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Volume 128 Issue 40
kansan.com
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
THE UNIVERSITY DARRY & GANSAN
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COMMENTARY
Jayhawks' size proves too much for Ichabods
Little can be taken away from an exhibition game against an in-state Division II school, but the eye test showed Kansas has size and depth during the 85-53 win over the Washburn Ichabods.
Kansas started the game with two guards under six feet tall, freshman Devonte' Graham and sophomore Frank Mason, alongside sophomore guard Wayne Selden Jr., junior forward Jamari Traylor and junior forward Perry Ellis.
When Kansas subbed out both Graham and Mason, sophomore Brannen Greene and freshman Kelly Oubre Jr. entered the game, creating a lineup that towered over the opponents from Topeka.
The lineup didn't feature any player under 6-foot-5. Self said he is forced to use taller players like Selden and freshman guard Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk following the recent release of former guard Conner Frankamp.
"We played Wayne [Selden] at the point a couple different times," Self said. "When we play [Selden] at the point, 6-foot-5 will be the smallest guy we have on the floor. Wayne [Selden] isn't used to doing that a lot and up until last week, we didn't anticipate a lot of different situations where we do that a lot."
The most frequent lineup Self used tonight was Selden at point guard, Svi at shooting guard, Oubre at small forward, Ellis at power forward and Alexander at center. The only player listed under 6-foot-7 was Selden, standing at 6-foot-5.
The lineup played for five minutes while offering few chances to score and keeping the ball alive on offense, Washburn coach Bob Chipman said. During the five-minute span, Alexander made three consecutive offensive rebounds against the Ichabods, who didn't score a single goal.
Though Self was frustrated with Kansas' offensive performance when using its "big" set, the Jayhawks were dominant on the defensive end, when the average height on the court was 6-foot-7. In the first half alone, Kansas recorded seven blocks from four different players, and the team grabbed 19 defensive rebounds.
Self said before Frankamp left the team, he envisioned Selden playing more at the four than at the one. Self also mentioned Mykhailiuk, at 6-foot-7, could play point guard because of his ball-handling skills.
"We looked helpless there at times," Chipman said. "They've got a great group, and they're so big and strong."
Edited by Rob Pyatt
BREAKING THEM IN
Freshmen make their Kansas debuts, combine for 36 points
BEN FELDERSTEIN
Kansas freshman forward Kelly Oubre Jr. dunks Monday night against Washburn. Oubre finished with nine points and two assists.
ANDY LARKIN/KANSAN
@Ben Felderstein
The start of the 2014-15 Kansas basketball season began similarly to the season openers of the past.
Allen Fieldhouse was packed with 16,300 fans. The band, the hype, the videos, everything was in order for another season of Jayhawk basketball.
It began with another blowout of an overmatched opponent. Kansas defeated the Washburn Ichabods 85-53 on Monday in an in-state exhibition game.
However, one thing was different. There were four new faces in the rotation for the first preseason game. And these four faces made quite the difference in their first game in the Phog.
Freshman guard Devonte Graham got the nod at point guard against Washburn, while fellow freshmen Kelly Oubre Jr., Cliff Alexander and Sviatoslov Mykhailliuk started the game on the bench. While Graham's classmates didn't start, they had a major impact on the outcome of the game.
"I wanted to start all returning guys," Bill Self said. "I was going to start Brannen (Green) but he had a rough defensive practice yesterday so I threw Devone' in there."
on the offensive side, putting up 18 points in the first eight minutes including six quick and easy points from Alexander. He sunk his first four shots, three of which came off of offensive boards. Having multiple inches and dozens of pounds on most Washburn players. Alexander was nearly impossible to stop down low throughout the contest.
Kansas got off to a quick start
"Cliff and Landen (Lucas) are our best defensive rebounders." Self said. "Cliff had a good first game, but has a lot of improvements to make."
Along with Alexander's 10 first-half points, his three fellow freshmen added another 10, giving freshmen 20 of Kansas' 42 first-half points. Mykhalihuk and Oubre showed their 3-point range throughout the contest and their willingness to shoot.
Heading into half, Washburn was unable to crack into double digits until there were only three minutes left to play in the half. The Jayhawks were strong on the defensive end, and limited Washburn's second-chance points. Kansas headed to the locker room with a commanding 42-13 lead.
Svi dove for a loose ball and was able to get it to sophomore Wayne Selden Jr. who found Oubre for the easy dunk at the 11-minute mark.
The second half of the game featured more of the same Kansas domination and freshman effort, highlighted by a breakaway jam from Oubre.
This play was reflective of Kansas' effort throughout the game. The Jayhawks were diving all over the floor, pulling down offensive boards and winning 50-50 balls. As far as effort goes the Jayhawks were steps ahead of the Ichabods all night.
"We aren't where we are capable of being yet," Graham said of the freshman class. "We played quick and got out on fast breaks really well I thought we played well."
At the game's end, freshmen combined for 36 of the team's 85 points. Alexander pulled down four offensive rebounds, nine total and shot 6-for-8 from the field, putting up a team-high 14 points and three blocks. Mykhaliliuk and Oubre combined for 3-for-8 from behind the arc while Graham shot 3-for-5 from the floor adding three assists and two steals.
As the game reached the five-minute mark in the second half, all four freshmen were on the court at the same time with junior Perry Ellis. Although they weren't particularly efficient on the offensive side together, they played strong defense and played
with high energy.
Alongside Ellis, the four checked out of their first game at the fieldhouse for the final time to a large roar from the fans remaining in attendance. With its first game behind them, the future seems bright for the youth of this Kansas
basketball squad.
"I was pleased with their (the freshmen) game tonight," Self said. "They looked good defensively, and the effort was there."
Edited by Miranda Davis
Bowen: KU football culture is changing
Interim head coach Clint Bowen warms up with the team before its game against Oklahoma State on Oct. 11. The program's energy has picked up since Bowen took over on Sept. 28.
JAMES HOYT/KANSAN
SHANE JACKSON
@jacksonshane3
While many were left speechless Saturday following Kansas' 60-14 beatdown against one of the best offenses in the country, interim head coach Clint Bowen was not among them.
"The culture of our program is so much different than it was weeks ago when this whole thing started," Bowen said. "From the way we carry ourselves to the way we practice, the mindset of the players, it's completely different. The culture of the team is moving in a positive direction."
Bowen has reason to remain optimistic after Saturday's performance. They move away from a championship-caliber team like Baylor to Iowa State (2-6, 0-5), a team fighting for its first conference win.
But Bowen doesn't plan to take any team lightly in one of the nation's premier conferences.
"Playing these guys is no different than last week," Bowen said. "It's the next game, and you do everything in your power to prepare for the next game."
It is true that the Cyclones are no Baylor Bears, but this is a team Kansas cannot take lightly despite the identical record. The Cyclones handed the Jayhawks a 34-0 loss following Kansas' lone conference victory last season, when many thought Kansas could defeat Iowa State to break its road-losing streak.
Though the Jayhawks may not break their road-losing streak, they may be able to give Bowen his dream job if they were to win Saturday.
"My job right now is to give these players the best chance to win," Bowen said. "From a game-plan standpoint and a day-to-day work basis, and establish where Kansas football needs to go."
Since Bowen took the job five weeks ago, the Jayhawks have lost all four games, nearly knocking off then-ranked Oklahoma State. Despite the losing streak, the Jayhawks have been playing noticeably better in recent weeks.
It's evident the program has improved under the leadership of Bowen. With a win on Saturday, Bowen could likely have his interim tag removed, yet his focus is on the players.
"That's not what this is about," Bowen said. "This is about our players and our program and doing what Dr. Zenger and I talked about on the very first day and that's trying to establish an identity we want Kansas football to be"
That identity may become clearer after Saturday.
Edited by Rob Pyatt
NEWS AND NOTES:
— Derrick Neal and Keon Stowers both participated in team activities on Sunday. Both were taken off the field on stretches on Saturday and taken to the hospital for further evaluation.
Bowen promoted wide receivers coach Eric Kiesau to co-offensive coordinator prior to Saturday's game to join John Reagan.
This Saturday is highlighted by the return of Mark Mangino, who is serving as offensive coordinator for Iowa State.
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