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Volume 127 Issue 27
kansan.com
Wednesday. October 8,2014
COMMENTARY
No.2 center a Kansas basketball prospect
The No.2 center in this year's prestigious class of big men is Caleb Swanigan, a 6-foot-8 big man from Indiana. Swanigan is a five-star recruit who attended Homestead High School.
Swanigan has 13 schools on his list, including Kansas, Arizona, Kentucky and UConn. The center has been dominant in his high school career due to his wide frame.
In eighth grade, Swanigan weighed nearly 350 pounds. He left his family to go live with Roosevelt Barnes, a sports agent who now acts as Swanigan's legal guardian.
While Swanigan was living with Barnes, he grew 4.5 inches and was able to lose 90 pounds.
"He knew he needed to lose some weight, and he dedicated himself to doing that." Barnes said to the Bleacher Report. "Once he decided to be a basketball player strictly, he really focused in on what he was eating and really got involved with cardio. It was a combination, but it was mostly all his hard work."
Swanigan averaged a double-double in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League, amassing 17.7 points per game and 12 rebounds. On the U.S. U17 team, he averaged 8 points per game on 69.6 percent shooting from the field.
High-low, old-fashioned basketball is something coach Bill Self has used in his game plan during his entire Kansas tenure, which fits Swanigan's old-school style of play very well.
"We work on back-to-the-basket work every day," Barnes said to the Bleacher Report. "Because when he decided he wanted to be a basketball player, we consciously made a decision that he was going to be an old-school power forward in the Moses Malone, Charles Barkley, Buck Williams, even guys like Al Jefferson, Zach Randolph type where he's going to beat you up and he's going to rebound the basketball."
Swanigan has added a decent enough mid-range jump shot to his arsenal, but he will probably not rely on that often in the college game.
A lot of scouts are saying Swanigan has a higher ceiling than all the other big men in the class. He is drawing in a lot of comparisons to Randolph due to his playing style.
"My game is not predicated on my quickness," Swanigan said to the Bleacher Report. "Once I catch it, I'm not in a rush."
I know I'm not the only one who could have pictured Randolph in Self's offense. Swanigan's decision just might come down to what the rest of the big men in the 2015 class decide.
Edited by Alyssa Scott
LIZ KUHLMANN
@LizKuhlmannUDK
At the end of a disappointing season for Kansas soccer last year, the coaching staff sat down with goalkeeper Kaitlyn Stroud. While Stroud was a solid keeper, the staff had some changes in mind so she could improve for her fifth year and accomplish her goal of becoming All-Big 12 Goalkeeper.
"She committed and stayed here all summer," coach Mark Francis said. "She got fitter and got stronger. She's always been a good goalkeeper, but I think that part of her game was the part she needed to improve."
When Kansas walked off the pitch for the last time in 2013, Stroud had started all 20 matches for a total of 1,840 minutes. She had collected five shutouts and totaled a career best of 107 saves, only allowing 25 goals that season. Francis attributed her past experience to her success this season.
"It's her fifth year, so she has
some experience playing," Francis said. "When you're doing well and things are going right, you gain confidence. Obviously, as an athlete, when you gain confidence you can do anything you want. She's playing with a lot of confidence right now, and the team and coaching staff have a lot of confidence in her."
However, Stroud said this experience does not translate into insurmountable pressure. After wearing a Kansas kit for five years, Stroud said both she and her team know what is expected of her.
"I'm not a captain, but I know people will listen to me on the field," Stroud said. "I try to be calm and the person who jokes and keeps things light during practices. There's not as much pressure because I know what I need to do, and people expect me to know it because I've been here for five years."
This confidence is reflected in Stroud's performance this year. The seasoned vet is boasting two impressive statistics that lead the Big
12 and fall in the top-five category in the NCAA a career-low goals against average at 46 and a saving percentage of 90. Should her defense continue, she is on pace to break plenty of school and career records.
"I play the game I need to play and try not to get too focused on the statistics or the shutouts."
KAITLYN STROUD
Goalkeeper
"I'm very blessed to have these great statistics that everyone keeps telling me about," Stroud said. "It's kind of like counting chickens, though, you know? I play the game I need to play and try not to get too focused on the statistics or the shutouts. It's really easy to get sucked into that stuff, but the most important thing is that we walk away with a win. I try to
have that mindset game in and game out, and I think that's why I've been so successful."
why I prefer Stroud, she is surrounded by a defensive squad that allows the team to do what it most looks forward to: winning. While many players have rotated positions from last season, the Jayhawk defense has meshed together to form a solid wall most offenses struggle to get past.
"We've got some great depth," Francis said. "The versatility and depth [have] really helped us. We don't necessarily need to make any improvements; we just have to keep doing what we're doing. We gave up some goals this weekend, but we really haven't given up too many."
The defense is led by senior captain Caroline Van Slambrouck. Van Slambrouck was one athlete who switched positions this season, moving from left defense to center defense. According to Stroud, she has been an amazing leader and helped form one of the most solid defensive teams in the program's history.
"I think we've learned to be a lot more vocal with each other," Stroud said. "We hold everyone accountable. During practices, it just happens to be a group of girls who work really well together, and we're lucky to have a group like that because you can't force it. It just has to happen organically. And it's really lucky that we all get along well and can read each other."
With the toughest part of the schedule ahead, Stroud said she looks forward to proving the Jayhawks (13-1-0) belong in the No. 11 ranking spot.
"We're in a really great place right now," Stroud said. "These next two weeks will be proving ground where we show that this is where we really deserve to be and this is where we show up. There's been a lot of hype about us, especially going undefeated for [8] straight games, and I think people considered the hype to be just hype. This is where we show that we deserve to be where we're at."
Edited by Alyssa Scott
Saturday's quarterback still up in the air
@UDK_Dan
DAN HARMSEN
Just one game shy of the season's halfway mark, the Kansas offense has sputtered to 15 points per game (No. 124 in the nation) and 154.6 yards passing per game (No. 115 in the nation).
Backup quarterback Michael Cummings runs the ball against Southeast Missouri State. Cummings is in the running for the starting quarterback. "Toward the end of the week we'll make a decision on who's going to play, if not all three of them," interim coach Clint Bowen said.
As the Big 12 schedule cranks up, continuing with No. 16 Oklahoma State (4-1, 2-0) on Saturday, the Jayhawks (2-3, 0-2) yearn for an offensive spark.
GEORGE MULLINIX/KANSAN
Saturday, interim coach Clint Bowen makes his debut at Memorial Stadium in front of Jayhawk fans. The novelty that comes with a new face roaming the sideline won't be the only difference come gameday.
In last week's 33-14 loss to West Virginia both backup quarterbacks Michael Cummings and TJ. Millweard filled in for Montell Cozart. Cozart is just 62-of-125 for 693 yards, with five touchdowns and seven interceptions.
At his press *conference Tuesday. Bowen said competition is always fluid, but particularly this week.
"All three quarterbacks will get opportunities to go out there and perform and prepare to play in the game on Saturday," Bowen said. "We'll see which ones are handling the parts of the offense that they can control."
In relief of Cozart this season, Cummings has
gone 9-10-for-19 for 71 yards, but had some respectable performances in October and November of 2011, falling short in close defeats to Oklahoma State and Texas at home and Texas Tech on the road. Millweard completed his sole pass near the end of last week's game, but despite a lack of playing time, has not been ruled out of the mix.
"Toward the end of the week we'll make a decision on who's going to play, if not all three of them,"
Bowen said.
But it's not as if the Kansas quarterback, whoever it may be, doesn't have weapons at his disposal — in fact, it's quite the contrary. With two capable running backs in DeAndre Mann and Corey Avery, along with a slew of wide receivers including Nigel King, Tony Pierson, Nick Harwell and tight end Jimmay Mundine, it just needs a quarterback to spark it.
"When you have a player of Tony Pierson's caliber,
he needs to touch the ball," Bowen said. "That's something that (the coaches) are conscious of, and I believe they are going to — there will be a concerted effort to make sure that Tony becomes a major part of the game."
In the Big 12, Kansas will need to find a quarterback who can stretch the field every now and then and hold the defense accountable, and an offensive line that can give him enough time in the pocket.
If the defense forces the Jayhawks' hand, and Kansas can't throw the ball vertically, it will make for a long second half of games. Five of Kansas' next seven opponents are ranked in the top 25.
"When teams can pack the box on you, it makes life difficult for an offense if you can't throw the ball and loosen them up." Bowen said. "We have to find ways to make teams be honest in what they do defensively."
Edited by Ashley Peralta