2B
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2006
BIG 12 BASKETBALL
Pride reemerges at KSU with Huggins
BY STEVE BRISENDINE ASSOCIATED PRESS
MANHATTAN — The buzz began building the day Kansas State's coaching job came open.
Bob Huggins, so the rumor went,
was interested.
Skeptics wondered why. Huggins had taken Cincinnati to 14 straight NCAA tournaments — including one Final Four — in 16 years. He would want a team that hadn't made the NCAA field since 1996?
Now, however, questions have less to do with whether Huggins can get the Wildcats back into the postseason than how deep a run they can make.
That's why almost 10,000 fans waited in line to watch a late-night scrimmage. It's why almost 13,000 season tickets have been sold for an arena that seats 13,500.
"When you bring a coach in that is proven, and the players don't question what he says, people just go with the flow and it definitely excites us."
junior swingman David Hoskins said. "Coach Huggins brings a lot more intensity to us, and it has helped."
Huggins, who spent a year assembling a high-powered recruiting class after being fired at Cincinnati in 2005, has done little to curb the enthusiasm.
At the "Madness in Manhattan" event, he promised that the Wildcats would snap a 23-game home losing streak to Kansas and speculated that the Wildcats' new third uniforms — the black ones with the
Associated Press
purple claw markings down the side
— would look good in a Big 12 tournament final or an NCAA regional semifinal.
Kansas State basketball fans have rallied around their new coach, Bob Huggins, who was named the Kansas State coach this season. Huggins promised to take the team to the NCAA tournament and to end Kansas State's 23-game losing streak to Kansas
"They know I'm not real good about being second, and I'm miserable when we lose," Huggins said. "I think they understand that and I think they're kind of the same way. They're starting to develop that attitude."
Whether the Wildcats can translate that attitude into victories remains to be seen. But Huggins does have several proven playmakers on hand and a load of promising newcomers.
Senior swingman Cartier Martin is the top returning player — once Huggins let him back on the team, that is.
Martin led the Wildcats with 18 points and 6.6 rebounds last season, but was suspended by Huggins in May for an unspecified violation of team rules. Huggins didn't reinstate him until the start of practice in October.
Neither has said what the suspension was for, but Huggins made one telling remark at the Wildcats' annual media day.
"I've had a few conversations with Cartier, and I think Cartier knows what he wants to do and where he wants to go." Huggins said. "Cartier wants a degree, and Cartier wants to play at the next level."
And Martin said Huggins, who was criticized for a low graduation rate at Cincinnati, takes academics seriously.
"I found that out right away," Martin said. "I missed a class in the spring and he had me running stairs."
made him and Hoskins the nucleus of his team.
Martin has responded well enough, though, that Huggins has
"Cartier has really worked hard. He has really tried to be a leader," Huggins said. "He's been real good. Dave's been good, but not as consistent as Cartier has been."
"I can see the rim now," Hoskins said. "It has definitely helped."
Hoskins, a transfer from Central Michigan who redshirted one year at a junior college, broke into the starting lineup early last season and averaged 13.1 points. After offseason Lasik surgery on both eyes, his outside shooting has improved.
While starting spots are secure for Martin and Hoskins, the picture is less clear for off-guard Lance Harris, who started the first 13 games last year and averaged 10.7 points. The problem, Huggins said, is Harris' streaky play last year.
"Lance kind of gets in a comfort zone," Huggins said. We kind of have to push him out of that comfort zone sometimes. I think he has really responded the last couple of days."
Client Stewart started 20 games at point guard last season but is coming off surgery, so Huggins has been working two newcomers at the position — grad student Jermaine Maybank and junior Blake Young.
Young averaged 23.2 points in his final season at Daytona Beach Community College in Florida, shooting 37.7 percent from 3-point range.
"He drew me in and then the fans got me too," Young said. "When I came here on my visit the fans were calling out my name and that got me excited. Having that kind of fan support always helps."
He wouldn't be at Kansas State were it not for Huggins, he said.
athletics calendar TODAY
Men's basketball vs.
Washburn, exhibition game,
7 p.m., Allen Fieldhouse
Player to watch: Junior Russell Robinson should
act as a strong team leader this season.In last year's first- round ACAA
FRIDAY
Tournament loss, Robinson recorded seven assists and scored 18 points. Robinson started 32 of 33 games last year.
Swimming & Diving vs. Northern Iowa, 6 p.m., Robinson Center
SATURDAY
Swimming & Diving
vs. Northern Iowa, 10 a.m.
Robinson Center
Football at Iowa State, 1 p.m., Ames, Iowa
Volleyball at Iowa State 6:30 p.m., Ames, Iowa
Rowing, Head of the Chattahoochee, TBA, Chattanooga, Teen.
SUNDAY
ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT Football player recognized for off-field achievements
Rowing, Head of the Chattahoochee, TBA, Chattanooga, Teen.
- Women's basketball vs.
Washburn, exhibition game,
2 p.m., Allen Fieldhouse
Kansas football player James McClinton was named to the Big 12 Conference's Good Works Team Wednesday. The team recognizes student-athletes for community service, academic standing and participating in a Big 12 sport. McClinton, a native of Garland, Texas, is a defensive end and was the Kansas representative on the 12-member Good Works team.
-Ryan Schneider
New director announced for Kansas Relavs
After a two-month search, Kansas
didn't go far to find a new meet委员
for the Kansas Relays.
Miley Donley, the track and field horizontal jump and multi-event coach, was named director Wednesday.
"It is very exciting for me," Donley said. "I have been coaching for 24 years in Division I and this is definitely a career change for me. I have been involved in putting on track and field meets throughout my career, but to put on the Kansas Relays is a tremendous honor. I think there are a lot of great times ahead in putting this event on."
Donley has been with Kansas for six years in his current position. He will remain with the track and field team until a replacement is found.
C. J. Moore
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LEARNING LAB
SOCCER 1-1
BY MARK DENT
Postseason hopes dim after loss
Kansas is in a familiar situation.
After tieing Colorado 1-1 but eventually losing 5-3 in penalty kicks, the team's NCAA tournament future is up in the air.
The game, played Wednesday at the Big 12 tournament in San Antonio, Texas, counts as a tie, but the Buffalooes will advance to play Texas A&M on Friday.
Last year, the Jayhawks (11-7-1, 6-4-1) finished with an identical record after losing in the first round of the Big 12 tournament. Kansas coach Mark Francis and the players felt secure with their chances of making the NCAA tournament, but
Going into Wednesday's game, Kansas had an RPI of 56. The RPI measures a team's ranking through victories, losses and schedule strength. The NCAA tournament selection committee uses the RPI as one of its main criteria for selecting teams. Sixty-four teams will be chosen for the tournament, which puts the Jayhawks squarely on the bubble.
A victory Wednesday against Colorado would have increased Kansas' chances for getting a berth, but the Jayhawks came up just short.
After one overtime period, junior forward Emily Stridenn missed
the Jayhawks were not chosen.
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on the layhawks' first penalty kick attempt, which left Kansas with a 1-0 deficit during the shootout. Players from both teams made the remainder of their penalty kicks, which gave Colorado the advantage and victory.
The ending was particularly tough for Kansas, because it battled back after spotting Colorado a goal during the first half.
The layhawks lone goal came minute 37. Sophomore midfielder Missy Geha started the scoring drive when she sent a pass up the field to senior forward Holly Gault. Gault collected the pass and forwarded the ball to sophomore midfielder Jessica Bush. Colorado goalkeeper Kirstin Radlinksi came forward in an attempt to stop Bush, but Bush avoided her and made an easy shot for her eighth goal of the season.
Kansas had plenty of opportunities to score during the second half.
but no one could break through with the game-winner. Sophomore midfielder Sara Rogers nearly put the game away when she received a cross from freshman forward Shannon McCabe. Rogers attempted to head it in, but her shot flew wide of the net.
Wednesday's loss added to Kansas' struggles in the Big 12 tournament. The Jayhawks now have a 2-7 record in Big 12 tournament games and have lost in the first round five of the last seven years.
With Wednesday's elimination, all Kansas can do is wait.
NCAA tournament pairings will be announced Monday and games begin Nov. 10.
Kansan sportswriter Mark Dent can be contacted at mdent@kansan.com.
Edited by Erin Wiley
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