THE UNIVERSITY DARY KANSAN
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2006
BASKETBALL PREVIEW
7C
Lack of seniors leaves leadership void
Juniors Case and Robinson expected to step up and take charge of youngsters
BY SHAWN SHROYER
Kansas has yet to play a meaningful game, but it's clear that the jayhawks must find leadership.
This year's team has already had to deal with distractions stemming from NCAA sanctions and the suspension of a teammate.
The question is, who will lead this team?
it won't be a member of Kansas' senior class because, well, there is no senior class. For the first time since the 1974-75 season, Kansas will have no seniors.
The absence of even a single senior to start a season is a first for coach Bill Self.
"I've started a year with seniors before and finished with no seniors, but I guess to start with no seniors, this would be a first," Self said.
Without seniors like Kirk Hinrich, Aaron Miles, Wayne Simien and Christian Moody, this preseason has been a new experience for the players as well.
Junior forward Darnell Jackson said this preseason had been interesting because in past years, the seniors had the final say.
"With Wayne and them, they were running things, so if they told you to do something, you couldn't talk back," Jackson said. "Now if one of us says something to one of the sophomores, they're just like, 'Yeah, whatever'"
All kidding aside, the leadership responsibilities have fallen on the shoulders of the junior class.
Jackson is one junior capable of leading this team. Despite only one career start, he has been a spark plug off the bench for the Jayhawks.
Jackson_said he's_comfortable_as a role player.
"I'm going to do the same thing I've always been doing since I got here," Jackson said. "Just fill my role and help the team win."
Junior center Sasha Kaun has been a mainstay of Kansas' starting lineup with the second-most career starts of all the juniors. But Kaun doesn't think of himself as a team leader.
"I'm definitely trying to be, but I'm being more of a quiet team leader, doing the right things." Kaun said. "Hopefully people will look at me and say, 'That's the right way to do it; follow that.'"
Instead, the team leaders chosen from media day were junior guards Jeremy Case and Russell Robinson. Case, who has been at Kansas for four years but took a redshirt his sophomore season, has been the
team's vocal leader, while Robinson has led by example.
Case doesn't see the court as much as the rest of the junior class. He doesn't have any career starts and hasn't played half the minutes of his fellow juniors, but his extra year of experience at the collegiate level has made him a team leader. He said former Jayhawks Aaron Miles and Michael Lee influenced him the most to fill a leadership role.
"I've been here the longest, and I feel like I know the ropes," Case said. "Whenever I get a chance, I try to give advice or let them know how things are supposed to be."
Of all the juniors, Robinson has played the most minutes and started the most games. As a result, Robinson said he could see why his teammates considered him a leader.
playing experience, maybe, but it is what it is, and I have to make the most of what it is, and hopefully I can lead this team in the right direction." Robinson said.
Freshman guard Sherron Collins said that Case and Robinson had helped him find a comfort zone this preseason. Once the Jayhawks' regular season gets under way, the two will likely play different leadership roles during games.
"Probably because I have the most
Case, a three-point specialist, will probably continue to come off the bench and enter games to provide an offensive spark. But after last season, Self probably won't take Robinson out of games unless absolutely necessary.
"He was there for us last year," Jackson said of Robinson. "I think he's going to be there for us this year."
Last season on Jan. 28 at Iowa State, Robinson solidified himself as Kansas floor general. When Robinson was in the game, the Kansas offense ran smoothly. But once he was taken out, no matter who was at the point, the offense broke down and Iowa State crept back into the game.
With Kansas leading by just two early in the second half, Robinson hit two jumpers and a three-point shot in a 3-minute span to give Kansas a 12-point lead. Iowa State only got within seven points of Kansas the rest of the game.
Case hasn't let his lack of playing time stop him from taking advantage of every opportunity he's had to be a leader.
He said he encouraged the underclassmen as much as possible to make sure they knew the junior class was there for them.
And although Robinson has become the face of the junior class, he hasn't let it affect his ego. Instead, he's impressed his fellow juniors by bringing the same intensity to practice that he's displayed in games.
"He runs the court harder than anyone," Giles said of Robinson. "He wins every race to show that he is our leader."
Women's team hits road early Unlike last season, non-conference play will be no cakewalk
Kansan sportswriter Shawn Shroyer can be contacted at sshroyer@ kansan.com.
BY JOSH LANDAU
Edited by Shanxi Upsdell
Going into the season, the University of Kansas women's basketball team will face a challenging schedule on top of having a team with seven freshmen. Unlike last year, the team will face non-conference games away from their home court.
"We had every single game here until after the New Year," junior forward Taylor McIntosh said. "I think more away games at the beginning of the season will help the team."
Along with tough non-conference games on the road, the Jayhawks will face tough Big 12 opponents at home.
"I looked at the schedule online, and we do have a tough schedule," senior guard Sharita Smith said. "We play some really good teams early. It will give the freshmen a chance on the court."
Even with a young team and a tough schedule, coach Bonnie Henrickson feels her team can respond.
"In high school, the freshmen traveled more than we did," she said. "I didn't think it was a negative last year to not travel, but now we can learn from the mistakes we had last year."
Last year, the Jayhawks got off to a quick start, winning a school-record 12 games in a row before finally losing their first away game at Nebraska. Kansas finished with only one road victory, in Ames, Iowa.
The kayhawks finished the season 17-13 and received a bid to the WNIT tournament. The WNIT was a step in the right direction for the team, but was not the outcome they were hoping for.
"It was a little bit of a let down last year going to the WNIT, senior forward Shaquina Mosley said. "I think we have the talent to be successful this season."
The team will only have one home game before they travel to Omaha, Neb to face Creighton. With half the team made up of freshmen, the Jayhawks will have to gain experience fast.
"We are going to have to work twice as hard because we are so young," freshman forward Rebecca Feickert said. "We are going to have to give 100 percent every night."
The Jayhawks will compete in the WBCA Classic Nov. 11-12 before having their first home game against UMKC Nov. 16th at 7 pm.
Kansan sportswriter Josh Landau can be contacted at jlandau@kansan.com.
Edited by Brett Bolton
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