THE UNIVERSITY JOURNAL KANSAN MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2008
BASKETBALL PREVIEW 11C
Jayhawks have talent; now they need to show it
BY ANDREW WIERE
awiebe@kansan.com
The Big 12 sent 31 teams to the NCAA Tournament during the past five seasons. Every March, half of the conference disperses around the country to represent Big 12 basketball.
In fact, the Jayhawks haven't tasted NCAA Tournament play since the 1999-2000 season, the last of nine straight NCAA appearances under coach Marion Washington.
Every team but one has been a part of March Madness. Every team but Kansas.
For the first time since Lew Perkins handed control to Bonnie Henrickson in March 2004, she has a team all her own and talent spread evenly throughout the roster.
Whether or not Kansas finally
puts its mark on the Big 12 after eight years depends largely on two things: winning on the road and protecting the basketball.
Had Henrickson's team done either of those last season they may have played meaningful basketball in March. Kansas started the season 13-4, rolling through weaker nonconference opponents and picking up a few solid victories. But they did so while battling through chronic turnover problems.
Once the Big 12 season rolled around and those lost possessions
found their way into the hands of the likes of Oklahoma's Courtney Paris, Texas A&M's Danielle Gant and others, Kansas' NCAA hopes withered.
The Jayhawks averaged 19.7 turnovers per contest to only 13.3 assists. Though solid defensive play and junior guard Danielle McCray and sophomore center Kristen Boogaard kept Kansas in games, it won very few.
The Jayhawks lost 12 of 16 conference games and were winless away from Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas played in the WNIT, but that was little consolation for a team that lost five straight to conclude regular season play.
In March the Big 12 sent eight teams to the Big Dance. Once again Kansas wasn't one of them.
But with the start of every season hope springs eternal.
McCray and Boogard are a year older. Heralded freshman Angel Goodrich adds another option for Henrickson at point guard. The NCAA Tournament is a legitimate goal for Kansas.
It's now or never for the Jayhawks. Learn to gut out victories on the road and value ball security or risk drifting further from relevance in the Big 12.
But with the start of every season hope springs eternal. McCray and Boogaard are a yearolder. Heralded freshman Angel Goodrich adds another option for Henrickson at the point guard spot. The NCAA Tournament is a legitimate goal for Kansas.
It's now or never for the layhawks. Learn to gut out victories on the road and value ball security or risk drifting further from relevance in the Big 12.
Danielle McCray returns to the Jayhawks this season as the leading scorer and rebounder from the 2007-2008 season.
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
South teams take five of six top spots in Big 12 preseason coaches poll
BY DANNY NORDSTROM
dnordstrom@kansan.com
MISSOURI (10-21, 2-14)
Last season's 2-14 conference record will be difficult to improve on, as the Big 12 is extremely tough
this season.
The Tigers will return five starters, including senior guard
Alyssa Hollins, who averaged a team best 16.6 points per game, and hope last season's team can mature into a winning program.
KANSAS STATE (22-10, 13-3)
The Wildcats return three starters this season after winning the Big 12 in 2008. Senior forward, Marlies
Gipson, who averaged 7.5 rebounds per game and had 70 blocks on the season, will be a key player for the
NEBRASKA (21-12,9-7)
Wildcats. Guard Shalee Lehning will also play a vital role. She will have to step up her game after the loss of star point guard Kimberly Dietz. Kansas State finished its season with a second-round loss to Louisville in the NCAA Tournament, 80-63.
Last season the Cornhuskers finished sixth in the Big 12 with a solid 9-7 conference record, going 9-8-0.
After making it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament two years in a row, Nebraska has the sweet
16 in its sights this year. Returning four of five starters, and a very deep bench, the Cornhuskers should be a solid team in the Big 12 this season.
After finishing ninth in the Big 12, with a 5-11 conference record, Colorado hopes to improve on its
COLORADO (19-15, 5-11)
record this season.
It will be a difficult task,
however, as the Buffaloes
return only
two starters. Also disappointing for Colorado is the recent seasonending knee injury to point guard Whitney Houston.
IOWA STATE (21-13, 7-9)
Picked third in the Big 12
Preseason Coaches' Poll, Iowa State returns seven starters from last season. After losing in the second round of the
NCAA tournament to Rutgers, the Cyclones hope to improve on last season's impressive finish and take their program to the next level. If the Cyclones can avoid injuries and stay healthy, they should be a serious contender for the Big 12 title.
OKLAHOMA (22-9, 11-5)
The Sooners return five of their six leading scorers, including two-time Big 12 player of the year Courtney Paris, from a team
that finished third in the Big 12 last season. Paris averaged 18.6 points and 15 rebounds per game last year, while being named first team
All-America. This year, expectations are even higher — the Big 12 coaches picked Oklahoma to finish first in the league.
4-12)
TEXAS TECH (17-16)
The Red Raiders return three of their top four scorers from last year — a sign that they could be improved
from last year. Dominic Seals and Jordan Murphree combined to average nearly 28 points last season and should provide a solid one-two punch on the offensive end. But don't expect a drastic increase in the number of conference victories as Texas Tech is buried in the talented Big 12.
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TEXAS(22-13.7-9)
— then experience will carry them.
The longhorns return their top five scorers from a year ago. The question, though, is whether the Longhorns can consistently win in the tough Big 12 South. Five of the top six teams in the Big 12 coaches poll were from the Big 12 South.
If texas is going to live up to its preseason hype — the Longhorn's were picked second by the Big 12coaches
BAYLOR (25-7, 12-4)
Outside of Oklahoma, Baylor is
deepest team in the Big 12. The Lady Bears graduated point guard Angela
Tisdale, who earned All-America honorable mentionwith 16.4points
per game and 107 assists. However, they return almost everybody else who helped them reach the second round of the NCAA tournament. Senior forward Rachel Allison, who also earned honorable mention All-America honors, will lead Baylor underneath the basket. Junior Danielle Wilson is a versatile player who can play on the perimeter or down on the block.
OKLAHOMA STATE (27-8,11-5)
ing with a very physical style despite her small stature, Riley never missed a start and led the Cowgirls with nearly 35 minutes per game.
averaged 23.1
points per
game and also
tallied 145
assists and
104 assists.
Desire play-
Oklahoma State will live and die with pint-sized point guard Andrea Riley. Last year the 5-foot-5 junior
TEXAS A&M (29-8, 11-5)
The Aggies will rely heavily on senior guards Takia Starks and Danielle Gant. Starks led the team with 16.3 points per game and 34 minutes per game, while Gant scored 14.7 ppg and led Texas A&M with 35 blocks and 81 steals.
Gant may have to step up her assist total this year, as the Aggies graduated stellar point guard A'Ouongia
Franklin. Franklin dished out 173 assists last season, almost 100 more than Gant. Much like Baylor, this team has a lot of potential with its robust recruiting class. Coach Gary Blair welcomes in five fresh faces and there's an opportunity for most of them to compete for playing time. This team is in a bit of a transition, but it would be a shame if they fell completely off the table this season and wasted the last year for Gant and Starks.
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