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2B SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY DECEMBER 4, 2008
quote of the day
"We have to grow up and understand that every game is a dog fight. We have to be prepared defensively. We have to embrace who we are. We are a defensive team who creates opportunities off of our defense. Not that we aren't a good offensive team, but we have to understand who we are and embrace that. This group has to start walking the walk, because we haven't looked very mature here in the last two games."
fact of the day
— Kansas women's basketball coach Bonnie Henrickson
The Kansas women's basketball team won its last Big 12 regular season championship in 1996-97.
trivia of the day
Q: When was the last time Kansas women's basketball team reached the NCAA tournament?
A: 1999-00. Kansas lost to Vanderbilt in the first round in 2000 NCAA Women's Tournament.
sports schedule
Women's basketball: San Jose State, 7 p.m. (Lawrence) Swimming & Diving: Kenyon Invite, all day (Gambier, Ohio)
Today
Friday
Swimming & Diving: Kenyon Invite, all day (Gambier, Ohio) Track & Field: Holiday Preview, all day (Ames, Iowa)
Saturday
Men's basketball: Jackson State, 1 p.m. (Lawrence)
Swimming & diving: Kenyon Invite, all day (Gambier, Ohio)
NFL
Rams return linebacker to lineup, set example
ST. LOUIS — Like Orlando Pace a week earlier, St. Louis Rams linebacker Chris Draft appears ready to return to the lineup ahead of schedule.
They're setting an example for teammates that it's important to play to the finish, even if the season is a lost cause.
"It shows you some of the character you have on the team," coach Jim Haslett said Wednesday.
A look at Jayhawks in the 2008 draft class
one month into the season, two members of the 2008 national champion
2005 national championship team faced off for the first time. Mario Chalmer's Miami Heat edged out Brandon Rush and the Indiana Pacers with the final tally of 109-100. Rush, for the first time all season, hit double-digit points, while going perfect from behind the arc. Chalmer had a sub-par performance offensively, not hitting from the field, but adding five free throws. His defense once again saved his day though, and he came through with three steals for the Heat.
Here's how Rush, Chalmers and the other members of the 2008 draft class are faring.
BRANDON RUSH,
PACERS GUARD
Associated Press
Rush is still coming off the bench for the Pacers, but he's beginning to get a real feel for the pro game.
His recent stretch of three games with double-digit points has led to Indiana's giving him more and more minutes. In each of his last four games, he has played more than any game previous. He had a coming out party against Dallas, scoring 18 points while adding two boards, an assist and a steal.
DARRELL ARTHUR,
GRIZZLIES FORWARD
Arthur is playing alongside two legitimate rookie of the year candidates in ex-USC Trojan OJ. Mayo and Spaniard Marc Gasol. While Arthur's rebounding is second on
the team—behind Gasol—he has lost his starting spot and seen his minutes deteriorate over the last two games. Since his 16-point, nine rebound performance in 33 minutes against the Utah Jazz November 22, Arthur has been relegated to a smaller role. For the first time since his NBA debut, Arthur was out of the starting lineup November 28 against the Spurs and saw six minutes of playing time.
MARIO CHALMERS,
HEAT GUARD
Chalmers has really hit his stride lately, putting up double figures in points in three of the last four games after only accomplishing the feat twice in the first 13. He started the streak with a 23-point, six rebound, four assist and four steal performance against the Houston Rockets. His inspired play of late has made him arguably the most valuable rookie on his team, quite
a feat for someone playing with Michael Beasley, Chalmers' defensive capabilities have endeared him to fans, and his 2.1 steals per game are fifth in the league.
DARNELL JACKSON, CAVALIERS FORWARD
Jackson is finally healthy. After missing the team's first 13 games, Jackson has come in to play a reserve role for the Cavs in their last three, all wins for Cleveland. Jackson will get the least minutes of any of the layhawk rookies in the NBA, but he should start to see more as he returns to full health. Though he'll only play a minor role, Jackson has a considerably better chance of being a member of an NBA championship this year than any other Kansas rookie.
SASHA KAUN, CSKA MOSCOW FORWARD Kaun. who plays in his potty
Kaun, who plays in his native
Russia, has seen limited time playing for CSKA Moscow, averaging just under seven minutes. Kaun's Russian team is one of the best in the Euroleague, going 20-4 so far, with two of those losses coming in exhibitions against NBA teams—they fell to the Orlando Magic 94-66, and to the Toronto Raptors 86-78. In those games, Kaun faced off against two of the best forwards in the NBA: Dwight Howard and Chris Bosh. He scored two points in each while pulling down five rebounds.
Edited by Becka Cremer
Group hug
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Twente Rob Wielaert, center, is celebrated by his team after scoring during the UEFA cup group A a soccer match between FC Twente and SK Shakpele 04 at the Grostie Vesdau Stadium in Enschede, eastern Netherlands, Wednesday.
SHOP • EAT • PLAY • LAUGH • LOUNGE • DANCE • STROLL • STAY
HO HO HO HOLIDAYS IN DOWNTOWN LAWRENCE
Arenabergs Shoes • The Bay Leaf • Blue Heron Furniture • Brits • Buffalo Bob's Smokhouse • Central National Bank • Crandall & Crandon Douglas County • The Dusty Bookshelf • Ernest & Son Hardware • First Management • Francis Sporting Goods • Gilland & Hayes • Halcyon House • Intrigue Home Furnishings • Jackpot Music Hall • Jock's Nitch • Hawk Zone • Lawrence Antique Mall • Lawrence Journal-World
Liberty Hall • Mad Greek Restaurant • Massage Therapy Training Institute
MissFortune's Creation Station • Paley Properties • Personalized Family
Dental Care, P.A. • Pond Prairie Studio & Bead Co. • Red Lyon Towers
Sabatini Architects • Shark's Surf Shop • Spectator's • Stitch On
Needlework Shop • The Third Planet • Urban Outfitters • Water's Edge
White Workshop Experience • Wink Eyewear • PLUS MORE
MISSFORTUNE
DOWNTOWNLAWRENCE.COM • BUY GIFT CERTIFICATES AT ANY DOUGLAS COUNTY BANK • 816 FREE PARKING SPACES
KICK THE KANSAN: WEEK 13
Pick games. Beat the Kansan staff. Get your name in the paper.
1. No. 12 Ball State vs. Buffalo
2. No. 17 Boston College vs. No. 25 Virginia Tech
3. No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 Florida
4. No.5 USC at UCLA
No. 13 Cincinnati at Hawaii
5. No. 20 Missouri vs. No. 2 Oklahoma
7. East Carolina at Tulsa
8. Navy vs. Army
9. No. 23 Pittsburgh at Connecticut
Submit your picks either to KickTheKansan@kansan.com or to the Kansan business office, located at the West side of Stauffer-Flint Hall, which is between Wescoe Hall and Watson Library.
Name:
Year in school:
Year in school:
Hometown:
1) Only KU students are eligible.
2) Give your name, e-mail, year in school and hometown.
3) Beat the Kansan's best prognosticator and get your name in the paper.
4) Beat all your peers and get your picture and picks in the paper next to the Kansan staff.
5) To break ties, pick the score of the designated name.
--career jump start, and up to a $20,000 bonus for specific jobs. All this as a member of the Air Force Reserve with no prior military experience needed.
NFL
Chiefs cornerback and coach share resumé points
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Looking at Maurice Leggett, as Herm Edwards almost feels as though he's dusted off a 30-year-old photograph of himself.
Like Leggett, the Kansas City Chiefs' coach was a cornerback at a college that never played in a major bowl game or figured in the arguments over the national championship. Like Leggett, Edwards endured the sting of rejection, ignored by every team in every round of the NFL draft.
But Edwards did not let that deter him. He leaped on an opportunity to try out for a team as an undrafted free agent, and won a spot for himself on the roster.
And so has Leggett.
It's a long way from Division
II Valdosta State to the National Football League — just as it was a long way from San Diego State for Edwards. And while no one is predicting that Leggett will attain the stardom that Edwards experienced as a cornerback for the Philadelphia Eagles, he seems to be proving, week by week, game by game, that he belongs in the NFL.
"I know when I make mistakes," Leggett said. "It's just a matter of trying to learn from your mistakes every week."
The 5-foot-11, 188-pounder had by far his best game last week at Oakland. In addition to four tackles, he also scooped up a fumble on a botched fake field goal attempt and sped 67 yards for a touchdown that turned out to be the difference in a 20-13 victory that snapped a seven-game losing streak.
Associated Press
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