Volume 125 Issue 48
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
kansan.com
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
COMMENTARY Despite record football team has improved
After the second game of the football season, I wrote in this very spot that Kansas wouldn't win another game.
While I may end up being right about the record, I was very wrong about how it would happen. After Kansas lost to Rice, I thought this season would mirror the last two — embarrassing.
1-11.
I thought the team would look incompetent on the field and that the coaching would be the same. After all, we had heard all off-season about how good Dayne Crist and the other transfers would be, and it appeared to be a farce.
1-11.
Senior forward Jeff Withey grabs a defensive rebound in last night's game against Michigan State in Atlanta.
TARA RRYANT/KANSAN
This season, however, has been an entirely different tale. It's been a story of improvement and a story of falling short.
None of the above could easily have been said after last seasons 2-10 debacle.
They've got a legitimate chance to win this Saturday against Iowa State and to really prove me wrong.
Although 1-11 or not, they already have.
I thought wrong.
Edited by Christy Khamphilay
Let's look back at that Rice game because that's where it all began. That's when the close losses began. Kansas lost on a last-second field goal to the Owls. Crist, the supposed golden boy of Kansas football, looked far from special.
Why does all of this matter?
Because, in the end, this football team has gotten far better than I could have imagined just 10 weeks ago.
Then against TCU, the Horned Frogs were held to only 20 points. Kansas only scored six points, but the layhawks still had a legitimate chance to win that game.
And then there's Northern Illinois, where Kansas lost on the road 30-23. Another close lose. Another game Kansas had a chance to win.
Kansas State was a second-half blowout that looked Turner Gillesque, but let's face it, the Wildcats could be playing for the National Championship in January.
There was the rainy Oklahoma State game, where Kansas lost 20-14 to a team that put up more than 50 points in the first half against them just one year ago.
Oklahoma and Baylor were never close, but growing pains are expected when a program is being built.
Look at the Texas and Texas Tech games, though. Kansas came within plays of winning both of these games. Never would I have imagined either of these games being close after that loss to Rice.
'THIS IS SPARTA'
DOWN TO THE WIRE
The Jayhawks take an early loss after falling in the final seconds to Michigan State
LETHAN PADWAY
/
epadway@kansan.com
ATLANTA — There was no miracle this time for the Kansas men's basketball team. Senior guard Travis Releford's three-point shot bounced off the rim, the buzzer sounded, and the game ended.
Down three with less than 13 seconds left, the layhawks ran their "chop" play, the same play they ran down three in the 2008 National Championship game, except this time the ball didn't go in the hoop and Kansas lost to Michigan State 67-64 in their 2012 Champions Classic matchup.
"Leaving my hand it felt great, it just didn't go in," Releford said. "I also kind of rushed it because of the time, but it was a good look. Ben wasn't open, that was the guy we were trying to get the ball to at the end."
Releford wasn't supposed to be the one to wind up with the ball in his hands, but Kansas coach Bill Self wasn't disappointed with the shot he took.
On the final play, Self wanted senior guard Elijah Johnson to try and make a quick drive to the lane for a two-point basket to prevent the Spartans from faulting them before they could get a shot off.
After the quick two didn't materialize, Johnson had a chance to take the three-point shot to try and tie the game because of Michigan State defense's mix-up. Its 270-pound center Derrick Nix found himself guarding Johnson at the top of the arc.
But Johnson didn't shoot it.
"It was really take the first available open shot that we could," Johnson said. "I put that all on me. I think that I could've made a better decision than that. And that time, coach put the ball in my hands to make the play and I felt like I didn't do a great job at it."
Freshman guard Ben McLemore, who showed no fear for the majority of his first big-time game by scoring 14 points on the night, showed his youth on the final play.
The Jayhawks found themselves behind after watching their fivepoint lead with less then five minutes to play evaporate as Michigan State guard Keith Appling finished off the Spartan charge.
McLemore didn't come off a screen the way Self wanted him to, and ended up in a different position than the play that Self
"I told Elijah to go under the ball screen one time, and jeff
drew up.
didn't really hedge him to make him change directions and he just stopped and made a three," Self said. "That was probably the biggest shot of the game other than his drive there later."
"That's the thing. Coach wanted the seniors to step up and at the end, we kind of shied away from it, failed at doing that," Releford said. "We can blame ourselves, the upperclassmen, because the underclassmen did all they could and they gave us what they were capable of"
ASSOCIATED PRESS
FOOTBALL
In the end, the Jayhawks, despite having four players with extensive Final Four experience, couldn't respond to the final blow dealt by Michigan State.
Edited by Allison Kohn
That play had a direct impact on the drive, as it affected how senior center Jeff Withey played Appling on Michigan State's last possession when Appling beat Withey to the rim for a layup to give the Spartans a three-point lead.
Kansas head coach Charlie Weis has a discussion with officials during the game against Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas, on Saturday.
"He did a little hesitation move and I thought he was going to probably shoot the three, and I was just late getting back there." Withey said. "Usually, you know, I'm pretty good at going up and blocking stuff like that, but he did a little pump fake type deal and made the basket."
Weis focuses on a winning for seniors
And that three-point lead set up the Jayhawks ill-fated last second shot.
FARZIN VOUSOUGHIAN
fvousoughian@kansan.com
Kansas coach Charlie Weis made it clear during his weekly press conference that he wants this week to be about the seniors. He doesn't want to win this Saturday against Iowa State for his satisfaction. He wants a win this week to give the seniors a win to remember. Weis went as far as taking it to Twitter, asking fans to come to this Saturdays' game.
"They're going to remember the camaraderie with their teammates," Weis said. "You don't focus on the bad things. You focus on the good things and there are still a couple of opportunities for some good memories yet to be created."
This senior class is unique compared to previous ones. Weis not
Saturday's match against the Cyclones will be the final time the senior Jaylaws take the field at Memorial Stadium. Kansas will honor its 23-member senior class before this game.
Like Weis, the seniors would like to finish their long season on a high note after all they've been through this season. Those who have spent their entire playing career in Kansas have played under three different head coaches.
But even through the rough times, the seniors will always treasure the opportunity to play football in the Big 12. From the moment they committed until the day they turn in their uniforms, the seniors will leave Lawrence with long-lasting memories and friendships.
"I can't even imagine that," Weis said. "They've gutted it out and bought in (to all three coaching systems). I would like them to walk out of here with a good taste in their mouth."
only worked with seniors who have spent their entire college careers at Kansas, but also worked with three seniors who transferred to Kansas from Notre Dame to play football on Wei Jiang last
under Weis one last time.
One of those transfers includes tight end Mike Rogane, who overcame adversity after being sidelined due to multiple knee injuries. Rogane found the strength to move forward
good time."
The 23 seniors will be introduced with their families before Saturday's game. Players will walk onto the field at Memorial Stadium
"You focus on the good things and there are still a couple of opportunities for some good memories yet to come."
be created.'
Ragone believed in Weis' system and Weis believed in Ragone's ability to play football. Ragone took advantage of his opportunity to play football and develop new relationships, but also continued to be around his teammates from Notre Dame.
and make up for the lost time in Kansas and received some words of encouragement from Weis.
CHARLIE WEIS Kansas coach
"I if didn't have that opportunity, I wouldn't be able to spend my time with guys like Dayne [Crist] and Anthony [McDonald]," Ragone said. "I cherish this. We've had a
one last time
one last time and will have a moment to reflect on their time at Kansas.
"I think I'll have a lot of emotions just being out there with my family," he said. "Just knowing how hard, not only me, but my whole family, how hard we worked to get to this point and making it through the five years I've been here. I know that without them, I wouldn't be here."
The seniors will approach the field while other family members and friends watch in attendance.
Wide receiver Daymond Patterson looks at this as a big moment for him and his family before playing in front of them at home one last time.
- Edited by Brian Sisk
BASKETBALL
Four-star recruit makes verbal commitment to KU for 2013-14 season
The Kansas men's basketball team's 2013 class added another player when Joel Embid, a 7-foot center from the Rock School in Gainesville, Fla., made a verbal commitment to the Jayhawks on Tuesday.
Embiid, a four-star recruit according
to rivals.com, is a Cameroon native who came to the U.S. last year. He participated in the NBA and FIBA's "Basketball without Borders" program.
Embid, who didn't start playing basketball until the age of 16, transferred to the Rock School after playing last season for Montverde Academy in Florida.
"Proud to be a Jayhawk," Embid tweeted from his account @jojo_embid on Tuesday morning.
.
Embiid joins a 2013 recruiting class that already includes three four-star players according to rivals.com
1
guards Wayne Selden and Frankamp, and forward Brannen Greene amp, and three-star guard Frank Mason.
TWO JAYHAWKS NAMED
TO WATCH LIST
Kansas senior center Jeff Withey and freshman guard Ben McMorrow were
named to the 2012-2013 Naismith early season watch list by the Atlanta Tip-off club on Tuesday.
In the Jayhawks first game of the season against Southeast Missouri State, Withey scored 17 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. The 2012 Big 12 defensive player of the year was named to the Wooden preseason 50 list and was also selected as an AP Preseason All-American Honorable Mention.
McLemore scored nine points and grabbed 12 rebounds in his first career game. The freshman was forced to redshirt last season after being ruled a partial qualifier by the NCAA.
The Attanta Tip-off club will trim the list down to 30 names in late February before the voting academy will cut the list to the final four candidates in March.
Ethan Padway