8B
GAME DAY
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2008
KU
KICKOFF
ATAGLANCE
Kansas has an opportunity to win bowl games in back-to-back years for the first time in school history when it faces 7-5 Minnesota in the Insight Bowl on New Year's Eve. The Jayhawks have plenty of things still left to accomplish by beating the Golden Gophers, including an eight-win season with one of the toughest schedules in the nation and am opportunity to win 20 games in a two year span for the first time in school history. The Jayhawks will arrive in Tempe on Dec. 27 before practicing at a local high school the next three days in preparation for the New Year's Eve bowl.
BYTHE NUMBERS
(2008 Averages and National Rank)
33rd Rush defense (126.67)
113th Pass defense (275.50)
87th Scoring defense (29.5)
80th
Rush offense (128.92)
8th
Pass offense (302.33)
27th
Scoring offense (32.67)
PLAYER TO WATCH
Dezmon Briscoe
Briscoe
Briscoe averaged nearly 28 yards per kick return against Missouri — his first time returning
kicks this year. The Jayhawks had started with worse field position than their opponent in eight of 11 games before Briscoe took the Jayhawks near midfield on several of his seven returns. The sophomore sensation should have a big game at wide receiver as well, as Minnesota's pass defense ranked 10th out of 11 teams in the Big 10.
QUESTION MARKS
Will the Jayhawks be healthy?
Kansas has had several injured and banged-up players for much of the season. Kerry Meier said he had not played at 100 percent since the first game of the season and the month off should allow Meier and the other injured players to get near 100 percent.
Will there be any surprises?
Aqib Talib surprised everyone by returning punts in the Orange Bowl last season and it will be interesting to see if any similar position changes occur for the Insight Bowl. Mangino loves to throw a wrinkle at opposing teams when he has extra time to prepare, so only time will tell which player will
THEY'RE BOWL-BOUND
Jayhawks hope to win two back-to-back bowl games
KANSAS VS. MINNESOTA, 5:00 p.m., SUN DEVIL STADIUM, NFL Network
KANSAS
7-5,4-4 Big 12
OFFENSE
A month off will surely help heal a badly bruised and injured KU offense. Quarterback Todd Reesing, running back Jake Sharp and wide receiver Kerry Meier all played at well less than 100 percent against Missouri but were still able to upset No 12 Missouri 40-37. More than a month between games will likely heal the wounded Jayhawks, who should have success through the air against
Meier
a Minnesota pass defense that ranks 10th out of 11 teams in the Big 10.
DEFENSE
The senior linebacker trio of James Holt, Mike Rivera and Joe Mortensen appear on a mission to end their college careers on a high note. The 33-day break should help heal lingering injuries to Rivera and Mortensen, and a poor Golden Gopher offense could make for a dominating performance by the KU defense. Safety Darrell Stuckey was
the lone Jayhawk to make the All Big 12's First Team and wants to end his breakout junior campaign with back to back bowl victories.
Stuckey
SPECIAL TEAMS
Dezmon Briscoe stormed onto the scene during his first game as the team's kick returner against Missouri, returning seven kicks for 195 yards. Kansas had recorded only four kick returns of at least 25 yards in their first 11 games of the season but Briscoe had four 25-yard plus returns by himself against the Tigers. The Jayhawks ranked dead last, 119th out of 119 teams, in yards per kick return before Briscoe took over for the Missouri game.
Briscoe
COACHING
After going 0-8 in the Big 12 and 2-10 overall in his first year 2002, coach Mark Mangino is taking the Jayhawks to their f bowl game in the past six years. Mangino's hiring of offensive coordinator Ed Warriner before the start of last season could go down as one of the better hires in recent KU football history. Warriner's spread offense has made the Jayhawks one of the top offensive teams in the nation and could help the Jayhawks win 20 games in the last two years.
MOMENTUM
The momentum couldn't be more in favor of the Jayhawks, who are coming off one of the biggest victories in school history — a come-from-behind 40-37 victory against rival Missouri two weeks ago. The Jayhawks have a lot to play for, including an eight-win season, back-to-back bowl victories and the opportunity to have 20 victories over the last two seasons. Mangino should have the Jayhawks rolling on all cylinders come Dec. 31.
7-5,3-5 Big 10
OFFENSE
MINNESOTA
Weber
Michigan's especially terrible season is the only thing keeping Minnesota's offense from the bottom of the barrel in the Big Ten (+1). The Golden Gophers accumulate just more than 322 yards (Michigan: 291) and 23 points per game (Michigan: 20). Sophomore quarterback Adam Weber completes 63 percent of his passes to lead the conference, but it doesn't counteract Minnesota's complete lack of a running game. The Gophers barely crack the century mark on the ground.
DEFENSE
wise average defense very dangerous. The Gophers have 30 takeaways this season — tied for eighth-best in the nation. Thing is, it's not one guy, either. The entire secondary gets involved with picks and each starting lineman has at least one forced fumble. If you had to pick one catalyst, though, it'd be defensive end Willie VanDeSteeg. The senior has two forced fumbles and his 9.5 sacks lead the team.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Minnesota's ability to create turnovers makes an other
Minnesota is solid yet unspectacular in special teams.
Troy Stoudemire averages more than 25 yards per kick return but doesn't have a touchdown. Marcus Sherels gets 12.4 yards per punt, but that's on just 14 returns. The Gophers' punt coverage unit is impressive, giving up just more than eight yards per return. There simply aren't any dynamic talents on Minnesota's special teams. But neither are there any players who screw up and surrender yardage.
Stoudemire
COACHING
Tim Brewster walked into a hellish situation at Minnesota in 2007. How does someone make football relevant in a state that would rather play hockey? It's not easy. Just ask Glen Mason. But Brewster's recruiting efforts have netted some early gains, and a weak nonconference slate helped him get his program off the ground floor with a 7-1 start. Now we'll find out a lot more about Brewster's abilities. His team is
down in the dumps, so what can he do with five weeks of practice?
MOMENTUM
Minnesota left on top of the world then reality came along and punched the Gophers in the mouth. They still haven't gotten off the canvas. Brewster's team wasn't supposed to compete this season, but they did. Then they weren't supposed to fall off the face of the earth, but they did. As if four straight losses weren't bad enough, Iowa's demoralizing 55-0 victory at the Metrodome left the Gophers in a stupor. They have a small chance for redemption, but five weeks may not be long enough to shake that one off.
— B.J. Rains
Dexton Fields
KANSAN.COM
The Kansan will be covering the Insight Bowl from Tempe with updates, photos and podcasts on Kansan.com
Taylor Bern
MU KICKOFF
ATAGLANCE
An Insight Bowl against a Big 12 team that can score in bunches will bring back nightmares for Minnesota fans. Two years ago, Texas Tech overcame a 38-7 half-time deficit to win 44-41 in overtime. This time around the Gopher offense isn't as good, relying solely on the suddenly unsure arm of sophomore Adam Weber. Minnesota fans can rest easy knowing their team won't improve on its record 31-point bowl collapse, because there's no way this team will even break 30.
BY THE NUMBERS
81st
(2008 Averages and National Rank)
57th
scoring offense (23.4 ppg)
passing offense (216.4 ypg)
rushing offense (162.9 ypg)
104th
49th
88th
passing defense (231.6 ypg)
scoring defense (23.3 ppg)
rushing defense (124.5 ypg)
71st
PLAYER TO WATCH
Eric Decker
Decker's not a great wide receiver, but in this run-happy conference he's as close as you get. Decker leads the Big Ten with 6.9 receptions per game and
Decker
ranks second with 84.1 receiving yards per game. Adam Weber will target him early and often in an effort to stretch Kansas' secondary and open up the run.
QUESTION MARKS
Can Minnesota rush for 100 yards?
It doesn't sound too tough, but the Gophers average just more than a C-note per game. If they can crack 115 or 120, then Kansas must at least respect the run. That could open up the pass.
Can the Gophers win the turnover battle?
Minnesota's defense does it better than almost any team, but recently its offense has been giving the ball right back. The Gophers likely need at least four or five turnovers to keep this game close.
BIG 12 BOWL SCHEDULE
Game
Time Channel
Dec. 29
Valero Alamo:
No. 25 Missouri vs. No. 22 Northwestern 8 p.m. ESPN
Dec. 30
Pacific Life Holiday:
No. 13 Oklahoma State vs. No. 15 Oregon 8 p.m. ESPN
Jan. 1
Konica Minolta Gator:
Nebraska vs. Clemson 1 p.m. CBS
Jan. 2
AT&T Cotton:
No. 8 Texas Tech vs. No. 20 Mississippi 2 p.m. FOX
Jan. 5
Tostitos Fiesta:
No. 3 Texas vs. No. 10 Ohio State 8 p.m. FOX
Jan. 8
BCS National Championship:
No. 2 Oklahoma vs. No. 1 Florida 8 p.m. FOX
JAYHAWK NATION WILL ROCK IF...
Kansas can score more than 28 points. Minnesota was 7-1 when holding opponents to 28 points or fewer during the regular season but 0-4 when teams scored more than 28 points.
GALE SAYERS
WILL WEEP IF...
Kansas commits turnovers and allows Minnesota to hang
and allows Minnesota to hang around early. The Golden Gophers are 6-0 when they win the turnover battle, so it's imperative for the Jayhawks to take care of the football.
BOWL SCHEDULE
Prediction:
Kansas 36, Minnesota 28
Time Channel
Game
Dec. 20
Eagle Bank: Wake Forest vs. Navy 10:00 a.m. ESPN New Mexico:
Colorado State vs. Fresno State 1:30 p.m. ESPN Magic Jack St. Petersburg:
Memphis vs. South Florida 3:30 p.m. ESPN2 Pioneer Las Vegas:
BYU vs. Arizona 7 p.m. ESPN
Dec.21
Dec. 23
5
New Orleans: Southern Miss vs. Troy 7:15 p.m. ESPN
Poinsettia: Boise State vs. TCU 7 p.m. ESPN
Dec.24
Sheraton Hawaii:
Hawaii vs. Notre Dame 7 p.m. ESPN
Dec. 26
Motor City:
Florida Atlantic vs. Central Michigan 7 p.m. ESPN
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