Volume 124 Issue 7
kansan.com
Monday, August 29, 2011
COMMENTARY
Don't hope for much this year
Being predicted last is a blessing in disguise for the Jayhawks. With the expectations down, fans only have to worry if a single victory isn't produced. For the most part, the only place Kansas can go is up in the standings.
Was Sports Illustrated's 1-11 prediction less than flattering? Yes.
Was it warranted? Probably.
Kansas should defeat McNeese State with ease, but the same could be said about North Dakota State last season and we all know how that turned out. McNeese State isn't a guaranteed win, as it finished 6-5 overall last season and 5-2 in the Southland conference. It was routed by Missouri last season, just like Kansas, and had a respectable showing against then No. 9 Louisiana State.
If Kansas does lose on Saturday, I won't be shocked. But if Kansas wins, celebrate the victory. It may be the last one you experience until next year. This is another season of growing. It's another season of rebuilding.
Turner Gill had the 34th ranked recruiting class this season, but those players will need time to mature and they most likely won't be a factor for a few years. They also could surprise everyone, like running back James Sims did last season.
If this队 wants to improve on its 3-9 record from a year ago, it will need to come together as a unit. Especially since the conference lost two teams and now Kansas will play every team in the conference. This is a challenge that has to be accepted, but probably isn't welcomed warmly, since Kansas has to play Texas and Oklahoma every season now.
Besides having nine difficult conference games, Northern Illinois and Georgia Tech aren't pushovers. Northern Illinois is better than you think. Yes, it plays in a non-automatic-qualifying BCS conference, but it went 8-0 in the Mid-America Conference and 11-3 overall last season. As for Georgia Tech, Kansas caught it on a bad day in Lawrence. Don't expect a repeat in Atlanta on Sept. 17.
Anything can happen, but don't expect it. Going into conference play, Kansas should be 1-2.
You might be asking why Kansas was predicted to go 0-9 in the Big 12. It's a twofold answer. First, the other nine teams are better on the field and on paper. There may be a day where Kansas' opponents aren't focused and the Jayhawks take advantage of that. I can see a team thinking Kansas is a cupcake and doesn't prepare as hard as it would for an Oklahoma or Texas. Second, the schedule doesn't do Kansas any favors.
The teams I think Kansas could defeat are Kansas State and Iowa State. I use the word "could" loosely because I don't think it will happen. I think Kansas and Iowa
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SOAKING UP SUCCESS IN SAN DIEGO
MIKE GUNNOE/KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Freshman forward Ingrid Vidai, left, tries to fight through Butler defender Kelly Mahoney in an exhibition game earlier this year. The Jayhawks are 3-1 on the season.
TOPPLING TOREROS
RYAN MCCARTHY rmccarthy@kansan.com
Timing is everything in soccer. It can range from the 90 minutes on the scoreboard, to the amount of time wasted by a player faking an injury to tick a few minutes off the clock.
For the Kansas women's soccer team, it was the timing of two goals in the last 10 minutes by freshman forward Ingrid Vidal, which boosted the girls over San Diego in a 2-1 victory, capping off a productive weekend at the University of San Diego Tournament.
Both Vidal and her freshman midfielder Liana Salazar were recruited to be significant contributors, and, on Sunday, the two Colombian national team members showed why they have built a connection before coming to the United States.
After the match, Vidal said that she was very excited to help the team win. Salazar helped Vidal translate her comments to English.
San Diego was another difficult, physical opponent who had some talented forwards to boot.
The Toreros scored in the 29th minute when Natalie Garcia scored her second goal of the season.
Despite missing several scoring chances early in the second half, the Jayhawks continued to stick to their offensive assault.
"Our kids just don't quit they just kept going at them and were able to come back in both games and win," coach Mark Francis said. "In terms of character and personality of our team I was really happy with that."
Assists from sophomore midfielder Caroline Kastor were crucial to the jayhawks' success. Kastor's two on target assists late in the second half made it simple for Vidal to find the back
"We knew that getting a second win on Sunday whenever
everybody was a little tired would be a big confidence boost," Kastor said.
A lot of attention was put on communication between players near the goalbox this week in practice. Throughout Tuesday
CAROLINE KASTOR
Sophomore midfielder
and Wednesday, the team worked on well-timed passes and finishing from close range.
All of the hard work in practice translated to success
in San Diego.
more offensive minded," Kastor said. "Sometimes we get caught up in doing the little things like defensive organization that we don't just relax and play"
"I think we had a lot more opportunities offensively and we're
With the season moving at a fast pace, Kansas hopes to fine-tune their passing skills.
"Obviously we had mistakes in the game we need to work on. So I'm thinking we're going to have to sharpen things up and take baby steps because every game is going to get better."
Kansas will finish up their three-game road swing with a trip to Springfield, Mo., against Missouri St. on Friday at 7 p.m.
Edited by C.J. Matson
FOOTBALL
Senior center steps up as leader
MIKE VERNON
mvernon@kansan.com
Entering fall camp, members of the Kansas Jayhawks' offensive line showed up with a new look. The towering big men, who fight in the trenches every Saturday, did something strange - they
Hatch
died their hair blond. They wanted to do something together, as a group.
their hair color changing ventures. The blond hair may be insignificant to the play of the offensive linemen this year, but there is another change Hatch has made that will not be.
Losing approximately 35 pounds this offseason has turned the out-of-shape and overweight center back into his peak form from early in his Kansas career.
Senior center Jeremiah Hatch led the Jayhawks in
Senior offensive lineman Jeff Spikes, has seen Hatch's results firsthand — especially in the weight room.
"He benched 405," Spikes said. "When he got here, he was probably repping 135 and squatting 135."
Hatch has told Spikes that no one ever worked out at his high school. He said it would be a full moon if everybody showed up to practice.
Now, Hatch is fully immersed in an environment where practice means everything.
out for one another every practice, making sure that no one is slacking, and Hatch has taken his role as a vocal leader to make sure everyone gives it their all during practice.
The team has been looking
I think we'll be real good this year."
"When you go 3-9 and you don't want to go workouts, you think about that 3-9." Hatch said. "When you think you're slacking, it comes in your mind. Three-and-nine has a lot to do with what's coming this season."
Hatch has been adamant that the Jayhawks will improve in a big way this year, because of their increased efforts over the
find where the fire for himself comes from.
"This will be my first time doing it," Hatch said. "I decided, hey, let's hold each other accountable for everything we do."
JEREMIAH HATCH Senior center
While Hatch has been concentrating on making sure his teammates are motivated, he doesn't have to look far back to
spring an summer.
While Hatch's forecast remains just that for now, coach Turner Gill does think that the weight loss from Hatch will make
quite a difference come game day. He said that the biggest difference Hatch will have on Saturday this season is his ability to get to the linebackers in the second level.
"Last year, he wasn't able to do that very well," Gill said. "When
"I won't leave here accepting nothing else than a bowl game," Hatch said.
"We're just taking it one step at a time, the goal is always realistic," Hatch said. "Reality is we will, and we can win a bowl game. If we take it one step at a time, one day at a time, as far as one play at a time, I think we'll be real good this year."
you get up to the second level, that's when you have a better opportunity to have bigger plays."
Hatch has started 36 games in his career at Kansas and has experienced some of everything during that time. He was a redshirt freshman during the Orange Bowl season. He played as a freshman during Todd Resing's senior year. He saw the Mark Mangino collapse firsthand. And now, he's trying to build something from a partially broken program. With that mentality, Hatch has set a goal for this team, and an ambitious one at that: Not only get to a bowl game, but win a bowl game.
- Edited by Mandy Matney
GOLF
Woodland ties for 13th in the Barclays Saturday
Woodland was also the 2005 Kansas Amateur Champion and has been named a candidate to represent the United States in the Walker Cup. He will team with Matt Kuchar to compete in the World Cup in China, according to PGA.com.
in the Barclays Saturday
Former University of Kansas golfer
Gary Woodland tied for 13th at the
Barclays on Saturday. Woodland shot
12-under-par during the tournament,
seven strokes behind winner
Dustin Johnson. His final round score was a 6-under-par 65. On the previous day Woodland shot a 5-under-par 66. The event was shortened from four rounds to three because of Hurricane Irene.
The Topeka native transferred to the University in 2003 after playing for one season on the Washburn University basketball team. In his four years on the Jayhawk squad, Woodland had a total of 14 career top ten finishes.
Other notable finishes for Woodland this year include a victory at the Transition Championship in March and a 12th place finish at the PGA Championships earlier this month.
V
The Barclays was the first event on the PGA Tour Playoffs for the FedEx Cup. Woodland will play in the next round of playoffs at the Deutsche Bank Championship next week.
— Lauren Drummond