THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2008
SPORTS
d he
tories
from
laying
5B
VOLLEYBALL (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
Curt Youngblood/THE DAILY TEXAN
Jenna Kaiser goes up for a block against Texas during Saturday's game in Austin. The Jayhawks lost all three sets (25-18, 25-11, 27-25). The team successfully defended Texas' All-American Destinee Hooker, but didn't stop Jilliam Fauccette with 14 kills.
"It's not something that's a real possibility," Bechard said of his team's chances. "We understand that we put ourselves in that position."
Which is why Bechard is looking to see how his team finishes out the season. He told his team after the match that this week is dedicated to the team's two seniors, Uhart and fellow middle blocker Savannah Noves.
"We have two matches left to show progress and for this group to be together." Bechard said.
volleyball notes
Edited by Ramsey Cox
COMPARING THETWO
After playing Nebraska and Texas back-to-back, Bechard offered his thoughts on what Texas brings to the table compared to Nebraska.
"I think Nebraska is probably a little more balanced and steady," he said. "While Texas is much more physical and has some better athletes in spots."
He also said he would not be surprised if both teams made it to the Final Four in this year's tournament
NO NEGATIVES
Kansas barely escaped hitting for a negative percentage for set two as they finished with exactly eight kills and eight errors. While the .000 hitting percentage was the lowest of the match for Kansas, it came at a bad time. Texas hit .478, it's highest for the match. That also explains the most lopsided set loss for Kansas this season, losing 25-11.
-Josh Bowe
"We stood around on the defensive end and just let balls hit the floor," Henrickson said. "They pursued them. I thought they out-hustled us in the first half."
WOMEN'S (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
in the opening 20 minutes
The Jayhawks battled back to tie the game at 31 late in the half before LaChelda Jacobs, one of four Jayhawk starters in double figures, hit a pull-up jumper with six seconds left to put Kansas up by two points at the break.
Back-to-back three-pointers by McCray and Nicollette Smith at the start of the second half put the Jayhawks up 39-31 and they never looked back from there. The Jayhawks unleashed a 16-4 run to start the final 20 minutes and upped their lead to 49-35 midway through the half to put the game away.
"We didn't come out as aggressive as we did in the second half," McCray said. "We were kind of just laid-back. Road games are different and we just didn't come out with the same energy as we have."
McCray led all scorers with 27 points and 12 rebounds in 32 minutes of action. She was seven of 18 from the field and hit 11 of her 12 attempts from the free throw line. She also had four steals, a block, two assists and two three-pointers.
The junior is second in the Big 12 in points per game with 23.7 and is seventh in rebounding at 8.7 boards per game.
"Danielle was a monster," Henrickson said. "She was all over the glass. I thought, from tip to horn, she was solid. She made good decisions, guarded, rebounded like crazy, got to the free-throw line."
Sade Morris had 14 points, Porscha Weddington had 12 and Jacobs added 10 for the Jayhawks. The team has had at least three players score in double figures in all three games this season and ranks third in the Big 12 in scoring offense at 85.7 points per game.
While McCray is the unquestioned team leader, Henrickson said the emergence of Morris, Weddington and Jacobs would make the Jayhawks much more dangerous as the season rolls on.
said. "Now I've never had anyone that was going to go for 40 a night, so I've never played like that, but it's a lot easier to beat someone when you've got more than one option."
"The best and most fun teams I've had have had three or four people where it could be anybody's night," Henrickson
The Jayhawks upped the lead to 56-39 on a McCray three-point play with 11:48 to go in the game, but a quick 13-3 run by the Billikens cut the lead to just nine at 61-52 with six minutes left to play.
But Kansas didn't flinch, ending the game on a 16-4 run that had the Jayhawks fans in attendance
singing the Rock Chalk Chant with less than a minute remaining.
"We kept fighting," Weddington said. "I thought that we had heart and we fought until the end."
The layhawks will take a break from practice to dine at Henrickson's home on Thanksgiving before preparing to host New Orleans on Sunday afternoon. They will look to go 4-0 for the first time since the 2005-2006 season.
— Edited by Adam Mowder
women's basketball notes
BONNIE STRESSING DEFENSE
Those watching women's basketball practices may be hard-pressed to find a worse defensive team in college basketball — at least that's the way Kansas players see it.
With coach Bonnie Henrickson and her staff placing extra emphasis on defense this season, practices have been shaped into a defensive boot camp of sorts.
"I swear, if anyone saw us in practice they would honestly think that we were the worst defensive team in the country," junior Kelly Kohn said. "And I only say that because our coaches push us so much, especially this year."
Sometimes, junior Sade Morris said, practices are halted in the middle of an offensive play to point out defensive flaws: You didn't throw your foot out, you're opening up, get your hands off.
"You feel like you are just the worst defensive player ever," Morris said.
But through three games, the increased prodding is paying off. Kansas' opponents are averaging 58 points per game, while shooting just 37 percent. During that same stretch, the Jayhawks had 30 steals.
Against St. Louis yesterday, the Jayhawks held the Billikens to 32 percent shooting and one completed three-pointer.
WORKING THE GUN
"Since the beginning of practice it has been the number one area of focus," Kohn said. "Nothing is ever good enough until it's absolutely perfect."
Credit part of Kansas' longrange sharpening to extra work with "the gun." Only this gun fires basketballs, not bullets.
Looking to improve their three-point shooting percentages from a year ago, the Jayhawks spent more time beyond the arc in the offseason. Much of that time consisted of nothing more than a simple drill: shoot, catch the rebounded pass from the gun and shoot again.
Aided by the gun — a machine that passes basketball back to the shooter — the Jayhawks are hitting 38 percent of their three-point shots through three games.
Perhaps the most significant improvements can be seen in junior Danielle McCray, McCray, who shot 30 percent from three-point range last year, has made 10 of her 18 attempts this season, including two of five against St. Louis yesterday.
True, it's still early in the season, but the Jayhawks said consistent shooting is an area in which they've improved. So far, four players have made three-pointers, while three Jayhawks have made at least three.
"That's where we've matured this year," junior Kelly Kohn said. "We have a lot of different people playing at a consistent level offensively."
"We wore that out," coach Bonnie Henrickson said.
Jayson Jenks
SHOP • EAT • PLAY • LAUGH • LOUNGE • DANCE • STROLL • STAY
HO HO HO HOLIDAYS IN DOWNTOWN LAWRENCE
Arensberg's Shoes • The Bay Leaf • Blue Heron Furniture • Britt • Buffalo Bob's Smokehouse • Central National Bank • Crandon & Crandon Douglas County • The Dusty Bookshop • Erin & Son Hardware • First Management • Francis Sporting Goods • Gilliam & Hayes • Halcyon House • Inigue Sports Furnishings • Jackpot Music Hall • Jock's Nitch • Hawk Zone • Lawrence Antique Mall • Lawrence Journal World
Liberty Hall · Mad Greek Restaurant · Massage Therapy, Training Institute
MidFortune's Creation Station · Paley Properties · Personalized Family
Dental Care, PA, Prainje Bond Studio & Bead CO. · Red Lion Tavern
Sabina Architects · Sharks' Surf Store · Spectators · Stitch On
Needlework Shop · The Third Planet · Urban Outliers · Wate's Edge
White Chocolate Experience · Wink Eyewear · PLUS MORE
MYORE
DOWNTOWNLAWRENCE.COM • BUY GIFT CERTIFICATES AT ANY DOUGLAS COUNTY BANK • 816 FREE PARKING SPACE.
Celebrate Thanksdrinking...only at The Hawk
Monday
$1 Miller Light Cans
$1.50 UV Bombs
Tuesday
$3 Pitchers
$3 Double Wells
$1.50 Waterfall Shots
Saturday
$2.50 Double Skyy, Captain Morgan & Jim Beam drinks
$2.50 Big Beers
LAWRENCE
WWW.JAYHAWKCAFE.COM
1340 Ohio • 843-9273
1445 W 23rd St
(785) 841-5000
www.gumbyspizza.com
LARGE 1-ITEM PIZZA
10" POKEY STIX
FREE 2-LITER
WACHY WEEKDAYS
Open 11 a.m.-3 a.m.
VALID SUN-THUR
* CHOOSE L *
GET ALL 3
FOR $16.99
ADD 10" DESSERT $4.99
MONDAY & WEDNESDAY
BIG DEAL
VACUUM THRU
* CHOOSE I *
LARGE I-ITEM PIZZA
LARGE POKEY STIX
& PEPPERONI ROLLS
LARGE CHEESE PIZZA or
LARGE POKEY STIX
$8.99
2 FOR $16.99
3 FOR $24.99
$6.99
GUMBY
GIVE-AWAY
Valid: delivery or carryout
BUY ONE
GET ONE
FREE!!
FREE!
ANY PIZZA OR POKEY STIX
NOT MIDAY FRI & SAT AFTER
MIDNIGHT OR WITH ANY OTHER
MORNING
Get a free cappuccino cup set when you buy two pounds of beans.
Heads, you keep the cups. Tails, they're a gift.
www.dunnbros.com