MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2004
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
5,2004
5B
texas dom-keep that potentially break.
at streak,
ne themselves
e NCA4
nth in the
matches
have to
Texas or
catch the
selection
eene
con Howe/KANSAN senior safety
and a single
at time with
eluting from a
e-return on
Texas in 1938
of the Big
Kansas snuck
19-18 victory
horns, then
Southwest
cards in recepth to propel place on the stage list with her.
Schmidt
OLLEGE
sciences long on osume
$562 tas
$672 Palace
$612 Club Resort
Moody, Robinson energize 'Hawks in 2nd half
Courtney Kublen/KANSAN
By MIRANDA LENNING
mlenning@kansan.com
KANSAN SWIMMER
Sweat drips from freshman guard Russell Robinson's face during the second half of yesterday's game against Washburn. Robinson played 22 minutes and led the team in steals with three.
On a night when Kansas preseason All-American forward Wayne Simien went 3-10 from the field, two less renowned players stepped up for the Jayhawks.
Freshman guard Russell Robinson and junior forward Christian Moody provided the Jayhawks with the second half energy they needed to shake off a Washburn Ichabod team that seemed to have an answer for everything Kansas did.
Robinson, who finished with seven points all in the second half, played tenacious defense for 22 minutes and forced the Washburn guards into several turnovers.
Coach Bill Self inserted Robinson with about 13 minutes left in the first half, and Robinson immediately forced Washburn freshman guard
Andrew Meile to turn the ball over.
"He is deceptive, and he is sneaky," said senior guard Aaron Miles. "He waited and waited for the right time to steal the ball."
Moody started the game, but went out early with two fouls. He played only five minutes in the first half, but finished the game with 10 points in 16 minutes.
For a pair who combined for just 12 minutes and four points in the first half, Robinson's and Moody's performance in the second half earned them praise from their coach.
"Do we win the game without Christian and Russell playing that well in the second half?" Self asked rhetorically after the game. "We may have, but certainly those were the best two performers the second half."
Robinson combined his defensive tenacity with some
offense early in the second half. Five minutes into the half he stole the bail from Washburn junior guard Kris Milburn, drove the length of the court for the lay-up and drew the foul.
That wasn't the last of Robinson's offensive contributions. He showed he could drive the baseline, hit from behind the arc and dish the ball. At a crucial point in the second half, he was the offensive spark in three straight Kansas possessions.
Robinson said he used his defensive quickness to ignite his offensive game.
With less than 10 minutes remaining in the game, Robinson showed a quick first step, blowing by a defender on the baseline and laying the ball up, widening the Jayhawk lead to 58-51. On the following Kansas possession, he showed his range, hitting on a three. On the next offensive play, he dished to Moody, who hit the shot and drew the foul.
"When you play with Keith, Wayne, and J.R., on the same team, I know that I am going to be the fifth option," Robinson said. "I try to use my defense to get my offense going. I just try to pressure the opponent a little bit, and give them something new to look at."
Moody said it was a mistake that he made in the first half that turned his play around for him in the second half. Following a Washburn free throw, Moody missed a box out and the Ichabods got the rebound. Self took him out of the game immediately.
"I made a mistake, and I came out quick," Moody said. "I was just happy that Coach gave me another opportunity to play."
Self said Moody's play was elevated after the initial mistake.
"I thought after that he went and got everything that was rim high." Self said.
Both players are in tough competition for minutes leading
up not only to Friday's season opener against Vermont, but also to the season in general. Moody is looking to earn that final starting spot to play next to Simien in the post. Last night's performance certainly couldn't have hurt his chances, but he said nothing has been decided yet.
"It is up to coach, but if I do get it I will be really excited and pump up." Moody said.
Robinson, though, is looking the earn minutes in what Self said would be a five-guard rotation.
"We are going to play five perimeter players, and he is definitely one of our five," Self said. "There is not that much different in guys. Whoever guards the best and the team is better with you in the game and gives us energy will be the guys who play the majority of the minutes."
Edited by Rupal Gor
Cindy Yeo/KANSAN
Senior forward Wayne Simien goes up for a rebound against Washburn sophomore forward Kyle Snyder in the opening minutes of last night's game. Simien finished with 15 rebounds.
CONTEST: Washburn led Kansas by as many as nine points early on
Courtney Kuhlen/KANSAN
Brady Sisk,
Washburn
freshman forward,
swats the rebound
away from Darnell
Jackson, Kansas
freshman
forward.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B
Ichabods' 14 makes in 22 attempts.
Washburn controlled the pace early, jumping out to a lead with the help of hot shooting.
Freshman forward Brady Sisk hit consecutive shots early in the game, and senior guard Carl Jenkins followed with a guarded 22-foot shot for an 8-0 run and a 19-10 Washburn lead at the 13:13 mark.
"All of a sudden they think they can play with us and win the game," said Kansas coach Bill Self. "Certainly that was the case."
Kansas responded with a 7-0 run of its own. Senior guard Mike Lee finished the outburst with a leaning lay-in and
The jayhawks turned defense to offense to gain a halftime advantage, forcing three turnovers on three consecutive possessions. The steals resulted in seven fast-break points, giving Kansas a 39-50 lead that turned into a 42-37 advantage at the break.
foul with 12:22 to go, pumping his fist and pounding the floor in satisfaction
Kansas senior forward Wayne Simien had a strong presence in the post. The senior dominated the boards, grabbing 15 rebounds to go with his 13 points.
Moody added 10 points and five rebounds, providing a second inside force for the Jayhawks.
Senior guard Keith Langford finished with 11 points, and sophomore
Kansas showed regular-season intensity at the 8:39 mark of the first half. A tipped pass by Miles created a scramble for the ball, with freshman forward C.J. Giles, Giddens and Miles all diving onto the floor to gain possession before a foul was called on Washburn.
"We definitely needed that," Moody said. "It would have been ugly if this wasn't an exhibition game."
Moody said the game would help focus the Jayhawks for the season opener Friday against Vermont.
— Edited by Anna Clovis
guard J.R. Giddens and Miles pout added 10.
Be one of the people behind the Kansan.
Most people go through college looking forward to graduation and finding a real job. At The University Daily Kansan Advertising Department, we provide outstanding students with the chance to work in a professional environment now. We currently have openings for Account Executives, Classified Hourly Staff and Advertising Creatives. At the Kansan, you have an awesome opportunity to build your portfolio, meet and work with great people and above all, have professional experience while in college. If you are hard-working goal oriented and have a knack with people, we need to talk.
Pick up your application today at 119 Stauffer-Flint. Submissions are due at either NOVEMBER 22 or NOVEMBER 23.