WEDNESDAY, NOV. 7, 2001
MEN'S BASKETBALL PREVIEW
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TODD KAPPELMANN
Walk-on works to increase intensity during practice
He knows his role in practice hasn't changed much this year — he's still pushing the big guys. But senior forward Todd Kappelmann is a bit more comfortable this year.
"I'm more relaxed this year because I know the system better," Kappelmann said.
Kappelmann, who made the team as a walk-on last fall, despite blindness in his left eye, spent the summer in Lawrence taking summer classes.
He also spent the summer working at basketball camps, lifting weights and playing pick-up basketball.
At the pick-up games, Kappelmann was able to check out this year's freshmen
"I'm more relaxed this year because I know the system better."
Todd Kappelmann
Senior forward
class. He said they looked athletic and would give the team a different look.
would give the Kappelmann was a junior-college transfer from Butler County Community College last year. He played in 16 games last season for a total of 26 minutes.
Ali Brox
Year: Senior
Position: Forward
Height: 6-9
Hometown:
Augusta, Kansas
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MISSOURI
Tigers ready for Rush's return
By Ryan Malashock
Kansan sportswriter
The Missouri men's basketball team finished last season 20-13 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Imagine how well the Tigers would have finished if they had a healthy Kareem Rush the entire season. The junior All-American candidate tore ligaments in his thumb on Feb. 5 and missed seven of Missouri's key big 12 games.
This year Rush is back, and he's healthier than ever.
Missouri coach Quin Snyder said Rush's absence hampered his team last season but noted that Rush had made strides toward avoiding the same fate this year.
"He put himself in the position with his body where he can withstand more because of what he has done in the off-season conditioning." Snyder said.
doting. Snyder led the Tigers with 21.1 points per game last season, but Snyder's looking forward to another aspect of Rush's game.
"He has started to take pride in
his defense," he said. "It matters to him and hurts him to get beat."
Senior guar d Clarence Gilbert, the Tigers' lone senior, picked
up the offensive slack when Rush was sidelined last year. Noted for his stellar long-distance shooting, Gilbert was fourth in the Big 12 in scoring last year with 16.5 points per game and led the conference with 3.19 three-pointers per game.
Gilbert said he wanted to be not only another offensive threat for the Tigers, but a team leader as well.
"I feel like my role is to let the younger guys know what Missouri basketball is all about," Gilbert said.
While Snyder said he saw the offense revolving around the guards and Rush, he said the front-court would play a larger-than-normal role for a Missouri team. Forwards Arthur Johnson and Travon Bryant significantly contributed to the Tigers as freshmen last season
Both players lost fat and added muscle this season, giving Missouri a quicker, stronger frontcourt.
In addition to Johnson and Bryant, junior college transfer Uche Okafor could see action. Okafor was a highly-rated prospect coming out of junior college last season, but the NCAA is investigating Okafor's eligibility and may not allow him to play. Despite Okafor's potential absence, Snyder still foresees a tough Tiger frontcourt.
bogger Tiger Missouri was voted second, behind Kansas, in both of the Big 12's preseason polls. But on paper, the Rush-led Tigers appear to match the Jayhawks at every position. Mark Jan. 28 and Mar. 3 as important dates. The Border War should be hostile this season.
"Missouri will be sensational," said Kansas coach Roy Williams. "Kareem Rush had a fantastic year last year. He's a very unique player. He has such range and flexibility to take the ball in the lane."
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"He's the first true point guard I've ever coached," Barnes said. "I get on him because he'll be two feet away from the basket, and he'll pass. He takes so much pride
This means coach Rick Barnes may fill the starting point-guard position with freshman recruit T.J. Ford. One of the highest-profile recruits in the history of Texas basketball, Ford has an abnormally narrow spinal column that could lead to serious injury, but he has put off surgery.
"We have to do a better job of driving the ball and attacking the defense," Barnes said. "We have to improve our free throw and field goal shooting. We are definitely looking to run and we are going to push it. We still know we are going to have to execute in the
points and shot 44 percent from the floor last season, chose not to return to Texas for his senior year.
The reason may be that Maurice Evans, who averaged 15.6
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Barnes sees his team's style as pushing the ball up and down the floor, but sees room for improvement.
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"I worked real hard in all areas this summer." Owens said. "My main goal is to become a complete player."
The Texas Longhorns finished tied for second in the Big 12 Conference last year but are picked to finish fifth this season.
Bv Ali Brox
in passing the ball."
Saturday
"He has been a good asset to our team," senior forward Chris Owens said of Ford. "T.J. is definitely a playmaker. He will help at the point guard position, and he will be a leader on our队."
Owens is an asset for the Texas inside game. He averaged 14.4 points and 7.9 rebounds pergame last season and set a school record with 92 blocks. Owens is a preseason All-Big 12 team pick
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half-court situations."
Texas is ranked 22nd in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll, but Owens said he didn't focus on preseason rankings.
"We haven't really thought about it much." Owens said. "We are just having fun in practice and concentrating on playing together and coming together as a team."
Barnes has high expectations for the Big 12 Conference as a whole.
Other key returners for Texas are sophomore center James Thomas, 7 points, 6.5 rebounds per game; sophomore forward Brian Boddicker, 5.7 points, 3.9 rebounds per game; and sophomore guard-forward Brandon Mouton, 5.4 points, 2.3 rebounds per game.
"I'm excited about our league having five teams in the Top 25, and two in the top 10," Barnes said. "If one of two teams play deep into the tournament, the perception of the league will change."
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The Red Raiders finished last in the Big 12 Conference last year.
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Expectations rise for Texas Tech, Knight
Kansan sportswriter
"I always have expectations that don't vary much from one year to another," Knight said.
By Ali Brox
Knight was fired from Indiana University after being accused of several violations, including grabbing a student by the arm and cursing at him for disrespectfully referring to Knight by only his last name.
In his years at Indiana, Knight had the same expectations for each of his teams. He said they wouldn't change for this squad.
Bobby Knight may be the most controversial name on the list of recognizable Big 12 Conference coaches, but he's focused on putting problems at Indiana behind him and improving Texas Tech's squad
But in a conference already lauded for its winning coaches, the addition of Knight at Texas Tech augments the impressive list. In his 29 years at Indiana, Knight won three national championships and amassed 763 victories.
"Everywhere people are talking about their expectations for Knight and the team."
but were picked to finish eighth this year in the preseason poll.
"There is a lot of excitement around town," senior center Andy Ellis said.
The presence of Knight in Lubbock, Texas, has invigorated a basketball program that hasn't had much to be excited about in the
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Tech may be adjusting to a new program. Only four of nine possible players who could return this year chose to stay and play for Knight. Ellis is the top returner, averaging of 14.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game last year. Two junior college transfers, Pawel Storozynski and Kasib Powell, will fill out the front line.
Junior Will Chavis, a junior college transfer from Panola Junior College in Texas, will likely back up sophomore Marcus Shropshire at point guard.
Knight said his team needed to improve its focus.
"Concentration," Knight said. "That's simple to say, but improving concentration in play - that is difficult."
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