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KANSAN.COM/SPORTS | MONDAY, FEB. 27, 2017
Jayhawks win Big 12 outright in Austin
Sonbahmore guard Lazerald Vick scores over Texas guard Eric Davis Jr, on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017, in Austin, Texas
▶ SKYLAR ROLSTAD
@SkyRolSports
No. 3 Kansas celebrated the Big 12 title last Wednesday after a win over TCU, but secured sole possession of the title Saturday by defeating Texas.
A balanced scoring effort spearheaded a 77-67 win for Kansas over the Texas Longhorns in Austin, Texas. Senior guard Frank Mason III contributed 16 points in the win.
Associated Press
The Jayhawks (26-3, Big 12 14-2) shot well on the night, although Texas (10-19, Big 12 4-12) stayed within 10 points most of the way. Kansas finished shooting 45.8 percent from the field. Kansas rose above its 66 percent free throw mark by shooting 77.3 percent.
Kansas freshman guard Josh Jackson turned in an all-around excellent performance with 18 points, five rebounds and five assists. Kansas nearly finished with five players in double figures as senior center Landen Lucas finished with eight points and eight rebounds.
The Jayhawks struggled to contain Texas forward
Jarrett Allen in its previous matchup with Texas at Allen Fieldhouse. Allen excelled again for the Longhorns on Saturday afternoon with 20 points and 11 rebounds.
During the first 10 minutes of the second half, Kansas coach Bill Self reverted from the normal four-guard lineup to a two-in, three-out setup. Lucas and sophomore forward Carlton Bragg Jr. lined up together in the frontcourt during the second half.
Lucas played 27 minutes in the win, but received plenty of help from teammates like junior forward Dwight Coleby, who filled in during the first half. Coleby tied his career-high with 12 points and chipped in four
rebounds during his 13 minutes of play.
The Kansas bench continued its consistency from the last three games in Austin. Sophomore guard Lagerald Vick scored seven points and recorded four rebounds.
The Jayhawks face a quick turnaround heading into next week, as the team faces Oklahoma for senior night on Monday at Allen Fieldhouse. That game tips off at 8 p.m.
Missy Minear/KANSAN
Miss Minder/KANSAN
Sophomore infielder Rudy Karre swings at a pitch on Feb. 21 against Omaha. Kansas defeated Omaha 11-1.
Stanford sweeps Kansas
► WESLEY DOTSON
@WesDotsonUDK
Kansas baseball will return to Lawrence without securing a win in three tries in Stanford, California.
No.23 Stanford swept Kansas over the weekend as the Jayhawks lost their third straight game to the Cardinal on Sunday, 4-2, at Klein Field at Sunken Diamond.
Turski threw six innings and allowed five hits, three runs (two earned), and struck out six batters across an 84-pitch performance.
A three-run home run in the second inning by Stanford right fielder Brandon Wulff was the only separation the Cardinal (5-2) needed.
"He grinded that game," said Kansas coach Ritch Price in a Kansas Athletics news release. "He did a nice job mixing his pitches and was able to elevate the fastball when they were sitting off-speed. It was good to see him add that to his pitching plan. He competed and it ended up being a solid outing."
It was the only blemish on the day for Kansas junior pitcher Taylor Turski (0-1), who turned in another effective outing in his second start for the team after transferring from Palomar Junior College.
Kansas (2-5) was once again unsuccessful at the plate, mustering only seven hits and two-late innings runs. Three of those hits came in the seventh and eighth innings.
After a 15-hit, 11-run outburst in a win over Nebraska-Omaha on Tuesday, Feb. 21, Kansas' offensive production has gone stiff. Much of that drop is because of two slumping hitters in the heart of the order.
Sophomore infielder David Kyriacou and sophomore center fielder Rudy Karre, two younger players who were thrusted into the
"It was a tough series for our club," Price said. "We fought and found a way to score a run in the seventh inning. Then we had the tying run at the plate in the eighth inning and the tying run at the plate in the ninth inning. That is one of the things you preach to young players is that you have to fight your way back in it. If you get the tying run to the dish, you have a chance to do something special."
The Jayhawks' offense struggled the entire weekend. Sunday's game featured the only two runs the team scored in the three-game series. Kansas also generated only 11 hits in three games.
No. 3 and No. 4 spots in the lineup for the majority of the weekend,went a combined 2-for-22 in Stanford.Karre did not record a hit in 11 atbats.
Another part of those struggles for Kansas was the strong pitching performances from Stanford.
The best performance of the weekend came on Friday from Cardinal pitchers Andrew Summerville and Will Mattheissen, who combined to strike out 10 batters and allow only one hit in a 6-0 win. Before Sunday's game, Stanford held a team ERA of 2.17, which ranked third in the Pac-12 conference.
"We need to just keep getting better," Price said. "Stanford has physical guys in the middle of its lineup and speed at the top and bottom. We didn't see their two aces and every arm they ran out there was quality. It is a good learning experience and hopefully we got better and took a step forward."
Price said he hopes the youthful team will benefit from facing quality pitching from a nationally-ranked opponent.
Kansas will next host Oral Roberts at Hoglund Ballpark on Tuesday, Feb. 28. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.
Dzwierzynski: Senior Night shows what makes college sports great
**Misay Minnear/KANSAM**
senior guard Frank Mason III smiles while walking in the final seconds against Kansas State on Feb. 6. Kansas won 74-71
▶ BRENDAN DZWIERZYNSKI
@BrendanDzw
Mercifully, the college basketball season doesn't end with Kansas' last home game. For a trio of players on this year's Jayhawks team, however, their careers in Allen Fieldhouse will come to a close. While simultaneously a sad and celebratory day, Senior Night is a reminder of the beauty of college sports.
Missy Minear/KANSAN
the court in the final
The Big 12 Tournament is still on the horizon for Kansas, as is the NCAA tournament. March Madness is a roller coaster of emotions throughout, but Senior Night certainly doesn't leave the senses deprived. A touch of sadness, copious amounts of nostalgia and overwhelming gratitude is par for the course on the day of Kansas' last home game.
Allen Fieldhouse is famous for its atmosphere, for being a place where fans, alumni and students come together to cheer on their beloved Jayhawks, creating the best home-court advantage in the nation. What makes Senior Night so special is that the game is the co-main event of the night, alongside the celebration of players who gave four years of emotional and physical stress for the program and for the fans.
That massive celebration, that togetherness in love for the players, is a perfect example of why college sports can be so great. While the level of play may not always be the best in the world, the pageantry of college athletics can't be beaten. There's something truly special about watching players pour their hearts out when describing their careers at Kansas while surrounded by 16,300 fans who hang on their every word with bated breath.
Senior Night gives fans
the chance to see an emotional side of players and coaches that is rarely seen during games. When else could you see Bill Self brought to tears by the words of a player like he was during Jamari Traylor's speech in 2016? That genuine, raw emotion is unparalleled anywhere else.
Senior Night gives fans the chance to see an emotional side of players and coaches that is rarely seen during games ... that genuine, raw emotion is unparalleled anywhere else."
This year, three Jayhawks will say goodbye to Allen Fieldhouse on Senior Night. There's guard Tyler Self, the coach's son, who always gets one of the loudest cheers of any player when he steps on the court. Self may not have historic stats, but his cult-heero status won't leave Allen Fieldhouse, even when he
does.
Then there's center Landen Lucas, the constant force down low. While he's endured a fair share of criticism over the past couple of seasons, it's blatantly obvious how important his rebounding and defense is to the Jayhawks. His scoring numbers may not be flashy, but he has been a major, necessary part of Kansas' success during his career, specifically over the last two seasons.
And who could forget guard Frank Mason III? He's atop multiple player of the year watch lists, he's the Big 12's leading scorer and he's the unequivocal leader of the team. His toughness and tenacity has endeared him to Kansas fans the world over. From being the lowest-ranked recruit in a legendary 2013 Kansas class to a likely first-team All-American, his four-year story is one that will be celebrated loudly in Allen Fieldhouse on Senior Night.
Something about coming together to celebrate the careers of Jayhawks on Senior Night is simply special. The camaraderie and pageantry of the event is a reminder of how powerful, emotional and outright special college sports can be.
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