4B
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAS
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2006
BASKETBALL (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
The sophomore guard isn't blaming his poor first half on his All-American status; Rush said he didn't know about the honor until halftime.
"Coach wrote press clippings on the board," Rush said. "I told him I didn't know, but he didn't believe me." Rush said with a smile.
Self blamed Rush's poor play on not being mentally prepared. Was it because of the team's distractions or the fact it was an exhibition game? "He's human," Self said.
Despite a slim 41-37 lead at halftime and an otherwise less than spectacular start to the second half, the Hawks, behind the strong play of freshman guard Sherron Collins, went on a 27-2 run midway through the second half
to put the game away. Collins, making his first collegiate start in place of an injured Mario Chalmers, led all scorers with 20 points.
Collins said that the Jayhawks' defensive effort and the fact that they pushed the ball more effectively in the second half keyed the run and helped put the Hornets away.
"I thought he was pretty good tonight," Self said of Collins, "but we won't dwell on the 20, because defensively he's still got to get a lot better."
Kansan senior staff writer Fred A. Davis III can be contacted at fdavis@kansan.com.
Edited by Jacky Carter
Kansas 90. Emporia State 55
SCORING SUMMARY
Emporia State —
Townsend 7-15 3-3 18,
Fithlan 3-4 0-0 6,
Davison 1-4 1-1 4,
Tegtmeier 1-1 0-2 2,
Allen 0-0 2-2 2,
Holthaus 0-2 1-2 1
Totals 20-55 11-17 55
— 55
— 90
FG FT P
Watson 4-12 0-0 10
Desir 2-5 1-4 5
Moore 1-1 3-4 3
Book 1-7 0-1 2
Elliot 1-1 0-0 2
Andrews 0-3 0-0 0
Robinson 3-7 5-6 12
Arthur 3-11 6-7 12
Wright 5-10 0-0 10
Kleinmann 1-1 2-2 4
Kansas —
Collins 8-12 0-2 20,
Rush 3-12 5-5 12
Jackson 4-9 3-4 11
Stewart 1-4 4-8 6
Morningstar 1-3 0-0 3
Totals 29-70 25-34 90
Lisa Lipovac/KANSAI
Men's basketball coach Bill Self talks with freshman guard Sherron Collins, before he heads to the bench. Collins was the leading scorer for the Jayhawks with 20 points.
Sophomore guard Brandon Rush drives through the lane during Tuesday night's game against Emporia State. Rush scored 12 points to help the Jayhawks defeat the Hornets 90-55.
Lisa Lipovac/KANSAN
Junior guard Russell Robinson jumps past a defender during Tuesday night's game. Robinson scored 12 points during the victory against Emporia State.
Lisa Lipovac/KANSAN
Chalmers injured Collins fills role
Freshman guard leads scoring with 20
BY RYAN SCHNEIDER
Kansas defeated Emporia State on Tuesday night 90-55 in its final
tune-up before opening the regular season this weekend. Here are some notes from the game:
Simien in 2004.
Three Jayhawks missed Tuesday's game with various injuries. Sophomore guard Mario Chalmers didn't
— The game was a homecoming for Emporia State coach David Moe. He was a graduate assistant at Kansas
Three Jayhawks, sophomore guard Mario Chalmers, junior guard Jeremy Case and junior center Sasha Kaun, missed Tuesday's game with various injuries.
play because of a sprained left toe. Junior guard Jeremy Case missed a second straight game with a pulled groin. Junior center Sasha Kaun continues to sit out after suffering a knee injury last week.
— Chalmers was replaced in the starting lineup by freshman guard Sherron Collins. Joining him were Brandon Rush, Russell Robinson, Darnell Jackson and Julian Wright.
- Collins ended the night with 20 points, four rebounds, two assists and three steals'.
— Rush was named an Associated Press First Team 'All-American Tuesday. He is Kansas' first pre-season All-American since Wayne
in 1988 when the Jayhawks won their last national championship. Moe is in his sixth season as coach of the Hornets.
- Midway through ,the second half, coach Bill Self
utilized a smaller lineup. Instead of using Jackson or Matt Kleinmann, Self went with freshman Darrell Arthur and Wright.
- Although the game was announced as a sellout, more than a thousand seats were empty in the student section at the north end of Allen Fieldhouse.
— On his 21st birthday, Jackson finished with 11 points and seven rebounds.
Kansan senior sportswriter Ryan Schneider can be contacted at rschnideer@kansan.com.
Edited by Travis Robinett
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