Volume 124 Issue 74
kansan.com
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
COMMENTARY Forwards battling for victory
Historic Allen Fieldhouse will host Saturday's much anticipated heavyweight fight. Heavyweight bouts without a title on the line aren't sexy, but they are still nothing to scoff at. The pending duel between Thomas Robinson and Ohio State's star player Jared Sullinger (assuming Sullinger plays) has more on the line than just a victory.
Both of these players were recognized as preseason All-Americans by college basketball pundits. Sullinger and Robinson understand their value as players and that their performances dictate the fate of their teams. As nationally identified elite players, Robinson and Sullinger have a bulls-eye attached to their names, which means opponents will aim to knock them out. On Saturday, the slobberkicker between Sullinger and Robinson should bring the best out of both players because they know that the sports nation will give its undived attention to witness the star-studded contest, and perception will change based on their performance. Both Robinson and Sullinger strive to be the top forward in the nation, and they both know that if they want to be considered the best, they must play their best against other great players to live up to all American leaders.
It will be a pugnacious war of attrition, might and strength between Sullinger and Robinson. Whoever can land more uppercuts and hay-makers will triumph and seize glory.
Edited by Jason Bennett
The bout won't be decided based only on who recorded better statistics and won the game, but also how they got their teammates involved. Because Robinson and Sullinger will draw double-teams and buckets will be hard to come by, they must find their teammates so their offense can operate accordingly. The title of the Beatles song "With a Little Help from My Friends" says it all. Robinson and Sullinger cannot win the match single-handedly. Other marquee and role players must step up and alleviate Sullinger and Robinson's workload.
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MORE ANALYSIS AND STATS INSIDE
For Robinson and Sullinger, the bout on Saturday is personal. During the offseason, Robinson and Sullinger participated in the Lebron James Skills Academy and the Amare Stoudemire Skills Academy. Both players battled against each other and made an impression on the national media, fellow college basketball players and NBA players. Since the summer camps, Robinson has had the Ohio State game circled on his calendar solely because of his matchup against Sullinger. Both players respect each other, but they are vying for supremacy and bragging rights.
Robinson and Sullinger's NBA Draft stock is through the roof, and a future big fat paycheck is in store for them as long as they play superbly. Both players want to prove that they are more deserving of a bigger paycheck and a higher draft selection. Whoever plays better in this fight will create a lot of buzz in the NBA community, and the national media will center its attention on the winner.
NEW FACES ARISE IN SEARCH FOR TURNER GILL'S REPLACEMENT PAGE 8
KANSAS,88 LONG BEACH STATE, 80
OUTSIDE THE PAINT
Robinson improves his shooting
MAX ROTHMAN
mrothman@kansan.com
When junior forward Thomas Robinson shot the ball from outside the paint last season, spectators turned their heads in shame and blamed NBA scouts for his experimentation. Now, when Robinson fires away, those same spectators can breathe easy and expect a swish, or at least something close to it.
Robinson's eight-for-eight start from the field appeared rather routine. A jumper from the left elbow. Another from behind the free throw line.
"As much I worked on it, I'm going to be honest with myself," Robinson said. "Don't expect me to come out seven-for-seven every night."
Robinson's shots kept falling and the Jayhawks seemed to be on their way to an easy victory.
But that was the first half.
Long Beach State augmented the pressure in the second half Tuesday night at Allen Fieldhouse and No. 13 Kansas (6-2) snuck away with a 88-80 victory that never should have been so close.
"That was a game we had won several times," coach Bill Self said. "Our inability to think, pass, catch or execute at all in late-game situations was the reason the game was close late."
The 49ers scored 25 points off 16 turnovers by the Jayhawks in the second half. Errant passes flew with regularity, especially when Long Beach State coach Dan Monson crafted a mild full-court press. But Robinson had an explanation for his team's carelessness with the ball.
"It's that ADD again," he
said. "That's all it was. It kicked in, I caught it, a couple of our guys caught it."
Senior guard Conner Teahan said that the team worries too much about previous mistakes and that it still proves its inexperience each game.
"Sometimes people try to get in a mode where they're trying to make extraordinary plays," Teahan said. "It's a combination of easy plays that make a great play."
The lack of caution shrunk the team's lead and forced Self to stick with his starters at the end of the game. Despite the comeback attempt and constant double teams, the 49ers never found a way to slow Robinson, who finished with a career high 26 points and 11 rebounds, his seventh double-double in eight games this season.
Junior center Jeff Withey complemented Robinson in the paint by altering shots and fighting for rebounds. He left the game briefly in the second half when contact with the hoop forced one of his teeth through his lip. He dealt with the blood, returned to the game and finished with 13 points, 13 rebounds and 9 blocks, one block shv of a triple-double.
"Oh well," Withey said of the triple-double. "I guess I'll try for another one."
For all the blood, comebacks, contact and ADD, it was Robinson's show. He's a shooter now, and Saturday's visitor, No. 2 Ohio State, may want to take notice.
"We wanted Robinson to try to beat us from the perimeter," Monson said. "He certainly did that."
— Edited by Rachel Schultz
MIKE GUNNOE/KANSAN
Junior forward Thomas Robinson puts up a short range shot in the second half Tuesday. Robinson was 10-14 from the field.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Jayhawks recover from first loss of the season
RYAN MCCARTHY
rmccarthy@kansan.com
How a team responds after suffering its first loss of the season is telling of the rest of the year.
After losing to Alabama 80-76 on Sunday, the Kansas women's basketball team cited reason for the defeat and what it can improve on.
Following extensive looks at the tape, coach Bonnie Henrickson said poor positional defense led to Kansas trailing for most of the game.
This was the first game of the year where the Jayhawks trailed by a large margin and being in a deficit led to the coaching staff to only use six players for 20 or more minutes.
Junior guard Angel Goodrich drives down the court during the second half of a game against SMU at Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas is now 9-1 for the season.
"We were playing from behind on the road and we haven't played from behind all year," Henrickson said. "You're going to go back to the guys that have been there before and give you the best chance to win."
assists.
Junior guard Angel Goodrich proved to be the player Kansas relied on more than anyone and played the entire 40 minutes of the contest. She ended the game with a near triple-double of seven points, nine rebounds and 12
CHRIS BRONSON/KANSAN
But Goodrich was too much into the flow of the game to notice her extended role.
Both Goodrich and sophomore forward Tania Jackson also commented on the quickness of the Alabama players. Both players see plenty of quality athletes in the Big 12, but the Crimson Tide showed off SEC speed on Sunday.
"To be honest I didn't know I played 40 minutes," Goodrich said.
As the layhawks move into the last few game of their non-conference schedule on Thursday, they know that one thing they should eliminate are turnovers.
This has been a growing problem for Kansas, but all they can do is continue to work it out in practice.
"We need to be able to take care of the ball in practice and build up the confidence that we're not going to turn the ball over in the game," Goodrich said.
Jackson followed Goodrich's sentiment.
"We feel pretty good. I think we have that experience from everyone coming back last year."
Jackson said. "I think we had enough experience to pull out the win, we just fell short."
Jackson continues to be a key contributor off the bench for
Kansas. But even when she's not playing, Jackson cheers harder than anyone and provides insight to other players on the bench.
"My communication is more of
a distinctive role" Jackson said. "If I'm not communicating it, everyone can see it."
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Edited by Rachel Schultz
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