SPORTS
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2008
KANSAS 98, WASHBURN 79
RUSTY BEGINNING
Jayhawks claim win to start 2008 term
Jon Goering/KANSAN
Junior guard Sherron Collins dips under a block attempt by Washburn forward Logan Stutz during a drive to the basket in the first half of Tuesday night's exhibition game at Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas defended Washburn 98-79.
Election Day is a polarizing event. So many people work so many hours supporting their candidate, and for normal life a favorable affi
Someone must lose.
While democracy ran its course outside in the real world, Allen Fieldhouse welcomed voters young and old to celebrate the introduction of the 2008-09 Kansas Jayhawks, judging by the Washburn fans who cheered to the final buzzer, nobody lost.
On a night when less-devoted fans planted their butts at home to watch hours of Election Night blaber, a nearcapacity crowd filled the Fieldhouse to witness real change, the kind of change that only occurs when a national championship team loses five players to professional basketball and ushers in seven newcomers.
No election decided the leadership of this year's team. Had there been, coach Bill Self could have campaigned on taxing babies and still won in a landslide.
Kansas' leader makes every move and decision without the hiss of second-guessers. He earned that bliss by fulfilling every campaign promise last season.
This term, his Cabinet closely resembles last year's and familiar faces fill the House, but seven new Senators grace James Naismith Court.
Self's inaugural speech on Oct. 17 stirred the crowd into a frenzy. Like any great speech, it left the masses excited and starved for more.
Most of the team started its term in August, exhibiting its skills in exhibitions north of the border. Then, running mates Marcus and Markieff Morris joined the administration as the campaign prepared for Late Night in the Phog.
Tuesday night, KU fans finally got another dilppe of their leaders.
Cheers for the incumbent president soared to the rattlers and shook the freshly
SEE BERN ON PAGE 9A
Reed, Collins kick-start the Jayhawks' attack with big games
PAGE 12A
BY CASE KEEFER ckeefer@kansan.com
The layhawks looked every bit their youth at the beginning of Tuesday's exhibition game against Washburn. They took ill-advised shots. They played poor defense. To prevent the Ichabods from staying in the game, the Jayhawks needed a spark.
Like a dusty old truck stored away in the garage, all Kansas needed was someone to jump-start it.
Along came Tyrel Reed's jump shot,
Reed, a sophomore guard, connected on
two three-pointers from the wing midway through the first half — adding to the two he had already made — to separate Kansas from Washburn and lead it to a 98-79 victory.
"Coach says if I'm open, knock it down," Reed said. "I felt like I was open. Fortunately, they fell. We just needed to bring some more energy to the name."
Reed added another three-pointer and hung around below the basket to finish with 16 points and five rebounds. But nothing in the game was as significant as Reed's initial 12 points.
Sherron Collins took over from there.
In case fans had forgotten how explosive Collins can be when healthy, he reminded them by recording 22 points, seven assists and a steal.
Collins, a junior guard, also showed why Bill Self and his teammates have labeled him as the unquestioned leader of the layhawks. Collins did not shy away from being vocal with his younger teammates. He barked instructions at freshmen Tyshawn Taylor and Quintrell Thomas multiple times throughout the
SEE BASKETBALL ON PAGE 9A
FOOTBALL
Freshman's switch to cornerback boosts play
BY B.J. RAINS
rains@kansan.com
Patrons of Cici's Pizza sometimes get confused when they see Daymond Patterson's plate.
"I eat a lot of pizza," Patterson said. "But I'm a salad guy, too. I like the salad bar at Cici's. Every time we go there, my teammates always ask me why I'm trying to eat healthy. I say 'I'm not trying to eat healthy — I just
No, he's not taking the mountain of pizza or salad back to his teammates at the table — it's all for him. One of the Jayhawks' smallest players at 5-foot-9, 175 pounds, Patterson eats more than some of his biggest teammates.
to eat healthy - I just like salad."
Patterson and teammate A.I. Steward eat at Cicf's at least once each week and sometimes more.
"We have a good time; just sit there and relax after practice," Patterson said.
Patterson
These days, it's one of the few moments in the freshman's day when he's not thinking about football. After starting at wide receiver during the team's 5-2 start, Patterson switched to cornerback to help shore up a struggling defense. He has spent extra time catching up with the defense's schemes and playbook.
After coming off the bench in a reserve role against Texas Tech, Patterson started at corner against Kansas State. Along with Justin Thornton, who switched from safety to the opposite corner before the Texas Tech game, Patterson helped allow only 207 passing yards to Kansas State quarterback Josh Freeman.
"It's going a lot smoother than I thought," Patterson said of the switch. "I still have a few technique issues from just switching, but being a receiver, you know what they are thinking and how they will set up a route, so that's been able to help me a lot as far as knowing what a receiver likes to do."
Patterson had 14 receptions for 154 yards and two touchdowns in the team's four nonconference games but didn't see the field at receiver again. Defensive coordinator Clint Bowen approached him the day after a 45-31 loss to Oklahoma and asked what he thought about switching to defense.
"He was a guy that you just knew had the physical ability to run and change direction, which at the corner position is the most important," Bowen said. "We
SOCCER
SEE FOOTBALL ON PAGE 10A
Kansas faces must-win situation Hawks get one more chance to play on after disappointing season
BY ANDREW WIEBE awiebe@kansan.com
Outlast the Aggies for the second time this season, and the Jayhawks will play at least one more game. Fall short, and the season will end with a first-round Big 12 Tournament exit for the fourth time in four seasons.
Kansas' future is made up entirely of absolutes entering today's Big 12 Tournament first-round matchup against No.11 Texas A&M.
Unless Kansas (11-7-1) wins three consecutive games to claim the Big 12's automatic NCAA Tournament bid, something it has never done, coach Mark Francis' team has almost no chance to compete in the postseason play.
"It's our last opportunity," senior midfielder Missy Geha said. "It could be my last game, every game from here is do or die."
Kansas began the season 5-1 but faded in conference play, finishing 4-5-1 against Big 12 opponents and claiming the seventh seed of eight in this week's tournament.
Despite a disappointing end to the regular season, Francis said the one-and-done
format meant any team had the opportunity to put together three solid games and make a run at the tournament title.
"I told the team, 'It doesn't matter if you're 10-0 in the league or 2-8.' Francis said. "It makes absolutely no difference once you get into the tournament because it's a one-game situation. Basically everybody is on an even field. You just have to show up and perform."
Francis knows better than most how narrow the distinction between victory and defeat can be in the Big 12 Tournament. Kansas was the No. 2 seed last November, but Oklahoma State ended its season in the first round. In 2006 the Jayhawks missed out on the second round after Colorado snuck past them on penalty kicks.
Junior defender Kim Boyer said that the Big 12 Tournament didn't hold great memories but said that Kansas couldn't afford to dwell on the past when the season came down to 90 minutes.
"You just have to take it for what it is, and go out there and win," Boyer said. "It doesn't matter what you did in the past."
The Jayhawks beat the Aggies 1-0 on Oct. 17 at the Jayhawk Soccer Complex.
but Francis said that the victory wouldn't play any role in the way either team performed tonight.
"I don't think it's any advantage that we beat them last time," Francis said. "I'm sure that's extra motivation for them. It would be for us. It's a completely different game."
DOLINSKY, CRESSY EARN
CONFERENCE HONORS
Junior midfielder Monica Dolinsky and freshman forward Emily Cressy were both honored by the Big 12 Conference for their play this season when postseason awards were announced on Monday.
Dolinsky, who scored eight goals to go along with six assists, was named to the All-Big 12 first team.
Cressy was named Big 12 Rookie of the Year for her performance in front of goal for the Jayhawks. The Ventura, Calif., native scored seven goals and contributed three assists to finish tied for second on the team in points. She is the first Kansas player to win the award.
Edited by Scott R. Toland
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
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Freshman forward Kelsey Clifton rucked on the field during a game earlier this season.
Clifton and the Jayhawks are trying to pull off an upset in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament against No. 11 Texas A&M.
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