Volume 126 Issue 40
kansan.com
Monday, November 4, 2013
Redshirting can help players grow
COMMENTARY
the concept of redshirting has earned a bit of a negative reputation. To some it's
combination. To some as if a coach is saying, "You're not good enough" or "You're not ready." In part, this is due to our environment. We've grown up in the era of trophies for participation and positive reinforcement because sometimes the truth seems harsher than being lied to.
Last week Kansas coach Bill Self said the two exhibition games would help him decide if someone would have to forgo playing this season. If you were to purely guess after perusing the stat sheet from game one, there's one redshirt candidate who clearly sticks out.
Freshman Connor Frankamp was the only Jayhawk with more than a minute of playing time to attempt a shot against Pittsburgh State and not score any points (0-3). All three of his attempts were from 3-point range - an area Frankamp specialized in while setting the high school scoring record in Wichita.
That is not to say that if Frankamp doesn't perform well against Fort Hays State on Tuesday he'll have cost himself the opportunity to compete with the 2013-14 Jayhawks. Earlier in the year, Self said Frankamp would have the "green light" to shoot when he wants. To judge him off his first preseason game in college wouldn't help anyone.
What's most important to understand is that taking a redshirt is not a punishment, an insult or a death sentence - at least not under Bill Self.
"It won't be because we tell them they have to," Self said earlier in the year. "It'll be because we think it's best for their career."
In recent years, redshirting in Lawrence has helped make college careers.
Travis Releford sat out after playing his freshman season in 2008-09. The Kansas City product took the time to work on defense and improving his shot. Last year as a senior he was widely regarded as college basketball's best perimeter defender and averaged 11.9 points while leading the Jayhawks with 47 steals.
Brady Morningstar also sat out his sophomore year. Over his final two seasons at Kansas (2009-11) he shot 44.5 percent from the field and tallied 85 steals.
While the NCAA ruled Ben McLemore academically ineligible as a freshman, the extra year of practice helped him become one of the most explosive players in the nation while averaging nearly 16 points per game.
Landen Lucas could also be added to this list after sitting out last season, but that remains to be seen.
None of these kids sat out because they weren't good enough. Frankly, if that were the case they likely wouldn't be playing for Kansas. You could say the same for anyone on this year's team if the coaches decide to sit a player for the year.
So no, a redshirt does not cast off a player. In Self's terms it helps them become more effective.
"After seeing Travis and Jeff Withey I can't understand if you're not in the mix why you, as a young kid, wouldn't consider that," Self said at Kansas media day. "If you follow what they did, those guys had unbelievable careers because they were patient."
Edited by Evan Dunbar
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Second-half scoring run brings Jayhawks victory against Emporia State
RUNNING RAMPANT
Junior guard CeCe Harper drives past an Emporia State defender during Sunday's exhibition game. Harper scored 15 points.
STELLA LIANG
sliang@kansan.com
JAMES HOYT/KANSAN
In a game where both teams struggled to score, tight defense and timely scoring were enough for the Kansas women's basketball team to beat the Emporia State Lady Hornets 61-53.
Senior backup guard CeCe Harper led the Jayhawks with 15 points and anchored the offense from the point guard position when many of the starters were on the bench in foul trouble. Coach Bonnie Henrickson said she credits Harper being a senior and her sense of urgency.
"She came out and did her job," Henrickson said
Harper made six out of 10 field goal attempts. Four of her six rebounds were offensive, including one that led to field goal by junior guard Asia Boyd.
I just knew we needed some energy," Harper said. "This was a game we needed to win, and this was a game that would build our confidence for the season starting next week. I just wanted to do whatever I could to help the team."
Chelsea Gardner's layup forced Emory State to take a timeout.
"For us the best part of the whole afternoon was the run we made coming out of the locker room which probably ended up being the cushion we needed to get a win," Henrickson said.
The run was capped by a layup by Harper. Boyd had forced a turnover on the other end of the court and gathered the loose ball on the floor. She sent the ball Knight's way and Knight took it down the court and sent a bounce pass to Harper, who was waiting around the basket.
"For us the best part of the whole afternoon was the run we made coming out of the locker room which probably ended up being the cushion we needed to get a win"
BONNIE HENRICKSON
COACH
Kansas shot 37 percent from the field for the game while Emporia State shot 23 percent, including 14 percent in the second half. The Jayhawks shot better from the 3-point line, making 7-16.
At the half, the Jayhaws led 33-31. They gave themselves the separation they needed for the rest of the game with an 11-2 run to start the second半节. Junior guard Natalie Knight started off the scoring with a 3-pointer, one of three she made during the game. Boyd added a jumper, and junior forward
The Lady Hornets are mainstays in the Division II elite. They were the 2010 national champions and have won seven MIAA conference
score in double-digits. Forward Merissa Quick had 14 points, and she was a perfect 8-8 from the free throw line. Laura Patrick added 11 points, including two 3-point shots.
championships.
The Lady Hornets came out at the start of the game with lots of energy, which helped them to a 9-2 lead. Guard Laura Patrick started the scoring with a 3-pointer, and the Jayhawks spent much of the rest of the half trying to recover.
"It's a great opportunity for us to test ourselves against better, better athletes and try to find some things we can hang our hat on for the season," Emporia State coach Jory Collins said.
Gardner was efficient in her limited playing time, scoring 11 points in 19 minutes. She received her third foul early in the second half, which sent her to the bench. Knight also scored in double-figures with 13, and Markisha Hawkins had a 10-point outing.
Emporia State had two players
The regular season for the Jayhawks begins Sunday, Nov. 10, against Oral Roberts.
"I think the main takeaway is that we need to get better," Harper said. "We all need to improve, especially on the defensive end, and we need to develop more camaraderie on the offensive end."
Edited by Madison Schultz
Latest loss highlights quarterback dilemma
FOOTBALL
AUSTIN, Texas — Once again,
Kansas looked like it had a chance.
They created a stir of excitement,
and suddenly — in one play — the optimism vanished.
coberkrom@kansan.com
The Jayhawks were a tease, losing 35-13 to Texas.
CONNOR OBERKROM
Down just 14-6 with momentum on their side, Jake Heaps snapped the ball, and saw a slew of Texas defenders in the backfield. Texas defensive end Cedric Reed took down Heaps, forcing a fumble that defensive tackle Chris Whaley recovered and returned for a touchdown.
Heaps, who has been responsible for many of the offensive struggles throughout the season, was once again humble enough to take responsibility for the stripped sack.
Senior runningback James Sims sprints through a hole for a big gain against Texas on Saturday. Sims had 99 total yards in the game, but the Jayhawks lost 35-13.
"It's my job to secure the football," Heaps said. "It's something that I'll take away and learn from. I put that on myself."
GEORGE MULLINIX/KANSAN
Texas went up by 15 and had the stranglehold on the rest of the game.
"This team was a good match-up for how we play," Weis said. "I thought as long as we kept the game in the 20s, we would have a chance to win."
"Our margin of error is so small that if we give up one game-changing play, you're fighting a little more of an up-field battle," Weis said.
Kansas hung with Texas for the first half and although it trailed 14-3 at halftime, it limited Texas' vaunted run game to 99 yards.
Kansas opened the game with two explosive, 15 plus yard screen passes to James Sims, as moving the ball didn't seem like a chore,
going 58 yards in seven plays.
On a third down in Texas territory, Heap Heaps had Tred' Parmalee wide open for a first down, but overthrew him, which then set up Kansas to take a 3-0 lead on a seemingly routine field goal. Wyman shanked a 31-yarder, however, and Kansas failed to put points on the board.
The mix-up quarterback play between Montell Cozart and Jake Heaps continued and even after a favorable first quarter, Weis pulled Heaps for Cozart.
After he completed 5-for-7 passes for 64 yards, Heaps' game was clicking in Kansas' standards, but
Weis didn't think it was premature to pull him out and said that it was suited for where the offense and the game were heading.
"It's not so early, it was the second quarter and we scored zero points," Weis said.
was pulled for Cozart early in the second quarter.
Cozart completed and attempted just one pass for six yards to Jimmy Mundine in the first half.
After Kansas' Billy Owens ran into the Texas punter, the Longhorns went on 15-play, 92-yard drive that spanned over seven minutes to go up 7-0 on a 2-yard Malcolm Brown run.
The drive-shifting penalties didn't stop there. Texas had a third-and-two on its next offensive possession, but Kansas jumped offsides, prolonging the drive that eventually resulted in another Malcolm Brown run.
Volu
At the end of the first half, Kansas was given another opportunity to put its first points on the board. Heaps heaved a lob pass to Rodriguez Coleman for 43-yards with 10 seconds left in the half and brought in Ron Doherty to kick a 21-yard field goal to trail just 14-3.
"We had almost all of our penalties in the first half and every one was costly." Weis said.
Heaps finished the day 11-of-21 for 160 yards, and while Texas only had two sacks on the day, it was relentless battering Heaps, who admitted that he was in pain after the game.
"I'm hurting right now, but I'll be fine." Heaps said. "I'll bounce back,"
The final score wasn't a great indication of how the game transpired and one play — as Kansas has found out the hard way this season — can turn a competitive game into a collapse.
"All the momentum in the game changed in one play," Weis said.
Edited by Evan Dunbar