8B
LATE NIGHT IN THE PHOG
THE UNVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2006
Dancing highlights season premiere
BY SHAWN SHROYER
Before Late Night in the Phoga sophomore guard Mario Chalmers said the team's goal for this season was to stick together.
And while the Jayhawks kept in step surprisingly well during their pre-scrimmage dance routines, they didn't appear to be on the same page during the scrimmage.
On a night that included Big and Little Jay playing '80s video games and a parody of Dancing with the Stars, it was the men's rusty scrimmage that stood out.
Amanda Sellers/KANSAN
Coach Bill Self, who doubled as a judge during his team's Dancing with the Stars presentation, was pleased by his players' dance moves, but not as much with their performance during the scrimmage.
light, but I thought it was pretty funny."
Russell Robinson, junior guard, goes up for a shot against the red team during the Late Night in the Phog Friday night. Robinson scored two points during 19 minutes of playing. The men's basketball scrimmage concluded Late Night.
"Certainly wasn't our play," Self said of the highlight of his night. "I think our guys actually did a pretty good job dancing with the young ladies. I don't know if that's a high-
Former Kansas point guard Aaron Miles and Danny Manning, director of student-athlete development, joined Self on the panel to judge the freshmen, sophomore and junior dance routines, which were all accompanied by Rock Chalk Dancers.
The freshmen led off the competition with the jive. Self called them "naturals," but the freshmen earned the low score of 26 out of 30.
In their second Late Night appearance, the sophomores' tango took second place with a score of 27. Self offered the most encouragement to sophomore Gunn Brennan Bechard.
"Brennan, they were no better than you a year ago, so you can see what a difference a year makes," Self said.
As expected, the competition was the juniors' to win. Dancing the waltz, they took first with a score of 29.
Following a strong showing in dancing shoes, expectations were
high for the scrimmage
Some players looked good in their first action of the season, but as a whole, the team showed much room for improvement.
Collins may not have posted the most impressive statistics, but his quickness, passing and hustle didn't go unnoticed.
"I hit a free throw, so I was all right after that. If I didn't make the free throw, I would have been a lot more nervous."
"I thought Sherron, without question, was one of the best players out there," Self said. "He makes things happen."
After 11 minutes of the 20-minute scrimmage, the teams were deadlocked at 13-13. However, the red team, led by juniors Darnell Jackson and C.J. Giles, pulled away for the 26-23 victory, leading by as many as seven points down the stretch.
For freshman guard Sherron Collins, playing in Allen Fieldhouse for the first time was somewhat nerve-racking.
Kansan sportswriter Shawn Shroyer can be contacted at sshroyer@kansan.com.
"At first, I had the jitters and the butterflies I was so nervous," he said.
Edited by Catherine Odson
"Kelly Kohn has been as competitive as I thought she would
Freshman Kohn revels in spotlight
One player who might play a large role in that is freshman guard Kelly Kohn. She is one of seven freshmen on the team and led the white team with four points.
BY JEFF DETERS
Fans cheered as they watched her exit the car and make her way to center court. Henrickson then gave high praise to the large crowd in attendance.
"You are the reason Allen Fieldhouse is the best place to play basketball in the world," Henrickson said.
The women's basketball team got its season off to a roaring start Friday at Late Night when coach Bonnie Henrickson made her entrance into Allen Fieldhouse driving a red Ferrari.
The layhawk defense was strong early, especially sophomore forward Marija Zinic. She pulled down a game-high four rebounds. Henrickson said at this point the team's defense is ahead of the offense, but she hoped the offense would improve over the season.
Fans roared in response, and then watched the women perform a dance and later play a scrimmage. The blue team defeated the white team by a score of 15-11. Senior guard Shaquina "Shaq" Mosley and freshman guard Lindsay Ballweg each scored five points to lead the blue team.
"I thought the upperclassmen came out with a better rhythm than the freshmen did," she said. "The freshmen might have been a little nervous."
be," she said. "She in that freshmen class has probably exhibited the most leadership of that group. She doesn't mind walking up to somebody and saying were going to be better than that today. And I like that."
Last year as a recruit, Kohn made an official visit to campus and experienced her first Late Night.
"I was definitely sold," she said. "The whole atmosphere of all the people in here and how passionate all the fans are — to support KU basketball — it's something that I really wanted to be involved in."
The freshmen also spent a considerable amount of time practicing the funky dance the team performed at Late Night. Kohn thought the队 danced very well but Henrickson thought one group stood out.
"It it was so much fun," Kohn said. "It seems like it lasted for like 10 seconds, but it was worth every second of it. And I can't wait to do it again next year."
While a few nerves were to be expected, Kohn said Late Night was still a great experience.
Kansan sportswriter Jeff Deters can be contacted at jdeters@ kansan.com.
Edited by Kate Shipley
Amanda Sellers/KANSAM
The women's basketball team gathers at center court to end its skit during Late Night in the Phog Friday night. The team will start its season against Fort Hayes State Nov. 1 in Allen Fieldhouse.
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