SPORTS
K-STATE IS A NO-GO WITHOUT ITS PROS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Men's basketball coach Frank Martin says without NBA talent, it's hard to beat the Jayhawks. MORNING BREW | 2B
JAYHAWKS, AGGIES FACE OFF AT COLLEGE STATION
WWW.KANSAN.COM
Kansas hopes to gain victory against Texas A&M for the first time ever at the Aggies home court. VOLLEYBALL | 3B
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2008
COMMENTARY
Forget the chant; focus on football Texas Tech
While fans and media have worked themselves into a frenzy over an absurd chant, I would like to take this moment to point out that there still is a football game this Saturday. It isn't just any football game though. ESPN will be televising what may possibly the biggest game to hit Memorial Stadium in over a decade. Oh yeah, let's not forget it's Kansas' homecoming, too.
This is a chance for Mangino to prove that his program can beat a legitimate team. And he knows this. After downing Colorado 30-16 two weeks ago, he said he saw a "great opportunity" in the coming weeks for his team to prove itself against four ranked opponents.
Kansas is ranked No. 19 in the AP Poll and currently leads the Big 12 North. No. 8 Texas Tech is undefeated and trying to make a statement in the toughest Big 12 South division in years. But for Kansas, the stakes are as high as any game in Mark Mangino's career, aside from the Orange Bowl.
As it stands, Kansas is 5-0 against unranked teams this year. Against ranked opponents, they are 0-2. If Kansas falls to Texas Tech this weekend, pollsters will doubtfully leave it as the only team in the Top 25 with three losses.
Should Kansas win Saturday, its chances of winning the Big 12 North for the first time in school history will be well within reach. A victory would also make the Jayhawks bowl eligible and give them a chance to go back-to-back bowls for the first time ever.
Is a victory likely? The betters think so and that is why the Jayhawks are one point favorites against a team ranked 11 spots higher than them. Texas Tech is also a team that has struggled this season against three inferior opponents — Eastern Washington, Nebraska and Texas A&M.
But if you turn to the back page of the sports section and look at the countdown to kickoff you will see that Texas Tech has one of the most lethal offenses in the nation.
That doesn't mean Kansas doesn't stand a chance though. Todd Reesing has established himself as a big-time college quarterback and he also has his own variety of daggers to throw into the Red Raiders' secondary.
It has been four years since the Red Raiders rode into Lawrence. The last time out, Kansas was a team struggling to find its identity, Texas Tech was the AP No. 16 team in the nation that went on to beat No. 14 California in the Holiday Bowl. Kansas got out to an early 25-point lead, but lost by a Scott Webb field goal attempt in the last few minutes of the game. The Jayhawks have since established themselves as one of the toughest teams to play at home in the Big 12.
Homecoming or not, the layhawks will put up a good fight on their own turf. At the moment, Kansas has a 13-game winning streak at home and is 21-4 in its last 25 games in Memorial Stadium. Couple that with a mild-mannered, yet vocal student section, then Kansas has the edge in this game.
— Edited by Arthur Hur
BIG 12 MEDIA DAY
Coaches note uplifted conference
BY CASE KEEFER
ckeefer@kansan.com
OKLAHOMA CITY — Big 12 Conference coaches heard the murmurs the last few years.
They felt slighted when experts around the nation didn't consider the Big 12 one of the elite conferences in college basketball. They didn't understand why the NCAA Tournament selection committee only picked four Big 12 teams to play for the title two years ago.
Analysts pointed to the fact that since the conference formed in 1996, no team from it had won the National Championship. The
Big 12 was overdue. Kansas ended the criticism when it defeated Memphis 75-68 in the National Championship in April. Coaches at the Cox Convention Center for Big 12 Media Day were thankful.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
"That was just a question that had to be answered." Texas coach Rick Barnes said. "Kansas answered it, so we'll give everybody a chance to come up with another question now."
The skeptics probably will come up with a new one. The conference lost most of its best players from a year ago. Five of the six players named to last season's All-Big 12
At Big 12 Media Day on Thursday, Kansas coach Bill Self said he was glad last year's championship victory had helped silence critics of the Big 12.
PUMPED UP AND READY TO GO
PAGE 1B
--intensity of NCAA Tournament soccer in their careers.
Jon Goering/KANSAN
Sopnomore wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe celebrates a touchdown with senior wide receiver Dexton Fields during Saturday's loss at Oklahoma. The Jayhawks play host to the Texas Tech Red Raiders in a Saturday game to cap off Homecoming Week. Kansas and Texas Tech both have highly ranked offenses, but low-ranked pass defense. Kansan football writers Taylor Bern and B.J. Rains break down Saturday's game.
SEE GAME DAY ON PAGE 6B
SOCCER
Seniors aim for their last chance at a Tournament
BY ANDREW WIEBE
awiebe@kansan.com
Missy Geha closes her eyes at night and visions of the NCAA Tournament dance on the backs of her eyelids.
"That's what I dream about," the senior midfielder said. "I have dreamed about it for the three years that I've been here. It's my last opportunity."
It's an opportunity that is fast dis
It's an open-
appearing for Geha
and fellow seniors,
goalkeeper Stephanie
Baugh, defenders
Jenny Murtaugh and
Kristin Graves, mid-
fielder Jessica Bush
and forward Sara
Rogers, none of whom
have experienced the
Geha
Kansas (10-5-1, 3-3-1) will play its final home games of the regular season beginning today at 3 p.m. against No. 14 Texas and follow that up by celebrating senior day on Sunday at 1 p.m. against Baylor.
With three regular-season games remaining, Mark Francis' team controls it own destiny in the battle for one of the 40 NCAA Tournament spots that have eluded it for the last three seasons. Win their final three games and the Jayhawks are more than likely in the field of 40. Lose even one and the odds are stacked against them.
"This group of seniors has done very well here, but I think not making the tournament yet has been a really big disappointment for them," Francis said "Once you get in, if you are playing well anything can happen."
Last weekend Francis' team registered arguably the biggest victory in school history, squeaking past No. 6 Texas A&M 1-0 behind a breathtaking goal from junior forward Shannon McCabe. The Jayhawks followed that up by dispatching Francis Marion 7-0 with ease.
Now, as the team's six seniors watch their careers wind down, the focus isn't on Texas (10-2-3, 3-2-2) or Baylor (5-9-2, 1-5-1). Each game is just as important as the last.
Despite Francis' team growing confidence, the roadblocks it overcame to get to this point are keeping the focus from drifting from anything but getting results.
"Any one of the games could make or break our season," Bush said. "Like we've been telling the team, you just have to go game by game."
Even one loss could signal the end of Kansas' postseason hopes. The Jayhawks were ranked No. 38 in the country in the latest RPI rankings released by the NCAA.
Nevertheless, Geha is optimistic about Kansas' chances. She said the finality of her last weeks as a layhawk won't really hit until she steps off the field for the last time.
Until then Geha is just working toward living her dreams and cherishing the little time she has left with her teammates.
"I'm enjoying the ride," Geha said. "I've only got four weeks at the most with my season. You've got to love every day of it."
Edited by Ramsey Cox
SWIMMING & DIVING
KU plays host to Big 12 Relays
SEE SOCCER SENIORS ON PAGE 5B
BY ADAM SAMSON
The Big 12 Relays only comes around Lawrence every four years, and the KU swimming and diving team plays host to the relays starting at 9 a.m. today at Robinson Natorium.
asamson@kansan.com
It marks the first time since the 2004-05 season that the layhawks have hosted the event. The meet will feature all six Big 12
Conference schools with women's swimming and diving teams, including Missouri, Iowa State, Nebraska, Texas and Texas A&M. It will also host the three Big 12 schools that have men's swimming and diving teams: Missouri, Texas and Texas A&M.
With all the conference schools at the meet, the Big 12 Relays serves as a competitive preseason Big 12 matchup. Diving head coach Eric Elliot said the competition lets all the coaches and swimmers see what they have
and how ready they are for the year.
"You want to put your best foot out there and show off a little bit," Elliot said. "But you
SEE SWIMMING & DIVING ON PAGE 5B
Jon Goering/KANSAN
Senior Danielle Hermann pushes herself as she does the backstroke. The swimming and diving team will host the Big 12 RELays at 9 a.m. today at Robinson Natatorium.