PAGE 8
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2011
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
KU TIPOFF
AT A GLANCE
Don't get used to seeing this kind of lineup all season. Coach Bill Self must deploy an inexperienced unit because of the suspensions of senior guard Tyshawn Taylor and junior guard Elijah Johnson and the minor knee injury of junior forward Thomas Robinson. Without those three, junior guard Travis Releford and junior center Jeff Withey, both reserves until this season, are expected to lead to the team. While there's just about nothing at risk in an exhibition. Releford and Withey still have much to prove to their fans and their coach, no matter the opponent.
PLAYER TO WATCH
NAADIR THARPE
With Ben McLemore, Jamari Traylon and Braeden Anderson all declared partial qualifiers. Tharpe is the freshman with the most to offer this season. Taylor will serve his suspension during the two exhibition games, so Tharpe will take over the starting point guard duties and have a chance to show off his speedy skills early. His
first job: Don't force passes, just find the open man. After that, pay more attention to the jump shot.
WHO'S GOING TO STEP UP?
QUESTION MARK
Robinson, Taylor and Johnson are widely regarded as the three best players on this team. After them, it's nothing but untapped potential. With all three on the sideline, this exhibition should hint at who will contribute the most as role players. Reelford, Withey and Tharpe are a bit more documented. Forwards Kevin Young and Justin Wesley and guards Conner Teahan, Niko Roberts, Christian Garrett, Merv Lindsay and Jordan Juenemann are lesser known. Two to three of these guys will likely separate themselves from the rest and work their way into a consistent niche.
HEAR YE, HEAR YI
"The numbers are so small, everybody has to play anyway. And then if you take two or three guys off your starting lineup, I mean, we're going to be playing with walk-ons tomorrow. There's no question about that. And I'm not talking about the ones we put on scholarship. I'm talking about Jordan, which is fine, and Niko. Those guys are going to get in the game, so that won't be the same team that will be playing in the Garden unless we have a lot of injuries, but it will give those guys an opportunity."
Breaking down the teams Tharpe, Young to make first starts
KANSAS VS. PITT STATE 7 P.M., ALLEN FIELDHOUSE, LAWRENCE
KANSAS
0-0, (0-0)
STARTERS
Tharpe
NAADIR THARPE, GUARD
Tharpe has no chance to hide. It's the first exhibition, and he's the starting point guard, not the suspended Taylor. Tharpe is labeled as a pure point guard — a distributor first, scorer second. We might not see that style as much tonight because if Tharpe doesn't shoot the ball, who will? Even without Taylor, Robinson and Johnson on the floor, Tharpe would be wise to keep turnovers at a minimum.
Relefora
IKAVIS KELLEFUKU. GUAKU
Releford will be one of the primary options on offense tonight and the stalwart on defense this season. He's been challenged by Self to be one of the best defenders in the nation and the man to stick by the opposition's best outside scorer. Releford, from the same 2008 freshman class as Taylor and the Morris twins, has been waiting for this year since he came to Lawrence. It's finally here, and it's time to validate the hype.
Teahan
CONNER TEAHAN. GUARD
Releford will take Johnson's spot, so Teahan will step in for Releford. This is the most obvious skill discrepancy in the makeshift starting lineup, compared to who will usually trot out there. Self hasn't needed Teahan in the past, but this team isn't filled with lottery picks like fans are used to seeing. While he won't be starting in the regular season unless there's another suspension or an injury, Teahan will still be a part of the rotation.
Young
★★☆★★
KEVIN YOUNG. FORWARD
Young, who will replace Robinson tonight, is a high-energy forward who scraps for rebounds and scores inside. Just as Tharpe will be the first guard off the bench, Young will likely be the first forward off the hench this season. In the exhibitions, he's a prime double-double candidate. In the regular season, we'll find out if he's ready for the Big 12.
Withey
★★★☆☆
JEFF WITHEY. CENTER
Withey can be the difference between borderline Big 12 title and true NCAA tournament title content. The skills are all there, now it's time to wait for the production. With no one in his way, look for Withey to feature what fans have been waiting to see in tonight's exhibition.
PITT STATE
0-0, (0-0)
STARTERS
ERIC RAY. GUARD
Ray will have to play great for Pittsburgh State to keep the game close. He led the team in scoring with 12.2 points per game last season and looks to do much of the same this year. His senior leadership should help calm the nerves of playing in front of the 16,300 screaming fans inside Allen Fieldhouse.
Ray
COURTNEY INGRAM, GUARD
Ingram began his collegiate career at Drury University where he averaged 2.1 points per game as a freshman. He then transferred to Pittsburgh State and only appeared in 10 games last season, but averaged nine points and 20 minutes per game. Ingram will be teamed with Ray on the perimeter and looks to play a much bigger role for the Gorillas in 2011-2012.
☆☆☆☆
ingram
ERIC MARSHALL, FORWARD
Marshall transferred to Pittsburgh State from Cloud County Community College last season, where he scored 10 points and grabbed 5.2 rebounds per game as a sophomore in 2010. He averaged 9.8 points and four rebounds last season for the Gorillas. He played in 23 games last year as a junior, starting 15 of those. He is one of four returning starters from last year's team.
★★☆☆
Marshall
ANDRA BAILEY FORWARD
Bailey joined teammate Eric Ray on the Honorable Mention All-MIAA team last season after averaging 9.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. He started 19 games last season and played 25 minutes a game, the second most minutes on the team. He shot an effective 52 percent from the field last year and led the team in rebounds
★☆☆☆
Bailey
- Max Rothman
JAVON MCGEE
FORWARD
The youngest player in the starting lineup, McGee actually has the most experience at Pittsburgh State out of the group. The junior from Kansas City, Mo., is the only non-transfer of the five starters and is entering his third season with the Gorillas. He
started 11 games last season as a sophomore and averaged nine points in 20 minutes per game.
McGee
PITT TIPOFF
AT A GLANCE
Pittsburg State finished last season at 13-13 overall with a 9-13 mark in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Conference. Coach Kevin Muff is entering his second season at Pittsburg State after spending 12 seasons as the coach at Cloud County Community College. Last year's team had two Honorable Mention All-MIAA selections, senior forward Andra Bailey and senior guard Eric Ray. The Gorillas were selected fifth in the MIAA preseason coaches poll and seventh in the media poll. They return four starters and nine letterwinners from last season's team. Pittsburgh State is 0-8 overall against Kansas, dating back to 1944.
PLAYER TO WATCH
ERIC RAY
The 6-foot-1 guard transferred to Pittsburgh State after playing for coach Kevin Muff at Cloud County Community College. Last season, as a junior, he earned Honorable Mention All-MIAA honors after leading the Gorillas with 12.2 points per game as well as dishing out
Ray
2. 6 assists per game. At Cloud County, he averaged 11.1 points per contest and found a spot on the Second-Team All-Tayhawk Conference Team in 2010. As the team's top returning scorer, the Topeka native will be looked to lead the Gorillas in 2011-2012.
QUESTION MARK
CAN THE GORILLAS PULL OFF
THE UPSET?
MIKE GUNNEO/KANSAN FILE PHOTO ___ Kory Carpenter
If Pittsburgh State is ever going to play Kansas close — let alone win this would be the year. Already faced with a thin lineup, coach Bill Self suspended guards Tyshawn Taylor and Elijah Johnson for both of the team's exhibition games. Thomas Robinson's status is also questionable after hyperextending his knee in practice last week. Self said the coaches and trainers would evaluate Robinson in practice Monday and make a decision. Walk-onss Jordan Juenemann and Niko Roberts will have to play, according to Self. With Pittsburgh State returning four starters, this exhibition could be closer than Kansas fans might like.
HEAR YE, HEAR YE
"My expectations are very high, and I think our seniors' expectations are very high. They've been great leaders in the preseason workouts we've been doing. Our ability to work with our team in the preseason, as well, has helped the younger guys and the new faces we have get a feel for our practice situations."
— Coach Kevin Mufi
THE GORILLAS WILL BEAT THEIR CHESTS IF
Eric Ray shoots all night and rarely misses, or Kansas just can't score. Even with a full lineup, the Achilles' heel of Self's team may be its lack of scoring punch. Releford, Withey and Tharpe will need some help, and it's no guarantee that their teammates will be capable tonight.
ALLEN FIELDHOUSE WILL ROCK IF ..
Releford and Withey overpower their inferior foe. They are likely pegged as starters for the regular season and should start to prove they belong there, even in exhibition. Self will depend more on these two for scoring with Taylor, Robinson and Johnson out.
Prediction Kansas 71, Pitt State 53
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Highly touted recruit commits to Arizona
MAX ROTHMAN
mrothman@kansan.com
The "We Want Kaleb!" chants filling the student section at Late Night in the Phog weren't enough.
Kaleb Tarczewski, the Rivals.
com No. 20 prospect overall
(No. 1 for centers) from Southborough, Mass., committed to
Arizona on Monday despite the efforts of coach Bill Self and other recruiters.
"I had great programs and great coaches recruiting me," the 7-footer said to CBSSports.com. "It just felt right at Arizona. I fell in love with everything — from the current players to the staff to Brandon Ashley, Grant Jarrett and Gabe York."
Ashley, Jarrett and York are also highly recruited and will join Tarczewski in Arizona's 2012 freshman class. North Carolina and Kentucky also expressed interest, but Taczewski only visited Kansas and Arizona.
- Edited by Jason Jenks