Volume 124 Issue 57
kansan.com
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Even though last week's game and last night's game were merely exhibition games against Division II teams, don't take them with a grain of salt.
The Lajhwacks possessed more vigor, confidence and poise against the Tigers. The players fed off Robinson's energy and capitalized on his presence.
Offensively, Kansas was judicious and methodical, establishing an adequate front court offense with Robinson, Jeff Withey and Justin Wesley. Wesley drastically improved from last week's game, scoring 12 points, recording four rebounds and blocking two shots. Wesley athleticism was conspicuous. If he can duplicate or build on his efforts, he can be a huge bonus for a thin front court that will be playing against teams with strong, talented play partners.
The absence of Thomas Robinson in last week's game was a primary reason for the Jayhawks' struggles against the Pittsburg State Gorillas. With Robinson in the game, the Jayhawks drastically improved against the Fort Hays State Tigers.
COMMENTARY
"I felt like tonight I did a better job of using my athleticism," Wesley said. "I saw a lot of stuff I wanted to work on in order to play better this game and I felt like that."
It is amazing the difference a week can make for the Kansas men's basketball team.
"It it made it a lot easier because all of the focus was on him this week, so it gave Justin and Conner a chance to show up and knock down shots," Tharpe said.
Two weeks, two games, two teams
The back court will be the Jayhawks' strength when Tyshawn Taylor and Elijah Johnson return to the lineup. Tharpe and Teahan will provide valuable minutes and make key contributions.
The back court, led by Naadir Tharpe and Conner Teahan, was able to create offense on their own. Robinson's passing was a key reason for that. His passing has improved immensely, which is important because opponents will pester him down low in the paint, leaving guards open on the perimeter. Tharpe said that playing with Robinson made it much easier for him and others. In 29 minutes, Tharpe scored 19 points and had seven assists.
Defensively, the team played well. The front court defense was stout with Robinson inserted in to the lineup. The defense yielded only 11 offensive rebounds and made life very difficult for the Tigers' front court offense. Perimeter defense also forced 22 turnovers and accumulated 14 steals.
Great players are players who make the rest of their team better. Robinson has already demonstrated that he is capable of doing that. If Taylor and Johnson can enhance the rest of the team's performance as well, then depth won't be an issue. The Jayhawks will only get better the more minutes they play together.
- Edited by Adam: Strunk
KANSAS 101. FORT HAYS STATE 52
A GRAND ENTRANCE
MAX ROTHMAN
mothman@kansan.com
As the final seconds of Tuesday's first half ticked away, junior forward Thomas Robinson charges down James Naismith Court at Allen Fieldhouse; stops at the left arc of three point line, band side, and throws up a shot. The Jayhawk faithful held its collective breath, the ball rattled around the rim, then it popped out of the hoop and on to the hardwood.
Robinson smiled, the fans sighed and the half was over. The shot didn't drop, but it didn't matter much. The Jay-hawks were up by 30 points and their leader was back, catalyzing Kansas en route to a 101-52 victory against Fort Hays State.
"Thomas' being out, there makes the game much easier for us," freshman guard Naadir Tharpe said. "You can see that we played a lot better than last week."
the first exhibition against Pittsburg State on Nov. 1 after he hyperextended his left knee a few days before. With a flexible black brace strapped to the same knee, Robinson returned to the starting lineup and wasted no time establishing his prowess down low.
"Maybe our guys need to get injured like that." Port Hays State coach Mark Johnson said. "He looks like a different player."
Seconds after Self screamed at him for lackluster defense late in the first half. Thurpe stalled an opposing fast break with a steal and lobbed the ball downcourt. Waiting there for the catch was a wide open Robinson, his former preparatory school teammate at Brewster Academy in Wolkebore, N.H.
Robinson stopped, set his feet and hammered the hoop with a windmill dunk. The Fieldhouse burst with noise;
Tharpe turned to the student
FOOTBALL
Team prepares to face speedy Griffin
MIKE VERNON
mvernon@kansan.com
Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) is defended by Missouri defensive back Kip Edwards, right, Sheldon Richardson (34) and Luke Lambert (33) in the first half of an NCAA football game, Saturday, 9, May 5, 2011, in Waco, Texas.
Trailing by four with 31 seconds left in the game, the number one team in the nation was in grave danger of losing its perfect season. And that's when Iowa quarterback and Heisman Trophy candidate Chuck Long further cemented himself into the memories of every viewer, every Iowa fan and every Michigan State fan watching the game on Oct.19,1985.
The Hawkeyes were two yards short of the end zone when legendary Iowa coach Hayden Fry shocked everyone in the stadium with his play call. No one from the Hawkeyes' opponent, Michigan State, and even Long, the current offensive coordinator for Kansas, saw it coming. The call was a naked bootleg run, a fake handoff to the running back followed by a quarterback run to the outside for Fry's pocket passing quarterback
"I tried to talk him out of that play," Long said. "I said, 'I'm not that fast.'"
Yet when Long turned the corner after faking the handoff to his running back, now eight yards away from taking the lead, all he saw was open space. By the time he reached the six yard-line he raised his hand holding the ball straight up in the air and ran untouched into the end zone. Iowa won, much to the surprise of Long, who at first did not think the play would work.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
"I thought I was too slow to get around that corner." Long said.
On Saturday, the Jayhawks will
try to stifle a quarterback that has no issues with speed, Junior quarterback for Baylor, Robert Griffin III, will be a helpful for Kansas come this weekend.
For three years now Griffin has had the spotlight at Baylor. In high school, he was the number one 400-meter hurdler in the country and the top ranked sprinter in the 110-meter dash. In fact, Long has been so impressed with Griffin that he compared him to Texas football legend and national champion, Vince Young.
"He's the best quarterback that I've seen this year," Long said. "He reminds me a lot of Vince Young to be honest. Vince Young was a special player and I think he even has a little bit better of an arm than Vince. Those guys are few and far between."
It's often normal for a scrambling quarterback to lack the same kind of passing accuracy as a quarterback who prefers to stay in the pocket. But with Griffin, normal is not a word that comes into play. This season he has completed 74 percent of his passes and thrown for 26 touchdowns with just four interceptions.
Last season in Waco, Texas,
Griffin dismantled the Jayhawks,
as Baylor defeated Kansas 55-7. It was the first of the blow out losses
that have become commonplace
under coach Turner Gill. In that
game, Griffin threw for 380-yards
and ran for 64 more, totaling four
touchdowns on the day.
"Oh, I remember all to well.'
And Kansas hopes that Griffin's big performance last year will help the Jayhawks slow down the electric quarterback. Shealy said when taking on a quarterback like Griffin, the defense has to take a great angle against him. He said some-
defensive coordinator Vic Shealy said of Griffin's performance last year "He is so fast into the heart of your defense."
Senior linebacker Steven Johnson gave respect to the highly
"We know it much better," junior cornerback Tyler Patmon said of the Baylor offense. "We know the concept of the offense much better, so I think we're going to be ready"
times they have to run to where he's going to be, rather than his actual location on the field.
touted quarterback, but made it clear that he is not afraid of him.
"The way I take it is, he's an other human being that wakes up just like I do: prepares, lifts weights during the week and goes to class." Johnson said. "It's just who's going to be the tougher man that day."
Edited by Josh Kantor
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