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Big 12 power rankings: TCU holds on to the lead
TCU (Last week: 1)
TCU's 70-7 win over Stephen F. Austin on Saturday was overshadowed with a knee injury to senior safety Kenny Iloka that will keep him out for the rest of the season. The Horned Frogs have already lost four defensive starters, but head coach Gary Patterson said he believes his team can overcome the inters
"We've got some young guys who will have to step up." Patterson said. "We weren't supposed to be good on defense this year, the offense was supposed to do it all. These kids have taken that as a challenge and have played awfully hard."
Despite their 2-0 start, the Baylor Bears have struggled out of the gate on defense, giving up an average of 26 points per game.
Bavlor (Last week: 2)
Even though the Bears' offense has put up their usual points, they have struggled with turnovers early in the season, which is uncharacteristic of Briles's teams. But Briles isn't worried about his team going forward.
"It's a concern," said head coach Art Briles. "We need to start faster, and just be better. We know we've got the people, we just need to gel."
it's pretty obvious why." Stoops said. "The environment, the checkerboard endzone, you know the whole deal. When you come from two touchdowns behind in the fourth quarter to win, that's pretty special."
"We've got a lot of rust on us. We're nowhere near where we need to be to make another run at the Big 12 title," Briles said. "As the season progresses, we'll play up to the level of our capabilities. I don't think there's any question about that."
"It will be dealt with internally," Stoops said. "We are trying to teach them and educate them on that kind of behavior."
However, the Sooners have had to deal with some negative press because safety Hatari Byrd was seen making an inappropriate gesture at Tennessee fans.
The Sooners are coming off one of the best games of the week in their 31-24 win over the Tennessee Volunteers in a hostile road environment. For head coach Bob Stoops, the fact that it was a comeback victory made it even more special.
After two impressive wins to start the season, head coach Mike Gundy said he likes the improvements his team made in the first two weeks.
Oklahoma (Last week: 3)
Oklahoma State (Last week: 4)
"We improved in a lot of areas from week 1," Gundy said. "I thought we tackled better. But, we aren't as good of a run blocking team as we need to be."
The Cowboys will have a stiff challenge in Texas San Antonio, which gave Kansas State trouble in the first half last week.
"They are very well coached," Gundy said. "They played well against Arizona (in week one) against Kansas State. They're a team that you have to be well prepared for."
Kansas State (Last week: 6)
The Wildcats struggled offensively in the first half last week, but their defense only gave up three points, which is the only three points they have given up all season.
I'm pleased with the way they're playing," said head coach Bill Snyder. "They are playing hard and the tackling has improved. There's still some we can improve upon and some things we haven't seen that we are going to find out if we can react to."
Texas (Last week: 5)
The Longhorns bounced back from a blowout loss at Notre Dame in week 1 with a 42-28 win over Rice on Saturday. The Longhorns replaced junior quarterback Tyrone Swoopes with freshman Jerrod Heard for some of the game. Heard threw for 120 yards with two touchdowns and had 96 rushing yards.
"Game by game we have to see how it goes," said head coach Charlie Strong. "We need to execute on offense, which will lead to first downs and touchdowns."
West Virginia (Last week: 7)
After two routine wins to start the season, the Mountaineers get a bye week to prepare for their toughest test yet in the Maryland Terrapins. Through the first two weeks, head coach Dana Holgorsen said she was pleased with quarterback Skyler Howard.
"He's playing efficiently," Holgorsen said. "He's doing a good job in the run game and taking care of the ball. He's more comfortable than he was last year."
Texas Tech (Last week: 8)
For the second week in a row, sophomore quarterback Patrick Mahomes was named Big 12 Player of the Week after throwing for 361 yards and four touchdowns while leading the Red Raiders to their second win of the year.
"The most impressive thing outside all his physical attributes is how he's protecting the ball," said head coach Kliff Kingsbury. "That's not something that a young quarterback usually does well, especially with the amount of chances he takes."
Iowa State (Last week: 9)
After an impressive win over an in-state rival in week 1, week 2 was a different story against the Iowa Hawkeyes. The Cyclones dropped their second game of the season 31-14 to drop their record to 1-1.
"Big plays and broken plays were certainly factors in the game," said head coach Paul Rhoads. "We had a lot of good field position and flipped the field a few times. But the big plays hurt our team."
Kansas (Last Week: 10)
After another loss — this time 55-23 to the Memphis Tigers it's clear that the Jayhawk defense needs to make drastic improvements to help them compete going forward.
"I know we will make improvements, if nothing else because we have a really good staff," said head coach David Beaty. "We're a little light on experience over there right now, but that's no excuse."
The Jayhawks have a bye week before they travel to New Jersey to take on Rutgers. Beaty said the bye week couldn't have come at a better time for his team.
"Obviously two weeks in seems early for a bye," Beaty said. "But with the experience of our players, it couldn't have come at a better time. We're going to look at the numbers, and pay close attention to what's been giving us problems."
- By Evan Riggs
@EvanRiggsUDK
Baseball will begin fall practices on Sept.22
WESLEY DOTSON
@Wesley Dee23
The Kansas baseball team is preparing to begin its 45-day fall practice on Sept. 22. The Jayhawks are hoping to take a step in the right direction after a disappointing 2015 season that saw them finish with a record of 23-32 and ninth in the Big 12, which left them out of the Big 12 tournament.
Subpar pitching was the recurring theme of the Jayhawks' 2015 season as they finished dead last in the Big 12 with a 5.56 ERA.
Former seniors Connor McKay, Dakota Smith and Blair Breck all left, and their positions of left field, right field and first base, respectively, were void.
Junior Michael Tinsley, who spent most of last season behind the plate, will replace McKay in left field this season.
Tinsley is a gifted athlete with great speed, so his move to the outfield could be a plus for the Jayhawks. Sophomores T.J. Martin and Tanner Gragg are expected to each share time at catcher this season.
FRANK WEIRICH/KANSAN Pitcher Ben Krauth throws to first, attempting to get an easy out. The Kansas men's maseball team beat Utah 7-5 on Friday, March 6.
The 2015-16 recruiting class includes nine players: infielder Ty Denzer; outfielder Devin Foyle; pitchers Jackson Goddard, Blake Goldsberry and Ty Stahl; outfielder Peyton Grassanovits; infielders David Kyriacou and Blake Shinkle; and Rudy Karre, who is expected to see time both on the mound and in the infield.
"I have to tip my cap to [assistant coach] Ritchie Price and [associate head coach] Ryan Graves for putting together outstanding back-to-back recruiting classes," head coach Ritch Price said in a news release in February. "I honestly believe the 2015 class is one of the best I have ever been associated with in my 22 years at the Division I level. This class has the opportunity to be on par with the kids that are currently on our campus which we are really excited about." Price also spoke highly of assistant coach Pitchie Price.
"I have to pay Ritchie a great compliment; he has become one of the best young recruiters in the country," he said. "It is completely evident how much better our players have gotten since he joined our staff and I give him full credit for that."
The most notable name on the recruiting class is freshman Ty Denzer, who was ranked the No. 5 overall player and No. 2 shortstop in the state of Minnesota by Perfect Game.
"Ty Denzer is an athletic switch-hitter who has the versatility and athleticism to not only play in the infield," Price said. "But to play in the
outfield as well. Being a switch hitter will really benefit him in the box against Big 12 pitching."
Other players who are expected to perform at a high level this season include senior starting pitcher Ben Krauth, junior closer Stephen Villines, senior infielder Colby Wright, and sophomore infielder Matt McLaughlin.
Krauth has become the ace of the Jayhawks staff and led the team with seven wins last season. Villines had another stellar season in the closer's role as he recorded 13 saves and was named to the Midseason Stopper of the Year Watch List.
Matt McLaughlin made his presence felt in his freshman season by posting a .293 batting average with 25 RBIs. He
also earned Big 12 Newcomer of the Week honors the week of March 30 to April 5.
The Jayhawks will need more of the same from these key contributors to have any chance to compete in the always difficult Big 12 this season.
- Edited by Maddy Mikinski
The Kansas women's golf team came in last place out of 12 at its second tournament, shooting 79 over par after three rounds at the Minnesota Invitational, which was held at the Minikahda Club.
The Jayhawks' best round was the second, in which they shot a 312 and senior Yupaporn Kawinpakorn had the best finish for the team at +7.
Women's golf grabs 12th at Minnesota Invitational
EMMA GREEN
@ emmalee_green
Player of the Tournament: Yupaporn Kawinpakorn Tying for 10th place with
Anna Appert Lund from Purdue and Jordan Chael from Kentucky, Kawinpakorn, or Mook, recorded her 21st career and fifth-straight top-10 finish. Kawinpakorn was the best golfer for the Jayhawks throughout the entire tournament, shooting a +2, +3, and +2 in the three rounds.
Shooting a 223 overall, Kawinpakorn improved her score from last year's Invitational when she shot a 229 and tied
"I'm proud of Mook for earning her 21st top-10 career finish," Kansas coach Erin O'Neil said in a press release. "She wasn't hitting it great today but fought hard to finish strong against a tough field."
Individual Standings
for 28th.
Following Kawinpakorn,
the next best Jayhawk was
freshman Ariadna Fonesca,
who finished +19 and tied for
49th with Emmy Martin from
TCU and Maddy Rayner from
Houston.
Sophomore MacKenzie Sexe, the lone golfer to compete as an individual from Kansas, carded a 238 while sophomore Pitsitee Winyarat and freshman Victoria Chandra
Freshman Laine Evans, who tied for 20th at the Sunflower Invitational last week, recorded a 237 and tie for 56th with Alexis Keating from Colorado.
finished 65th and 67th, respectively.
"As a group we are young, raw and have lots to learn, yet we are also very talented," O'Neil said in the press release. "The potential is there for great improvement, but we must be patient, quick to learn and fully committed to our shots to shoot the scores we are capable of shooting."
Of the six Kansas golfers who competed at the Invitational, five are freshmen or sophomores. Kawinpakorn is the only one who isn't a freshman or sophomore.
Disqualification
Disqualification In the first round of the tournament, Chandra was disqualified for incorrectly recording her score, forcing the Jayhawks to count the other four golfers' scores. A team is allowed to have five golfers compete and then drop the worst score at the end of the round, but the Jayhawks were forced to keep Winyarat's +14 in the first round.
"Victoria was disqualified for signing for an incorrect score, specifically for a four when she really had a five," O'Neil said in the press release. "It's a hard lesson to learn but better to learn it earlier in your career rather than later and there's no doubt it's something she will never do again."
After the first round, the Jayhawks were 27 strokes behind leader Purdue with a team score of 314.
Next up
On Friday, the Jayhawks will go to Norman, Okla. to compete in the Schooner Classic at Belmar Golf Club. The Classic is a benefit for the OK Kids Korral, which is supported by country music star Toby Keith and his wife Tricia Covel through the Toby Keith Foundation.
This is the first year the Jayhawks have competed in the Classic, and it will be their third tournament of the year.