PAGE 10
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2011
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
KANSAS TIPOFF
AT A GLANCE
The Jayhawks enter their last of two exhibitions aiming to prove that they belong as the No. 13 team in the nation. Without guards senior Tyshawn Taylor and junior Elijah Johnson because of suspension and junior forward Thomas Robinson because of a minor knee injury. Self's makeshift lineup looked like a mess in the first half against Pittsburg State. Junior center Jeff Withey and freshman guard Naadir Tharpe led a second half resurgence, but Self was unimpressed with the team's performance. Despite Robinson's expected return, this still won't look like Self's team until the backcourt is fully formed with Taylor and Johnson. Until then, Tharpe, senior guard Conner Teahan, junior forward Kevin Young and sophomore forward Justin Wesley will have expanded roles. Don't allow any exhibition to tell you too much.
PLAYER TO WATCH
TRAVIS RELEFORD While most will have their eye
Releford
glued to Robinson, the first exhibition tells us that Releford should require some attention. Though his numbers looked just
fine after the game, Self said that he wasn't satisfied with Releford's individualistic style of play and that it wouldn't have floated during the regular season. Releford has waited for a starting spot since the summer of 2008, when he first came to Lawrence in the same freshman class as Taylor and the Morris twins. After redshirting the 2009-10 season, Releford played sparingly last season behind Mario Little, Brady Morningstar and Tyrel Reed. Now he's finally got Self's attention and the expectations that a starter at Kansas carries. With Taylor and Johnson out for one more exhibition, Releford is the off-ball guard with the most responsibility.
QUESTION MARK
WAS JEFF WITHEY'S PERFORMANCE AGAINST PITTSBURG STATE THE TRUTH OR A TEASE?
Self told Withey not to be too excited about his defensive stats against shorter players, but 10 blocks is 10 blocks. Withey altered, tipped or swatted most shot attempts when his opposition attacked the basket. It took until the second half to start producing, but once he did, Kansas fans witnessed the finesse center they had been dreaming of. He drew double teams and scored with his back to the basket. He used his length and intelligence to snag rebounds and of course, there were the blocks. A student section favorite, Withey has fans itching for a shot-blocking counterpart to complement Robinson in the front court. It would be unfair to expect another triple-double, but with another strong performance, Withey could prove that last week was no fluke.
HEAR YE. HEAR YE
"We are going to need everyone from top to bottom this year to step up and play together. Different groups and different situations are something I'm looking forward to."
Thomas Robinson
Breaking down the teams Kansas' last tune-up before the season starts KANSAS VS. FORT HAYS 7 P.M., ALLEN FIELDHOUSE, LAWRENCE
VIVA
Tharpe
KANSAS
Releford
STARTERS
Teahan
NAADIR THARPE, GUARD
Nine turnovers can blotch an evaluation of any player, but Tharpe's premiere wasn't entirely careless and typical of a freshman point guard. His passes zoomed and skipped into the hands of streaking scorers and his athletic ability was obvious. Starting again in Taylor's place, Tharpe will look to lessen his turnovers and find Robinson in the paint, if he can play consistently for both halves, Tharpe's a prime double-double candidate.
TRAVIS RELEFORD, GUARD
Self has challenged Releford for months to be a defensive ace and team player. However after the Pittsburg State victory, Releford seemed to be the one player that Self was most upset with. If Releford simply does his job by staying in front of his man, the offense will come. His role is to create offense out of strong defense, but without Johnson and Taylor, Releford may be asked to do more than that.
Robinson
★★★☆
CONNER TEAHAN, GUARD
Fans knew that Teahan could shoot, but few expected his 21-point outburst against Pittsburg State. He hit both open and contested shots, yet forced nothing. When Taylor and Johnson return, he'll go back to an off-the-bench role. Regardless, a night like that isn't forgotten in one week. Teahan will start and play heavy minutes tonight, yet will continue to adduce as Self's sixth man and respected senior.
THOMAS NUBISON, FORWARD
Let's not get ahead of ourselves here. It was an impressive offseason for Robinson, the preseason All-American, but this likely won't be the game that will show it all. He's returning from a hyperextended knee, though Self said that he should be fine and that the injury is not too serious. Expect 10-20 minutes played to loosen the hinges, but not much more. This isn't the game that Self needs Robinson to shine and risk anything with the knee.
THOMAS ROBINSON, FORWARD
Withey
★★★★☆
JEFF WITHEY, CENTER
SEPT WITHEY, DELUXE
Withey exploded for a triple- double against Pittsburgh State with 18 points, 12 rebounds and 10 blocks. Tonight, Withey hopes to back it up with another solid outing. When Robinson plays, he will command more attention, leaving Withey with more opportunities to produce. On defense, Withey will continue to anchor the middle as a center who will hassle any opponent that dares to approach the paint.
STARTERS
FORT HAYS
LANCE RUSSELL, GUARD
LANE RUSSELL, BOUND
A transfer from Cowley College, Russell sat out nearly all of last year after suffering an injury three games into the season. The Wichita native is now a junior and he started Saturday in the season opener against Kansas State, playing 30 minutes and leading all Fort Hays starters with 12 points. Look for Russell to see the most minutes for Fort Hays tonight.
Thomas Robinson has a huge night. Last week's injury only raised the anticipation from Kansas fans regarding Robinson heading into his junior campaign, and a big debut would send the Kansas faithful home with a smile.
Russell
ALLEN FIELDHOUSE WILL ROCK IF.
SEAN DREILING, GUARD
KENDRICK MORSE, GUARD
Dreiling is the most experienced player coach Mark Johnson has on his squad. Dreiling, a senior, has been with the Tigers since the 2007-2008 season. He only averaged 4.5 minutes per game last season, but played 19 minutes on Saturday against Kansas State. He'll never fill up the stat sheets, but Dreiling has good experience.
KENDRICK MORSE, BOARD Morse transferred to Fort Hays State after starting at point guard for Sheridan College in Sheridan, Wyo., for two seasons, where he averaged 9.6 points and 4.4 assists per contest as a sophomore. The 5-foot-8 guard made his debut with the Tigers against Kansas State, earning a spot in the starting rotation and playing 23 minutes.
MATT SIMMONS. FORWARD
Simmons was a two-time all-state first team selection while in high school in Great Bend. He played two seasons at Barton County Community College before transferring to Fort Hays State in 2009. Last season, he came off the bench to average 4.5 points 6.4 rebounds per game. Saturday against Kansas State he finished with 6 points and 6 rebounds in 28 minutes of work.
Dreiling
★★☆☆★
Simmons
Morse
MARKUS
YARBROUGH, FORWARD
Another transfer for coach Mark Johnson, Yarbrough played the last two seasons at Kilgore College in Kilgore, Texas. He averaged 9 points and 4.3 rebounds as a sophomore last season before transferring to Fort
Yarbrough
Hays State. The 6-foot-8 forward dropped in 11 points and collected 4 rebounds in his debut against Kansas State.
Kory Carpenter
MIKE GUNNOE/KANSAN FILE PHOTO
THE TIGERS WILL ROAR IF.
The stars align perfectly. The Tigers need career nights from four or five starters, a few injuries to the jayhawks, and a whole lot of luck along the way. Keeping the final within 20 points should be seen as somewhat of a victory for Tiger fans.
Prediction Kansas 89, Fort Hays State 56
FT. HAYS TIPOFF
AT A GLANCE
After reaching the Division II NCAA tournament the last two seasons, Fort Hays State was picked to finished third in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association this season behind Missouri Southern University and Central Missouri University. Last year the Tigers captured their first MIAA Championship after finishing with a 26-7 record overall and a 16-6 mark in conference, as well as winning the conference tournament in Kansas City, Mo. Coach Mark Johnson is in his 11th season at Fort Hays State, compiling a record of 207-89, which is third on the school's all-time list. Much of last year's rotation is gone, including Dominique Jones, who was named the MIAA tournament Most Outstanding Player last season as well as earning All-American honors for the second year in a row. Coach Johnson welcomes in five newcomers this season including Tyrone Phillips and starter Kendrick Morse. Fort Hays State is finishing up its exhibition slate after losing 90-60 to Kansas State on Saturday.
PLAYER TO WATCH
KARRON MCKENZIE, GUARD McKenzie didn't start Saturday
against Kansas State, but he played in all 33 games for the Tigers last season, averaging 7.6 points per game. He was the second leading scorer off the bench, and
McKenzie
shot 50.3 percent from the field last season as well as leading the team in free throw percentage. While standing at only 6-foot-3, McKenzie still managed to finish fourth on the team in blocked shots a season ago, finishing the year with 15. He played two seasons at Independence Community College in Independence by way of Staten Island, N.Y., where he scored 12.5 points per game as a sophomore. It was a big improvement from his 4.8 points per game as a freshman in 2008-2009, and helped him land a spot with the Tigers before last season. A big season from McKenzie off the bench could do wonders for coach Mark Johnson and his team.
QUESTION MARK
WILL THE TIGERS CRUMBLE UNDER THE BIG LIGHTS?
They already have an exhibition from a Big 12 opponent under their belts, but playing Kansas State in Manhattan and playing Kansas in Allen Fieldhouse are two entirely different things. Solid play from the bench and calm nerves will be crucial to keeping the Tigers within 30 points of the jayhawks as they face a fresh Thomas Robinson making his season debut. Last week's handling of Pittsburg State silenced any rumblings of an exhibition upset from Kansas, but keeping things close tonight would be a huge morale boost for Fort Hays State heading into its season. With only two starters with significant experience at Fort Hays State, a bout of nerves from the newcomers wouldn't shock anyone and would severely hamper any hopes of a Tiger upset.
HEAR YE, HEAR YE
"It's their biggest game of the year. It means a lot to come in to Kansas for them. They're all Kansas fans and they root us on, and to get to come into our building and play us, they're really excited about that."
Jordan Juenemann on Fort Hays State players playing Kansas