Volume 125 Issue 72
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
kansan.com
COMMENTARY
Enjoy greatness while you can
Talk about a happy birthday. On Ben McLemore's 20th, he scored 30 points. On his 20th, the Jayhawks busted a three-game losing streak. They did so by beating Kansas State by 21 points — on his 20th.
And most of all, it was one of those games to enjoy watching the Jayhawks' sensational freshman, Ben McLemore — something truly worth doing for his remaining five games in Allen Fieldhouse.
Yes, it was one of those special days at Allen Fieldhouse where everything seemingly comes together perfectly. It was one of those days where the seats were filled like a perfectly poured beverage well before tipoff, and when everyone erupts after every made basket. It was one where a more-talented Kansas team played up to its talent.
The next time McLemore glides down James Naismith Court after a turnover, and 16,300 people stand in anticipation of something epic, something breathtaking, take a mental snapshot. The memories of being a student — or a fan — when Ben McLemore played for the University of Kansas will be a point of pride for any Jayhawk for a long time.
And it shouldn't just be for the 20-year-old's graceful play on the court, even though that has a lot to do with it.
There was a worthy scene a few weeks back at a women's basketball game that McLemore attended (he's been to many of the women's basketball games this season).
As McLemore was leaving by himself after the game, he was quickly surrounded by Kansas fans, mostly children, that were in awe of the latest crimson and blue sensation.
It's a rare sight to see a 20-year-old kid act so gracious for the love that surrounded him. His twitter handle is @Humb1e_Hungry23, and it's a perfect title for the kind of person that McLemore seems to be.
Did McLemore look upset by this? No, not at all. He looked the opposite, actually. McLemore signed every autograph for anyone who asked. He stood and smiled for every picture, and he took the time to talk to the children who dream of wearing the same uniform one day.
Even on the grander scale, after Kansas men's games, McLemore sticking around in the autograph line has become a legendary tale among both media members and fans that have seen it happen.
And then he'll be gone, onto bigger and better things.
He won't get to speak on senior night, and nor should he, but he will be rightfully recognized and applauded in the pre-game video montage.
It's time to cherish this young man if you haven't done so already. It's time to marvel at his unique athleticism and silky smooth jump shot. And it's time to notice the effect he's had on the community, and the effect we've had on him.
After all, time with Ben is running out.
Edited by Brian Sisk
HEADING TO THE RAFTERS
MAGNIFICENT MAC
Freshman guard Ben McLemore earns comparison to Kansas legends
GEOFFREY CALVERT
gcalvert@kansan.com
It's been a frequent occurrence for the Kansas Jayhawks this season, but for Sonya Reid, it could never happen enough.
Maybe it's a breakaway dunk. The kind where every soul in Allen Fieldhouse cranes their neck just an inch more, aware that in just a matter of seconds they might see high-flying artistry few college players can craft.
Or it's a rhythmic barrage of 3-pointers, a rapid firing of shots everyone will drop swiftly through the net while the shot is still in the air, interspersed with NBA-caliber jump shots in the lane.
However the fireworks come,
Reid knows what she will see
next from those fireworks' origin,
redshirt freshman guard Ben
BmcLmore, her son.
"When he do one of his little fancy dunks he comes out with this little smile," Reid said. "Pretty much that smile is his trademark."
McLemore provided 40 minutes of fireworks Monday night against Kansas State, draining six of 10 3-pointers and scoring 30 points. He didn't convert any Fieldhouse foundation-shaking dunks, but only because Kansas State refused to let him take off, fouling him before he came close enough for a fastbreak dunk.
But McLemore's had plenty of reasons to flash his smile this season. Enough reasons, in fact, that he's been compared to his role model, former Kansas star Paul Pierce.
McLemore started watching Pierce when he was a junior at Wellston High School near St. Louis. He went to Pierce's summer camp that year and then met Pierce in person when he came to Lawrence to play in the 2011 Legends of the Phog game.
"His footwork is just crazy," McLemore said. "I like to watch his footwork a lot because the way he moves it seems like he's slow, but his footwork makes it seem like he's moving fast."
McLemore said he was too young to remember Pierce during his time as a ljayhawk, but he sees Pierce's dunk rile up the crowd on the pregame video before every game at Allen Fieldhouse.
Like McLemore, Pierce could turn a basketball contest into a solo virtuoso performance. Perhaps his most memorable performance in a Kansas uniform was his 31-point performance against Oklahoma in his final game at Allen Fieldhouse, when he scored 15 straight points during a second-half stretch.
"He can score it at will," McLemore said. "I've seen the intro, just showing him as one of the great players that ever played here at Kansas."
With seven games left in the regular season, McLemore is on pace to break Danny Manning's freshman scoring record of 14.6 points per game. McLemore is averaging 16.8 points per game, while Pierce averaged 11.9 points per game as a freshman. But since Manning graduated in 1988, Pierce holds the school's single-season scoring average record of 20.4 points per game, which he set in 1997-1998.
The significance of Pierce's college accomplishments isn't lost on McLemore.
Besides the freshman scoring record, McLemore already has one accomplishment Pierce couldn't get. It's an accomplishment no other Jayhawk has — scoring at least 30 points in conference play twice as a freshman.
"When you go to the University of Kansas, you know you've got a lot to live up to," McLemore said. "Watching my teammates play last year and just seeing what they do and seeing how much they put into the game because Kansas basketball has so much tradition and history."
But Pierce isn't the only Jayhawk McLemore draws comparisons to. Brandon Rush came to Kansas as a freshman in 2005 after withdrawing from the NBA Draft. He used the word "highlights" to describe
SEE MCLEMORE PAGE 6
ASHLEIGH LEE/KANSAN
Freshman guard Ben McLemore has had a break-out season after redshirting his first year. McLemore has averaged 16.8 points per game and 31.6 minutes per game.
BASEBALL
Experienced lineup returns to field
TREVOR GRAFF
At Tuesday's media day, Price said his team is taking advantage of the experience gained by playing one of the youngest lineups in the Big 12 last season. This season, the Jayhawks return seven starting position players and nine pitchers, on a roster that includes 23 underclassmen.
Kansas Coach Ritch Price is optimistic when discussing the off-season development of another young Kansas Baseball roster.
tgraff@kansan.com
"Pitching is certainly the strength of our club on paper," Price said. "In my ten years I've been at Kansas, we've never returned all three weekend starters. On paper these are four of the most impressive guys we've had. At the same time, those guys have to get better too."
Junior pitcher Frank Duncan
Duncan earned the opening game start, after going 6-8 with a 3.23 era and 100 strikeouts in 2013. Duncan isn't a power pitcher. He prefers to make his living on the mound by mixing pitches and outsmarting opposing bats.
leads the rotation this season with Sophomore Wes Benjamin, senior Thomas Taylor and Senior Tanner Poppe taking on starting duties this season.
"Anytime your put in the posi-
"It's fun to have these guys in the Friday and Saturday spots," pitching coach Ryan Graves said. "In my opinion, these guys give us the best chance of getting us deep into the game and not use up our bullpen on Friday and Saturday."
SEE BASEBALL PAGE 6
Graphic by Ryan Benedick and Trevor Graft
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