Volume 125 Issue 21
kansan.com
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
He returns as the best assistant Self has ever had.
- Edited by Sarah McCabe
Just know all week Bill Self will be smiling. In part because of boot camp. And also because he gets to run it with Roberts again.
He returns older and wiser now, too, after his head coaching experience at St. Johns.
There have been some concerns about recruiting for Kansas basketball over the last few years, and whether that's justified or not, recruiting will pick up with Roberts on the staff.
Self and Roberts would continue their success together, this time on the big stage at Illinois. The two went 78-24 in three seasons coaching the Fighting Illini and won two Big 10 championships.
Following that season, Self left for Tulsa and Roberts journeyed with him. In three seasons, they went 74-27. In their final year at Tulsa, the team went 32-5 and finished with a school-best Elite Eight finish.
However, their biggest accomplishment at Illinois would be the team that took the floor after Self and Roberts came to Kansas.
Now, Roberts is back as one of Self's assistants, and if the past results mean anything, the reunion will be fruitful.
COMMENTARY Self's new (old) right hand is here
Eight seasons later, Roberts is back and will bring fresh air to a coaching staff that had begun to get a bit stale over the past few years. By that, I simply mean that no one had moved. The same assistants coaching, scouting and recruiting for seven seasons is great for consistency, but it's also bad for bringing in new ideas. It's bad for changing the status quo.
You see, Self and Roberts go way back. 16 years, to be exact, when Self hired Roberts to be his assistant at Oral Roberts before the start of the 1996 season. It would be Self's best season at ORU. The team finished with a 21-7 record and a trip to the National Invitation Tournament, or NIT.
QUEENS OF THE HILL
The team Self and Roberts left at Illinois included Deron Williams, Dee Brown, Luther Head and James Augustine. The team tied for the best NCAA record ever, going 37-2.
Roberts left Self after one year at Kansas to take the head coaching job at St. Johns University in New York City.
While the players are currently galloping down the court and back during Self's notoriously demanding boot camp, the coach has to be thrilled to have his old buddy Norm standing next to him
In April, there was a major change made to the Kansas basketball team that, for the most part, has been overlooked. s
This change was on the coaching staff, and no, it is not the departure of Danny Manning.
It is the man who replaced Manning — Norm Roberts, the best assistant coach Bill Self has ever had.
COMING OUT ON TOP
JEFF JACOBSON/KANSAN
The Women's Golf team poses with the trophy after the Marilynn Smith Sunflower Women's Golf Invitational on Sunday and Monday. The Jayhawks took first place.
KU women's golf bests Arkansas State and Kansas State to win the Sunflower Invitational
MIKE VERNON
mvernon@kansan.com
The Kansas women's golf team won the Marilyn Smith Sunflower Invitational at Alvamar Country Club in Lawrence Tuesday.
In the past, the putter caused several issue for Boonraksasat,
Thanuttra Boonrakasat led the jayhawks, finishing second as an individual with a total score of 221, five strokes over par, for the 54-hole tournament. Boonrakasat opened the tournament with a 77 before bouncing back to scores of 72 in the final two rounds.
"From the first round, I did really well once I learned the greens, so I wouldn't make the same mistake again." Boonrakasat said. "My short game has improved a lot since last year."
but after making the change from a conventional putter to the newer belly putter, she's noticed a solid improvement.
Boonraksaat works to maintain a positive attitude while on the course.
"This win means a lot," Bonraksasat said. "It will help everybody find more and gain more confidence. I think this will help for the next tournament."
The Jayhawks continued to exhibit a change in attitude and
The Sunflower Invitational gave Kansas players a chance to play in front of parents and fans who may not normally get to see the Jayhawks in action. For coach O'Neil, the win at home is an opportunity to build some momentum early in the fall season. O'Neil said winning at home was an added boost to this week's result.
approach to the game that has coach Erin O'Neil encouraged this fall.
"It was very apparent today," O'Neill said. "They definitely hung in there. I know there were some nerves in the beginning, but they hung around and got the job done. There's a great mentality this year. They're hard-working, and it's paying off."
"We know the course really well," O'Neil said. "We just trusted that and played our game and made it happen today."
The knowledge of their home course helped the Jayhawks hold an early lead throughout the 54-hole event.
The Jayhawks Yupapor
Kawinpakin finished fifth with a 54-hole total of 223. Gabby DiMarco also finished in the top 10, placing seventh with a score of 228. Audrey Yowell finished
tied for 18th with a 236, and Meghan Potee completed the Kansas lineup in a tie for 22nd with a 237.
The Jayhawks finished with a team score of 906 - 21 shots ahead of second place Arkansas State and 22 shots ahead of third place Kansas State.
Kansas women's golf travels to Price-New Mexico State University Invitational Oct. 8 through Oct.10 to continue their fall season.
Edited by Brian Sisk
JEFF JACOBSON/KANSAN Junior Thanutra Boonrakasat drives the ball during the Marriyah Smith Sunflower Women's Golf Invitational on Sunday and Monday. The Jayhaws took first place.
VOLLEYBALL
Cyclones a true test
NATHAN FORDYCE
nfordvce@kansan.com
When Kansas coach Ray Bechard described upcoming opponent Iowa State, he could have been describing his own team.
"Their libero and their setter are premier players in our league." Bechard said. "Got good balance. They played an extremely difficult schedule and their program over the last few years has represented our league as well as anybody."
Junior Brianne Riley, the jayhawks' libero, ranks first in the Big 12 in digs per set with 5.4 digs per set, while the Cyclones' libero, junior Kristen Hahn, ranks third with 4.8 digs per set.
Kansas' junior setter Erin McNorton leads the league in assists with an average of 12.3 assists per set. Iowa State ranks third again with senior setter Alison Landwehr, who averages 11.2 assists per set.
However, the Jayhawks do not have the recent success that Iowa State does. They can begin to change that when they host the Cyclones Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Horejsi Family Athletics Center.
To beat Iowa State and assert themselves as members of an upper echelon Big 12 team, the jayhawks must limit the Cyclones' transition opportunities and play physically around the net.
Beachard said that Iowa State is as offensively efficient as Kansas is and that the Cyclones would be one of the most physical teams Kansas has played so far. To maintain their efficiency against Iowa State, Bechard said at least seven Jayhawks needed to play at their highest level on Wednesday.
It comes down to which team can make first contact, Bechard said. "They've got good balance now on the pins with a really dynamic leftie in Biggie."
TRAVIS YOUNG/KANSAN
Kansas will rely heavily on their own middle blockers, redshirt junior Caroline Jarmoc and senior Taylor Tolefree, to maintain the Jayhawks' presence at the net both offensively and defensively. Jarmoc ranks first in the Big 12 with a .409 hitting percentage and third in blocks with 1.4 blocks per set. Tolefree is fifth in the conference in hitting percentage at .353 and seventh in blocks with 1.2 per set.
Junior outside hitter Catherine Carmichael attacks during the match against the Wyoming Cowgirls Saturday, Sept. 8. Carmichael had 0 kills and 19 total attacks Kansas defeated the Wyoming Cowgirls 3-0 scoring 25-13, 25-21, and 25-18.
their outside hitters teaming with the middle blockers at the net to slow down the Cyclones' attack. In their Big 12 opener against Texas Tech, the Jayhawks outblocked the Red Raiders 14-2. Their dominant three-set victory over Texas Tech earned them 23 votes in the America Volleyball Coaches Association Coaches' Poll released Sept. 24.
The Jayhawks will also rely on
Redshirt junior outside hitter Catherine Carmichael said Kansas could keep Iowa State from turning the match into a track meet by communicating with each other about Iowa State's movement on the court.
"They run a lot of cross plays and things like that, and so I think we as pins and middles have to just be able to communicate very well to be effective," Carmichael said.
Senior defensive specialist Morgan Boub said the Jayhawks defense at the net and in the back row is more efficient than in recent years, and so far the statistics back her up. The Jayhawks rank second in the Big 12 in opponent hitting percentage at .145, second in blocks with 2.94 blocks per set and first in digs with 16.3 digs per set.
After the jayhawks dig a ball and transition to offense, it will be important for them to put away points as quickly as possible so they don't give Iowa State multiple opportunities to score and keep serve.
Carmichael said the Jayhawks work on sideout in practice, which is when the team receiving the
"We've been very crisp this season, and our blocking and our defense and passing has done very well," Boub said. "They have a very quick offense."
serve wins the point and therefore the serve. Against Texas Tech, the jayhawks had a 75 percent sideout rate while keeping Texas Tech to 47 percent.
"We work every day on sideeat and shots," Carmichael said. "In the beginning of practice, we do instead of actually swinging. You have to tip to score. So I think that helps us a lot in learning shot selection."
Edited by Emma McElhaney