A columnist from the University of Texas attributes the Longhorns strong season to freshman quarterback Colt McCoy. Plus, a Nebraska columnist weighs in on the Cornhuskers' season.
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Columnist Michael Phillips says that Iowa State would be foolish to fire football coach Dan McCarney.
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8,2006 WWW.KANSAN.COM
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
PAGE 1B
KANSAS 90 EMPORIA STATE 55
SECOND-HALFSURGE
BY FRED A. DAVIS III
At least it was only an exhibition game.
Emporia State made it a ball game for the first half before Kansas overpowered their opponent with a solid second half for a 90-55 victory Tuesday night in Allen Fieldhouse.
The jayhawks started their final exhibition game slowly and actually trailed by as many as seven to begin the contest, 8-1.
Poor shoot-
tonight. It was a great lesson for us."
The Jayhaws responded to the Hornet's lead with a 13-1 run punctuated by Julian Wright's two-handed slam that ignited a dormant crowd and gave the Jayhaws a 14-9 lead.
"I didn't expect us to play well in the first half. But nothing negatively happened to our team tonight."
Emporia State was not fazed
BILL SELF Men's basketball coach
ing, weak interior play and a spirited Emporia State team plagued Kansas early in the game and allowed the Hornets to jump out to the early lead.
"I didn't expect us to play well in the first half," Self said. "But nothing happened negatively to our team
Adding to the Jayhawks'
though. After coming out of a time-out with 13:41 left in the half, the Hornets put together their own run and took a 17-16 lead in the process
trouble, newly named preseason All-American Brandon Rush played a forgettable first half, waiting until the 11:53 mark before scoring his first points on a pair of free throws. Rush finished 3-12 shooting for 12 points.
SEE BASKETBALL ON PAGE 4B
Looking ahead
Now that the exhibition schedule has ended, the Jayhawks will begin to play for keeps as the regular season schedule starts.
The first game will be Saturday night against Northern Arizona. Tip-off will be at 7 p.m. in Allen Fieldhouse. The team will not have to compete for attention with the football team, as Mark Mangino's crew has the week off.
After Northern Arizona and a Wednesday night game against Oral Roberts, the Jayhawks jump right into the Las Vegas Invitational, held during Thanksgiving Week.
The first two games of the Invitational, against Towson University and Tennessee State, will be held in Lawrence. After that, the team travels to Las Vegas to take on Ball State and No. 1 ranked Florida, a game that the team has been looking forward to for some time.
"They're the defending national champions," sophomore guard Mario Chalmers said. "So that's going to be a real good game".
Kansas will have to play all these games without the services of centers Sasha Kaun and CJ Giles, which could create matchup problems, especially against Florida.
After the Las Vegas Invitational, Kansas will leave Allen Fieldhouse only twice more during 2006.
They face DePaul on Saturday, Dec. 2 in Chicago in a game that will be televised on ESPNU. Also, the Jayhawks will play their annual game at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday, Dec. 9 against Toledo. Tickets to that game are included with the student ticket package.
Michael Phillips
Lisa Lipovac/KANSAN
Freshman guard Sherron Collins shoots during Tuesday night's exhibition game at Allen Fieldhouse. Collins contributed 20 points to the 90-55 victory against Emporia State.
》SERENITY NOW
Setting first priorities
KU football competes with uncle's obligation to niece's birthday party
Why no trip to Mizzou during Thanksgiving? I'll be in Wyoming with family. Thus, it's Ames or bust.
I'm a senior graduating in May and I've never taken a road-trip to a football game during my time here in Lawrence. No trip to Columbia, Manhattan, Austin or Lubbock. Thought about going to Tulsa, but then realized the game was in Toledo. Perhaps a trip to Lincoln? That would require at least a Benjamin Franklin. Maybe a jaunt to Waco... ehh, heard the place was kinda wacko.
But before I could start planning my trip, my mom called to remind me of my niece's birthday party. How could I have let that slip my mind? And both my mother and sister had requested my presence.
BY FRED A. DAVIS III
KANSAN COLUMNIST
EDAVIS@KANSAN.COM
I told my mom that I wasn't sure
if I could go to the party because I wanted to go to Ames.
Then I waited.
"Your sister is not going to be happy with you if you're not at that party, Freddy. She really wants you to be there," she said with that "I wouldn't do that if I were you" tone.
Mother wasn't upset, but she wasn't pleased.
I tried to plead my case, explaining that it would just be a bunch of women and little kids. I felt pretty
good after that. If my daughter was in town, then yeah, it's a no-brainer, I'm at the party. But I thought my argument was legitimate. With kids and toys, cake and ice cream, my niece didn't need Uncle Fred there, and in my estimation, she probably wouldn't have noticed or cared if I wasn't there.
Confident and relaxed, I waited for mom's response to my airtight defense. Then she pulled out a guilt-ridden needle when she reminded me that I had missed last year's party, too.
Inderd, I did miss last year's party. And that was the first one. In life, there are birthdays you get excited for, OK, really only two: 18 and 21. But it's hard to dismiss numero uno. The first year of your life. You've gone from a helpless
Ouch.
being who warrants every waking minute of attention to a walking, babbling being who eats pennies and loses remotes. It's a big day. And yes, I missed the niece's first birthday. What for you ask?
Saturday afternoon, while KU romped past Iowa State, I sat amongst women and children and ate Dora the Explore cake. Sure it wasn't the most thrilling event, but my mom and sister were happy, and that was good enough for me.
To go to the KU-Nebraska foot ball game. Hey, at least we won.
One problem? I forgot to bring a gift.
Kansan sportswriter Fred A. Davis ill can be contacted at fdavis@ kansan.com.
Edited by Jacky Carter
VOLLEYBALL
Despite losses, 'Hawks persevere
Jayhawks to play Buffaloes tonight
BY DREW DAVISON
While it is too late to turn around a disappointing season, Kansas will still seek revenge against Colorado at 7 onight at the Horeksi Family Athletics Center.
When the Kansas volleyball team lost a five-game match Sept. 23 at Colorado, it started the Jayhawks' free fall to the bottom of the Big 12 stands. Kansas (10-14, 3-12 Big 12) is just 2-10 since the beatdown in Boulder.
Colorado (13-9, 9-6), on the other hand, used the momentum from the victory and has positioned itself to make the NCAA tournament. The Buffs are 6-5 since the match.
"We were up 2-1 out there;
Kansas coach Ray Bechard said. "It's one of those matches if we close out, it could've made a difference."
The layhawks are riding a current five-match losing streak and have not won in three weeks.
"We have absolutely nothing to lose right now," Katie Martinicich, freshman setter, said. "The season is closing out, so it's a now or never type of thing. We're going to bring the best game we can."
Martinich recently reached the 1,000-assist milestone this season, averaging 11.95 assists per game.
With five matches left on the slate, KU's five seniors will look to leave a good showing.
SEE VOLLEYBALL ON PAGE 6B