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THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"There are 39 games, left, and we're right in the thick of it. We just have to take care of our business."
Billy Butler.
Royals designated hitter
FACT OF THE DAY
TRIVIA OF THE DAY
Royals.com
The Royals have not made the playoffs since 1985 when the team beat the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series.
Q: When's the last time the Royals finished over 500?
A: 2003
— Royals.com
THE MORNING BREW Royals building to last with core of young and veteran players
For some teams, just winning more games than they lose is an accomplishment. The last time the Royals won more games than they lost was 2003, when Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez and Jim Thome were baseball's golden boys.
The 2003 Royals were a team whose moto was "We Believe," and they bear many resemblances to the team that we see in 2013; a cornerstone outfielder, a below-the-radar starting staff and a solid bulpen.
As fans know, the hardest thing for many big league teams is not only repeating success, but sustaining overall consistency. The 2003 Royals may have had some talent, but they weren't built from players who showed they'd be able to last in the long haul. This is why they hung their heads at a 100-loss season the next year and were ultimately forced to move their star player in Carlos Beltran.
The team's makeup is much of the same
So here the Royals sit in 2013: A record above .500 and a position to steal a wild card spot.
as the 2003 season but one thing stands out from the team of a decade ago: long-term potential.
The Royals are using a model that relies on young talent rather than going against bigger market teams who reach for star players in free agency. Last year the Washington Nationals were just one of the most recent teams to see the fruits of their labor when the team jumped from 80 to 98 wins in one season, led by under 25-year-old players like
Bryce Harper and Stephen Strasburg
The Royals, who often compiled a team of misfit players such as Miguel Olivo and Bret Tomko, are now beginning to place their trust in young talents like Salvador Perez and Greg Holland.
Kansas City now sports six homegrown players. Two are former all-stars, three are solid starters, and Terry Francanona once called one, Eric Hosmer, a "future MVP."
The Royals of 2013 are a team that many in pre-season speculated might have a chance to make the playoffs with the addition of star pitcher James Shields. Many, though, scrutinized the team trading top prospect Wil Myers to the Rays to get Shields. The biggest thing when you have young talent is the need to bring in good veterans to balance out the immaturities.
When the Royals brought on the 31-yearold Shields, they were not only trying to round out a team for this year, but for years to come.
those players are still on their roster. But the 2013 Royals are not looking to rebuild anytime soon. With a nucleus of young talented players and gritty tough veterans, the Royals of now have nowhere to look but up.
The Royals of 2003 are gone, as none of
Edited by Madison Schultz
Jayhawks aim for repeat tournament appearance
VOLLEYBALL
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Red shirt senior middle blocker Caroline Jarmoc tips the ball over the net during an Oct. 20, 2012 game against TCU.
IRRIAN HILLIX
bhillix@kansan.com
A year after its best season in school history, the Kansas women's volleyball team is primed to continue its winning ways.
The Jayhawks will return a majority of their players from a team that made the NCAA Tournament, earned a 26-7 record and finished three returning starters including All-American middle blocker Caroline larmoc.
Even with so many players returning, head coach Ray Bechard knows success next season isn't a guarantee.
"2011 didn't equal 2012, and 2012 doesn't equal 2013." Bechard said. "Expectations from others will be high, but you have to stay true to yourself and focus on the things you can control. That means working extremely hard and outworking everyone else."
Preseason camp, which included two weeks of two-a-day practices and fitness testing, started on Aug. 10. Before getting into match simulations, the players worked on mastering fundamentals including ball handling, motor skills, pass and serve consistency and dig repetitions.
Hanson, an outside hitter from Sioux Falls Washington High School in South Dakota, was a state runner-up and a member of the All-State team.
While Kansas lost two important players from last season—defensive specialist Morgan Boub and middle blocker Taylor Tolefree—three freshmen are ready to step in and contribute right away. Emma Hanson, Tayler Souci, and Cassie Wait come to the program with impressive résumés.
Soucie, a middle blocker from Osawatomie High School, led the country with 779 kills.
Wait, an outside hitter who will be converted into a defensive specialist, was named the Kansas 6A Player of the Year and Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year playing for Gardner Edgerton High School.
"The freshmen have killed it so far," said outside hitter Tiana Dockery, a sophomore from Richard, Texas, and
member of the All-Freshman Big 12 Team last year. "They've learned really quickly."
With so many veterans, the team has a good grasp of the drills, tempo and expectations that come with the beginning of a new season. The returners are making sure the new-comers feel comfortable in this new environment.
"On the floor we have a lot of vocal leaders," setter Erin McNorton, a senior setter from Plano, Texas, said. "We have a lot of people with experience on this team, so that helps with leadership."
McNorton joins farmoc and outside hitter Sara McClinton on the All-Big 12 Presseason Team. Kansas, along with Texas and Iowa State, led the Big 12 with three players on the Presseason Team.
Players and staff were anxious to get to work this fall. A week before preseason camp started, players began counting down till the first day of practice on their social media accounts.
"I'm excited and I know the staff is excited to get going." Beard said.
"There has been a lot of anticipation and the kids have been working hard this summer, but we don't really have a chance to get together as a team and talk about what wed like to get accomplished until camp starts. It was certainly fun to do that."
The Jayhawks will look to make consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances for the first time since 2003-2005, when they made three straight appearances. Kansas is ranked No. 20 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) preseason poll, its first ever preseason ranking. All fans are encouraged to come to Horesji Family Athletics Center to see the team in action. Students get in free with a valid KU ID.
"The atmosphere of volleyball is almost incomparable to any other sport because the athletes are so athletic and the game is continuous," said Arin McMullen, the head student manager. "Horejsi has arguably the best atmosphere in the Big 12 to play a game. It's something you should do at least once before you graduate."
Edited by Elise Reuter
OSAWATOMIE GRAPHIC
Incoming freshman Tayle r Soucie, a middle blocker from Osawatomie High School, joins the Jayhawks in their quest for a second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.
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MEN'S BASKETBALL
On Aug. 5, Self was inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame located in Oklahoma City.
Self, a native of Edmond, Okla., began his head-coaching career at Oral Roberts University in 1993 before moving down the road to Tulsa in 1997 and was named the 1981 Player of the Year in Oklahoma while in high school.
Kansas coach Bill Self inducted into Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame
The 2013-14 season hasn't yet begun and already Kansas coach Bill Self is adding to his impressive resume.
"I am proud to be here tonight, but I didn't get here by myself." Self said at his induction ceremony. "My parents were the best role models anyone could have, and I owe so much to my wife and kids. I've been blessed to coach great players, who have sacrificed personal goals for the good of the team, and have been fortunate to work with the best assistant
coaches anywhere."
Oklahoma City Thunder owner Clay Bennett, NFL player LeRoy Gutowski, Olympic gold medalist Nadia Comaneci and Oklahoma State All-American John Henry Ward were also inducted along with Self.
And while the honor itself was a humbling event for Self, the ceremony may be among his finest moments.
Self's father, Bill Self Sr., a high school athletics cornerstone for 27 years in Oklahoma, introduced his son while the younger Self's family and friends, including former Kansas coaches Ted Owens and Danny Manning, came to show their support.
"Bill has won a lot of games, but he's a great ambassador for KU and for Kansas Athletics," Self Sr. said. "He doesn't think he's better than anyone. He supports great causes and it's a great honor for me to present my son for this award."
Black Schuster
According to the Lawrence Police Department, Greene was on the 2000 block of Ousdahl Road when the 2002
Incoming freshman small forward Brannen Greene was cited last month for leaving the scene of a car accident on the night of July 13.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Incoming freshman cited for failing to report car accident
Greene
Chevrolet Trailblazer he was driving veered off the street, striking a parked car and causing damage to both vehicles.
Greene, 18, told police that he
rence resident, who was riding in the passenger seat due to a reportedly suspended license.
The Trailblazer belongs to 25-year-old Law-
and the vehicle's owner had been at Brothers Bar on Massachusetts Street one hour prior to the accident, where Greene said he had one drink.
When they left, the passenger was reportedly filling the car with smoke from a Swisher Sweet cigar. Greene told police that he motioned to open the sunroof and was bumped by the passenger causing him to drive left of center and collide with a 1997 Mercury Grand Marquis parked in a driveway.
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Fearing trouble, the passenger advised Greene to leave the scene, according to the report.
Lawrence police cited with Greene with committing an accident involving damage to property and failure to report an accident.
Blake Schuster
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