Volume 125 Issue 110
Volume 135 Issue 1
kansan.com
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
COMMENTARY
Heaps inherits a tough position
I do not envy the role of new Kansas quarterback Jake Heaps this year. And neither should you. His task hasn't been successfully accomplished since 2009's Todd Reesing kept Kansas football treading water.
It's as tough a spot as any to be in. The odds are against him. Jake Heaps is the key to making Kansas football fun this year. Winning a few games will go a long way, but improving a passing offense that was ranked 113th in the country last season will make Jayhawk football much more bearable to the average fan.
Sure, it's tough to say Heaps is the sole key. The offensive line's protection will be crucial and his wide receivers will have to do a better job getting open, which won't be too hard considering last year's group caught zero — yes, zero — touchdown passes.
"I don't know if I've ever seen a statistic like that," Heaps said in early March. "We expect a lot more from our receiving core, and our receiving core themselves expect a lot more."
That's not fun football. It's not fun to watch. It can't be fun to play. And it can't be fun to coach, either.
Heaps' job is to fill what's been missing from Jayhawk football the past three seasons: a quarterback.
His coach, Charlie Weis, is a supposed quarterback and passing guru, so he does have that going for him — but recent history sure isn't.
Ever since the departure of coach Mark Mangino and Reesing, the Kansas offense has had a gaping hole of a passing game. In 2009, the duo's final season, the Jayhawks' passing offense was ranked No. 7 in the nation, averaging 310 yards per game.
The passing offense hasn't surpassed a top 100 spot in the nation since that season. The quarterback spot has been a rotating door with names such as Pick, Webb, Meachum and Crist.
its best year was 2011, when it ranked No. 101, averaging a meager 167 yards per game.
With the modern era of college football turning more toward spread offenses that energize crowds and players, the Jayhawks have been flat. In defense of last season's 113th ranking, the rush offense cracked the top 25, averaging 211 yards a game.
It was better, and those pieces that made the Kansas backfield strong are still in Lawrence.
Now it's up to Heaps to finish the job. A strong passing game will only help the running game and vice versa.
Jake Heaps can make Kansas football appealing. He can help make it respectable. And most of all, he can help bring the fun back.
Edited by Madison Schultz
Senior Alex DeLeon celebrates with teammate Michael Suiter after hitting a home run during the game against Texas on April 12 at Hoglund Park. The game was the first of three against Texas and the Jayhawks won 7-6.
EMILY WITTLER/KANSAN
WINTER IS COMING... AGAIN
WEATHER WOES
After rescheduling, Kansas primes for a showdown with Baker University
TREVOR GRAFF
tgraff@kansan.com
Old Man Winter continues to wreak havoc on the Kansas baseball schedule. After cancelling Tuesday's game against Oral Roberts, the Jayhawks prepare to face NAIA foe Baker University.
The continued shuffling of the schedule and practice routine hasn't slowed the jayhawks winning ways this season.
"It been a brutal year with the cold weather," said sophomore rightfielder Dakota Smith. "Last year we didn't have to go indoors a lot and this year we're doing it a lot more. It makes it tough to get out on the field and get defensive reps."
Smith said, as an outfitter, not getting as many repairs outdoors defensively is difficult, but certainly not an excuse.
"It's a little rough, but we do what we can with it," Smith said.
With 56-degree weather predicted for Wednesday's game against Baker, the Jayhawks will be playing in their familiar cold
weather setting.
Add to the odd weather the Jayhawks second place standing behind the Big 12 conference-leading Oklahoma Sooners and it's easy to overlook the game ahead.
season. For the Jayhawks, focusing on the game inning by inning is the answer to this pressure.
"It's been a brutal year with the cold weather."
DAKOTA SMITH
sophomore right-fielder
"It's definitely pretty exciting" said senior shortstop Kevin Kuntz. "A lot of guys are paying attention to the stats and our record. Every game from here on out is huge. We obviously want to win every game, but we just have to come out and do our best and bring energy."
the layhawks' defensive efforts
Conference championship races present many distractions for teams entering the stretch run of a
defensive efforts of late have led the team to their solid start in the Big 12. One major component of the defense is the middle infield pair of senior shortstop Kevin Kuntz and sophomore second baseman Justin Protocio.
The two have developed a strong chemistry through the course of the season as the Jayhawks' double play manufacturers.
"We just have fun everyday practicing in the middle infield." Kuntz said. "We're just comfortable in practice and we've known each other for a while. We do what we can to help each other and make each other better each and
every day."
Defensive improvement hasn't stopped in the infield. Kansas' corps of outfielders — sophomore leftfielder Michael Suiter, junior centerfender Tucker Tharp and sophomore rightfielder Dakota Smith — have put last season's defensive woes to rest.
"I think coach Hood has helped us out with a bunch of the little things that we struggled with last season," Smith said. "Having a year under our belts, me and Suiter, has helped a lot. Just playing better competition and playing more. Tharp is solid anyway so getting more experience has really helped us out."
With the Baker Wildcats coming to Hoglund Ballpark, the focus will turn to the fundamentals and getting young players into the lineup. The Jayhawks arrive at the stretch run of the season poised to cement a spot in the top three of the conference.
The pressure that goes with competing at the top of your conference is something Kansas players refuse to focus on.
"No," junior closer Jordan Piche' said. "No pressure right now. We're enjoying where we're at and the ball's in our court right now. We're sitting really good and guys are getting really hot as well. Nothing changes. We'll go about business as usual and go get some wins this week."
SOFTBALL
The National College Baseball Writers Association recently named the junior to their Stopper of the Year watch list with a .47 ERA and eight saves the top statistical showing in the nation.
The Iayhawks play Baker University at Hoglund Ballpark at 6 p.m. before heading to Morgantown, W.Va., for a three-game series with the mountaineers over the weekend.
Edited by Tyler Conover
BRANDON SMITH/KANSAN
Senior Maggie Hull is greeted by here teammates at home plate as she finishes her rot around the bases after her grand slam against Baker University on Oct. 3, 2012. Hull's longball was one of four on the night for Kansas and one of three for them in the fourth inning. The Jahwahs beat the Wildcats 9-0.
Kansas schedules doubleheader after cancellations
CHRIS SCHAEDER
cschaeder@kansan.com
The Jayhawks and the Kangaeros of UMKC face off in a doubleheader on Wednesday at Arrocha Ballpark after inclement weather forced the games to be moved from Tuesday in Kansas City, Mo.
Kansas enters the game with a 27-13 record, but have yet to win a game in Lawrence this season, going 0-3 at home. The Jayhawks
lead the Big 12 in batting average for the 11th-straight week hitting .346. Senior Maggie Hull is also the Big 12 batting average leader, with an average of .450.
Hull
Wednesday's doubleheader
against UMKC is the beginning of a nine-game home stand for the lavhawks.
Kansas coach Megan Smith said in a KU Athletics news release that playing
"We like being on the road and we do well on the road, but in all honesty it's been a detriment this
home benefits her team
year, because we haven't been able to play at home. It makes a difference in terms of our kids' stress levels and now they'll be able to stay at home and sleep in their own beds and have the comfort of that. We are excited to be at home for a bit."
Smith
UMKC enters Wednesday with a four-game winning streak, a 16-
17 record overall and a 5-3 mark in the Summit League. The Kangaroos are a solid hitting team; they bat .289 as a team. Pitching is a major concern for UMKC. The team's pitching staff has a combined ERA of 6.50 and they rely on two pitches, senior Denna Friese and sophomore Cinda Ramos, to shoulder the load.
Despite the Kangaroo's high ERA, coach Smith said in a KU Athletics news release that she's more worried about UMKC's abilities on the mound.
"I don't look at their pitchers ERAS. I look at the fact that they have a pitcher who can strike out a lot of people (Deanna Friese) and hold people to a low batting average. She has always pitched well against us, they have always played well against us and I'm sure this year will be the same. These will be two really good games."
Coach Smith said in a KU Athletics news release that scoring more runs is important to the team's success.
Although the Jayhawks lead the Big 12 in team batting average, they've been inconsistent in run production over the last several games. In the last five games, Kansas has scored 0, 11, 1, 9 and 1 runs in games against Furman University and Oklahoma State.
"It is more of a state of mind than anything. There are some mechanical things that we will work on with our offense, but it is more of a state of mind. It is having that tighter mentality when you get in the box, and that competitiveness that you have when you are reacting to a pitcher," Smith said. "Whenever we have runners in scoring position, instead of taking the lead and attacking, we step back and let the pitcher attack us.
Kansas has dominated UMKC throughout the teams' series history, going 29-2 against the Kangaroos. The two teams have played every year since 1999 and the Jayhawks are 18-0 against UMKC in Lawrence. UMKC's last victory over Kansas came on March 30, 2011 in Kansas City, Mo.
We have to do a better job with that. We are going to talk about it and work on some things at practice. We have a great offense and we have really good hitters, it's just a matter of getting them to produce in RBI situations."
Wednesday's doubleheader will be the first midweek game for Kansas this season after games against Missouri State and Nebraska were cancelled due to inclement weather.
Edited by Tyler Conover
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