SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2005
WWW.KANSAN.COM
VIEW FROM PRESS ROW
PAGE 1B
Victory vital to season's success
The Kansas football team faces a must-win game against Louisiana Tech on Saturday.
But for some reason, no one wants to admit it.
"It's hard for me to sit in front of my football team and say that a certain game is a 'must-win game,' Kansas football coach Mark Mangino said. "If we lose, then what happens? Do we drink grape Kool-Aid?"
Probably not, coach, but a loss on Saturday will just about end any post-season hopes for Kansas.
Win or lose, eight games remain on the Jay hawks' schedule after their game with the Bulldogs. So, mathematically, they would still have a chance to make up for a loss. But if Kansas can't go undefeated with the easy non-conference schedule it has, how can anyone argue that the team will rebound and finish 4-4 in
Indeed, a perfect start to the season would give the Jayhawks confidence that hasn't been seen on Mount Oread in nearly a decade.
Big 12 Conference play?
With a 3-0 start, however, the Jayhawks will be halfway to the six victories required for bowl eligibility and be in a position to make a run at even higher aspirations.
"To start 3-0 going into conference play would be a huge boost of confidence," senior linebacker Kevin Kane said. "With three wins under our belt, it would be great. Hopefully we'd make it to a bowl game."
Indeed, a perfect start to the season would give the Jayhawks confidence that hasn't been seen on Mount Oread in nearly a decade. The last time Kansas started 3-0 was 1997, and it comes as no surprise that only one Kansas team between then and now has gone to a bowl game. The squad fortunate enough to overcome a non-conference loss was the 2003 team that made it to the Tangerine Bowl after falling to Northwestern. That team played four non-conference games, though, and only needed three Big 12 victories to finish the regular season 6-6. This team doesn't have that advantage. If it loses to Louisiana Tech, where will the other required four conference wins come from? Home games against Missouri and Nebraska both appear to be winnable, as do road games against Kansas State and Colorado. But each of those games is no better than a toss-up if the Jayhawks aren't good enough to beat the Bulldogs at home.
Oklahoma's slow start helps Kansas' outlook at Arrowhead a little, but the Sooners resemble the Jayhawk basketball team this year — long on talent and short on experience. Oklahoma will do nothing but improve as the year goes along under one of college football's best coaches. Bob Stoops.
Iowa State seemed like a probable win two weeks ago, but after the Cyclones crushed the Iowa Hawkeyes, they look like a team to be reckoned with.
SEE ROBINETT ON PAGE 8B
VOLLEYBALL
Kansas dominates A&M
losh Kirk/KANSAN
Senior middle blocker Josi Lima spikes the ball during the game against Texas A&M Wednesday night at Horjesi Athletic Center. The match was the conference opener for both teams.
Jayhawks celebrate both on and off court
BY MATT WILSON
mwilson@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
The Kansas volleyball team was filled with joy last night, and it was more than just its impressive victory over No. 15 Texas A&M that had players excited.
First, the Jayhawks dominated the favored Aggies, sweeping them in three games.
Lima's tip to the back right corner gave the Jayhawks a 23-20 lead, and they held on to win 30-26. They got help from back-to-back blocks by senior setter Andi Rozum and junior outside hitter Jana Correa late in the game.
And after the victory, the team learned that assistant coach Jill Jones Stucky gave birth to a daughter while the Jayhawks were on the court.
"What a great performance," he said. "It's a ranked team, a quality conference opponent, and I can't think of a better way to start."
emotion from game one into the second frame. Kansas jumped out to a 21-11 lead before Texas A&M awoke from its slumber.
After the match, Bechard said he was thrilled with his team's effort.
"Her name is Melinda," Kansas coach Ray Bechard said. "It's a pretty exciting night."
The fans at the Horeisi Center seemed to agree, Melinda may have been frightened had she been in attendance, as the boisterous home crowd was treated to the Jayhawks' best performance of the season.
Kansas improved to 9-1 overall and 1-0 in the Big 12. Texas A&M dropped to 7-3 and 0-1.
Senior middle blocker Josi Lima led all players with 19 kills and 11 digs. Kansas was efficient all evening, posting a .314 attack percentage while holding Texas A&M to a .142 percentage.
Game one started off slowly for the Jayhawks as they fell behind early. Kansas took control with a 4-0 run midway through and took a 15-12 advantage.
The Aggies came roaring back with a 13-3 run to tie the match at 25. From there, however, the Jayhawks controlled the match and won the game 30-27.
"I was a little upset that we let them get back in it, but at the same time, we needed a game like that in a situation like this to respond and they did," he said. "I was proud of them."
The Jayhawks carried the
Game three was all Kansas.
The Jayhawks stormed to an 18-
13 lead and never looked back.
They scored 12 of the next 18
points to win 30-19.
Lima made it clear that Kansas would not fold when she hit a spike off the face of Texas A&M senior setter Kari Kelley with the score tied at 27. Cory later ensured the Jayhawks two-game lead with a kill to give them a 30-27 victory.
The second game was the deciding factor in the match. Had the Aggies come all the way back to win it, Bechard said, the match could have had a different outcome.
SEE CELEBRATE ON PAGE 8B
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Despite setbacks, Wright enthusiastic
Freshman's friendly personality is asset to game
BY MIRANDA LENNING
mlenning@kansan.com
KANSAN SENIOR SPORTSWRIVER
It's not hard to get to know Julian Wright. If you're around, he is going to talk to you. If you tell him hello, he will probably stop and shake your hand.
"I'm the type of guy who people are always telling to shut up," Wright said. "But if they don't want to hear me, they should just go buy themselves a pair of headphones." Wright is a walking personality, and he has that persona on and off the court. When he is around other people off the court, Wright makes it his job to make certain everyone is having a good time.
That's exactly what he does on the court. Wright is as competitive as anybody, but he would rather leave the game with a win than a double-double. He has a knack for getting all of his teammates involved with his sharp
"I am just active and talkative," Wright said. "I'm always trying to make sure everyone is comfortable. I can't be in a room with dead energy so I like to bring out other people's personalities."
passing skills and his ability to penetrate. But Kansas men's basketball coach Bill Self said it was Wright's outgoing nature that would be beneficial to his young team this year.
Self points to this summer as an example of Wright's team-first mentality. Wright had surgery to repair a stress fracture in his left foot on July 28 and has been in an orthopedic boot since then. He hasn't been able to participate in pick-up games or individual workouts, but he hasn't let that get him down.
"His strengths are personality," Self said. "His strengths are when he walks into a room, he shakes hands with everybody. He is all about winning; all about the team."
"He is over here not even playing, watching pick-up games and high-fiving guys when they make good plays," Self said. "He is one of those guys who is so young that it is cool to be enthusiastic. He is just having a ball playing ball."
Wright is having fun in general. When he is not playing basketball, Wright can usually be found in the apartment he shares with freshman guard Mario Chalmers cooking up some good pranks to play on his teammates.
His latest shenanigan was on freshman forward Brandon Rush. Chalmers and Rush were using their cell phones to instant message each other and Wright logged on to Rush's computer,
Wright is a little more serious on the court. At 6-feet-8 inches, Wright could literally play four different positions. His long arms and athleticism could add versatility to the Jayhawks when he gets on the court.
"That one was just for fun, but they haven't even seen the good stuff yet," Wright said of his pranks. "I'm going to take it easy for a bit and then get someone when they don't expect it."
got on his instant messenger account and sent him messages, pretending to be Chalmers.
"He is a good slasher, someone who will be able to slice through the defense," said Chalmers.
As a senior at Homewood
Flossmoor High School, Wright
averaged 14 points, nine rebounds
and six assists a game.
The biggest problem for Wright going into the season is the time he has missed after his foot surgery.
He has been working out since August 17, but his conditioning is behind where his teammates are, and he hasn't had the opportunity to create any chemistry with other players through pick-up games. Although both Wright and Self said his foot was back to 100 percent, he has some catching up to do.
"Julian is fine, but obviously he is not in good shape right now," Self said.
SEE WRIGHT ON PAGE B
SOCCER
Kansan file photo
Junior defender Holly Gault tries to cut around Missouri State senior forward Dorothy Brown during a game earlier this season. Gault scored two goals in a loss to 15th-ranked Pepperdine over the weekend and will help the Jayhawks take on UC-Irvine at 5 p.m. tomorrow at the Jayhawk Soccer Complex.
Gault anchors defense, enjoys playing at home
BY ALISSA BAUER
abauer@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWRITER
Despite having to wait around after practice to be interviewed, junior defender Holly Gault smiled and shrugged her shoulders before the questions began.
"Oh, it's not a big deal," she said as she and teammate senior forward Caroline Smith ended their after-practice chatting.
As Gault made her way over to the sideline benches, the ice pack on her leg dripped down to her sock. Unfazed, Gault smiled, ready to begin. Gault is used to seeing family and familiar faces at the Jawhaws' home matches.
"I love playing at home," Gault said. "I'm a Kansas City kid, so I get to play in front of my family and people I know."
SEE GAULT ON PAGE 8B
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