Volume 126 Issue 39
kansan.com
Thursday, October 31, 2013
COMMENTARY Jayhawks poised to win Big 12
By Kory Carpenter
kcarpenter@kansan.com
The last time the layhawks began the season as something other than
the reigning Big 12 champs, "tweeting" was something only a bird did and Andrew Wiggins was in the fourth grade. We've held three presidential elections in that span and watched George Mason, VCU, Butler and Wichita State go to five more Final Fours than Missouri in its entire history.
In other words, a lot has happened since 2004.
And before the now much older Andrew Wiggins committed to Self and Kansas back in April, the streak of nine consecutive regular season championships seemed to be in jeopardy. Oklahoma State returned the bulk of last year's team, including future top-5 NBA draft pick Marcus Smart.
But Wiggins' arrival put the spotlight and target back on Lawrence — if they had even left to begin with. There are still question marks for the Jayhawks heading into the season opener next Friday against Louisiana-Monroe, but here are six reasons why a 10th straight Big 12 title banner will be hung in Allen Fieldhouse next fall.
The aforementioned Wiggins: The best amateur player in the world could lead a lot of teams to conference titles. But on a team with this much talent around him? It's a lock.
Bill Self: In the last 10 seasons,
Self has brought Kansas more Big
12 regular season championships
(nine) than home losses (eight),
which leads us to...
Allen Fieldhouse: When opponents can't expect Kansas to lose a conference game at home, their window of opportunity is already small. In Bill Self's tenure the Jayhawks are 161-8, winning over 95 percent of games in the Phog.
The Youngsters Will Be Ready: The non conference schedule is brutal this season, which should lead to a few early losses. But by the time January rolls around, all those freshmen in the lineup will have enough big-game experience (Duke, Florida, Georgetown and New Mexico, to name a few), to handle the 18-game Big 12 schedule.
Balance: Andrew Wiggins (small forward), Wayne Selden (shooting guard) and Joel Embiid (center) are all projected to be top-10 NBA draft picks next summer, and all three will spend plenty of time together on the court. A team capable of slowing one part of the trio down likely won't have the weapons to stop the others.
Versatility: There are enough lineup possibilities to give opposing coaches nightmares. We could see a small lineup that looks something like: Naadir Tharpe, Wayne Selden, Andrew White III, Andrew Wiggins and Perry Ellis. Self could also throw a big lineup on the court that is just as dangerous: Selden, Wiggins, Brannen Greene, Tarik Black, and Joel Embiid. There isn't a defense in the country that could stop both of those groups.
This team is built for a Final Four run, and anything less would be a disappointment. But Self and his players take a sense of pride in continuing the streak of Big 12 dominance, as they should. And there is nothing standing between this team and title number 10.
Edited by Duncan McHenry
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
STARTING STRONG
Jayhawks win easily in first home game of the season
STELLA LIANG
sliang@kansan.com
The Jayhawks found themselves with a comfortable 21-point lead after a dizzying, explosive run to start the second half that included two layups by Chelsea Gardner and was capped by Lamaria Cole's emphatic coast-to-coast layout. Featuring a lineup filled mostly with new faces and seldom-used players from last season, the women's basketball team cruised to an 85-54 exhibition victory against the Pittsburg State Gorillas.
Without Carolyn Davis, who graduated last season, garnering most of the attention in the paint, Gardner, a junior forward, proved she could control the game down low. She put up an 18-point, 11-rebound effort to lead the Jayhawks to victory. She added three blocks in 28 minutes.
At halftime,
the Jayhawks
led 45-29.
During the first four minutes of the second half, Pitts
"I think Chelsea took advantage sometimes" coach Bonnie Hen-
rickson said. "Overall, a lot of good stuff for us to see on film."
and two assists. Henrickson said it was good to see Natalie healthy and playing again with some confidence.
nature. Cole, a sophomore point guard who had limited minutes last season, started and had 12 points and three assists. Cole is known for her speed. While usually a positive, sometimes she plays out of control and loses the ball.
"She really can fly." Henrickson said. "Sometimes that's too fast, but the one she got in the first half, she started in front of me and I could see that no one was in front of her. It didn't take her long to get there."
The Jayhawks defeated the Pittsburg State Gorillas 85-54 in an exhibition game at home last Oct. 30.
"Overall, a lot of good stuff for us to see on film."
GEORGE MULLINIX/KANSAN
Junior Asia Boyd was an efficient 5-7 from the field for 15 points. She also had seven rebounds in her 30-minute outing. Senior Ccee Harper had 10 points.
"I think I'm a little more confident," Boyd said. "Coach Bonnie is a little more confident, which makes it easier too."
burg State forward Lizzy Jeronimus tried to match the layhawk run with two baskets of her own. She was overshadowed by the offensive efficiency of Kansas, and the Gorillas didn't make another run the rest of the night.
Other returning players also contributed to the effort. Junior Natalie Knight played in her first game since tearing her ACL last season. With a brace on her knee, she contributed seven points, six rebounds
BONNIE HENRICKSON Women's basketball coach
The Jayhawks won the opening
won the opening tipoff. Knight found Gardner on the first possession for two points, and the Jayhawks led the entire way after that.
With less than nine minutes in the first half, Knight stripped the ball from the
Gorillas. She raced down the court and passed the ball to Cole. Cole had one defender on her as she made her way toward the basket. Without taking a shot herself, she passed the ball back to a trailing Boyd who easily put it in the basket.
"I thought Jada Brown, a freshman, came in and gave us some minutes." Hendrickson said. "She
four assists in 15 minutes. Jada Brown, a freshman guard, had six points in 13 minutes.
On this young jayhawk team, Henrickson gave her newcomers significant minutes to see what they would do. Dakota Gonzalez, a freshman guard, ended the night with 12 points, five rebounds and
did a really nice job in the short corner, and really has a knack for rebounds."
Jeronimus led the Gorillas with 15 points. Guard Antqunita Reed was the only other Pittsburgh State player to reach double figures with 11. The Jayhawks will play their second exhibition game against Emporia State on Sunday, Nov. 3.
Edited by Jessica Mitchell
Jayhawks dominate Baylor Bears at Horejsi
BLAIR SHEADE
bsheade@kansan.com
The Jayhawks (17-5, 7-2) dominated the Baylor Bears (11-14, 3-6) 25-14, 25-13, 25-15 last night at the Horeisi Athletic Center.
In the first set, where Kansas won 25-14, senior setter Erin McNorton recorded nine assists. Those nine assists pushed her over the 1,000 assists mark this season. McNorton ended the night with 30 assists, which was her season low.
"Erin was connecting with her attackers all night and just to have six hitting errors in three sets was pretty astonishing," coach Ray Bechard said.
McNorton shrugged off her accomplishment last night. 1,000 assists was just cool, she said.
"It's cool, but we're in the middle of the season," McNorton said. "Those things will hit me later on when we're done and where we head this year."
GEORGE MULLINIX/KANSAN
Kansas volleyball players were pleased with their performance, beating the Baylor Bears at home and moving to 17-5 overall.
ton's sets was redshirt senior middle blocker Caroline Jarmoc, who led the team with 14 kills and seven came within the first set. Jarmoc's 14 kills had a lot to do with McNorton and her relationship on the court.
The jayhawks had .451 hitting percentage last night, which was just the second time this season that Kansas hit over .400. McNorton takes a lot of pride in a high team hitting percentage because it means she was setting the ball well.
"I think it helps that we're opposites," McNorton said. "I'm kind of quiet and shy and she is in my face, and I like that."
"I helped facilitate it, but I had confidence in my hitters the whole time," McNorton said. "I don't think there were many errors. I had a little to do with it, but it was a whole team effort."
Jarmoc and McNorton help each other a lot during the game.
A frequent recipient of McNor
["Jarmoc] helps me a lot blocking wise," McNorton said. "Whenever you see me mess up on a block, she'll look at me and tell me what I'm doing wrong, and I love that about her."
This on-court relationship is a two-way street. McNorton tells Jarmoc about how to improve her hitting.
"Erin is very open to criticism." Jarmoc said. "She's great at pointers, if I need a ball higher or lower, and she has great adjustments. I think we work very well together."
McNorton doesn't just set the ball; she can block and dig as well. McNorton recorded two blocks and four digs tonight. Her two blocks, one was sole, were second on the team.
"Every team tries to challenge her [McNorton] and tries to see what she's got." Bechard said. "If we have an Achilles, some teams think it's when Erin is at the net blocking, but she held her own tonight."
Jarmoc had two blocks of her own
last night, which moved her into second in Big 12 history for career sole blocks. Jarmoc surpassed Texas A&M's Amber Woolsey. This was the second consecutive match where Jarmoc set a record. Last week, she set the all-time career block record against Iowa State.
"This is a testament to my hard work," jarmoc said. "Blocking is
a skill that is underrated and not as big of a glory as attacking, so it takes a lot of work and it's great to get the numbers."
The Jayhawks backed the first set with a 25-13 victory, and the 11-point margin was the largest during big 12 Conference play this season. Then, finished the Bears off with a third set 25-15 win to swept
the Baylor Bears.
Coming off the loss to Iowa State, coach Bechard thinks that the team had something to prove every time they play and needed gain respect across the country.
"We wanted to bounce back, and we certainly played well," Bechard said.
—Edited by Jessica Mitchell