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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13. 2013
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
BASEBALL FROM PAGE 10
tion to pitch on Friday nights in the Big 12 you're going to be facing the best guys in the country," Duncan said. "I did that last year and felt comfortable in my role. So, it's just about making sure I'm doing my job to put the team in the best position to win."
Sophomore Wes Benjamin returns from a 5-7 freshman campaign in which he maintained a 3.54 ERA with 54 strikeouts.
"He was obviously very mature for a freshman last season," Graves said. "The biggest thing in his development is creating better spin on his breaking balls. The spin has
been the last thing to come it's more about getting him confident in using those breaking balls."
Thomas Taylor is reaching his potential after a long rehabilitation program following Tommy John surgery undertaken in his senior year of high school. The senior brings velocity, as well as a 4.76 ERA and 68 strikeouts to the Jayhawk rotation.
"The thing I'm most pleased with Thomas in his development is he's become a two pitch, three pitch guy." Price said. "His breaking ball is significantly better. His velocity has peaked now. To see him consistently throwing the fastball and commanding it over 90 m.p.h. is exciting."
Tanner Poppe will make the move from the bullpen to the starting lineup to round out the rotation while Robert Kahana assumes closing duties.
Dakota Smith.
Pitching isn't the only position group returning several starters. The Kansas Outfield returns all three starters from last year's squad in Leftfielder Michael Suiter, centerfielder Tucker Tharp and right fielder
"I've coached 35 years and that's the worst outfield I've ever coached defensively."
"I've coached 35 years and that's the worst outfield I've ever coached defensively." Price said. "It's all three of them. It's not one or the other and I'm not going to sugar coat it for you. Our standard of defense in the outfield was awful last year."
This year the outfield is focused taking the pressure off of the pitching staff by not allowing routine plays to slip away in the outfield. After a rocky start last year the outfield
is looking
RITCH PRICE Baseball coach
is looking for consistency.
"It just comes down to focus," junior out-fielder Tucker Tharp said. "A lot of guys, the
The Jayhawks waste no time taking on Big 12 level competition facing the Nevada Wolfpack in Mesa, Ariz. over the weekend. The Wolfpack feature top-15 major league pitching prospect Bradey Shipley who is known to hit the upper 90s on the radar gun regularly.
game was moving to fast for them last year. This year they've been able to slow the game down and make those plays look easy. For us to get out on the field and get this weekend under our belt, it'll be good to get the ball rolling."
"We're going to be playing in a major league complex against a guy that's probably going to be a major league guy next year," Duncan said. "The biggest thing for me is worrying about what I'm going to do not what's doing."
The Jayhawks start their four-game series against Nevada Friday at 2 p.m. in Mesa, Ariz.
Edited by Madison Schultz
ASHLEIGH LEE/KANSAN
MCLEMORE FROM PAGE 10
his offensive game, but became just as proud of his defense when he left for the NBA after his junior season.
In fact, Rush seemed hesitant to show too much of his offensive firepower, not wanting to offend his teammates. Rush took 19 shots against Texas Tech during his freshman season, which were the most field goal attempts he took in a single game that year.
"I wish Brandon and Ben were both different on that front," Self said. "I wish they were a little thirstier in certain situations than what they are."
He also took 18 shots at Kansas State and attempted either 14 or 15 field goals in a game six other times. He scored at least 20 points six times his freshman year but never broke the 30-point plateau.
The most field goal attempts McLemore has taken in a game this year are 18 shots against Chattanooga. He's had six other games where he took at least 14 shots. He's scored at least 20 points five times and at least 30 points two other times.
Just like Self got on Rush for not shooting often enough, Self said he wants to see McLemore look for his shot more, instead of disappearing from a game lacking offensive flow and finishing with fewer than 10 shots. McLemore has attempted fewer than 10 shots in 10 games this season.
However, Self recognizes that McLemore isn't the type of player that is looking to shoot 15 times or score 20 points every game.
"I'd like for him to average 25 a game, but that's not who he is and so we can't expect that," Self said. "But he's doing great. He's the all-time leading freshman scorer at this stage in the history of the school."
McLemore, who said he is quiet and unselfish by nature, said he doesn't look to force the game offensively. Instead he wants to let the offense come through getting defensive stops, something Rush eventually excelled at.
"I'm not that type of guy, that mean guy, that 'Hey, give me this, I want this," McLemore said. "I don't want to try to force a lot of things offensive."
But when Reid watches her son, the fifth of six children, she isn't worried about how he compares against Rush or Pierce, or even Manning. McLemore reminds her of another former Wellston High School star, one that even had the nickname "Danny Manning."
"I would say his Uncle Daniel," Reid said of who McLemore reminds her of. "I guess the certain way that he shoots the ball, that certain way he move, he kind of reminds me of my brother."
Edited by Dylan Lysen
ASHLEIGH LEE/KANSAN
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