THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2011
MEN'S BASKETBALL
PAGE 38
Robinson impresses despite foul trouble
KORY CARPENTER
kcarpenter@kansan.com
Bill Self has said he hopes this is Thomas Robinson's last season at Kansas. Although it is out of the ordinary for a coach to hope his starting power forward and All-American candidate leaves before his senior season, Thomas Robinson's situation is anything but ordinary. The struggles he's faced off the court the last 11 months are well-documented, and Robinson looks to have his eyes set on cashing an NBA paycheck by next summer.
With the NBA on the horizon and the fate of this Kansas season largely on his shoulders, he delivered in the season opener against Towson, finishing with 18 points and 11 re-bounds. It was the first of what could be many double-doubles this season and it caught the eye of Towson head coach Pat Skerry.
"He's locked in," Skerry said. "He's a savage. He has a tremendous motor, strength and energy. He's an NBA talent in my opinion."
However, the offensive onslaught wasn't without a fair share of defensive struggles. Robinson was forced to sit for seven minutes in the first half after picking up two quick fouls.
"I'm actually disappointed in this game," Robinson said of his defense.
"I was in the wrong place. It was on me no matter what."
The 18 points and 11 rebounds didn't stop him from some more self criticism. He said it wasn't a good game from him at all, mainly because his time on the bench with foul trouble allowed Kansas to get out-rebounded by Towson, 35 to 32.
"That was my fault," Robinson said. "I had those two dumb fouls, I had to sit out, and I wasn't able to help my team rebound. That's why the stats don't matter, it was a bad game."
Self agreed and said Robinson needs to guard his man better before he catches the ball in order to not be in a vulnerable position to pick up a cheap foul. He said better competition would have had Robinson fouled out fast.
That better competition could come by way of No. 2 Kentucky on Tuesday night in Madison Square Garden in New York City, Robinson called it "just another game" but Self said the Wildcats are "scary athletic." The obvious question is, will Friday's early foul trouble carry over to Tuesday night's matchup?
"Not at all," Robinson said. "I just got caught in the wrong place, that's all."
Edited by Rachel Schultz
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Goodrich powers Kansas with Davis sitting out
KATHLEEN GIER
kgier@kansan.com
Kansas had to fight for its 76-64 victory in its season opener. A physical Western Michigan team slowed down the Jayhawks, who had thrived in transition during their two exhibition games.
The Jayhawks played without junior forward Carolyn Davis who was recently named as one of the top forwards in the country by ESPN. Davis sat on the sideline in sweats with a boot on her right foot as she continued to battle a stress fracture. However, Davis sat in the first seat and was the first to each huddle.
"We throw it into her so much and rely on her shooting 70 percent, everybody feels good and we look good," coach Bonnie Henrickson said. "That is not an excuse because injuries happen and you have got to step up and play."
Sophomore forward Tania Jackson was awarded the start in Davis' place. Henrickson said that with Davis out the team has to look to three other veterans: senior forward Aishah Sutherland and junior guards Monica Engelman and Angel Goodrich.
Goodrich took over the game with the first seven points of the game and first four of six in the second half.
Henrickson has been looking to Goodrich for a greater leadership role this season. The second-year captain and three-year starter stepped up accordingly, finishing with 13 points and seven assists. Senior forward Aishah Sutherland and junior guard Monica Engelman also scored in double digits with 14 and
17 points respectively.
Despite double-digit scoring, Henrickson was disappointed with the play of Sutherland and Engelman.
"With as many minutes as those two have played in their career I expected more," Henrickson said. "I didn't think they gave us what they should be able to."
Jackson stepped into Davis place with a 16 points and 10 rebounds in 25 minutes of play. She was surprised by the physicality of the Broncos.
"We need to be more physical and just throw a punch back," Jackson said. "We can't just sit down when they get aggressive with us."
Goodrich took two charges and recorded two floor burns. Despite coming up dizzy after a tumble in the second half she continued to go after the ball aggressively.
"I play for my team and if I have to sacrifice my body I will do it," Goodrich said.
The Jayhawks won the reboubeng battle against the Broncos, 39-35, which came as a relief to Jackson and Goodrich after the team struggled on the boards in exhibition.
The coaches established a reward system last week in practice where the players could earn a new sweat suit if they won 70 percent of their individual rebounding battles.
"It really stands out right now that we need to work on rebounding." Goodrich said. "I feel like we are going to the boards more, but not enough."
Kansas will host Creighton at 8 p.m. on Wednesday.
— Edited by Mike Lavieri
Three-star forward picks Kansas: will sign Tuesday
join Zach Peters and Perry Ellis in the class of 2012, as well as Jamari Treylor and Ben McLemore, who will debut for Kansas next season.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
— Kory Carpetner
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Jayhawks showcase balanced offense in victory over Towson
Class of 2012 three-star forward Landen Lucas verbally committed to play for Kansas Sunday, Rivals.com confirmed, and is expected to sign a Letter-of-Intent on Tuesday. Lucas, a 6-foot-8, 240-pound forward from Portland, Ore., had offers from Washington, Geterouten and Arizona, among others. Lucas traveled to Lawrence this past weekend for the regular season opener against Towson on an official visit, and was expected to make his decision on a school shortly after. Rivals.com labels Lucas a good shooter with "outstanding" rebounding ability. He arrived on the recruiting radar last season after transferring to Nevada's Findley Prep, which has produced NBA players Avery Bradley, Tristan Thompson, Corey Joseph, and current Texas Longhorn Myck Kabongo. Now back in Westview at Lincoln, Lucas was named to the pre-season Oregon All-State first-team by David Auguste of ESPN.com. As of right now, Lucas will
MAX ROTHMAN
mrothman@kansan.com
Junior forward Kevin Young grabs a rebound in the first half of Friday's season opener against Towson. Young contributed 13 points and seven rebounds in just 14 minutes of playing time in the Jahawys' 100-54 victory. Kansas is now 1-0 for the season.
CHRIS BRONSON/KANSAN
The potential of junior forward Thomas Robinson has been no secret, even when the Morris twins starred and started ahead of him in seasons past. He's not the mystery of this year's team; it's the role players behind him. In Friday night's 100-54 victory against Towson in Allen Fieldhouse, these lesser known pieces were the key to an early onslaught that never ceased.
"If it's possible to be under-rated at 13th in the country, I think Kansas is," Towson coach Pat Skerry said.
"After getting a few layups, I had confidence in my shot," Releford said.
Junior guard Travis Releford, a complementary piece, exhibited his usual high pressure defense on Towson ball handlers, which translated into offensive chances. He attacked the basket with quick, sharp steps and sunk timely 3-pointers.
Coach Bill Self was unsatisfied with Releford in the team's first exhibition against Pittsburg State, but Friday was a different story.
Young slammed a few crowd-rousing dunks and had his strongest game of the season, finishing with 13 points and 7 rebounds.
The same could be said for junior forward Kevin Young, who Self said was the team's best rebounder against Towson.
"I'm still not sure how to react after a dunk." Young said. "At Loyola, I would pat my afro."
Despite Young's solid effort on the glass, Towson outrebounded Kansas 35 to 32. Robinson said that he should be fully responsible for the deficit after picking up two fouls and spending some unexpected time on the bench early in the first half.
Senior guard Tyshawn Taylor and junior guard Elijah Johnson,
Only one of Robinson's 11 rebounds came before halftime. He led all scorers with 18 points, but could only be so satisfied after a game sprinkled with foul trouble. He took full blame for the so-so rebounding because he had to sit out a good portion of the first half with two fouls.
who missed the first two exhibitions because of suspension, returned and showed off improved jump shots. With the duo back in the starting lineup, Self can deploy a faster and more athletic team.
Their presence also helped the team protect the ball and extend possessions. Kansas recorded 30 assists compared to just 5 turnovers, none surrendered in the second half. Friday marked the first time that Self's team finished a half without a turnover since an 81-68 victory against Oklahoma on Feb. 22, 2010.
"We weren't as careless and I think in large part, we had our experienced guards out there." Self said.
men," Self said. "We'll spend our entire next three days emphasizing that."
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— Edited by Rachel Schultz
"We have to go after it like
With committed on-ball defense and turnover free basketball, this kind of quick and balanced offensive attack could match up well against No. 2 Kentucky in Tuesday's New York City showdown.
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