SPORTS
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VOLLEYBALL TEAM NEEDS BIG WIN
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
A victory against Texas could rush the Jayhawks into the NCAA Tournament. VOLLEYBALL|7A
TAKE A LOOK BACK AT THE JAYHAWK SOCCER SEASON
WWW.KANSAN.COM
Follow the highs and lows of the schedule, which ended in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. SOCCER | 7A
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2008
PAGE 10A
MEN'S BASKETBALL
CBE Classic just got a bit more intense
From left: Florida guard Nick Calathes, Syracuse guard Eric Devendorf and Washington forward Jon Brockman. These players could cause tough matchups for the young Kansas team at the CBE Classic next week.
Graphic by Nick Gerik/KANSAN
BY CASE KEEFER ckeefer@kansan.com
Kansas' first two opponents, UMKC and Florida Gulf Coast, had never reached the NCAA Tournament.
Washington, who the Jayhawks play Monday at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, has participated in three of the last five NCAA Tournaments. Kansas will then face off Tuesday against either Florida or Syracuse, teams that have combined to win three of the last six NCAA championships.
The Jayhawks' level of competition in the CBE Classic isn't just increasing, it's rapidly intensifying. They say they're ready for it.
Self stressed, however, that it's going to take a handful of quality practices to prepare his young team for its upcoming challenges. All three teams in the CBE Classic present unique ones.
"I think it's time," Kansas coach Bill Self said. "We'll have a better idea of where we're at."
Senior forward Jon Brockman leads Washington by averaging nearly 27 points and 14 rebounds through his first two games. Syracuse presents a backcourt duo with junior Eric Devendorf and sophomore Jonny Flynn, who are known for their ability to both shoot and drive. Florida relies heavily on sophomore forward Nick Calathes, last year's Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year.
After Tuesday's 85-45 victory against Florida Gulf Coast, Self said he hadn't watched Washington play yet. Florida and Syracuse, however, already impressed him.
"I've seen Florida and Syracuse play on television so far." Self said. "And we're going to have to play better than we have thus far to have a successful trip if success is equated to us winning games."
Self knows enough about Brockman to fear the Huskies as well. If Kansas has displayed one troubles trait in its first two games, it's the big men's propensity to get into foul trouble. Sophomore center Cole Aldrich has recorded two fouls within the first four minutes of both games. Although freshmen Marcus and Markieff Morris have only combined for seven fouls in the first two games. Self knows they are still prone to foul trouble. And he knows that could become an issue against Brockman
"If our big guys foul guys when they
throw it to the post now, how are they going to play when they jam it into Brockman every possession?" Self said. "We've got a lot of things to work on, a lot of things to improve on."
The two tests in two days should help Kansas prepare for a daunting upcoming schedule. The Jayhawks play seven teams in their nonconference schedule this season that made the NCAA Tournament last
season and the runner-up of the National Invitational Tournament, Massachusetts.
Some of the toughest matchups will be in December and January when Kansas plays Arizona, Tennessee and Michigan State.
Self even said the nonconference schedule was a little harder than hed like. But the players aren't deterred. They know the opposing teams aren't only strong, but also
are particularly looking forward to playing Kansas.
"We're still the defending national champions from last year so we've got a bull's eye on our back," junior guard Sherron Collins said. "We're going to get everybody's best shot."
Sophomore center Cole Aldrich feels the same way. For Aldrich, Monday's matchup against another skilled big man in
Brockman serves as his first significant test.
But he's excited for it. He says it will be fun for Kansas.
"The competition is really going to be tough," Aldrich said. "We're going to have to bring it in practice the next few days."
Edited by Brieun Scott
SOCCER
Freshman forward Emily Cressy (back left) and senior midfielder Jessica Bush (back right) hug junior midfielder Monica Dolinsky after she scored Kansas' first goal of the season. The team's seniors are finding it hard to believe that their season is over and are proud of making it to the tournament.
Raising the bar for next season
Team sets high expectations for a return to the NCAA Tournament
BY ANDREW WIEBE awiebe@kansan.com
Kansas' six seniors finally made it to the promised land.
Down to their final opportunity, Missy Geha, Jessica Bush, Jenny Murtaugh, Kristin Graves, Sara Rogers and Stephanie Baugh did what seemed close to impossible. They did what three consecutive senior classes before them had failed to do. They led the Jayhawks (13-8-2) to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2004.
After beating Denver in the first round, Kansas fell to No. 3 Stanford 5-0 last Sunday to bring a close to the careers of six seniors who finally made it. Bush said she still had trouble wrapping her mind around the fact that her career in crimson in blue has come to a close.
"They have been like my big sisters ever since I got here," junior midfielder Monica Dolinksy said. "They put it in so much time and effort. They work so hard, and it was great to see that happen for them."
Until that loss, she never gave up hope. Down and out more than once, Kansas and its six departing seniors never gave up. Not when Loyola Chicago spoiled a 5-0 start with a 2-1 victory at the Jayhawk Soccer Complex. Not when Nebraska and Oklahoma State snatched important road victories from Kansas' grasp in overtime. Not even when arch rival Missouri won 6-0 on the final day of the season.
goal, and anything less would be unacceptable. Two late season victories against Texas A&M, both following devastating weekend results, showed just how short Kansas' memory had become.
"At different times it has hit me," Bush said. "It's sad. It's like a part of me is done."
Through it all the Jayhawks never wavered. The NCAA Tournament was the
"I thought we bounced back from losses pretty well," junior forward Shannon
SEE SOCCER ON PAGE 7A
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Team begins season with perfect record
BY DANNY NORDSTROM
dnordstrom@kansan.com
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It was evident that coach Bonnie Henrickson was excited after Kansas' 76-54 victory against Iowa on Tuesday. After the game, an animated Henrickson said that she felt this was the Jayhawks' best victory in her four years at Kansas.
After a disappointing 17-16 finish last season, it seems that the winds are finally changing for the Jayhawks (2-0). The team is off to a tremendous start with dominant victories against the Sacred Heart Pioneers and the Iowa Hawkeyes, the defending Big 10 Conference champions.
"I think we've got them (Kansas) brainwashed finally." Henrickson said. "I think they understand how good they can be with that kind of work. It's something players have to buy into and commit to the work it takes to be that good defensively, and these kids have."
Led by junior guard Danielle McCray, Kansas has averaged 91 points in its first two games. McCray scored a career-high 29 points against Sacred Heart and 15 points with nine rebounds against Iowa. Her ability to score has ignited Kansas' offense and gotten multiple players involved.
This season, Kansas' recipe for victory has been an aggressive defense and a confident offensive attack. In previous seasons the lajhayws' hesitation to knock down shots hurt them greatly. After two decisive victories, it seems that the poise to put points on the board is finally there.
Defensively, Kansas has been impressive as well, scoring 24 points off 23 turnovers against Iowa. Henrickinson cites hard work in practice and solid technique as the reason for the lavhawks' strong defense.
"I am more excited how we're playing and winning than we're winning,"
team statistics
Preseason record 2-0
Regular season record 2-0
Last season record 17-16
Opponents:
Sacred Heart 106-64,
Iowa 76-55
Next game: Sunday against St.
Louis University.
Leading scorer: Danielle McCray is averaging 22 points per game Leading rebounder: Porscha Weddington is averaging 7.5 rebounds per game Kansas has won by an average of 26.5 points per game. Kansas has averaged 7.5 three-pointers per game As a team, Kansas is 72.4 points from
As a team, Kansas is 73.8% from the free throw line.
Kansas has averaged 11 steals per game.
Kansas has scored 54 points off 48 turnovers in two games.
Kansas has averaged 27 points off
turnovers per game.
Kansas returns 88% of its scoring from last season.
Kansas returns 11 letterwinners and four starters from last season
she said. "It's how we're winning that I'm excited about."
The layhawks hope to capture another victory this weekend, as they travel to play Saint Louis University. Henrickson said she was optimistic about this season's team.
"The best part is we are going to get better" she said.
Edited by Jennifer Torline