BASKETBALL Keith Langford's injury didn't hurt the team on Sunday as coach Bill Self expected. PAGE 3E
SPORTS
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Tip-off vs. Hays
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9,2004
Kansan file photo
www.kansan.com
Henrickson, new women's team to debut
.com
BY PAUL BRAND
pbrand@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWRITER
For some teams, an exhibition is seen as nothing more than a scrummage in front of fans, but don't tell that to Kansas senior guard Aquanita Burras.
"I think it is going to be a big thing, because we all feel like we're freshmen," Burras said. "This game is going to be a big for us and for the coaches."
Although the contest at 7 tonight in Allen Fieldhouse pits Kansas against Division II Fort Hays State, the matchup offers more meaning than a regular exhibition. For coach Bonnie Henrickson, the game marks her first as coach. For her players, it is the first time to execute under a new system.
Henrickson said she anticipated that emotions would run high.
"These kids are awfully, awfully excited to play," Henrickson said of her squad. "They're very anxious."
Through all the eagerness, the Jayhawks' main focus will be on translating the lessons learned from early season practice into a game setting for the first time. Last Friday, the women played their first 40-minute scrimmage against the men's student practice squad, but are looking to the exhibition as a more accurate measurement of the team's development.
One main area of focus will be in simple execution on the offensive end, which is a worry of Henrickson's. She said she was concerned about the team's ability to stay in the offense when it needed to be in it.
Apprehension over the offense in practice has already hindered the Jayhawks early in the year. In addition to team goals of executing the offense, individual attention will also be in the scope of step-by-step improvement.
"My personal focus is concentrating on what I have to do," Burras said. "I need to make sure I know where I'm running the plays to."
Guard Blair Waltz dribbles around a San Diego opponent during a game last season. Waltz and the rest of the women's basketball team will begin play at 7 tonight in Allen Fieldhouse less at the opponent and more at the comes out." overall team development.
For the first game, Kansas is looking
Two years ago, the Jayhaws took on Fort Hays State and came out with a 73-56 victory. Burras scored 19 points in the exhibition victory.
Kansas is 24-8 all-time in exhibition games and has won its last nine by an average margin of over 40 points.
"I vaguely remember them from two seasons ago, but everything changes," Burras said. "Hopefully that victory
The in-state series has the Jayhawks holding a slim 6-5 lead and a four game winning streak.
Edited by Steve Vockrodt
Tigers have 'nothing to lose'
Team's coach says players are prepared excited for debut
BY BJ RAINS
brains@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWRITER
Only five players return from last year's Fort Hays State team, but as the Division II women's basketball team makes its way to Allen Fieldhouse for tonight's exhibition game against Kansas, members say they can finish better than a season ago, when they went 17-11 and lost only three home games all season.
"We're gonna be loose and ready to play because we have nothing to lose. The pressure is on Kansas," said Fort Havs coach Annette Wiles.
The Fort Hays State roster includes four freshmen, two sophomores, three juniors and two seniors. With all of the youth and inexperience, it has taken some time for everyone to adjust to the college game.
"The girls all played a lot over the summer. As far as playing against collegiate level players, we lack some experience," said Wiles. "Our young players, and our junior college transfers have all stepped in nicely to help fill the void."
Still, Wiles likes the team's progress and is excited to get the season started.
Last season's leading scorer Cassie Cordell left the team in the fall, and her void will be hard to fill. She averaged 16 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.
"We are looking forward to getting some game experience. It's an exhibition game. Both teams are using this game to help prepare them for the rest of the season," said Wiles. "As far as us,
"The girls all played a lot over the
summer. As far as playing against collegiate level players, we lack some experience. Our young players,and our junior college transfers have all stepped in nicely to help fill the void."
Annette Wiles Fort Hays State women's basketball coach
we really want to work on our half court man-to-man defense."
First year Kansas coach Bonnie Henrickson has done some scouting on the Tigers. She is also ready to get the season started.
"They are primarily a half court, man
primarily a fan court, man to man team. They're about six foot in the post, not much bigger than that. They've got a guard from Lawrence that shoots the ball pretty well," Henrickson said.
Tenight's game will not only be the first of the season for both teams, but it will also be the debut of the team under the leadership.
under the leadership of coach Bonnie Henrickson.
Wiles said she knew some information about some of Kansas' players because she has played against them in previous seasons, but as far the offense that Kansas is going to run, she doesn't know.
"I think everyone on their schedule is waiting for this game, to see what they are gonna do." Wiles said.
Edited by Johanna M. Maska
KU ready to show nation who's boss
4-point victory against Emporia State example of team's potential
When I sat down at Allen Fieldhouse for the first exhibition game of the new season for the Kansas men's basketball team on Sunday night, I told my roommate that the Jayhawks would win by 50 points. Anything less than 40 would have been a disappointment to me.
Shortly after the contest had started, I predicted a final score of 110-60 Kansas won 115-70, a 45-point margin.
That's close; I should think about becoming an odds maker, but my Miss Cleo-like psychic abilities and future careers aside, the 'Hawks put on a clinic against Emporia State.
Let's take a look at the facts. Although Emporia State finished 22-7 a year ago, ranked 22nd in the nation, it wasn't exactly the elite competition Kansas would face during the regular season.
Many expected the Jayhawks to put up big numbers on Emporia State, but did anyone expect the 'Hawks would look so good doing it? Emporia State got served.
The Hornets are a Division II school out of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
Granted there were times when the defense was a tad shaky and the Jayhawks' shots didn't fall, but those moments were rare.
He dazzled fans with three-pointers, dunks and jumpers. His play was reminiscent of what made him a star a year ago.
Sophomore guard J.R. Giddens led all scorers with 22 points off the bench in just 16 minutes of play.
Senior forward Wayne Simien added
INSIDE THE PARK
JACK WEINSTEIN
iweinstein@kansan.com
The two biggest questions entering this game and maybe this season — who will start alongside Simien and how much depth the freshmen will provide — weren't necessarily answered on Sunday night, but some light was shed on those issues.
17 points on 7-7 shooting and grabbed
10 rebounds.
Senior guard Keith Langford finally looked healthy, scoring 15 points, and fellow senior guards Mike Lee and Aaron Miles had 11 points and 12 assists, respectively.
He knew his role and performed it perfectly. Moody played good defense and didn't make any mistakes, not committing a single turnover in 14 minutes of play while adding seven points and three rebounds.
Junior forward Christian Moody looked good starting with Simien against the Hornets.
Robinson provided a spark off the bench as Miles' backup and also played well when he and Miles were both on the court. Robinson was able to score 11 points while dishing out four assists.
The freshmen, as a group, were impressive, the most notable being guard Russell Robinson.
Darnell Jackson and C.J. Giles
The young big men also looked good for the most part in their debut.
SEE WEINSTEIN ON PAGE 6B
Galindo back Energized but benched. Alex Galindo needs practice before big games
BY MIRANDA LENNING
mlenning@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTSWRIETER
While all of his fellow classmates were making their Allen Fieldhouse debut, Alex Galindo sat on the bench and awaited his opportunity to get in the game.
Galindo, who missed three weeks of practice due to a groin pull, practiced last Wednesday for the first time since the Canadian trip.
That gave him only a couple of practices before the Javahawks' first game.
Coach Bill Self said Galindo had gone through some half-speed drills, but nothing to get him into game shape. That was probably the reason Galindo was on the court for only seven total minutes in Sunday's game against Emporia State University.
During those seven minutes, Galindo went 0-4 from behind the three point line. He took two of those shots in the first half, when he was in the game for one minute. Although he didn't seem nervous on the court, his lack of practice time was apparent. He looked wined in the second half and was beaten several times on defense.
Sett said Galindo's play in Sunday's game was because he missed so much practice.
"I thought Alex struggled a little, but he has really had only two practice days," Self said. "He hasn't had five healthy days since Canada."
Last week, Galindo said he had spent some time watching tapes and tried to get a feel for the high-low offense. But he said it's hard to learn an offense on TV.
outside of TV.
"I have watched some tapes, but it is not quite the same as being in there and actually playing," Galindo said.
He said he did light workouts during the last three weeks and worked with the trainers to get him in condition to practice. He said he did a lot of stretching and received daily treatment on the groin.
"It feels better. It's not 100 percent, but it's better. I just have to go out and do my best in practice."
Alex Galindo Freshman forward
He still has a ways to come, but he said he was just glad to be back on the court.
"It feels better. It's not 100 percent, but it's better." Galindo said. "I just have to go out and do my best in practice."
Self has reiterated that he would divvy up playing time to the younger players according to how they practiced in the days before games. Galindo's seven minutes during Sunday's game was well under the 16.3 minutes per game he averaged during the Canadian trip.
Galindo averaged more than 10 points a game in the four games he played in Canada, including 16 points against Langara College.
He has proved to be a threat from the outside and isn't afraid to shoot behind the three-point are.
He had more success from behind the arc in Canada than anyone else on the team, making eight of 17 three-point shots.
If he gets a couple more weeks of practice under his belt, and gets in better physical shape, he could have an impact on the rotation. Self said after Sunday's game.
Edited by Johanna M. Maska
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