THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, DEGEMBER 1, 2011
PAGE 7
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
NICK SMITH/KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Junior Forward Carolyn Davis shoots a free throw after being fouled during the game against Florida Atlantic on Dec. 27 at Allen Fieldhouse.
Davis receives national honor
RYAN MCCARTHY
rmccarthy@kansan.com
Although junior forward Carolyn Davis' practice time has been mostly spent on a stationary bike in recent weeks because of her foot injury, it hasn't stopped her from being able to contribute on the floor.
National accolades don't seem to stop coming her way either. Davis was named to the 2011-12 Naismith Women's Early-Season Watch List, one of the more prestigious lists in college basketball. Coach Bonnie Henrickson informed Davis on Wednesday afternoon when the two were discussing which basket was her 1,000 point against Florida.
After working out that problem. Henrickson finally told Davis the good news.
"My teammates understand that I'm there for them," Davis said. "They understand that I'm going to support them and that me not practicing now will help us in the future so there's not hard feelings."
Davis continues to heal from the stress fracture in her foot. She hopes to be back in full practice mode in the next couple of weeks.
For now she just has to pedal on the sidelines and support her teammates in every other way possible.
“It's a lot of mixed emotions because I know there are a lot of great players and their names are out there for everyone to see,” Davis said. “I wouldn't say mine is not out there, but it's kind of more quiet. It's an honor. It’s a complete honor to be in the same presence as those players.”
Following the three wins last weekend, the Jayhawks now turn their attention to Southern Methodist University, a more highly publicized opponent.
Henrickson said that SMU is a team that will mix up their defenses while also challenging the team with different looks for the on-ball screen.
In last year's contest in Dallas.
the game came down to the wire with Kansas pulling out the victory 73-65.
In order to slow down the Mustangs, the Jayhawks will rely on senior forward Aishah Sutherland, who's been vital to the team's success this year.
"I've been really, really pleased with her effort," Henrickson said. "Her effort stats, her effort numbers are really good right now."
Another part of Sutherland's game that separates her from other players her size is the ability to pull up for an outside shot.
Several times throughout the flow of the game Sutherland will trail the play and then have the ball passed to her at the top of the key. From there she squares up and makes the shot most of the time.
Sutherland said she's been able to make that shot for a long time, but she has developed better range and consistency since she's been at Kansas.
Now with six games under their belt, the team members understand they must continue to work hard so they can achieve their ultimate goals.
After the Jayhawks were off Monday, the team has practiced the next two days.
"We just can't get comfortable." Sutherland said. "The next opponent we're going to need to go hard at just like these last six games."
Edited by Sarah McCabe
MEET THE CANDIDATES
The search for a replacement coach continues as new faces join the ranks
ETHAN PADWAY
FOOTBALL
epadway@kansan.com
1. Larry Fedora (Last time 3)
With Leach off to Washington State University, Fedora jumps to the top of the list because of the sustained success he's enjoyed at Southern Miss, with a 32-19 record and a bowl game every year in the four seasons. Fedora's name has been linked to the opening at Ole Miss, but he told Jackson Clarion-Ledger Columnist Rick Cleveland that he is focused on winning the C-USA championship game right now.
Fedora
2. Brent Venables (5)
If this is the season Venables finally decides to move on from the defensive coordinator post at Oklahoma, he won't make a move until after the Bedlam Game against Oklahoma State this weekend. Bedlam will be an excellent chance for Venables to show his talents as he prepares for one of the nation's most explosive offensive attacks.
Venables
6. Dave Doeren (7)
In his first year as coach of the Northern Illinois Huskies, Doeren led his team to the MAC championship game. Doeren has top flight experience. His Wisconsin defense made it to the 2011 Rose Bowl.
Doeren
7. Manny Diaz (8)
3. Mark Stoops (6)
Diaz lacks a lot of major conference experience, but his Mississippi State and Texas defenses performed well. And he has connections to Texas and Florida for recruiting purposes. The question is whether Diaz would be willing to take on the task of rebuilding Kansas, or if he'll just wait until a more stable job comes along.
Stoops has the pedigree and success as the defensive coordinator in the ACC and the Pac-12. According to the Palm Beach Post, Stoops turned down an offer for the job at Florida Atlantic University, leaving hope that he could be holding out for a job at a BCS university such as Kansas.
Stoops
Diaz
4. Sonny Dykes (NR)
8. Phillip Fulmer (NR)
Dykes only has two seasons under his belt at the helm of a college football program, but in just his second season he led Louisiana Tech to a conference championship and a Poinsettia Bowl appearance this season.
Fulmer was at Tennessee for 16 years, leading them to the 1998 National Championship. He has the experience, but might be too old at the age of 61 to take on the rebuilding process at Kansas.
Dykes
5. Kevin Sumlin (4)
Sumlin is more likely just a pipe dream for Kansas fans. With his Houston Cougars undefeated, he can sit pretty and wait for a more attractive job to come calling.
Sumlin
Fulmer
9. Troy Calhoun (NR)
In each of his five seasons at Air Force, Calthoun's teams have posted a winning record, and have won their last two bowl games. His experience in big time college football may be limited, but he spent four seasons in the NFL, including one as the Houston Texans offensive coordinator.
Calhoun
10. Dave Christensen (NR)
Christensen is familiar with the Big 12 after spending 16 years as an assistant coach at Missouri. He was linked as a possible candidate to fill Washington State's void. I wouldn't expect him in Lawrence unless Zenger can't reel in a bigger fish.
Christensen
SWIMMING AND DIVING
NATHAN FORDYCE
editor@kansan.com
Positive attitudes to guide team at Mizzou
The Kansas swimming and dive team travels today to Columbia, Mo. for the Mizzou Invite, which extends through Saturday.
The Jayhawks will compete against Boise State, Drury, Saint Louis, North Dakota, North Texas, UC Davis, and host team Missouri. The Jayhawks met with Mizzou three weeks earlier, falling 185-102. The Kansas队 ride a 4-3 record into the Invite and beat the University of Nebraska-Omaha in its most recent dip in the pool 150-78, a week after losing to the Tigers. Even with that latest victory, momentum isn't necessarily the key to success in
the upcoming meet.
"I think it can help; swimming is a move-on-to-the-next-one type of sport," said Shelby Cox, a sophomore from Little Rock, Ark. "We move on, regardless of the last meet."
Kara Stranski, a sophomore from Portland, Ore., believes the team as a whole can ride the momentum after its last victory.
"I think momentum matters, we're all in a really good mood," Stranski said.
The Jayhaws hope to channel that positivity into this weekend, but even if they don't win the overall event, they still look to improve their own personal statistics. That will, they hope, help the team get better through the winter months, into the Big 12
championships and hopefully the NCAA championships.
"We're looking for good individual efforts, trying to improve our season's times and use that to propel us into winter training," Cox said.
Coach Clark Campbell will be looking forward to seeing what times are posted during the meet.
"We have had a pretty good training phase for the fall and we have rested for a few days, so we are going to let the swimmers put on the technical suits and see what they can do," Campbell said.
The Jayhawks will have a tough test to be at their best in the mid-season Mizzou Invite. They've had a heavy load of weight training and swimming and will have to be mentally tough and fight through
the mid-season injuries and sicknesses of multiple swimmers, to achieve their goal of posting season-best times.
Stranski and Cox both feel they will see some stiff competition, even though they are not familiar with four of the schools: Saint Louis, UC Davis, Boise State and North Texas. Last season, the Jayhawks swept a double-dual between North Dakota and Drury.
"I think it helps swimmers when they don't know who they are racing," Campbell said. "You just need to know what heat and lane you are in and go without worrying about those around you."
Edited by Lindsey Deiter