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TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2008
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Sophomore players now lead the pack Aldrich and Reed will be most experienced Jayhawks on team for upcoming season
BY CASE KEEFER ckeefer@kansan.com
Sophomore center Cole Aldrich spotted his roommate, sophomore guard Tyrel Reed, from afar as he strolled down campus Friday afternoon.
Aldrich took out his cell phone and called Reed. The 6-foot-11 Aldrich had a simple question for his buddy — "Do you see me?"
"Of course, I see you." Reed responded.
"You're the tallest guy on campus."
It's becoming easier than ever to notice Aldrich — and not just because of his height. With nine players gone from last year's national championship squad, Aldrich enters this season as one of the layhawks' most experienced players Reed too.
Aside from junior guard Sherron Collins, who coach Bill Self hasn't allowed to practice since the team began Thursday because he's out of shape. Aldrich and Reed are the leading returners in minutes
played. They are veterans on this team.
It doesn't seem right, but it's true.
"It sounds kind of weird if you want to know the truth," Reed said. "I don't consider myself a veteran yet."
Maybe that's because Reed only averaged five minutes per game last season. He didn't play more than two minutes in any of Kansas' six NCAA Tournament games and scored only 47 points all season.
Aldrich played more than his roommate last season, but not by much. He averaged eight minutes per game and scored a total of 112 points.
If Reed and Aldrich are worried about experience, they can begin to ease into their veteran roles when the Jayhawks play three exhibition games in Ottawa, Canada, this weekend.
Aldrich will be the main cog below the basket for Kansas this season because of the departures of Darnell Jackson, Darrell Arthur and Sasha Kaun. Reed will compete for playing time in the guard rotation, which lost five of six players after last season.
They will both have to be leaders and help the seven newcomers to adjust to playing Division-I basketball. Aldrich and Reed both said they were trying to be more vocal in practice. To Aldrich, the challenge comes as no surprise.
"Just being viewed upon as one of the better guys on your team, that's one thing you're expected to do is lead by example, and lead by saying stuff," Aldrich said.
Kansas coach Bill Self doesn't necessarily think it's a bad thing that Kansas has to count on sophomores for veteran leadership. He mentioned that last season the Jayhawks didn't know who their leader was most of the time.
But most of those guys had played two or three years worth of games as Jayhawks. They had started games and played extended minutes. Aldrich and Reed haven't.
"I wouldn't say 'stinks,' but I've certainly coached more experience before," Self said. "None of them have really played much."
That doesn't mean Self doesn't believe in them. Self called Aldrich's first practice "great." Self said, as of now, Aldrich would
unquestionably be the leader of the team.
Aldrich is fine with carrying that distinction. He said he became used to being a leader at Jefferson High School in his hometown of Bloomington, Minn., where he was a three-time selection on the all-state team.
The fact that it was only two years ago doesn't bother Aldrich, or Self for that matter. Aldrich likes the thought that before long he won't only be the tallest guy on campus, but also the most recognizable.
"I'm one of the main guys on our team now," Aldrich said. "It's real exciting to go through the transition."
Edited by Andy Greenhaw
Then-freshman center Cole Aldrich defends the basket during the Final Four game against North Carolina April 5 in San Antonio. Aldrich now finds himself to be one of the most experienced Jayhawks on the team.
Jon Goering/KANSAN
FOOTBALL
Mangino promotes young coach to head defense
BY B.J. RAINS
rains@kansan.com
Clint Bowen, defensive coordinator, yells instructions as junior safety Darrell Stuckey brings down sophomore wide receiver Tertavian Ingram during open practice Aug. 15 at Memorial Stadium.
His long list of coaching duties have included being a high school coach, an assistant director of football operations and a graduate assistant. He has been the special teams coordinator and has coached the tight ends, running backs and safeties. But now, after 10 seasons of coaching, Clint Bowen enters this one with his greatest job title vet: defensive coordinator.
A football standout at Lawrence High School. Bowen has been a life-long Lawrence resident and a life-long Jayhawk. After waiting for his time and paying his dues, Bowen was chosen this offseason by coach Mark Mangino to replace former coordinator Bill Young as the man to lead one of the nation's top defenses.
"He is dedicated, loyal and he loves the University of Kansas," Mangino said. "When I first came here, I realized this wasn't just a job for him. He has a passion for the football program here at Kansas."
Young left for the same position at the University of Miami soon after the Jayhawks' 24-21 win against Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl. Mangino began interviewing candidates for the job soon after. Mangino eventually decided to promote Bowen, who had been grooming for the job for the past few seasons as co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach.
Jon Goering/KANSAN
"I thought I had a good chance but he had his decisions to make." Bowen said. "Fortunately, he chose to keep me on. From the beginning, coach always treated me very fair and was honest with me in letting me know where I stood and what the plan was."
As a defensive back, Bowen helped lead Kansas to an 8-4 record, a No. 22 national ranking and a win over Brigham Young University in the 1992 Aloha Bowl. In his
senior season in 1993, he led the Kansas defense in tackles with 114, a figure that remains third on the single season tackle list by a Jayhawk defensive back.
He then spent a year as a defensive graduate assistant at the University of Minnesota under his college coach, Glen Mason, before returning to Kansas to start his climb up the coaching latter. He was promoted to co-defensive coordinator before the 2006 season.
"A lot of the schemes we did last year were from him," said linebacker Joe
Mortensen. "Coach Young was a great coach and we wish him well at Miami, but I was glad we didn't bring anybody else in. I was really glad that coach Bowen got the job. He's a great coach."
Bowen and all of the defensive coaches bring a youthful atmosphere to practice each day.
kids feel comfortable coming and talking to us."
"Our whole defensive staff, we're young." Bowen said. "We try to emphasize our kids that we're in this together and that we're just like them. We're just here to get them to play hard and well, I think the
"He is very intelligent and he's very smart in the way that he deals with the players," Mangino said. "He can be tough on them, but they understand him. He has been a guy that, behind the scenes, has played a major role in coverages and blitz
Onlookers at a Jayhawk practice won't have to look hard to find Bowen. His high-energy style of coaching lets players know when they did both something right or wrong.
packages. He's been a major player on that side of the ball for us so it was just a natural choice."
As Bowen readies the defense for Saturday's season opener against Florida International University, he has the confidence and backing of both the coaching staff and the players.
"He's a defensive genius," Mortensen said. "Don't tell him I said that though."
Edited by Andy Greenhaw
FOOTBALL
New depth chart released
rains@kansan.com
As expected, true freshman Daymond Patterson won the job as punt returner. Coach Mark Mangino said that he was impressed with what Patterson had been doing in camp.
"He has the kind of speed that can change a game around." Mangino said after a recent open practice. "He's still learning. He's picking up things. He's putting himself in position where he's gonna play."
The other intriguing position that doesn't have a starter is at placekicker, Stephen Hoge left the program last week, and Jacob Branstetter may be ineligible, leaving Grady Fowler as the only listed kicker on the Jayhawks' roster. On the depth chart, Fowler and starting punter Alonso Rojas are tied at the top for the kicker position.
The Kansas football team released an updated depth chart on Monday that met expectations, but also had a few surprises.
"We will be fine at that position," Mangino said on Friday. "I'm not concerned at all. In fact, I think we've improved ourselves in the last few days."
In a somewhat surprising revelation, junior Jake Sharp beat out junior-college transfer Jocques Crawford for the starting running back spot. Both running backs will see significant time, so the move shouldn't be too alarming for Crawford fans.
One of the surprising names not listed on the top of the depth chart was sophomore Jamal Greene, who was listed on the preseason depth chart at first-team defensive tackle and had been practicing with the top unit during most of camp. Richard Johnson Jr. was listed on the preseason depth chart as the backup to Caleb Blakesley, but beat out Greene for the second starting defensive tackle spot. Johnson, Blakesley and end Russell Brorsen make up three of the four starting defensive line spots. Jeff Wheeler and John Larson are still battling for the other defensive end spot.
Another position battle was at tight end, where sophomore Bradley Dedeaux took the top spot over freshman AI Steward.
Twenty-four underclassmen appear on the new two-deep, including seven freshmen or redshirt freshmen.
Edited by Jennifer Torline
Offense
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