4C
BASKETBALL PREVIEW
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2009
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Kansas team shows both talent and potential
WATERHORN/KARISAN TILE PHOTO
Senior guard Sherron Collins raises his arms to get the Kansas fans off their seats with 1:20 on the clock during a game last season.
Jayhawks are No. 1 in the team rankings and the team faces high expectations for the season.
Weston White/KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Junior center Cole Aldrich slams down a dunk to re-energize the Jayhawks last season. Aldrich and senior guard Sherron Collins were named the Big 12 Preseason Co-Players of the Year.
BY COREY THIBODEAUX
cthibodeaux@kansan.com
Weston White/KANSAN FILE PHOTO
1. Can the Jayhawks mature past offseason fiascos?
Too much negativity has surrounded the team of late. It will take some time to get the infamous brawl, Brady Morningstar's suspension and Markieff Morris' joy ride out of our minds, but it can easily be done. It is bad enough that now Tyshawn Taylor has to recover from an injury following his splendid summer overseas. But the basketball season is here and now is the time to act professionally and earn redemption. The main focus will be on the team's performance, so if Kansas can get off to a fast start and win early, people may say, "What fight?"
2. Can the team keep the target of No. 1 on its back?
The Jayhawks are preseason ranked No. 1. They have the top two players in the country. All of their regular season games are on national television. Their top nine scorers from a year ago are returning and the team has top notch recruits. There is a lot riding on the team this year and players and coaches said that's where they would like to be. The pressure they face is pressure they earned. Fourteen games (including exhibitions) are against teams that made the NCAA tournament a year ago. Two of their bouts are against UCLA and Memphis, teams Kansas has recently had memorable games against. And that's just the beginning of the team's daunting schedule. The Jayhawks will be tested, but if they lose the bull's-eye on their back at any point, then the team will not have done its job.
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Thibodeaux at
twitter.com/
c_thibodeaux.
3. Will Xavier Henry prove to be NBA quality?
The most recent offseason drama has masked the summer antics of the Henry brothers. Put all the commitment questions to rest; they are here and they are enjoying their time. The question is whether what their father said is true and Xavier has the talent to be a top NBA pick. In a team dedicated to selflessness and already with the top two players in the country in Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich, it will be interesting to see whether a newcomer can
get in on some of the limelight.
4. Will freshmen give hope for the future?
The 2009-10 freshman class is made up of outstanding, highly touted individuals who have the potential to make an immediate impact. Elijah Johnson, C.J and Xavier Henry, Thomas Robinson and Jeff Withey have the talent to make it less unsettling for fans when Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich leave for the NBA. Kansas' perimeter shooting was its biggest alliment last year. Someone needs to step up and contribute big time in that area.
5. How will talent level affect minutes, egos and chemistry?
Kansas is stacked top to bottom. Players such as Tyrel Reed, Mario Little, Brady Morningstar, Travis Releford and the freshmen can make up a solid starting college roster themselves. But with such a complete roster, some players who saw big minutes last year will see their roles decline. Returning players such as Marcus Morris had great seasons and may see more playing time. If all goes well, Collins and Aldrich won't have to shoulder a massive load and have every victory hinge on themselves. Coach Bill Self is as good as any coach at getting players to be selflessness and instilling a championship mentality in them. If this team is anything like the 2008 national championship team, then the sky is the limit.
—Edited by Samantha Foster
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Full speed ahead: A preseason primer on this year's team
Senior guard Sade Morris takes the ball to the basket in a game last season. Though sometimes overshadowed by senior Danielle McCray, Morris, last season's second leading scorer, could prove invaluable to her team. "She just has to turn the corner and believe she is an elite player in this league," coach Bonnie Henrickson said of Morris.
Weston White/KANSAN FILE PHOTO
BY CHRISTIAN LUCERO
clucero@kansan.com
Late Night has come and gone.
With the Nov. 1 season opener approaching, here are the five things you need to know about the 2009-2010 Kansas Jayhawks.
1. The team is ready for the big dance
Losing in the WNIT Championship game at home ended a magical run for Kansas last season, and the returning players want to rekindle that magic. Nearly every player has spoken about the motivation the team's postseason run has provided. And returning star players, highly touted recruits and the growing loyal fan base has the Jayhawks thinking big.
"We have positioned ourselves, with player development, with fans and with recruiting, to do very well" coach Bonnie Henrickson said. "The bar is set much higher."
2. Senior Danielle McCray is definitely hype-worthy The list is growing.
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An All-Big 12 performer last season, she led the team with averages of 21.6 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. She was selected for the WNIT All-Tournament Team for her role in leading the hawkeys during the postseason, and she won a gold medal for Team USA at the World University Games in Serbia this summer. Now she's been listed as preseason 2nd Team All American, and preseason Big 12 Player of the Year heading into her senior campaign.
There's no reason to think that list won't get longer. McCray has blossomed into one of the best players in the Big 12. Now a co-captain, McCray's play will be the deciding factor in whether the Jayhawks are able to build on their success from a year ago.
3. Don't sleep on Sade Morris
Because she shares the backcourt
with McCray, Morris often gets overlooked. It's a mistake the Jayhawks hope opposing teams make all season. Morris, a senior guard from Norman, Okla., has improved her numbers each season since arriving in Lawrence. After notching a respectable average of 6.4 points per game her freshman season, Morris boosted that number to 9.8 her sophomore year. Last season, not only was she the team's second leading scorer at 12.7 points per contest, but she tallied season averages of 4.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game.
Morris was also instrumental in Kansas' postseason run. During the five games the Jayhawks played in the WNIT, she averaged 17.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists, earning her a spot on the All-Tournament Team.
And her effect on the team isn't just about her numbers. Morris has consistently shown her knack on the defensive end during her career and was named the teams best defender at the conclusion of last season. Henrickson also noticed Morris's play stood out during the team's WNIT campaign.
"Danielle and Sade are buying into playing Batman and Robin,
being a dynamic duo," Henrickson said. "She just has to turn the corner and believe she is an elite player in this league."
4. Changing of the (point) guard
The Jayhawks lost a staple in their lineup at point guard in Ivana Catic but now have what Henrickson regards as a good problem to have: a choice between Rhea Codio and Angel Goodrich to replace her.
"These are two playmakers who both handle the ball well," Henrickson said. "It will come down to who makes good decisions with the basketball."
Goodrich, a highly touted recruit out of Tahlequah, Okla., is coming off a medical redshirt year. She suffered a torn ACL and was forced to sit out her first year. Codio is a proven collegiate player who has the leadership and experience Goodrich lacks. Saves who?
Henrickson compared Goodrich to Sherron Collins in terms of playmaking and scoring abilities and gave similar praise for Codio.
"She passes real well but can creating scoring opportunities for herself," Henrickson said of Codio.
Henrickson also noted the situation as day to day and didn't rule out a possible platoon between Goodrich and Codio. Expect to see Henrickson give both of them equal time early in the season.
5. Both coaches, players determined on defense
Henrickson said both players and coaches had been focusing on defensive drills in hopes of becoming a better defensive team.
The Jayhawks' defense is anchored by a strong perimeter presence of Morris and McCray, and the roster is dotted with talented defenders, including Nicollette Smith and LaChelda Jacobs. An increased defensive drive from down low in Krysten Boogaard and Aishah Sutherland would help the Jayhawks separate from other defenses in the Big 12. Last year, Kansas allowed 60.5 points per game and held opponents to a .378 field-goal percentage, statistics that sit comfortably among the middle of the pack in conference.
- Edited by Abbey Strusz