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Sports
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2009
A chance for redemption Kansas faces No. 25 Texas A&M on Saturday. VOLLEYBALL | 9A
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Weston White/KANSAN
Senior runningback Jake Sharp runs the ball through Oklahoma's defense Oct. 24. Kansas is hoping to improve its running game this weekend against Texas Tech.
Rejuvenating the run game
Jayhawks hope to establish an offensive game early on against Texas Tech this weekend
PAGE 10A
BY JAYSON JENKS
jjenks@kansan.com
Senior Jake Sharp walked into the Mrkonic Auditorium — the site of Kansas' weekly meeting with reporters — and slowly made his way through rows of desks before taking a seat. Soon after, microphones, recorders and television cameras surrounded him.
"Are you 100 percent healthy?" a reporter asked.
Sharp, who hasn't appeared fullspeed since returning two weeks ago after an undisclosed injury, prides himself on being tough. So, upon hearing the question, Sharp
Follow Kansan writer Jayson Jenks at twitter. com/JaynsJenks
wasted no time in snapping back
"No, by no means," Sharp said. "I just think there is something to be said that maybe I don't have my high-gear that I had a month or so ago. But it's coming."
Kansas is certainly hoping that Sharp regains his speed tomorrow against Texas' Tech at 2:30 p.m.
After missing two games earlier in the season, Sharp has
Colorado. In his two games back, Sharp has rushed for just 43 yards off 20 carries.
struggled since returning to the starting lineup on Oct.17 against Colorado.In his
His longest gain in either game was seven yards.
But Sharp's problem is one shared by Kansas'
attitude," Sharp said. "I think we need to go out there at the start of the game and act."
"I think we need to go out there at the start of the game and get our offense established early."
entire offense. The Jayhawks have simply struggled to run the ball in their last two games.
"I think it's just a simple
JAKE SHARP Senior runningback
the game and get o offense established early."
Then Kansas's senior running back said something that will carry plenty of weight into tomorrow's game against the highly-capable Texas Tech offense.
"We need to help
we need to help our defense out," Sharp said. "We need stay on the field, maybe
SEE FOOTBALL ON PAGE 8A
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Jayhawks anticipate start to memorable season
BY MAX ROTHMAN
mrothman@kansan.com
Burnt red-, orange- and lemon-colored leaves blanket Lawrence's surface. The chills of the stirring winds mask the warmth of the sun, signaling winter's nearby arrival. Thanksgiving is just around the corner, as fall begins to slowly wrap itself into the past. Yes, it's that time of the year again. Lace up the kicks, and tuck in the jerseys. It's hoops season.
At second place in the Big 12 Women's Basketball Preseason Poll, Kansas women's basketball is just three votes behind first-place Baylor. But once the regular season
Follow Kansan writer Max Rothman at twitter. com/maxrothman.
itself as not just a Big 12 threat, but as a national powerhouse. Preseason B12 Player of the Year guard-forward Danielle McCray and her turbo-charged teammate,guard Sade Morris, are both
"There's a difference between predicting success and achieving success," coach Bonnie Henrickson said.
tips off in Allen Fieldhouse Sunday against Pittsburg State, the transparency of hype will morph into reality.
the regular season
"There's a difference between predicting success and achieving success."
With four starters returning, Kansas aims to build off of last season's 22-14 record and establish
BONNIE HENRICKSON Women's basketball coach
"It's a new season," Morris said. "We're trying to win a Big 12 Championship."
seniors. So you better believe that they're going to make this year count.
"It kind of places a target on your back," junior center Krysten Boogard said. "There's a lot more people noticing our program."
After last season's devastating finale, a loss to South Florida in the WNIT championship game in Allen Fieldhouse, this year's experienced squad is ready to forget history and move forward with a deep bench and considerably higher expectations.
Ryan Waaggoner/KANSAN
SEE WOMEN'S ON PAGE 8A
Then junior guard Daniel McCray drives past a Kansas State player in a game last season. This year McCray was named Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year. She is one of five seniors on the team.
1
BASKETBALL
Weston White/KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Junior guard Sherron Collins claps his hands as he walks off the court during a timeout last season. Collins was cited on the Naismith Trophy Preseason Watch List.
Jayhawks in the lead for preseason
1
Coaches poll picks Kansas as number one
BY COREY THIBODEAUX
cthibodeaux@kansan.com
The ESPN/USA Today Preseason Coaches' Poll voted Kansas No.1 for the first time since 2004-05 while the Jayhawks also received the top spot in The Associated Press' first preseason Top 25.
In the polls released Thursday, Kansas received 27 out of 31 first-place votes in the coaches' poll and 55 out of 65 in the Associated Press poll. Michigan State was second with three first-place votes and Texas was third in both polls with the only difference being five first-place votes for Michigan State and one for Texas in the Associated Press poll. This marks the third time in school history Kansas is atop the preseason poll (1996-97).
"I'm not really surprised because a lot of people have said all along we would be here," Kansas coach Bill Self said in a prepared statement Thursday. "This is a reflection of last year's performance, who you return and who you recruited from a projection stand-point."
The lajahawks return their top nine scorers, 12 letter winners and 94 percent of every statistical category from last season's 27-8 team. Eight out of the past 10 years have the coaches ranked Kansas seventh or higher in the preseason
He said he hopes his team does not put too much into a preseason poll, but still wishes for them to live up to expectations.
"I can see us being rated that high," Self said, "but I hope our guys understand prelease rankings do not mean a lot and it should be our effort to try and play to that ranking each and every day we come out to practice."
Self believes this is the kind of pressure the team needs to stay on top of their game throughout the season.
"I almost hope there is pressure," he said, "because
I hope they realize that if they are not their best every day and try to get better each and every day, someone else has our game circled on their schedule. I hope we don't have to be taught a lot of valuable lessons."
PRACTICE PROGRESS
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The team started practice Oct. 16 and Self said the team is not the same as last year's. The youth is going through a maturing process and needs to improve practicing at a consistently high level.
2009-10 ESPN/
USATODAY
PRESEASON
COACHES'ROLL
1. NUTS
2. Michigan State
3. Texas
4. North Carolina
5. Kentucky
6. Villanova
7. Purdue
8. Duke
9. West Virginia
10. Butler
2009-10
ASSOCIATED
PRESS POLL
2. Michigan State
3. Texas
4. Kentucky
5. Villanova
6. North Carolina
7. Purdue
8. West Virginia
9. Duke
10. Tennessee
"I almost hope there is pressure... I hope we don't have to be taught a lot of valuable lessons."
10. Tennessee
THREE JAYHAWKS ON
NAISMITH WATCH.LIST
The 50 players on the Naismith Trophy Preseason Watch List were released Thursday.
Three Jayhawks, Cole Aldrich,
ironcliff Corners and Navier Honey.
were on the list. The Naismith Trophy has been awarded to the season's most outstanding men's basketball player since 1969.
"Like the Wooden (Award), this is really cool for Cole and Xavier," Collins said. "But this is preseason and as a leader, I have to get my team better day-in and day-out."
Henry is only one of five freshmen on the list and it took him by surprise.
"I sure didn't expect this, but did expect it for Sherron and Cole. It is a great honor," he said. "Right now we are just trying to work hard as a team in practice and listen to our coaches and learn."
- Edited by Megan Morriss