edited by Heather Nelson
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