Sports
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The University Daily Kansan
Jersey retired The jersey of former Kansas basketball star Nick Collison will be retired Tuesday. PAGE 2B
sports commentary
1B
Wednesday, November 19, 2003
Ryan Greene
rgreene@hansan.com
New talent a superstar in making
As fans saw No. 44 move up and down the floor and take over in the Jayhawks' final exhibition contest, they finally realized what all the hype was about.
All of the enthusiasm about last year's McDonald's All-American was on full display. The next generation of Kansas basketball had arrived.
No, the tall and talented Jayhawk donning the double four was not David Padgett.
Instead, it was the second-ranked women's recruit in all the land from just a year ago, Kansas freshman forward Lauren Ervin.
In just 20 minutes on the floor in the Jayhawks' 79-28 victory over St. Louis Goldstar, the Los Angeles freshman poured in 14 points and grabbed eight boards.
It was just a sample of what is sure to come the rest of the 2003-2004 season. Coach Marian Washington recognized that when her fabulous fresh took just 18 seconds to connect on her first field goal attempt.
"Itold Lauren I will remember that she made the first shot that she took of her first collegiate game," Washington said. "It's good to see her out there."
Some may scoff at the notion that the Kansas women's team may have the strongest front court in the Big 12 Conference.
However, as the Big 12's perennial powers Kansas State, Texas and Texas Tech will find out, these are not the same Jayhawks who went winless in conference play just two years ago.
They already have an unreal amount of potential as far as post players are concerned. Sophomore forwards Tamara Ransburg and Crystal Kemp led the team in scoring and rebounding last season, and are off to hot starts this year.
Ervin brings scoring and rebounding talents just as sound as the two sophomores, but she has an added intangible that adds a new dimension to the team: superstar potential.
She's the type of player who opposing coaches spend weeks preparing for. She's the type of player who draws double teams, making her teammates that much more productive. She's the type of player who makes the opposition completely alter its game plan to try to contain her.
In the 36-year history of Kansas women's basketball, there have been few true superstars. There was Lynnette Woodard in the late '70s, as well as Tamecka Dixon and Angela Aycock in the '90s.
What does Ervin have in common with these three whose names and numbers hang enshrined atop the Allen Fieldhouse stands? She has the ability to make her job look easy. It was that ability that helped her average 24 points and 18 rebounds a game as a senior at Inglewood High School.
SEE GREENE ON PAGE 3B
Whittemore may return
By Ryan Greene rgreene@kansan.com Kansan sportswriter
Maybe Kansas football coach Mark Mangino is trying to build up some dramatic effect for Saturday's senior day matchup with Iowa State.
He has yet to officially announce whether senior quarterback Bill Whittemore will start. Whittemore, who missed the team's last three games with a bum throwing shoulder, was medically cleared to play by the Jayhawks' training staff on Monday.
His final hurdle before getting back on the field is proving to Mangino that he is in fact ready to play, with a full range of motion in his healed shoulder.
"Bill had his most intense workout on the field since he was injured, and he looked pretty good," Mangino said yesterday. "If Bill's going to play, he's going to execute our offense. If he can't execute the complete package, we won't be able to use him."
Mangino said that Whittemore did not begin Monday's practice with a full range of motion, but he finished the workout with a full range. Practice should become easier for him as the week goes on, Mangino said. If Whittemore is not ready to go, freshman Adam Barmann will start.
Barmann has been forced to learn things the hard way in the past three weeks against stellar competition. After throwing four touchdown passes in his debut against Texas A&M, Barmann has not thrown for a score in the past two weeks and was intercepted four times.
Barmann was forced to miss a large portion of the game at Oklahoma State with an injured right ankle, but his backup, sophomore Brian Luke, performed admirably. Even as the backup, Luke knows that his chance on the field could come just as quickly this week as it did last Saturday.
"I prepare the same each week, because we're all one play away from being a backup or even third string," Luke said. "I prepare each week as if I'm going to be starting."
SEE WHITTEMORE ON PAGE 6B
Kansan file photo
Senior quarterback Bill Whitemore was medically cleared by the KU training staff Monday after missing three weeks because of an injured shoulder. Coach Mark Mangino is optimistic about putting him in against Iowa State.
Kansas needs outside shooting
sports analysis
By Chris Wintering
cwintering@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Sophomore guard Jeff Hawkins and junior guard Mike Lee posed during a Media Day photo shoot. Coach Bill Self will look to the two to bolster the offense Friday.
The Jajhawks went 2-10 from behind the arc against EA Sports and 3-14 against Pittsburg State, just under 21 percent for the exhibition season. Last year the team shot over 34 percent for the season.
Kansas men's basketball coach Bill Self called the team's perimeter shooting one of its main weaknesses this season.
Last year junior Keith Langford only shot 22-76, which is 29 percent. Junior Aaron Miles shot 24-98, which is 25 percent. Junior Mike Lee, who shot 21-42 from behind the arc last year, was the only member to shoot over 30 percent.
While it is easy to over-analyze the preseason, few of the player's have shown an ability to consistently knock down three-point shots in the past.
The problem is that in the past, these
players have always had someone else to rely on. Last year it was Kirk Hinrich, who made 89 of the team's 183 three-pointers. Before that it was Jeff Boschee, the team's all time leader in three-pointers made. Neither Miles nor Langford have even been asked to be the team's main three-point threat.
"I think Aaron is a good shooter and he was 8-of-10 the other day," Self said of Miles' performance from the field against EA Sports. "But I don't think shooting is what we should focus on with him."
Miles' job is to run the offense, penetrate and pass, not to shoot three-pointers. Langford is the team's main threat to drive, but he did work on his three-point shot in the off-season. Langford said he changed his release point, which had helped him shoot better.
"I think Keith is a little bit streaky, but his stroke has improved tremendously," Self said.
The three-point shooting may not appear to be an issue because of the team's strength in its post play. Self said the combination of senior Jeff Graves, junior Wayne Simien and freshman David Padgett gave his team one of the country's best threesomes of post players. However, good shooting is necessary for the post players to avoid collapsing zones and constant double teams.
"It's hard to run good offense unless you have two guys that can stretch the defense," Self said. "We have good shooters, but it will always be a concern because I think we are going to see a lot of zones this year."
Zone defenses are something that the team did not see in either of its exhibition games, but could be used by Tennessee-Chattanooga on Friday. Self said Chattanooga would probably change its defense every time down the floor.
SEE SHOOTING ON PAGE 3B
Postseason play within reach for volleyball team
By Mike Norris
mnorris@kansan.com
Kansas sportwriter
Riding a four-match winning streak in the Big 12 Conference, the Kansas volleyball team will face the No. 10 Nebraska Cornhuskers at 7 tonight in Lincoln, Neb.
After going undefeated in the Big 12 last season, Nebraska has two conference losses already this year. The Cornhuskers lost at home to both Kansas State and Missouri.
KU records show Nebraska leading the all-time series against Kansas by a decisive 70-1 margin.
"Nebraska, more than in the past years, has been a little more vulnerable a
home," junior libero Jill Dorsey said. "They have a little vengeance in them now because they lost a couple."
The jayhawks (18-9, 10-6 Big 12), are tied with Colorado for fourth place in the conference, and a victory in Lincoln would all but ensure an invitation to the NCAA Tournament.
Kansas coach Ray Bechard said the tournament was something the team talked about a lot,but the four remaining Big 12 matches were the main focus.
"You could overwhelm yourself a little bit if that was your sole purpose," Bechard said. "But you know, that's the long-term goal and I think they all understand what it's going to take to get there."
If there is ever an opportunity for the Jayhawks to capture their first-ever victory in Lincoln, it would be tonight.
Since Kansas' 3-1 loss to Nebraska in which the Cornhuskers outblocked the Jayhawks 22-3, the Jayhawks have climbed two spots in the conference in the blocking category.
The team is also starting to finally play in a rhythm since freshman Jana Correa went down with a knee injury.
If the Jayhawks are victorious when the regular season comes to a close next weekend, they won't be talking about making the tournament, but rather where they will be playing in the first round.
— Edited by Ehren Meditz
Courtney Kuhlen/Kenser
Junior Ilbero JILL Dorsey and the Jayhawks will face Big 12 Conference rival Nebraska tonight in Lincoln. A victory would put Kansas in prime position for an NCAA tournament bid.