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GARDENDALE 101
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER NABS BIG 12 ACCOLADES
Junior Lauren Bonds earns all-conference honors for placing 15th at the Big 12 Conference championships. CROSS COUNTRY |8A
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7,2008
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SOCCER
See Alex Beecher's column and read Kelly Breckunitch's fantasy football advice online at kansan.com.
Jayhawks' NCAA tournament hopes hinge on Mizzou game
PAGE10A
Coach Francis says redemption is the last thing on his team's mind
BY ANDREW WIEBE
awiebe@kansan.com
SAN ANTONIO — Seven days after No. 20 Missouri took Kansas behind the woodshed for its most lopsided beating in almost 10 years, revenge is far from the thoughts of coach Mark Francis and his team.
"I wouldn't say it's about revenge at
all" senior midfielder Missy Geha said, going into what could be her final collegiate game. "You want to beat every team you play against. We are just looking to win because we want to go to the NCAA Tournament."
At this point in the season, it's all about adding more substance to a borderline NCAA Tournament resume that the Jayhawks (12-7-1) hope will catch the eye
of the selection committee. They know a victory against the Tigers tonight in the Big 12 Tournament semifinals could be the difference between playing in the NCAA Tournament and spending the rest of winter lamenting missed opportunities.
"In the Big 12 Tournament, every team wants to step up," junior defender Estelle
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Erin Elfeson, sophomore midfielder laughs with Shannon McCabe, junior forward during soccer practice on Thursday in San Antonio. The soccer team plays Missouri tonight in game two of the Big 12 Soccer Tournament after beating Texas A&M 4-2 on Wednesday.
COMMENTARY
Dolinsky's play gets physical
SAN ANTONIO - On the A&M sidelines, they thought she threw a fist. Coaches and players were off the bench and screaming when their player, Beth West, collapsed onto the grass Wednesday night.
Is the end near?
A fist? Maybe. Dolinsky didn't think so.
They had just gotten a taste of the physical side of Monica Dolinsky, and they wanted her out of the game. Two and West were going after the ball. Two sprinting bodies. A collision. A crash. Dolinsky stood tall. West rolled in the grass.
She said tempers flared. That was all. She said West was the same type of player, aggressive. That was all.
Dollinsky rarely has much to say after games. On the field, it's completely different. One who never stops directing players from her midfield spot. One who, as her teammates say, "isn't afraid to say what she thinks" if an opponent mouths off. And of course she's physical. West found that out on Wednesday.
She had talent as a freshman, all kinds of it. When she had the ball, few players could do as many wonderful things. That year she had six goals by mid-October, which put her on a pace to surpass Caroline Smith's freshman scoring record. She didn't score another one the
And that's really Dolinsky's role on this team — the firestarter. Two years ago, that wasn't the case.
"Anytime somebody can attack like that, Miss Geha said, 'if fire me up.'"
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KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe moves the ball up the field following a reception in last season's 76-39 drubbing of Nebraska in Lawrence. Saturday the contest will move to Lincoln, Neb., where Kansas has not won in the last 19 oarches, stretching back to 1968.
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
VOLLEYBALL
Spirits up, Hawks set for victory
BY JOSH BOWE
ibowe@kansan.com
After a nearly flawless victory against Colorado Wednesday, Kansas should keep its momentum and defeat Texas Tech Saturday night.
But nothing is certain in the Big 12 Conference this season. If there has been anything to expect, it has been the unexpected. Although the Red Raiders (5-20, 0-14) will ride into Lawrence on a 14-match losing streak, all of those matches against Big 12 teams, coach Ray Bechard has been around long enough to know there are no guarantees.
"We (coaches) told the team to enjoy it," Bechard said of Kansas' sweep against the Buffaloes. "But what can we do between now and then to play at an even higher level?"
For once, Bechard does not have an overwhelming concern for practice before Saturday. In Wednesday's matchup, Kansas had the advantage against Colorado in all the important statistics: kills, digs, assists, blocks, errors, hitting percentage, service aces and errors.
Players finally did not have to answer questions about the team's inconsistent offense or shoddy defense.
"I thought it was consistent all around," senior middle blocker Natalie Uhart said. "We need to remember what it feels like to stay consistent."
But Bechard never likes to pinpoint things until everything is accounted for. Though he would not go as far to say his team's victory against Colorado was the most consistent match Kansas has played all year, he did say he thought it was as close as it could be.
"Probably for an hour and a half it was pretty close," Bechard said. "We just didn't stand out in one phase. I thought we were consistently pretty good in all phases."
But cause for concern could come from reflecting on the last time Kansas played
MEN'S BASKETBALL
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Former Hawks poised to soar
NBA rookies Rush, Chalmers and Arthur already shaking up league
BY CASE KEEFER ckeefer@kansan.com
Aldrich is planning on following his three former teammates and their current NBA teams — Brandon Rush and the Indiana Pacers, Mario Chalmers and the Miami Heat, and Darrell Arthur and the Memphis Grizzlies — closer than ever this season. When Darnell Jackson returns from a wrist injury, the Cleveland Cavaliers will be added to the list.
Be warned Brandon, Mario and Darrell.
If you have an off night, Cole Aldrich is going to find out.
"I'll be texting everybody like, 'jeez Brandon, you missed that shot? Come on, that was a wide-open shot. How'd you miss that?' Aldrich said. "Just giving everybody a little grief every once in a while."
But Aldrich isn't looking forward to sending congratulatory messages after a good game. He's more concerned with reaching out to them after they struggle.
Unfortunately for Aldrich, he hasn't had many opportunities. Rush, Chalmers and Arthur's professional careers are off to a fast start.
Especially Chalmers. He has started every game for the Heat this season at point guard. He leads the league in steals with just less than four per game. He leads all rookies in assists with seven per game.
"It just shows you what type of player he is and how good he can be" junior guard Sherron Collins said. "He's already starting at the next level as a rookie."
NBA experts agree. Despite falling to the second round of the NBA Draft last June, Chalmers will be one of the best point guards of the class, ESPN.com NBA insider Chad Ford said.
Ford, who was on campus last week to give a guest lecture, thinks Chalmers wound up in a great situation in Miami. He said the Heat ran a perfect system for Chalmers that would enable him to fit in immediately.
"Ive always thought Mario would be a
very good starting point guard," Ford said. "I'm not sure he's going to be a Chris Paul or Deron Williams or that elite level. But he's going to a very good point guard."
Ford had similar feelings about Darrell Arthur's situation. Arthur slipped all the way to the 27th pick despite being projected to go in the top 15. He was then traded three times on draft night before winding up in Memphis.
Ford said the Grizzlies were an ideal team for Arthur, who has started in four of Memphis' five games and is averaging five points and seven rebounds per game.
"I always say this about NBA rookies — you're always much better off landing with a team that needs you where you will play right away than landing on a particular city or making a little more money by getting drafted higher," Ford said.
Rush hasn't played as much as Chalmeris or Arthur. But according to Ford, the Pacers
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ASSOCIATED PRESS
Memphis Grissies forward Darrell Ardle returns up for a lay up in front of Orlando Magic guard Courtney Lee during the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game in Orlando, Fla., on Wednesday.