THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY NOVEMBER 11,2013
FOOTBALL
PAGE 11
Cozart's play encouraging in Oklahoma State loss
CHRIS HYRI
CHRIS HYBL
chybi@kansan.com
ANSAN allied
*Kansas is officially ineligible for a bowl game. A 42-6 defeat on Saturday evening in Stillwater eliminated the possibility of a six win season, making it 27 straight Big 12 losses for the Jayhawks, as well as what will be five straight seasons without a bowl appearance.
*Oklahoma State had enough to beat Kansas with just one play. On the first play of the game with Oklahoma State back to receive the kick, returner Justin Gilbert returned it 100 yards for a touchdown. It might be harsh to say that Kansas lost the game on the first play of the night, but with the way Kansas played, it isn't far from the truth.
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"We've been a little slow on the uptake offensively and not scoring a bunch of points, so when you're playing a game [you are] trying to keep it in a certain point range," coach Charlie Weis said. "So when you start off with something like that it was a little deflating. You can't pick a worse way to start a game."
Kansas struggled to move the ball early and OSU didn't. Kansas made it past the OSU 40 only once in the first half. Accompanied by a Jake Heaps interception that set OSU up with short field and the opening kickoff return, OSU cruised to
a 28-0 halftime lead.
The only time Kansas did get into the redzone, was after an option call on 3rd and 2 was blown up by OSU. Cozart ran back across the width of the field to gain three yards, going out of bounds just ahead of the first down marker.
That drive-extending play by Cozart made a 50-yard Tony Pierson run on the ensuing play possible. On the OSU 15, Kansas ran three plays for no gain before new starting kicker Ron Doherty came on and missed a field goal off the left crossbar to keep Kansas scoreless early in the second half.
It turned into a game just as hard to recall as Kansas' last six conference losses this season. Kansas was outplayed for the entirety of the game and the only interesting thing left to occupy Kansas fans' minds would be the probable passing of the starting quarterback torch from Jake Heaps to Montell Cozart.
"What I think that we're going to have to do is lean towards one heavier over the other," Weis said. "We played Montell more than Jake so that's a possibility, but we'll have to wait to see what we've got and what West Virginia has before we make our decision."
It was Heaps ninth start for the Jayhawks this season, and after quarterbacking three possessions
and only earning one first down, it was Cozart's turn. Cozart's statline wasn't great, but he was able to help the Jayhawks move the ball and convert third downs to extend drives. Often times he did so with his feet, and when plays blew up, Cozart improvised to get first downs.
"He kind of bailed us out a number of times in the run game," Weis said "There was a number of times when there were plays designed to go to the right where he went to the left and that's just Montell being Montell."
Cozart was 6-17 passing for 58 yards and rushed for 67 yards on 18 carries. It wasn't glamorous, but Cozart was able to get Kansas into the redzone without having to rely on the defense for a turnover. Cozart showed that he could get Kansas across midfield easier than Heaps. It's been eight straight games since Kansas has put 20 points on the scoreboard, and Charlie Weis has noticed, and seemed to be pleased with Cozart after Saturday's game in Stillwater.
When asked what he thought of Cozart's style going forward, Charlie Weis was clear.
"Sign me up."
MICHAEL STRICKLAND/KANSAN
— Edited by Evan Dunbar
Junior cornerback JaCorey Shepherd bats down a pass intended for Oklahoma State wide reciever Charlie Moore. Kansas gave up 274 yards through the air in Saturday's 42-6 loss to the Cowboys.
MICHAEL STRICKLAND/KANSAN
The Kansas offense huddles up during Saturday's game against Oklahoma State. Kansas failed to score 20 points for the eighth straight game, producing only six points and 316 total yards on 74 offensive plays.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Gardner leads offense in season-opening victory
EVAN DUNBAR
edunbar@kansan.com
It was a sloppy game during the first half of Kansas' season-opening 84-62 win over Oral Roberts Sunday afternoon in Allen Field-house.
But through all of the missed shots, fouls and turnovers, one player stood out for the Jayhawks - junior forward Chelsea Gardner.
Gardner took advantage of her mismatches inside against Golden Eagles, recording her sixth career double-double by scoring 23 points and grabbing 13 rebounds in 27 minutes on the floor.
Gardner did most of her damage from the free-throw line in the first half, making 7-8 attempts. This was a trend for the Jayhawks, who broke a school record for most free throws attempted and made in a game - finishing 41-54 from the free throw line.
Coach Bonnie Henrickson said that with the new hand-check foul rules that were implemented this season, she thinks the hardest part for officials will be to determine when a foul is initiated by an
offensive or defensive player.
"I honestly thought it would be more like this in the first exhibition game," Henrickson said. Gardner continued to score from the free-throw line in the second half, and finished 10-12 for the game.
Both teams fought through foul trouble in the second half, with three players from Oral Roberts fouling out down the stretch. Lamaria Cole and Markisha Hawkins both had four fools for the Jayhawks.
"There was a lot of free throws taken by both teams, and I think a lot has to do with the rule change with the fouls," junior guard Natalie Knight said.
Despite the foul trouble for both teams, Gardner was able to avoid it, finishing with a team-low one personal foul.
Gardner said she was happy to be out of trouble, which was key to the jayhawks' offensive success. "I knew I had to do it," Gardner said.
Kansas' previous high for made free throws in a game was 23. They had already made 19 by halftime.
Knight said that Kansas needed to be more aggressive coming out in the second half, and thought they did, driving the ball more effectively and continuing to get the ball to Gardner.
"Just coming out and being ready and having a lot more energy than we started out with," Gardner said. "We had to work hard and [keep getting] the open lob over the top."
Gardner sparked the Jayhawks' offense at the beginning of both halves. She had seven of Kansas' first nine points, and then scored Kansas' first two baskets to start the second half.
you've got to give credit to Chelsea for getting open, because if she's not open, we can't get her the ball," Knight said. "We always know that if we get her the ball we are going to get easy points, so that's always key for us."
The Jayhawks continue their season Wednesday night against SIU-Edwardsville at 7 p.m. at Allen Fieldhouse.
— Edited by Chas Strobel
JAMES HOYT/KANSAN
Junior guard Natalie Knight dribbles the ball down court in transition during the Jayhawk's 84-62 victory over Oral Roberts.
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