Volume 128 Issue 39
kansan.com
Monday, November 3, 2014
COMMENTARY
Kansas football cannot afford mistakes committed against Baylor
Losing to Baylor is nothing to be ashamed of. Losing to Baylor while committing numerous mistakes and practically giving up points is another story.
To have a chance at defeating the 12th-ranked Bears in Waco, Texas, the Jayhawks needed to play a nearly perfect game. Instead, Kansas went and shot itself in the foot. By the end of the first quarter, Baylor was leading 20-7 and the result was all but decided.
Kansas came into the game with only one lost fumble, but lost three in Saturday's matchup. The first fumble set the tone early.
Baylor was already up 7-0 less than five minutes into the game by way of an 11-second scoring drive when Kansas started a drive at its own 28-yard line. Three short plays later, the Jayhawks coughed up the ball, and Baylor recovered at the Kansas 18-yard line. The Bears capitalized, and all of a sudden, it was 13-0 (Baylor missed the point after attempt).
The Bears can score too easily, and the Jayhawks could not afford to give them more opportunities to do so. In total, three of Baylor's 11 scoring drives started at the Kansas 26-vard line or closer.
Take another example of a mistake.
Late in the first half, Baylor had made its way to the Kansas 1-yard line. Along the way, Kansas had lost Keon Stowers to injury. When Baylor running back Devin Chafin was stuffed on third down, Baylor decided to go for it.
So it was a 4th-and-one situation. The Jayhawk defense sent out only 10 players, and Chafin scored easily.
Honestly, the final result would have most likely been the same if Kansas hadn't committed any fumbles, penalties or other blunders. In the end, Baylor was almost unstoppable, but how it happens does matter.
Interim coach Clint Bowen says every week the players and the team can only control what they do. He preaches fundamentals and giving fans a product they want to watch.
None of that happened Saturday.
Kansas couldn't control how well Baylor played, but the Jayhawks could control what they did. They could hold on to the ball. They could be on the field when they were supposed to be.
In the three previous losses under Bowen, there were encouraging signs. The lajyhawks kept close with a ranked team. They had some fight on the road. Against Baylor, it seemed like there was no fight.
Kansas never looked like it had a chance. Even worse, the Jayhawks looked like they were trying to help the Bears win.
Edited by Emily Brown
BIG PLAYS DOOM KANSAS
Baylor Bears defeat Jayhawks 60-14 in Waco, Texas, on Saturday
SHANE JACKSON
@JacksonShane3
Big plays became the Achilles heel for the Kansas Jayhawks in Waco, Texas. The Baylor Bears used their juggernaut of an offense, and its ability to travel the length of the field in a short period of time to trounce the Jayhawks 60-14 on Saturday.
"We knew we were playing a very good football team , " interim coach Clint Bowen said. "We had to come out and match that,
Bryce Petty to Corey Coleman on their fourth offensive play of the game.
"We obviously felt we had a good plan," Bowen said. "Baylor had a better plan."
Baylor had a better play.
In comparison, the lajahawks
had 11 plays all day that
gained over 10 yards.
Before Saturday, the Bears had the second-best offense in college football averaging
"We obviously felt we had a good plan. Baylor had a better plan.
CLINT BOWEN Interim Kansas coach
nearly 50 points a game. They exceeded that with a 60-point performance
we didn't come out and do the things you do."
Coming into Saturday's matchup, the Jayhawks praised the defensive unit as the strength of the team. The Jayhawks defense had kept them in many games with its ability to maintain those big plays.
Kansas running back Corey Avery (6) runs against the Baylor defense in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday in Waco, Texas.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
a n d accumulated 669 yards of total offense.
That was not the case as the Bears had their way with the Jayhawks with 18 plays over 10 yards. Baylor had three plays over 40 yards including a 72-yard touchdown pass from
Offensively,
Kansas may have not been able to match stat for stat with the juggernaut offense, but they put up a respectable fight. They had a total of 304 yards on offense.
In fact junior quarterback Michael Cummings statistically was on par with the Heisman candidate. Petty completed 15 of his 27 pass attempts for 277 yards and three touchdowns. Cummings was 21-for-30 with 288 yards and a pair of passing touchdowns.
On the ground, the Jayhawks gained just 16 yards on 27 carries. Leading up to Saturday, Kansas was tied for first in the country with the fewest lost fumbles but coughed it up three times Saturday.
"You have to take care of the
football," Bowen said.
If Kansas' defense can go back to not surrendering the big plays and the offense continues to improve, they could put themselves in pretty good position to win their first conference game of the year.
"We're going to go right back to work tomorrow," Bowen said. "We have a plan to work, continue to prepare and continue to try and win football games."
Edited by Ben Carroll
Teammates react to Frankamp's transfer
ALANA FLINN
@Alana_Finn
Sophomore guard Conner Frankamp announced on Friday that he will be transferring from the University of Kansas once the semester is over, and will leave the basketball team immediately.
While rumors of the transfer circulated throughout campus, no one seemed more surprised than his fellow teammates to find out the official news.
"It came as a shock to me," junior guard Wayne Selden said. "He's a great person and player to be around. We became best friends, and this is the business we're in, this is what it is. It's hard to han-
Junior forward Perry Ellis, who played against Conner Frankamp in high school in Wichita, was also surprised by Frankamp's decision.
ute this when you don't see it coming, to grasp not having him there in the locker room, it'll hurt."
Frankamp said he's been thinking about this decision "for a while now." He is happy at Kansas, but wants to play at a school where he could play contribute more to the team.
"I didn't see it coming," Ellis said. "He was doing real well, but only he knows what's best for himself."
"I love KU and I love the jayhawks," Frankamp said. "I feel like I've improved quite a bit since I've been here. I love my
teammates but I just don't feel like it's the right fit for me. We have many good guards and so many big-time players. I want to be at a place where I could play a bigger role."
"Only yourself knows what you want to do and need to do. We're all behind him, we all support him and we're all going to miss him."
PERRY ELLIS Junior forward
Playing time for Frankamp wasn't guaranteed now, or
even in the coming years.
Frankamp was part of a crowded backcourt for Kansas that includes plenty of young talent. Freshmen Devonte Graham, Kelly Oubre, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk and sophmores Brannen Greene, Frank Mason and Selden are all in the mix to receive playing time this season at the guard position this season.
Ellis said the team supports Frankamp's decision.
Frankamp averaged 8.3 minutes and 2.5 points per game last season.
"Only yourself knows what you want to do and need to do," Ellis said. "We're all behind him, we all support him and we're all going to miss him."
His ability to shoot from long-range will especially be missed. In limited playing time, Frankamp made 15 3-pointers for the Jayhawks last season, including four in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32 game against Stanford.
Selden said he will have to play more at guard to help fill the gap of Frankamp. As one of the most experienced at the position, Selden will also be expected become show more leadership, too.
"I feel a little faster, a little stronger," Selden said. "Guys are looking to me for the leadership and to fill that role."
Edited by Brian Hillix