Volume 125 Issue 30
kansan.com
Thursday, October 11, 2012
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COMMENTARY
The Twitter rant wasn't all that big of a deal, even though it did draw attention everywhere from the Los Angeles Times to USA Today. Weis probably used it as motivation heading into a game this paper called "Road Kill Ahead."
The glory days of Super Bowl victories in New England have to seem like decades ago for Charlie Weis, who instead is busy commenting about the student paper's coverage on Twitter and flip-flowing as well as any politician in Washington.
Never mind that the prediction was more spot-on than guessing Bill Self will win another Big 12 basketball title this season. Forget that Kansas hasn't won a Big 12 road game in more than four calendar years and has one conference victory since then. Weis was simply sticking up for his players before leading them to slaughter against Kansas State, a 56-16 loss.
Where are Bill Belichick and Tom Brady when you need them?
Good for him.
Then came Sunday, when Weis held practice without seniors. On Monday's conference call, he mentioned the word "development" multiple times.
"There's only so much developing you can do with the seniors because they're already five games into their last year," Weis said. "They've got seven games to go. It is what it is."
OK, that's not indefensible. Anyone can see this season is a lost cause, and Weis' tenure in Lawrence won't be altered either way by an extra victory in 2012. You might as well build for 2013 and beyond.
Weis seeks distinct message
"Sunday as not a penalty to the seniors," Weis said. "It was the juniors, sophomores and freshmen that played a whole bunch. They were the ones that came up on the short end of the stick."
So why the need for the 180 degree turn on Tuesday?
Excuse me, but what?
Tell us you need to see which players are worth keeping next year. Reiterate what you said on Monday, that you're building for the future.
Weis sounds like a coach caught somewhere in the middle. He wants to win immediately but doesn't have the talent. He wants to build for the future but doesn't want to stick with his reasoning for more than a day. With this season already in the toilet, he'd be best off turning the dial to hot or cold.
But don't sit on the fence and say you punishing the players who "played a whole bunch" while 60 percent of the starting lineup is seniors, and you trot out a senior quarterback each week who can't make two great passes in a row. Three-fifths of the starting offensive line is seniors as well, the same offensive line that has had Dayne Crist running for his life most games. They sure have "played a whole bunch" too.
There's no room for lukewarm. Just ask Coach Belichick.
— Edited by Ryan McCarthy
OKLAHOMA STATE VS. KANSAS
BIG PLAY PROBLEMS
TRAVIS YOIING/KANSAN
Jayhawks focused on limiting Cowboys' high-potent offense
Sophomore linebacker Ben Heeney tackles Kansas State senior quarterback Colin Klein at the one yard line during the first half of the game against Kansas State Wildcats Saturday afternoon at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
BLAKE SCHUSTER
hschuster@kansan.com
The Kansas Jayhawks defense has a big problem.
It's not that they haven't been getting stops — Kansas has greatly improved at that.
And it's not that they've been getting scored on too much — take away the second half against Kansas State and every game has been within reach.
No, Kansas' defensive problem is just big — big plays that is.
Against Kansas State, four Wildcat touchdowns came on plays of 20 yards or more. Only one of those scores came from K-State quarterback Collin Klein's passing abilities.
And here's where the problem gets worse. The Oklahoma State Cowboys are storming into Memorial Stadium with the fifth best run game in the country, averaging 300 yards per game.
That's a big concern for Kansas coach Charlie Weis and defensive coordinator Dave Campo.
"That's a lot of yards and they're averaging just 55.8 points a game." Weis said. "It's big, big numbers. And it's big rushing totals. It's big passing totals, and it's big point totals. Those are big numbers."
him in third grade.
Randall is the Big 12' s leading rusher at this point. The junior is averaging 133 yards per game — seven yards per carry — and has six touchdowns to show for it.
The biggest weapon the Cowboys tot? Wichita native Joseph Randall. Weis said he heard a rumor that Kansas offered him a scholarship in fourth grade and joked they should have offered
He's also 6-foot-1,200 pounds a big man.
BASKETBALL
"He's a home run threat," Weis said of Randall. "And he's a home run threat when they dump the ball off to him, too. He's a very, very good player."
But before Kansas can worry about Oklahoma State scoring, it will have to limit the big plays that can put the Cowboys in that position.
It would be appropriate to point out that Kansas has one of the top-20 red zone defenses in the nation
five field goals when in the red zone.
— if it weren't for the fact that Oklahoma State has never reached their opponent's 20-yard line without coming away with points. The Cowboys have 2 touchdowns and
"We have to execute," defensive end Josh Williams said. "We need to make sure everyone is on the same page."
Campo said that preparing for Oklahoma State is nothing like Kansas State — the two teams present much different threats. All of the extra options that the Wildcats made use of, like Collin Klein's running ability, won't be a factor for the Cowboys.
but that doesn't mean defending the Cowboys will be any easier. Campo said the players that Oklahoma State boasts are a problem in itself.
Essentially, there will be fewer players to worry about
While the Cowboys' quarterbacks may not have the legs and strength of Klein, they do have Randall, who is no stranger to making big plays.
"We have to be disciplined and do the things we're doing," Campo said. "We're not throwing in the towel and saying hey we're not good enough, that's just not going to happen."
Stopping him will be no small feat.
Edited By Laken Rapier
Five things to watch for with 'Late Night'
Coach Bill Self enters the court on a motorcycle with Kansas decals at last year's "Late Night." It was the 27th annual "Late Night in the Phoor."
"JUMP" FROM PAGE 1A
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
team will have a different look than previous seasons. Unlike last year's team, which only saw one freshman play regularly, this Jayhawk team will count on contributions from its youngsters if they want to make another deep run in the NCAA tournament.
3. THE "OTHER" CONTENDERS
The men's basketball team isn't the only Jayhawk basketball team coming off an impressive tournament run. The women's team not only made it to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2000 but then proceeded to knock off first Nebraska and then Delaware with national player of the year finalist Elena Delle Donne.
Expectations for the Jayhawks are higher than they've been in years, as they were picked to finish fourth in the Big 12 this season and return seven of their top eight scorers from last season, including preseason All-Big 12 guard Angel Goodrich. Kansas gets an additional boost as senior forward Carolyn Davis returns to the court after suffering a season-ending knee injury against Kansas State last February.
This is the deepest team Henrickson's had in her time at Kansas, and they have the tournament experience to make another deep tournament run if they can survive the grind that is the tough Big 12 regular season.
The Kansas coaching staff saw a significant shake-up in the off-season, with the biggest move being the departure of former
2. LIFE AFTER MANNING
Jayhawk star Danny Manning taking the head coaching position at Tulsa. In his nine years on the Kansas staff, Manning became renowned for his ability to develop big men for the program. This fall marks the first time since the 2002-2003 season that the hero of the 1988 NCAA tournament will not be on the Kansas bench.
In his place, Norm Roberts returns to Kansas after spending six seasons as the head coach at St. John's and one season as an assistant coach at Florida. Roberts has a long history with Self, spending time under him at Oral Roberts, Tulsa, Illinois and one year at Kansas. Roberts differs from Manning in the fact that he specializes more in developing
perimeter players. The other new face on the sideline will be former Nebraska head coach Doc Sadler, who takes over as the director of basketball operations after Barry Hinson left to take the head coaching job at Southern Illinois.
1. NEW PLAYERS IN LEAD Roles
Seniors Elijah Johnson and Jeff Withey each had games last season in which they stepped up to the plate and made their presence known. Johnson emerged as an elite scoring threat in the tournament, and Withey transferred the skills he honed on the volleyball court to become one of the top defenders in the nation. But last year, they each also faded to the background in some games. This season they won't have Tyshawn Taylor or Thomas Robinson to fill that void, and they will have to step up every game. The players' on-court skills won't be completely on display, as the practice portion is mostly glorified for the fans, but it will present the first opportunity for them to demonstrate their leadership skills to the public.
- Edited by Ryan McCarthy
BASKETBALL
Self receives distinguished coaching awards
Nan Wooden Muehlhausen, granddaughter of legendary UCLA coach John Wooden announced on Wednesday that Kansas Basketball coach Bill Self will be the recipient of the 2013 John R. Wooden's "Legends of Coaching" honor.
Since taking over the reigns of the Kansas basketball program in 2003, Self has guided his team to eight consecutive conference championships, five Big 12 tournament titles, two final four appearances and winning the 2008 National Championship.
The award, adopted by the Wooden Award Committee in 1999, is given to coaches that demonstrate high standards that Wooden lived by both on and off the court.
"This is a great honor and humbling, but non-deserving; plus it's a legends which makes me sound even older than what I am," Self said in a press release. "I had a chance to meet Coach Wooden and get to know him fairly well back in the year 2000 because of an award we received. Cindy and I were able to spend a weekend with him and his family. That was a cool experience. To be thought of in this regard with some of the coaches that have won this in the past is pretty humbling."
Off the court, Self is involved in his "Assists Foundation," which directs funds to help children in a variety of ways in the Lawrence community.
Self is the second coach recognized with the honor while coaching at Kansas. North Carolina coach Roy Williams received the honor in 2003, his final season at Kansas coach.
"Coach Wooden would have been honored to present this award to Coach Self in recognition not only of his coaching excellence, but also his character and commitments off the court." Greg Wooden, grandson of coach Wooden said in a press release.
Ethan Padway