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KANSAN.COM/SPORTS | MONDAY, MAY 2, 2016
Missy Minear/KANSAN Senior forward Perry Ellis looks to the basket in the first half against UConn in Des Moines, Iowa.
Diallo, Ellis and Selden invited to 2016 NBA Draft Combine
> SCOTT CHASEN
@SChasenKU
After a busy offseason, Kansas men's basketball could be without seven players from last year's team in the fall. With four players graduating and an additional three declaring for the NBA draft, the roster could be dramatically shaped.
The next step in the draft process came over the weekend, as ESPN's Jeff Goodman tweeted out a list of players who have been invited to the 2016 NBA Draft combine. Among that list were three Kansas players: freshman forward Cheiek Diallo, junior guard Wayne Selden Jr. and senior forward Perry Ellis.
Last year, the trio accounted for 40.3 percent of Kansas' scoring, recording 1,245 of a possible 3,089 points. Ellis and Selden finished as first and second on Kansas, respectively, in points per game.
Of the three, Diallo is the only one who has yet to sign with an agent, meaning he can return to the University if he decides by May 25 — 10 days after the 2016 NBA Draft Combine concludes.
While Goodman tweeted his list is not yet complete—with the names of 62 of 70 invited prospects—the most notable Kansas snub from the combine appears to be junior guard Brannen Greene, who announced his intentions to declare for the draft and sign with an agent back on March 30.
Goodman tweeted on April 30 that Greene did not receive an invite to the combine.
["T'm] disappointed for Brannen, but he'll still have opportunities to get in camps and work out for teams," Kansas coach Bill Self told the Lawrence Journal-World.
Oubre was selected with the 15th pick in the draft by the Atlanta Hawks and was traded to the Washington Wizards shortly after. Alexander went undrafted but signed with the Portland Trail Blazers.
This year, the NBA Draft Combine will run in Chicago from May 11-15. Last year, Kansas had two participants in the combine: freshmen Kelly Oubre Jr. and Cliff Alexander.
Other Big 12 players to receive combine invites were Oklahoma guards Isaiah Cousins and Buddy Hield, Iowa State forward Georges Niang and Baylor forward Taurean Prince. According to the updated list by Goodman, Texas big man Prince Ibeh is one of 13 alternates.
The combine will be broadcast on ESPN2 and ESPNU.
Edited by Brendan Dzwierzunski
Baseball clinches first Big 12 series win
Pitcher Jackson Goddard winds up for a throw in Sunday afternoon's 17-6 loss to the Oklahoma Sooners
Paige Stingley/KANSAN
► WESLEY DOTSON @WesleyDee23
Kansas baseball (19- 24-1, 5-9 Big 12) finally secured a Big 12 series victory over the weekend while hosting the Oklahoma Sooners (21-22-1, 7-11 Big 12) at Hoglund Ballpark.
The starter has become
Wins in the first two games of the series came by virtue of strong pitching, which helped create timely hitting—a formula the team has struggled to consistently produce for most of the season.
Krauth led the way for the Jayhawks, allowing two runs over six innings of work while striking out seven battens in a 7-2 victory.
Rain forced Friday's game to be moved to Saturday and set the stage for a doubleheader. Still, that did not slow down senior starter Ben Krauth (4-4), who continued to shut down opposing offenses.
a pitcher the team tends to lean on in series-opening games.
His dominating performance helped set the table for the team winning both games on Saturday.
In the second game of the doubleheader, sophomore starter Blake Weiman and sophomore reliever Tyler Davis struggled, allowing seven hits and seven earned runs over the first six innings.
obviously really shorthanded and I couldn't be more proud of our team."
We are
The struggles forced Kansas coach Ritch Price to go deep into his bulpen,
Ritch Price coach
Sophomore reliever Casey Douglas and junior reliever Jeremy Kravetz were phenomenal in the late stages of the game.
which delivered.
The duo allowed only two hits and one run over the last three innings.
"We are obviously really shorthanded and I couldn't be more proud of our team," Price said after the game, according to a KU Athletics release. "And our bullpen was really short this game. I tip my cap to Kravetz. He came in and put up a huge zero for us in the ninth."
That allowed Kansas' offense to keep attacking. The Jayhawks had scored one run in the seventh to regain the lead, and another in the bottom of the ninth to win in walk-off fashion, 9-8.
However, that same formula did not continue into Sunday.
The Jayhawks could not muster much success in the series finale loss to the Sooners.
and walked nine batters in a 17-6 blowout loss. The game ended after seven innings due to the 10-run mercy rule in effect.
Kansas allowed 15 hits
"I'm going to have to sit down with [pitching coach] Ryan Graves tomorrow and figure out what adjustments, if any, we're going to make with our weekend rotation," Price said. "That's two Sundays in-conference now that we've [allowed at least 10 runs]."
While Krauth set the tone and Weiman was merely average in each of their respective starts, freshman starter Jackson Goddard experienced the most troubles of any Kansas pitcher over the weekend.
Goddard (2-4) allowed nine hits, six earned runs, walked three batters and wasn't able to make it out of the fourth inning.
The righty has struggled mightily in his first season. He has allowed 63 hits and 33 earned runs in just over 50 innings of work.
After the game, Price hinted at possibly removing Goddard from the rotation in preparation for Texas Tech next weekend.
Although Goddard has been effective in his four appearances out of the bullpen, he has struggled in the starting rotation.
"Goddard has been really good for us out of the bullpen," Price said. "And if I had another option, I'd do it, but we really have no other option as far as putting somebody in the starting spot, but I'm going to have to do something."
On the other side, Price's offense remained effective, producing 11 hits. The team also received a 3-for-3 performance, four RBIs and a walk from junior catcher Michael Tinsley.
"I thought we were good offensively," Price said. "In fact, I'm really pleased with how we played offensively."
The glaring difference in the game compared to the first two games was pitching. It continues to be up and down for Kansas, and it was noticeably down in the finale.
"Giving up so many three-run and four-run innings is alarming," Price said. "It's because of the number of guys we're walking and we're behind in the count. You throw a 3-1 fastball in this conference and you're going to get lit up."
Price added: "Unfortunately, it feels like every time we look up at the count. it's 3-1."
The bullpen—unlike game two on Saturday—wasn't able to stop the bleeding. Freshman reliever Blake Goldsberry, senior reliever Hayden Edwards and sophomore reliever Ryan Ralston allowed a combined five hits and 11 earned runs.
"It [comes down] to your bullpen," Price said. "When you go to the bullpen, the guy that comes in there has got to come in pounding the strike zone, and get you out of trouble, and minimize the damage. We weren't able to do that today."
Kansas will have the opportunity to rebound when it travels to face Minnesota for a two-game midweek set May 3-4. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. for Tuesday's opener, and the final will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
- Edited by Matthew Clough
Larry Mazyck, offensive lineman, (left) has signed with the Houston Texans. Three other players signed deals with NFL teams this past weekend.
Caroline Fiss/KANSAN
Four Kansas football players sign deals
SHANE JACKSON @jacksonshane3
De'Andre Mann Running Back
Following the draft, running back De'Andre Mann signed a contract with the Atlanta Falcons according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. The 5-foot-9 Miami native played two years with Kansas after transferring from Hartnell College.
Mann is more of a between-the-tackles type of runner and has the ability to withstand damage by opposing defenders. That type of strength will translate well to the next level. However, it's still a long shot that Mann makes a team.
In both seasons at Kansas, Mann finished second on the team in rushing yards. He ran for 399 yards as a junior and 387 as a senior. During his senior campaign, he averaged 5.1 yards per carry.
Taylor Cox Running Back
Running back Taylor Cox tweeted out he agreed to a deal with the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
As a sixth-year senior, Cox ran for 231 yards on 79 carries. He plunged his way to two rushing touchdowns, the second most on the team. He had a late start to his senior campaign, playing in just eight games.
Cox's journey in a Kansas uniform was unlike any other. He sustained season ending injuries in both 2013 and 2014. At last in 2015, he was able to finish out his senior season.
Like Mann, Cox is also a bruiser type of back and prefers to run between the tackles. He was also used in blocking situations and has the ability to do that. It will be a tall task to make a team come fall, but his journey is proof to never count him out.
Ben Goodman Defensive End
On Sunday, defensive end Ben Goodman singed a free agent deal with the New York Jets according to the Lawrence Journal-World. The 6-foot-3 Texas native played four seasons with the Jayhawks. He was the anchor on the defensive side of the ball last season, serving as captain.
Goodman will be an asset as a pass rusher. He has the speed to get to the quarterback on the edge. It's still a long shot he makes the team, but Goodman will certainly make an impression come fall camp.
In his senior campaign, Goodman earned Honorable Mention All-Big 12 honors. He finished the year with 51 tackles including a team-high 9.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. In two different games this past year, Goodman recorded a career high eight stops.
On Sunday, offensive lineman Larry Mazyck signed a free agent deal with the Houston Texans according to the Lawrence Journal-World.
Larry Mazyck Offensive Line
Mazyck started in just four games this past season, all at right tackle. He did see time in all 12 contests. Mazyck started in nine games during his junior campaign after spending his first two collegiate seasons with Iowa Western Community College.
However, it is his size that will tempt teams to take a chance on him despite his unimpressive resume. Mazyck towers over most at 6-feet-8 and weighs 335 pounds. Even if his skill set still needs developing, his size will be enough to compete for a roster spot.
- Edited by Matthew Clough
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