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Junior Timeke ONeal works to get around a defender.
Preview: KU vs. Emporia State
DYLAN SHERWOOD
@dmantheman2011
It's unusual for two former fellow coaches to face each other for the first time — even more so when they are good friends. But on Sunday, women's basketball coach Brandon Schneider will meet his former school, Emporia State, and his former colleague, coach Jory Collins, in the final exhibition match before both teams start their seasons next weekend.
'This will be Kansas' second game after defeating Pittsburg State last Sunday, 80-54. Schneider said he thinks this will be a test before the start of the regular season.
"They are a very,very high quality opponent to be playing in an exhibition game," Schneider said. "I think they have players on their roster that would be really good players at Kansas or at any other Big 12 school."
Schneider said he thinks that Emporia State is a contender for the Division II National Championship and could also be at the top of the MIAA. The Hornets were ranked No.1 in the WBCA Preseason poll released on Tuesday. Emporia State was also the preseason pick to win the MIAA Championship.
Emporia State is coming off one of its best seasons since Schneider's final season at Emporia State in 2010, making it back to the NCAA Division II Final Four.
The Hornets return seven players who were a part of the 2010 Final Four team, which went 30-5. The MIAA Freshman of the Year Addie Lackey returns for Emporia State, along with junior guard Kelly Moten and forward Kathryn Flott. Collins brought
in senior forward Sandra Ngoie, who transferred in from George Mason. Collins said he believes she can make an immediate impact.
"She can play inside and out, [and she] played for a Swedish National Team growing up," Collins said.
Collins also added that his team has not had any problems with the change to four 10-minute quarters. Emporia State has had full scrimmages to practice the scenarios they could face on Sunday, said Collins.
Even with Emporia State's returning players, Schneider said he thinks this is a team that Kansas can match up with at several different positions.
"We are gonna have to play really well in order to win the ball game" Schneider said.
Schneider said one thing the Jayhawers are looking to improve
is defensive consistency after not performing well in the second quarter against Pittsburg State.
For both Schneider and Collins, Sunday will be a learning opportunity.
"It's going to be a terrific opportunity for us to test ourselves early, and, hopefully, find out what things we do well and what are the areas in which we need to improve," Schneider said.
Collins said he wants to see where his team is at before the first game next weekend.
Collins also mentioned that, because of his friendship with Schneider, they can help each other and make each other's team better.
"There more opportunities for us to hang out and bounce ideas off each other since he is now close again", Collins said.
Tipoff at Allen Fieldhouse is at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
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