Sports
Kansas football
5
Texas A&M and Kansas face off tomorrow. See how they compare on the football field. PAGE 8B
The University Daily Kansan
PAGE 8B
1B
sports commentary
Friday, October 31, 2003
Keith Langford sports@hansan.com
Freshman players are better than past years
Before I start this week, props go out to the soccer team and the softball team.
As I write this, I'm sitting on an eight-seat airplane on my way to Dallas for the Big 12 Conference media day. In my opinion, these are the worst kind of airplanes to be on. You feel every bump. It feels like if I jump up and down, it is all she wrote. The turbulence is not too bad right now, so writing is no big deal. At least this gives me time to sit and write about some things that have been on my mind.
First of all, it really bothers me sometimes that people who have never stepped foot on a college basketball court for a game think they can analyze and critique a player.
and critique a play
It's funny when a little 5-foot-8-inch
sportswriter who didn't make his high
school varsity team makes a ridiculous
comment about Jeremy Case not looking
like a Division-I athlete.
Well Mr. Sportswriter, take one gigantic look in somebody's mirror please. Don't get me wrong. Some criticism is necessary and is good as long as it is constructive. But if someone happens to think someone else sucks, don't hide. Go tell them how you feel.
It's pretty weak to hide behind a computer screen or make anonymous phone calls. I have always lived by the rule that you are the only one that can talk about your family.
No one else likes to hear another person talking bad about their brother or sister, meaning that you can talk about family but if anyone else does,'t, at is ground for fighting. The basketball team is my family. Do the math.
On the less controversial side of things, our team is making strides. The great thing about basketball is that the more you learn about basketball, the more you realize you don't know much at all.
I'm sorry, unless you're a "great sportswriter."
Seriously though, the athleticism on this team is so seriously unfair, and I don't just mean dunking the ball. In practice I see flashes of it all the time. Speed, rebounding, strength and depth.
The one thing the team may lack is the tacit awareness of one another. There are five new players, and we are using a mixture of lineups so that is understandable. We are also trying to break two-year habits formed by coach Williams. It will be fine as long as we continue to understand that there is more than one way to win.
As our first game quickly approaches, I know people have doubts and question marks concerning the team. And that's natural because I do also.
The one thing that bothers me though is, "can they get back to the Final Four without Nick and Kirk?" Well hell, I don't know. I can say this though: This is not a rebuilding year by far.
We still have a strong nucleus returning along with a potential lottery pick, who most of you know sat out a lot of last year, along with a freshman class — fresh unit — that admittedly is probably a little further along than a few freshmen were a couple of years ago.
pie of years ago.
So can we do it without Nick and Kirk? No we couldn't have last year, but Kirk and Nick were here two years before they did it with us. Food for thought.
I'll holla.
Langlois a Fort Worth, Texas, junior in journalism
Quarterback still unknown
Quarterback John Nielsen handed off the ball to running back Clark Green during last week's game against Kansas State. Kansas has an uncertain offense for its game against Texas A&M because tomorrow's quarterback has not yet been named.
Courtney Kuhlen/Kansan
By Ryan Greene
ryreene@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Mark Mangino's strategy must be driving Texas A&M coach Dennis Franchione insane.
Following Wednesday's practice, the Kansas coach announced that he will not select a quarterback until either late Friday night or Saturday morning.
In most situations like this, the opposing coach would know the type of offense that he has to prepare for, but it's different in this case.
Mangino has three quarterbacks to choose from. Junior John Nielsen and sophomore Brian Luke are more traditional pocket passers, while freshman Adam Barmann resembles what the Jayhawks have done offensively all year with Bill Whittemore. Both offenses were seen last week in a loss at Kansas State, and no one will know what to expect this weekend until right about gametime.
The biggest stride Mangino's squad has taken this week is keeping the focus off of Whittemore's injury. The receivers have taken it upon themselves to make sure the transition is easy for whomever the new quarterback is in Texas A&M's tough environment. They also have complete faith that their coach will put whoever is most prepared to play behind center Saturday afternoon.
"I want the best guy to have the job," junior receiver Brandon Rideau said.
"Some guys might like Luke. Some guys might like John and the freshman,but we just want the best guy to get out there and play."
mangino has made it pretty clear both at his press conference Tuesday and following Wednesday's practice that Barmann will have his redshirt lifted for the season and will see some action this weekend.
Luke and Nielsen both now have experience filling in for Whittemore in hostile road situations, while Barmann is still yet to take a snap at the collegiate level. Barmann's inexperience may concern fans and others outside the team, but to his teammates, it's a non-issue.
"Even though he's young like me, he's real good," freshman receiver Moderick Johnson said. "He's a great all-around quarterback."
On defense the Jayhawks will have to toughen up against the run and in a hurry. After allowing over 200 yards on the ground to Kansas State, they will have another handful this weekend with tailback Courtney Lewis and do-it-all quarterback Reggie McNeal.
Lewis, a redshirt freshman, has gained 748 yards and 10 touchdowns on just 118 carries this season, and McNeal is second on the team in rushing with 272 yards.
Soccer Senior Day sentimental
What spelled disaster for the Kansas defense last week was more time than
SEE FOOTBALL ON PAGE 58
By Nikki Nugent
nnugent@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas soccer team isn't a lock for the NCAA Tournament yet, but coach Mark Francis is counting on a victory Friday to help solidify the team's chances.
The Jayhawks are 14-4-1 overall and 5-3-1 and in fifth place in the Big 12 Conference.
Friday's 3 p.m. match with Oklahoma State at SuperTarget Field will be a sentimental one for four Kansas seniors. Goalkeeper Sarah Gonzalez, defenders Lacey Woolf and Maggie Mason and forward Carmel Kaplinger will play their last home game on Senior Day.
Mason said though the game will be emotional, the team will still be focused on defeating the Cowgirls. The team set goals early in the season and Mason said the team realized that the year doesn't end with the final regular season game.
"Although we take each game in stride, I would like to get past the quarterfinal round of the Big 12 Conference and the first round of the NCAA tournament." Mason said.
Mason said a top-three Big 12 finish was still within the Jayhawk's reach despite being in fifth place going into Friday's match. If Kansas defeats OSU and
Colorado ties or defeats Nebraska, the Jayhawks could finish the regular season in third place.
Francis said the team was struggling when the four seniors first played together three years ago. Kaplinger and Woolf transferred and were eligible to play their sophomore year.
"Now the tables have turned a little bit and we're starting to establish ourselves as a pretty good team, and I think that they have a lot to do with it," Francis said. "They stuck it out through the tough times and hung in there."
Francis said that he's glad the seniors' final season had gone well.
"The success that we've had so far is great for those guys to finish on that kind of a note," he said, "but we're not done yet."
That success hasn't gone unnoticed around the country.
Kansas soccer is in the national spotlight for the third time this season. The team received its first ever national ranking from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. The Jayhawks received a No. 19 ranking and a recruiting class ranking from Soccer Buzz Magazine earlier in the season.
Francis said a national ranking was good for the team, but that it didn't play a
Kansas file photo
Senior defender Maggie Mason will be one of four seniors playing their last home game against Oklahoma State on Senior Day today. Mason said a top three Big 12 Conference finish was still possible, despite being in fifth place going into today's match.
Students compete to play 'Hawks
By Chris Wintering
cwintering@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Students dreaming of shooting jumpers in front of a packed house at Allen Fieldhouse may get their opportunity.
The second annual Rudy tournament presented by EA Sports will take place at 4:30 p.m. today at Watson Park, Seventh and Tennessee streets. The winner of the event will suit up for the EA Sports team against the Jahawks on Nov. 4. The tournament is named after *Rudy*, a 1993 film about a young man who gets the opportunity to play football at Notre Dame.
The event was successful last year and EA Sports campus representative Kyle Rohde said he expected a better turnout for this year's event.
for this year's event.
"With the extra coverage this year, I am hoping we get more people to show up," said the junior.
up said they were Last year about 30 people participated, but this year Rohde said he was
"I had a nice pass for an assist,but the guy missed the layup."
Efe Ekpere FortWayne, Ind., senior
Efe Ekpere
"If we get too many people we will have a shooting contest until we get down to 16 guys and then have a one-on-one tournament," he said. "The games will be first to either seven or 11, we haven't decided yet."
planning on around 75.
Last year's winner was Fort Wayne Ind., senior Efe Ekpere. He played in the final minutes of the game and attempted a three-point shot.
He said the opportunity to play at Allen Fieldhouse was something he would always remember.
"I've been to some games in the stands, but being on the court is a diffe-
Although he missed his jump shot, Ekpere said he was happy to just get into the game.
ent perspective," Ekpere said. "It was also fun to be able to play against those guys too and see it from the other side."
"I had a nice pass for an assist, but the guy missed the layup," he said. "I was like 'Come on, I just want to get in the box score.'"
"I'm a pre-med student, and I am up late every night with homework," he said. "But you never know, I might play."
Ekpere was not sure if he would be participating this year, but let the door open to defending his title.
Any male student is eligible to play, but women are not allowed because of an NCAA rule restricting women to play against men in college basketball. The tournament will be a single elimination format, and exact details will be determined based on the number of participants.
EASPORTS ROSTER
Mike Brownlee 6-2 G
West Virginia
Anthony Evans 6-6 F
Georgia
Lucas Johnson 6-8 F
Illinois
Cory Largent 6-5 G
Western Carolina
Randy Livingston 6-2 G
LSU
Alvin Mogley 6-8 F
Virginia Commonwealth
Robert O'Kelly 6-3 G
Wake Forest
Michael Stewart 6-8 C
Bradley
Jose Winston 6-0 G
Colorado and University of Wisconsin-
Milwaukee
Edited by Ashley Marriott
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TALK TO SPORTS: Contact JJ Hensley and Shane Mettlen at SPORTS@KANSAN.COM
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