BASKETBALL Check Kansan.com for the latest basketball updates during Thanksgiving Break.
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2004
www.kansan.com
Cindy Yeq/KANSAN
Senior forward Wayne Simien tries to drive past Taylor Coppenrath of the Vermont Catamounts during Friday night's game in Allen Fieldhouse. The basketball team will take on the St. Joseph's Hawks at 9 tonight in the fieldhouse.
Less anxiety less problems
Kansas coach Bill Self says a calm team will aid 'Hawks vs. Hawks
BY JESSE NEWELL
jnewell@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWRITER
For the Kansas men's basketball team last Friday, it wasn't a matter of doing too little on offense — it was a matter of doing it too quickly.
Bad decisions led to a close game, when Kansas squeaked out a victory in its home opener against Vermont.
"I think we weren't executing because we were moving too fast," junior forward Christian Moody said. "We had some energy flowing, and it caused us to make some bad decisions."
The Jayhawks will get the opportunity to better focus their enthusiasm tonight, taking on the St. Joseph's Hawks at 9 p.m. in Allen Fieldhouse.
Kansas shot just 34 percent in the first half of its 68-61 victory over Vermont, with Kansas coach Bill Self urging the players to calm their emotions.
"He told all of us to slow down — we were going too fast," senior guard Aaron Miles said. "That's what we tried to do second half.
The Jayhawks improved slightly in final 20 minutes, making 10 of their 23 attempts for 44 percent.
After six exhibition games, including a Labor Day trip to Canada, Self said he thought his team would be more comfortable in its season opener against Vermont.
"It was what I expected out of Vermont," Self said, "but I didn't think we'd play as anxious and tight."
Kansas struggled in its half-court offense, often settling for a quick shot instead of making Vermont's defense work.
"Our offense is based on ball reversal, and we didn't get it reversed," Moody said. "We took the early shot or tried to make something individually."
Kansaslosestopspot inAPbasketballpoll
Kansas dropped from its No.1 spot in the Associated Press poll despite the fact it did not lose last week.
Wake Forest moved into the top position after last week's 97-76 victory against Georgia Washington and an 81-67 victory against Virginia Commonwealth in the preseason NIT.
The Jayhawks defeated the Vermont Catamounts 68-61 Friday, but it was not enough to keep them in the No.1 position.
"I'll take losing the No. 1 rank-
ing a lot better after a win than a
loss," Self said.
"I didn't know you could move down if you don't lose," sophomore guard J.R. Giddens said.
Kansas, which received one more first-place vote than Wake Forest, fell to No.2, followed by Georgia Tech, Syracuse and Illinois.
"Cosch should bring tissue out on the court because everybody will be so upset," Langford joked. "But I think I'll find a way to wake up tomorrow."
Kansas coach Bill Self said he was not concerned with the drop in the poll.
Senior guard Keith Langford also made light of the subject.
The Jayhawks' problems were illuminated because of their inability to score easy points in transition.
--- Jesse Newuff and Miranda Lenning
Kansas, which often relies on its defense to create offense, forced 10 Vermont turnovers, resulting in just eight fast-break points. Self said he expected improvement tonight with his team's lack of patience on offense.
Kansas runner places nationally
SEE PROBLEMS ON PAGE 9A
Sophomore Benson Chesang seventh place
BY FRANK TANKARK
ftankark@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTSWITER
Kansas runner Benson Chesang capped off a phenomenal sophomore season yesterday with a seventh place finish out of 242 runners at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in Terre Haute. Ind.
The race got off to a congested start when a crowd of the nation's best runners charged the front as the course narrowed.
Chesang kept pace with the front runners as the lead pack thinned.
"Just stay strong, man," Chesang,
CHESANG
Eldama Ravine, Kenya, sophomore, said. "That's what I was thinking."
Distance coach Doug Clark said Chesang's steady, even pace helped him pick off competitors as the 10-kilometer race went on.
Chesang completed
the course in 30 minutes, 59.4 seconds — 22 seconds behind winner Simon Bairu of Wisconsin.
Big 12 champion Colorado won both the men's and women's races.
ust stay strong, man. That's what I was thinking."
Benson Chesang Sophomore runner
Chesang's brother Mathew, a Kansas State senior, finished five places behind him in 12th.
Chesang said that despite winning the Big 12 Championships earlier this year, he did not think he would place as high as he did.
SEE RUNNER ON PAGE 9A
Teaching the trade
BY BILL CROSS
bcross@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWRITER
Even if assistant can't play, she still helps the team
The Kansas volleyball team will celebrate its four seniors on Saturday at its last home match of the season.
But one of the most important members of this class, coach Ray Bechard said, is its fifth member: student assistant Renita Davidson.
Davidson came to the Kansas three seasons ago as an outside hitter from Arlington, Texas. Injuries to both knees kept her mostly off the court during the past three seasons, and a torn hamstring late last season ended her career.
She said she stayed involved with the team to be near her friends and the game she loved. As she prepares to become the first college graduate in her family, she helps the team as a manager, a scout and a friend.
"I couldn't give it up," she said.
She said she sometimes longed to be out on the court with her teammates, but she had no regrets.
Bechard said Davidson's willingness
"It was kind of hard at first," she said. "But I'd rather be able to get up in the morning and feel good and be able to walk."
Davidson said she suffered last season when she dealt with injuries and watching her teammates play, but she had since learned to share in their fun.
to stay with the team was important for the team's success.
Davidson said her experience in the Big 12 Conference gave her a unique knowledge of the team's opponents, which she shared with the team's active
"She's got a great role where she can share her knowledge," he said. "She knows the game and has great energy."
perimeter hitters including newcomers Emily Brown and Paula Caten.
"I can tell some of the girls who haven't played at this level what the other girl's going to do," Davidson said. "Sometimes they do what I tell them, sometimes they don't, but they pay attention. They respect me a lot because they know I know the game."
Davidson said that respect translated to trust in the locker room.
SEE DAVIDSON ON PAGE 9A
Women's hoops needing victories
BY PAUL BRAND
pbrand@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTSWRIETER
While many students will be going home for Thanksgiving break to feast on holiday foodstuffs, the Kansas women's basketball team will try to break the famine of a two-game losing streak by playing two home games over the vacation.
Kansas dropped a close game to the West Coast All-Stars, 60-58, in its exhibition finale and lost a tight decision in Sunday's regular season opener to Texas-Arlington, 53-49.
At 0-1, Kansas will face Sacred Heart (1-0) at 7 p.m. tomorrow before hosting UMKC on Saturday for a 1 p.m. tip-off. UMKC was 0-1 prior to yesterday's game at Creighton.
In the young season, the Jayhawks have shown particular weaknesses in defensive rebounding, shooting and ball-handling.
"We need to rebound better and work on boxing out," said coach Bonnie Henrickson following the loss to Texas-Arlington. "We let them run to the rim and get offensive rebounds."
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The Pioneers have a young roster without much size. The Jayhawks will face a starting lineup tomorrow that will likely include three sophomores, one junior and one senior. At 6-foot-1, sophomore forward Jasmine Walker represents the tallest inside threat for the Pioneers.
Sacred Heart may prove to be a good opportunity for Kansas to pick up its first victory.
In Sacred Heart's season opener, a 66-53 victory last Friday at Yale, its victory depended heavily on points off turnovers. Of the 66 points the team scored, 35 came directly off the 33 Yale turnovers forced by the Pioneers' defense.
Turnovers have been a problem for the lavahwaks so far in the season.
"We had too many possessions where we had four of our five players running the offense correctly," Henrickson said. "Every time that
SEE VICTORIES ON PAGE 9A
During the exhibition season and in the season opener, Kansas struggled against defensive schemes that forced it out of a solid offensive rhythm.
INSIDE THE PARK
JACK WEINSTEIN
jweinstein@hansan.com
not at fault for losing season
The Kansas football team was close to winning several more games than it did this season. Close only counts with horseshoes and hand grenades. Close doesn't count in the victory column.
Kansas folded in the second half of all of its defeats, not capitalizing on scoring opportunities and blowing late leads in the waning minutes. After posting six victories last year and appearing in the school's first bowl game since 1995, the Jayhawks took a step back this season. Coach Mark
4
SEE COACHES ON PAGE 9A
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