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Volume 127 Issue 19
kansan.com
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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COMMENTARY Basketball recruit reflects style of Brannen Greene
In 2013. Kansas sophomore Brannten Greene was named Mr. Basketball in Georgia. Greene was the 47th overall prospect in his class according to the ESPN 100 and was ranked as the top from his state.
This year, Self and the Jayhawks are seeking out another potential Mr. Georgia Basketball in Jaylen Brown. Brown has scheduled an official visit to Lawrence on Oct. 10 and is looking into visiting Kentucky a week later, Oct. 17. However, that visit is not official yet. Brown's visit to Allen Fieldhouse will happen during Late Night in the Phog.
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Self has had success with recruits visiting Late Night in the past. Cliff Alexander and Kelly Oubre were in attendance last season and liked what they saw enough to commit to Kansas.
Brown and Greene have similar playing styles. They are both 6 feet 7 and split time as shooting guard and small forward. They are both plus-sized for their position and go strong to the basket. Brown has been described as a versatile athlete who plays with a chip on his shoulder and has great potential on the defensive side of the ball.
Like Greene, Brown has an improved jump shot that he understands is a critical aspect of his game.
"I feel like that's what I've been working on," Brown said. "I've been working real hard to develop everything and work on my weaknesses and (the jumper) is becoming one of my strengths. Being able to get my shot off at any time and being able to get in a rhythm like that (is important)."
Being from Georgia, Brown is considering the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech, as well as UCLA for his college decision. One important aspect of Brown's decision is the coaching staff. He said he is intrigued by Bill Self, Norm Roberts and the rest of the Jayhawk staff.
However, Brown is not alone in this decision, and it isn't based solely on basketball.
"Jaylen waiting until after his senior year is still on the table at this time," his mother, Michelle Brown, told SNY.tv. "This is a very difficult decision, and I want Jaylen to be at peace with his choice and not be rushed. I also want him to feel comfortable that his choice covers where he can excel in both academics and athletics."
This is a new development out of Brown's camp. Back in May, Brown went off for 48 points at the Adidas Gauntlet in Indianapolis. After his performance, he said he was getting tired of the recruiting process. He wanted to make a decision over the summer, but added a few schools to his list late.
"Coach Self is really cool," Brown told SNY.tv. "I hope to sit down with him to talk some basketball."
With only one official visit scheduled to the University of Kansas, it seems that a commitment from Brown is still far away.
Edited by Alyssa Scott
GEORGE MULLINIX/KANSAN
Freshman outside hitter Madison Rigdon attempts to spike the ball over two Lipscomb players on Aug. 29. Rigdon led Kansas at the Jayhawk Classic last weekend with 46 kills.
LMATT CORTE
@Corte UDK
The volleyball team's three upperclassmen were supposed to solidify the outside hitter position. Seniors Sara McClinton and Chelsea Albers made the All-Big 12 Preseason team this year, and junior Tiana Dockery received substantial playing time in her first two seasons at Kansas.
But at this weekend's Jayhawk Classic, which Kansas won, a different outside hitter stole the show.
Madison Rigdon, a freshman from Pflugerville, Texas, has been lighting up opposing teams lately in a stretch few would have predicted to come
so early.
in three matches at the Jayhawk Classic, Rigdon led the team with 46 kills, including a career-high 20 kills against Arkansas.
we've been very pleased with Madison and how she has developed through the nonconference part of our schedule," coach Ray Bechard said. "I don't want to say that she is a surprise because we knew the type of talent she would bring to the table, but with her position being deep with upperclassmen, her emergence has been really good to see."
became the first Jayhawk of the season to be named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week.
Rigdon is the first freshman to win this award since 2012, when West Virginia's Hannah Sackett did so.
On Monday, the big 12 recognized Rigdon's stellar play in the Jayhawk Classic as she
Taking on the demanding role of a six-rotation starter — a player who plays in the front and back row — Rigdon is one of the most versatile players on the team.
Armed with a booming serve, Rigdon's 19 aces lead the team and rank fifth in the Big 12.
"I think my serve has been a big part of it (my success)," Rigdon said. "I've had to get more confident with it as we go."
She ranks second on the team in kills (129) and points (156.5), only falling behind Albers in those categories. Not bad for someone who appeared to be a backup heading into the season.
Rigdon now has more confidence than ever, and that's the scary part. Well, for her opposition, that is.
Not surprisingly, Albers, the team's other six-rotation player, has positively impacted Rigdon.
"(Albers) picks me up whenever I make a mistake, and if I mess up, she just tells me to move onto the next play," Rigdon said. "Her leadership is amazing and its helped me out a lot throughout this transition from high school to college."
Before coming to Kansas, Rigdon played at Pflugerville High School where she was a three-time member of the All-Texas team, and she set school records in kills (1375) and aces (229).
As Kansas' nonconference schedule ends and Big 12 play starts, the big question will be whether Rigdon can consistently perform at a high level against tougher teams.
Then again, if her team-leading 11 kills against No. 3 Penn State are any indication, Rigdon appears to be up to the challenge.
Edited by Kelsey Phillips
Weis promises a more physical team
FRANK WEIRICH/KANSAN
Junior linebacker Jake Love takes down Central Michigan running back Saylor Lavallii for a loss.
That probably won't hurt as Texas comes into town this week. Both the Longhorns' defense and offense are known to be tough.
"If you're asking whether we're going to pull off, not a chance," Weis said. "I'm a very superstitious person. I think the physical practice helped us last week, and they (players) know that, so it's only going to go up from there."
Texas running backs Malcolm Brown and Johnnathan Gray are both around 5 feet 11 inches and 220 pounds. Tight end Geoff Swaim is 6 feet 4 inches and 250 pounds. Weis said Swaim is one of the best blocking tight ends he has seen.
Both in response to the blowout loss to Duke and in preparation for the bruising, old-school offense that Central Michigan ran, Weis promised to make the Jayhawks' practice more physical than usual.
So this week, the Jayhawks will continue to hone their physicality.
The Texas defense has 13
STELLA LIANG
@Stelly_Liang
And it worked.
sacks in three games. Malcom Brown, a defensive tackle, is leading the Big 12 Conference in both sacks and tackles for loss.
"This team has a lot of physical players," Weis said. "Their running backs are physical, to start off with. You've got to expect them to come in and figure they're just going to pound us."
The schedule worked out so Kansas would face two teams, CMU and now Texas, that play the tough brand of football.
"I don't do the schedule, but the game played out well from that game (CMU) to this game (Texas) we're playing right now," Weis said.
On Saturday, Kansas saw indicators of more tough football. Before the game, the Jayhawks were last in the league with one sack. They tripled that total against CMU by sacking the quarterback three times.
Much has been said about the strength of the defense being in the secondary, but linebacker Jake Love did his part in sealing the victory. Love came up with consecutive stops in the fourth quarter.
He now has five tackles for
loss, just one behind Texas' Brown.
Against Texas, we will see if the trend continues. Even the offensive side of ball, which offensive coordinator John Reagan says is not looking to play "smash mouth football" every week, is looking to be more physical.
"At the same time, it is a violent game — witnessed by their quarterback (David Ash) retiring at 20 years old or whatever he is," Reagan said. "It is a violent game and you have to play it that way regardless of the style of offense and the type of person you are. The game has to be played that way."
Weis acknowledges that there are injury risks to physical practices during the week, but he said it is necessary.
Ash, who was the starter and played in one game, retired from football last week after complications from concussions. He missed the last 10 games of the previous season due to a head injury.
"If we don't bang Tuesday and Wednesday, then we won't be ready to play on Saturday," Weis said.
Edited by Alyssa Scott
Kansas ties for 5th at Lady Paladin Invitational
ALANA FLINN
@Alana_Flinn
The Kansas women's golf team tied Yale University for fifth-place overall at the Lady Paladin Invitational on Tuesday with a final score of 892 (+28). The invitational was held at the Furman University Golf Course in Greenville, S.C.
Junior Yupaporn Kawinpakorn finished the tournament tied for 10th individually with a three-round score of 218 (+2). Kawinpakorn's strong round of 70 (-2) Tuesday helped propel her into the top 10.
Kansas coach Erin O'Neil
"Mook [Kawinpakorn] played very well today to shoot under par with a tough wind," O'Neil said to Kansas Athletics. "She had a very good tournament overall."
was impressed with Kawinpakorn throughout the tournament, especially since the elements were challenging.
Other Kansas golfers included senior Minami Levonowich and sophomore Pornvipa Sakdee, who both finished with 54-hole scores of 227 (+11), tying for 36th place. Senior Gabriella DiMarco tied for 54th with a score of 231 (+15). Senior Michelle Woods tied for 59th with a score of 233 (+17). Junior Mackenzie
O'Neil said the team could have played better overall.
"Conditions were more difficult today and for the most part we didn't handle it as well as we could have," O'Neil said. "We mainly pushed too hard to make birdies on a day when pars were great."
Thayer tied for 82nd place with a score of $ 242^{*} (+26). $
Furman won its home tournament with an overall score of 860 (-4). Wake Forest (882), Texas Tech (883) and Florida State (889) rounded out the top five.
Kansas has placed in the top five at three other tournaments so far this season. The team next plays at the
ANNA WENNER/KANSAN
Coach Erin O'Neil speaks with one of her players during the Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational.
Ron Moore Women's 'Inter-collegiate Oct. 10-12 at the Highlands Ranch Golf Club in
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Highlands Ranch, Colo.
Edited by Jordan Fox
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