THE UNIVERSITY OF BARRY KANSAS
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2006
BASKETBALL PREVIEW
3C
Seven freshmen look to shape the team's future
BY MEGAN O'MANNEY
This season's women's basketball freshmen will be asked to make an immediate contribution.
The echo of a bouncing basketball rings through the empty halls of Allen Fieldhouse. It is late, but Lindsay Ballwug, Shawnee freshman, is diligently practicing her shot. She knows that as one of seven incoming freshmen, much is expected from her and her fellow recruits.
Between practice and class, she is trying to adjust to college life while balancing the demanding schedule of college athletics. For the jayhawks this year, freshman contribution will not only be expected; it will be inevitable.
With seven of the 14 roster players coming in for their first year, the freshmen will have little time for adjustment before taking center stage.
"Considering that almost half of the team are freshmen, it's been pretty smooth," coach Bonnie Henrickson said of the transition.
The Jayhawks have succeeded in attaining their second-straight top 25 recruiting class. Two of the freshmen are locals from the Kansas City area, Danielle McCray of Olathe and Lindsay Ballwee of Shawnee.
The other five recruits are
Rebecca Feickert of Goodrich, N.D., LaChelda Jacobs of Mansfield, Texas, Kelly Kohn of Adrian, Mich, Sade Morris of Norman, Okla. and Porscha Weddington of Temple, Texas.
After the layhawks' first postseason bid since 2000 last season, Henrickson hopes to continue building the program. The speed and agility of the freshmen class will no doubt aid that goal. Henrickson praised the class as "the most fit group of freshmen I've seen in 20 years of coaching."
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the freshman class is LaChelda Jacobs. Originally committed to TCU, Jacobs has made a home here in Lawrence, which is great news for the Jayhawks.
Henrickson is impressed by her "athleticism, ability to make plays and really get to the rim."
Another freshman standout is Kelly Kohn, who has great vocal leadership and presence on the floor. Overall, the freshmen bring "lots of energy" to this young but promising basketball team.
The freshmen have been training since June and July, giving the women time to adapt and bond
GUESS THE FRESHMAN
Which freshman hopes to become a school teacher? LaChelda Jacobs
Which freshman was a gymnast for 10 years? Kelly Kohn
before classes start. Ballweg said she was glad for the early start.
"Now that practice is starting we already know a lot, and if we would have just come here when school started, it would be a lot different," she said.
Since the majority of the team is inexperienced on both the offense and defensive end, Henrickson has placed great emphasis on the defense. She knows they are capable of running because they have such speed and depth on the bench.
There won't be redshirts, as she wants to give each freshman a chance to contribute to the team.
"They've got a lot to learn, but they're anxious to learn, they want to learn, they want to be good," she said.
Florida game highlights schedule
Kansan correspondent Megan O'Manney can be contacted at editor@kansan.com.
— Edited by Shanxi Upsdell
BY JEFF DETERS
While tonight is only an exhibition game, Kansas fans are already looking ahead to the big games on this year's men's basketball schedule.
Highlighting the non-conference portion of the schedule are games against defending national champion Florida, home games against USC and Boston College and a road game at DePaul.
Fans aren't the only ones anticipating the Nov. 25 game against Florida. Sophomore guard Mario Chalmers is as well.
"They're the defending national champions," Chalmers said. "So that's going to be a real good game."
Though Chalmers is excited about playing Florida, coach Bill Self down played the attention the game is attracting.
"We haven't talked about Florida," Self said. "I think we'll be excited to play. I'd imagine Florida will be excited to play us. But Florida is not a circle game."
One player who has marked a particular game on his calendar is Julian Wright, sophomore forward and Big 12 Co-Preseason Player of the Year.
The Jayhawks will play DePaul on Dec. 2 in Chicago, Wright, a native of Chicago Heights, Ill., said having the opportunity to play in front of friends and family was a great opportunity, but he wouldn't let distractions get in the way of winning the game.
"It's good to go home," Wright said. "But I still have to be focused on what we're trying to do there."
The Jayhawks will end nonconference play Jan. 7 on the road against South Carolina. Three days later, Kansas will open Big 12 play at home against the Oklahoma State Cowboys.
Highlighting this year's home conference schedule are games against Missouri and Kansas State. The Jayhaws will play the Tigers at home Jan. 15 as part of ESPNs Big Monday. The Wildcats will visit the Fieldhouse Feb. 7, and the Jayhaws will look to avenge last year's home-court loss.
said every game was equally important and each game provided a unique opportunity to get better.
Though rival games stand out, sophomore forward Matt Kleinnmann
"Every game, we're looking to improve upon last year," he said. "And the only way to do that is to win every game we can."
The Jayhawks return all five starters from last year's team, and are picked to win their third Big 12 Conference championship for the third year in a row. And many have predicted the Jayhawks will dance all the way to the Final Four in Atlanta. But Self isn't ready to punch his plane ticket just yet.
"My goal for this team would be to enjoy the process and get better every day," he said. "Then all those other things take care of themselves. I think if we're able to do that, I think this team would have a chance to have a great year."
Kansan sportswriter Jeff Deters can be contacted at jdeters@kansan.com.
— Edited by Brett Bolton
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