PAGE 6
RACQUETBALL FROM 18
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2011
Bessent coaches players in all stages of the game, from beginners to elite-level players.
"Being able to be a part of helping someone achieve their dreams is a fun thing to do," Bessent said.
Bevens said he has already experienced the benefits of having
an experienced coach around.
Bessent said she would like to bring Kansas racquetball back to the level it had when she played. With her help and the club's determination, she believes the club may return to its former glory.
"I've improved greatly in the month that I've been playing compared to the semester I had last year," Bevens said. "There's a lot more to the game then just hitting a ball."
"It's not about me. It's about them." Bessent said. "If you believe in them, they will accomplish things they never thought possible."
Edited by Jason Bennett
ROBINSON FROM 18
freshman second team were the only other Big 12 players mentioned.
Robinson, who was named to the preseason All-Big 12 team, averaged 7.6 points and 6.4 rebounds in 33 games as a sophomore. With the departure of the Morris twins, Brady Morningstar, Tyrel Reed, Mario Little and Josh Selby, Robinson will step into a featured scoring and rebounding role for the Jayhawks.
head with Sullinger on Dec. 10 at Allen Fieldhouse when Ohio State plays against Kansas in the latter part of the non-conference schedule.
Robinson will go head-to-
Edited by C.J. Matson
Ten undefeated teams left conference faunts three
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The conference that keeps getting put down, the one supposedly in turmoil with an interim commissioner trying his best to hold things together, has more unbeaten football teams than any other in the country.
Third-ranked Oklahoma was expected to be the need. No. 6 Oklahoma State has the kind of high-powered offense that could give anybody fits. But the surprise is No. 12 Kansas State, which gives the Big 12 three teams at the midway point in the season that have yet to taste defeat.
That goes for the other unbeatens, too.
"Any way you can find a way to win is good," said Cowboys coach Mike Gundy, whose team faces Missouri on Saturday. "We just have to continue to find a way to win."
The Sooners have perhaps the stiffest test this week when they welcome Texas Tech, which had Texas A&M and Kansas State on the ropes in its only two losses. The Wildcats get in-state rival Kansas.
There's a good chance all three will still be undefeated a week from now.
"It is what it is," said Kansas State coach Billy Snyder, whose spunky Wildcats are off to their best start since 2000 despite getting outgained just about every time they step on the field.
"We're fortunate to be where we are right now, I understand that. I can appreciate that," Snyder said. "But our thinking is about working on Monday, and tomorrow we'll try Tuesday and so on down the road. There's not a great deal of thought given to what's happened the first six ball games."
Most of the Big 12 conversations this season have been about whether it will survive. Nebraska is already gone to the Big Ten, Colorado is playing in the Pac-12 and the Aggies are SEC-bound. Missouri is trying to figure out whether it wants to stay or go, and TCU is getting ready to join the fold.
Rather than talk about what interim commissioner Chuck Neinas is trying to accomplish in holding all the pieces together, though, maybe the conversation should be about what Gundy, Snyder and Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops have done in making the conference one of the toughest in the country.
The SEC is the only other league that has two undefeated teams, Alabama and LSU. Stanford is still without a loss in the Pac-12, Clemson is perfect in the ACC, Wisconsin is unblemished in the Big Ten, and Boise State and Houston are both undefeated through their first six games.
Critics will point out that teams elsewhere have managed to beat each other up already, and that's certainly true in many cases. Michigan State knocked Michigan from the ranks of the unbeaten Saturday, and Virginia did likewise to Georgia Tech.
But of the 10 unbeaten teams in the FBS, three of them are in the Big 12 and they are in the top 12.
“There’s always some spots here and there through six games you’d like to do better,” Stoops said, “but I feel like we’re playing pretty well.”
That's quite the understatement.
The Sooners beat then-No. 5 Florida State, then-No. 11 Texas in the Red River Rivalry shootout, and have outscored their last three opponents by a combined 164-40.
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FOOTBALL FROM 18
"Steven Johnson did a great job throughout the week with our players and with the defense." Gill said. "He really took it upon himself with the leadership and ownership of bringing the team together in a good way."
Johnson's work throughout the week earned credence with coach Turner Gill.
While the final score did not reflect the improved energy and product on the field, Johnson said the progression will carry over into
day.
After taking on top-four primarily pass-happy offenses the past two weeks of the season, the Wildcats will provide a different challenge for the Kansas defense. Kansas State averages 76 more rushing yards per game than passing yards and has a total offense that ranks 94th in the country.
previous opponents, the Wildcats sit 6-0 on the year and have victories over Miami, Missouri, Baylor and Texas Tech.
this week's game against No. 12 Kansas State.
The Wildcats run a slower, more methodical offense than the hurry-up offenses of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech that Kansas has faced.
While the numbers and style aren't as intimidating as Kansas'
The challenge though is one that Johnson and the rest of the Kansas defense will not shy away from. And while Johnson could hardly walk after the Oklahoma game, his legs will be ready come this Saturday.
"They're going to try to walk in here and push us around but we can allow them to do that," Johnson said. "Nothing is going to hold me back from this game."
Edited by Rachel Schultz
VOLLEYBALL
Junior middle blocker Tayler Tolefree follows thought on a kill attempt in a game last season. Kansas is preparing to face K-State despite several though losses this season.
MIKE GUNNOE/KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Refocused Jayhawks prepare for Wildcats
MATT GALLOWAY
malloway@kansan.com
twitter.com/UDK_vball
The Kansas volleyball team has played four of the top eight ranked teams in the country. When the NCAA released its RPI projections earlier this week, the Jayhawks were ranked No. 39.
But none of that softens the blow that the team's recent slump has taken on coach Ray Bechard and his players.
"That RPI formula is a little too complex for a guy like me to figure out," Bechard said. "We know that our schedule has been demanding, but we've got some good RPI teams in front of us, including K-State."
The layhawks (12-7, 0-6) will once again look for their first conference win tonight at 6:30 p.m. in the Horejsi Family Athletics Center against rival K-State (14-6, 3-3).
Bechard's squad was two points away from sweeping nationallyranked Oklahoma on Saturday, and one point away from sweeping Texas A&M the week before. The team went on to lose both of those games. Given the heartbreaking manner of the losses, Bechard said he has been encouraged with the intensity the team still has in practice.
The Jayhawks have blown three two-sets-to-none leads against three different ranked teams this season. Junior middle blocker Tayler Toilefree said the team needs to get a fourth set win to build confidence that losing the third is not the end of the world.
"Refocusing in the fourth set is important," Tolefree said. "Volleyball is a game of moment, and in the fourth, the other team has momentum because they've continued the game."
One of the encouraging signs in Saturday's loss was the breakout
"Tate is just a very calming presence," Tolefree said. "That's the number one thing we think of when we think of Tate. If you look at her, she never looks rattled, she never looks anxious or anything."
"You see cracks everywhere in the foundation. Players are doubting themselves a bit," Bechard said. "But in the end, we'll continue to forge ahead with what we know is the right plan. Wednesday is another opportunity to display that."
performance by senior setter Nicole Tate. In one of her first starts of the season, Tate led everyone on the court with 59 assists.
"You have teachers throughout the school and you find those rare K-State fans." Tolefee said. "You're just like, 'Why? Why?'
Tolefree, a Lawrence native, said the games against K-State and Missouri always bring out the most raucous crowds. Growing up in Lawrence has made it easy for her to hate K-State, she said.
Tate said she takes pride in having a poker face on the court.
"I think it's something I've developed over the years of playing" Tate said. "It's worked for me, so I've kept it going. It helps other people out, so it's important."
Edited by Jonathan Shorman