THE UNIVERSITY OF BABY KANSAS
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2006
SPORTS 11A
ROBINETT
(CONTINUED FROM 12A)
Orlin Wagner/ASSOCIATED PRESS
K-State coach Bob Huggins promised fans a home victory against Kansas this season during the school's Midnight Madness. However, his teams performance Saturday against Washburn might indicate an entirely different outcome.
On Saturday nearly 10,000 people watched Kansas State's exhibition game against Washburn. That's double the number from last season.
But after witnessing the results, no one in attendance can be confident that Huggins will deliver his word. Kansas State had to go as far as triple overtime to win 94-90 against Washburn, a Division II school.
Washburn could have easily won the game. It only hit nine of 20 free throw attempts and missed game-winning shots at the end of the first and second overtime.
Yes, this was the same Washburn team that lost to Kansas by 30 points only three days before. After the first five minutes of the game, Kansas was already on pace to score more than 160 points. From the opening tip, the game's outcome was never in doubt, unlike Saturday's contest against KSU.
Kansas State played downright badly. The Wildcats shot only 33 percent from the field and trailed by seven points at the half. The Ichabads, with only one player taller than 6-foot-6 in the startling lineup, out-rebounded the Wildcats 62 to 59.
If Huggers wants to win against Kansas, he's got a lot of work to do. After the game, Huggins admitted that the Wildcats didn't even run an offense or hustle back to play defense, a strategy often seen in pick-up games.
But all the progress Huggins could imagine won't be enough. Maybe he retract his promise, or at least add "within five years," because there is no way that Kansas State will defeat Kansas in basketball this season.
Kansan sportswriter Travis Rob inett can be contacted at trobinett@kansan.com.
Edited by Nicole Kelley
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
MEIER (CONTINUED FROM 12A)
was his. He doesn't want to harm his teammates by coming back early.
Meier went to his brother, Dylan Meier, a senior and backup quarterback at Kansas State, for advice as he waited out his injury.
Dylan's career as a Wildcat has been anything but smooth, just as Kerry's start as a Jayhawk hasn't gone as planned. Dylan missed all of last season because of an injury and was replaced as starter by freshman Josh Freeman.
"Dylan's been there through the tough times," Kerry said. "I think he's seen it all with what's happened to him."
The latest news in Kerry's life is the newest edition of the quarterback shuffle. Since coach Mark Mangino pulled freshman Todd Reesing's redshirt two weeks ago, the coach has vowed to work Reesing into the lineup for the rest of the season.
That promise led to some awkward moments during the Iowa State victory, where quarterbacks were shuffled in and out at various times.
"It's a coaches' decision," Kerry said. "If we're going to do it, let's do it. Whoever is in there, we're going to expect them to lead the team."
Kerry said he was fine with letting Reesing see some action this season.
As frustrating as the injuries have been, Kerry said he was determined to play loose on Saturday.
"If I'm not having fun, then something's wrong," he said.
Kansan senior sportswriter Ryan Schneider can be contacted at rschneider@kansan.com.
— Edited by Dianne Smith
After injuring and re-injuring his shoulder, freshman quarterback Kerry Meier has had a frustrating season. He returned to play last Saturday, but competes with freshman Todd Reeseing for play time.
Francis will also sign nine incoming freshmen. He said they would help fix the team's scoring problem.
www.pipelineproductions.com
"We need to get better at finishing opportunities," Francis said. "We got a couple of scorers in the group of kids coming in, plus some of our
older guys will help."
Oct. 27. In that game, the Jayhawks allowed a season-high four goals. Later in the post-season Big 12 tournament Nov. 1, the Jayhawks weren't able to recover when they tied the Buffaloes. That game was Kansas' last of the season.
SOCCER (CONTINUED FROM 12A)
The Jayhawks quickly dropped in rankings as they lost five of their next eight games. During this stretch, Kansas only scored five goals.
Kansas will lose five seniors this year including second team All Big 12 selection and former All American Holly Gault. But even with that major loss, the Jayhawks return several young players who had major roles this season. Sophomores Missy Geha, Jessica Bush and Hanley started every game this season and will return next season. Bush also led the team in goals. Freshmen forward Monica Dolinsky and defender Estelle Johnson will return coming off selections to the All Big 12 Newcomer Team.
against No. 10 California. Kansas also reached No. 18 in the rankings after defeating Duke at a tournament in Alabama.
Kansan sportswriter Mark Dent can be contacted at mdent@kansan.com.
"We didn't score enough goals this season," Francis said. "Some games wed be great, others we couldn't get a goal."
The layhawks played their best soccer of the season once they broke out of their offensive funk. Kansas scored 10 combined goals during a four-game winning streak. Sophomore goalkeeper Julie Hanley didn't allow a goal during this streak and led a defense that had eight shutouts this season.
Unfortunately for Kansas, the defense fell apart in its last regular season game against Colorado on
"A lot of it has to do with the 10 people in front of me," Hanley said after a shutout against Baylor. "They do all the work and I just do my job and stop the ball."
— Edited by Nicole Kelley
Lawrence Family Medicine & Obstetrics
4220 Blumore, Lawrence, Kansas
785-331-1790 | www.LFMO.com
- Same day appointments available.
But the Longhorns also played North Texas, Rice and Division I-AA Sam Houston State, games that hurt the schedule strength component of their computer ranking.
- Open 7 days a week
Brown said all Texas can do now is win out and hope the teams ahead of his team falter.
- Extended hours
Business Hours:
Monday-Friday 8am-7pm
Saturday 9am-3pm
Sunday 10am-2pm
》 BIG 12 FOOTBALL
Poll order perplexes coach
texas' only loss came to topranked Ohio State and the Longhorns have beaten Oklahoma, Nebraska and Texas Tech, all ranked teams at some point this season.
The Longhorns (9-1, 6-0 Big 12) are ranked fourth in this week's Associated Press Top 25, third in the coaches poll, but fifth in the BCS.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The AP poll is no longer part of the BCS formula. Brown wishes it was.
HOUSTON - Texas coach Mack Brown is puzzled by the Bowl Championship Series computer rankings.
"Looking back doesn't do any good," Brown said, "and I still can't figure out the computers. I'm proud the humans are voting us third and fourth in the country. And we are a really good football team."
"Everybody says there's flaws with the different polls that we have," Brown said.
"If all the coaches and athletic directors could understand exactly who the computers want you to play and where they want you to play them, and then if you could know how many games they were going to win, it would probably help all of us," Brown said.
Brown wants more consistent parameters about how teams should schedule without getting hurt in the BCS rankings.
Plan ahead with your Women of KU Calendar!