6B
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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MONDAY. DECEMBER 6, 2004
Sports
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Case joins Kleinmann as a redshirted player
Sophomore guard Jeremy Case will sit out the 2004-05 season as a redshirt, coach Bill Self announced Friday. The 6-foot guard from McAlester, Ola., has been limited in practice because of a naging groin injury.
"When I first got back the option was there to compete and when I got hurt it made the opportunity even harder," Case said. "Not getting back before the games started really made me decide to redshirt."
Case played in 21 games last season, averaging 3.9 minutes and 1.2 points per game.
"We think Jeremy is going to be a good player," Self said. And we really don't redshirt
guys unless we know they will contribute."
With a redshirt, Case will not play this season but gain a year of eligibility. He can still practice with the team and will return next year as a sophomore again.
"My role is to work as hard as I can in practice and help my teammates get ready for the teams we will be playing." Case said. "I really believe redshirtings is best for the team, and I want what's best for the team.
Case joins freshman walk-on Matt Kleinmann as the only two redshirts on this year's team.
NFL
Diego Chargers' long nightmare is coming to an end.
Chargers play biggest game, defeat Broncos SAN DIEGO The San
The Chargers — yes, the Chargers — took firm control of the AFC West by hanging on to beat the Denver Broncos 20-17 in a wild one yesterday.
LaDainian Tomlinson ran for two touchdowns and San Diego's defense and saved the day by intercepting Jake Plummer four times.
Playing their biggest game in 10 years, the Chargers (9-3) clinched their first winning season since 1995 and took a two-game lead in the division against Denver (7-5).
The Associated Press
San Diego is on a six-game winning streak for the first time since going 6-0 to open the 1994 season, when it made its only Super Bowl appearance. Overall, the Chargers wong eight of nine.
McCarville was helped by Minnesota sophomore forward Liz Podominick who chipped in 14 points and junior guard Katie Alsdurf who scored 13.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B
While Minnesota rolled up the points, Kansas remained in an offensive rut that resulted in the Jayhawks being outscored 35-12 in the last 20 minutes. It was the second straight game that the Gophers held an opponent to 12 second half points. The Jayhawks shot only 5-18 from the field after a 14-29 field goal showing in the first half.
CHILLS: Only two KU players put up points in second half
Brown and Kemp were the only Kansas players to score after halftime.
After a three game winning streak, the Jayhawks have lost two consecutive contests. Kansas will try for a victory on Wednesday with a 7 p.m. home game against Western Illinois.
LANGFORD: Career-high seven assists top the afternoon
— Edited by Steve Schmidt
double-teaming Simien, the Jayhawks needed their veteran guards to step up.
"My performance, along with Aaron's, was very necessary for us to beat this team." Langford said.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18
After Langford scored 13 points in the first half, Pacific came out after halftime with an extra defender on him. When he penetrated, Pacific's defense would collapse, allowing Langford to kick that ball out to Miles for a mid-range jump shot.
"Keith's penetration, and the way they guarded, allowed me to do some good things," Miles said.
After the game, the Jayhawks couldn't stop talking about the way Pacific came out defending the high-Jow.
Self said the Tigers fronted Simien but didn't guard the high post. Essentially, they were switching, so that they fronted Simien initially, then switched off of him to guard the high post.
"He had to get some of his con
fidence and swagger back and he looked like he had some of that today."
Kansas men's basketball coach
Bill Self
When Jayhawks expected the high post pass to be open, it was not.
That might have flustered the Jayhawks, but because of Langford's confidence in taking the ball to the basket, the Jayhawks found other ways to create shot opportunities.
Self said he was glad that it was Langford who stepped up for the Jiahawks on Saturday.
"He had to get some of his confidence and swagger back and he looked like he had some of that today," Self said.
Edited by Ryan Greene
"When I missed that kick, I didn't feel bad for myself," he said. "I felt for those other guys."
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B
GREENE: Beck doesn't excuse his struggles
Beck tees up a relatively short kick from around 35 yards out, and the ball sails to the right. As I ask what happened, he points to the turf, where he caught it about a foot behind the ball.
Johnny Beck does not make excuses for his struggles, but the turf at Memorial Stadium certainly does not help. He can point out the spot at the 20-yard line where there is a divot, and he can point out the nasty surface at midfield where the Jayhawk logo is hastily painted onto the faux grass.
The Turf Hurts
The Memorial Stadium surface, which is called Field Turf, is synthetic grass. As opposed to Astro Play, which was invented later
and is in place at Nebraska and Missouri, the blades of 'grass' are shorter, and less realistic. After five seasons of use, the surface in Memorial Stadium has been matted down, and the padding underneath is wearing a bit.
Beck said kicking is easiest on a natural grass surface, because when your foot catches, it's easier to kick through it without your foot being halted.
But once again, it's not an excuse — just an observation.
Beyond Memorial Stadium
Beck tees up four balls from 57 yards out. He makes two of them, but they're all close.
Wilkins lives. He kicks everyday in practice and plays golf when he's away from football, and he makes seven figures a year.
The first type of professional football Johnny Beck talks about is Arena football. It's certainly a possibility this summer. But Beck also knows there's a calling in the NFL for guys who can specialize in kickoffs and long field goals.
He's seen up close how well
Seven years later,it'll now take a little work.
It seemed more like reality his freshman year at Piper High School in Kansas City, Kan., when he drilled a 48-yard field goal to win the homecoming game in his first kicking appearance.
In the course of an hour at Memorial Stadium, Beck showed his powerful leg and showed me everything down to the proper way to set your plant foot when kicking a field goal. And as his kicks continued to sail true time after time, even he learned something.
"Damn," Beck said. "Maybe I should have worn tennis shoes all four years."
Greene is a Vernon Hills, Ill.. senior in journalism.
MILES: Sharp outside shooting saves Jayhawks
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B
The next possession, Robinson connected on a 24-foot jumper with the shot clock winding down to give Kansas a 58-48 lead.
Jackson added his own spark at the 8:52 mark. Off a Simien pass, Jackson used three efforts to finish with a layup and a Pacific foul, yelling to the crowd while being picked up by teammates.
The freshmen also contributed on a pair of impressive plays at the seven-minute mark.
Robinson's one-handed bounce pass found a streaking Langford, who scooped it to Jackson inside for an easy lay in. The next possession it was Miles with the assisting, splitting defenders in the lane with a bounce pass to Robinson who finished with a reverse layup for Kansas' largest lead at 66-53.
Jackson and Robinson combined for 11 of the Jayhawks' 13 points during the four-minute stretch in the second half.
"All of the Kansas guards
stepped up today. Last year, we had trouble with Kansas' inside threats. This year it was kind of the opposite."
Christian Maraker Pacific junior forward
stepped up today." Pacific junior forward Christian Maraker said. "Last year, we had trouble with Kansas" inside threats. This year it was kind of the opposite."
Simien scored 12 points and grabbed 15 rebounds for his fourth consecutive double-double. The senior was limited in his offensive touches because of Pacific's decision to put a pair of defenders on the preseason All-American.
Kansas was able to defeat Pacific for a second straight year after beating the Tigers 78-63 in the second round of last year's NCAA tournament.
Miles, who only had a quick glance at the box score after the game, said he only needed one set of numbers to realize he'd had a successful game.
"I did some pretty good things, but the biggest thing is we got the victory," Miles said. "I think that's the most important statistic of anything."
"All of the Kansas guards
Kansas basketball note
Simien played most of the game despite sustaining a deep cut on his left index finger early in the first half.
"I got bit," Simien said. "There was a beast down there in the lane."
The senior forward said he would probably receive a few stitches but did not believe it would affect his play.
- Edited by Ryan Greene
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