THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013
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ASSOCIATED PRESS
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The final image that Kansas State fans will have of Angel Rodriguez in a Wildcat uniform will be an air ball at the buzzer in an NCAA tournament game against La Salle that could have prevented a massive unset loss
The Wildcats' starting point guard said Monday that he wants to transfer closer to his mother and two younger brothers, who still live in his native Puerto Rico.
Rodriguez was recruited to Kansas State by former coach Frank Martin, but was convinced to stay when Bruce Weber took over the program. He played through injuries most of last season, helping the Wildcats win a share of a conference championship for the first time in 36 years.
"...At the end of the day, I have to do what I think is best for my mom and my brothers."
Rodriguez did not indicate where he plans to transfer.
Rodriguez started most of his freshman year, and in 33 of the 35 games this past season, when he helped Kansas State finish 27-8 and earn a No.4 seed in the NCAA tournament.
ANGEL RODRIGUEZ Kansas State point guard
be first with me."
He's averaged nearly 10 points and five assists for his career, and will have two seasons of eligibility.
"It is important that everyone understands this was a really difficult decision," he said. "This decision was based entirely on my family and has nothing do with Kansas State, basketball or the coaching staff. It's unfortunate after the year we just had, but I just feel right now this is the best thing for me and my family."
"Whether it is the right choice or not, family has and always will
ity and a redshirt year still remaining.
"Angel really had a great season for us and has emerged as one of the top point guards in the country." Weber said in a
statement. "His personal improvement this past year was obviously a big factor in our run to the Big 12 title."
Rodriguez left Puerto Rico about five years ago to pursue basketball — and a better education — at Miami's Dr. Krop High School. But his mother, Jacqueline Tricoche, had to stay behind to care for his two younger brothers, Luis Rivera and Daniel Rivera.
Angelito, as he's called, fielded several scholarship offers but chose Kansas State in part because of Martin's connection with Miami and Rodriguez's AAU coach, Shakey Rodriguez.
Trioche never saw her son play as a freshman, but she made a trip to Kansas State in January and got to see him star in a win over Texas. Rodriguez smiled in a
hallway under Bramlage Coliseum after that game, recalling how his mother had seen snow for the first time just that morning.
"It was the right decision to come here," Rodriguez said, "and I don't regret it all. Coach Weber and his staff made the transition a lot easier than I ever thought it would be. He made me a better player and to play with more confidence.
"I never thought I would get this close to my teammates," he added.
"The past few days have been difficult for me, just thinking how this decision would impact them. However, at the end of the day, I have do what I think is best for my mom and my brothers."
Kansas State is already losing leading scorer Rodney McGruder and 7-footer Jordan Henriquez to graduation, which means Rodriguez's loss creates another gaping void in the starting lineup.
The Wildcats already have signed a point guard in next year's recruiting class in Jevon Thomas out of St. John's Northwest Military Academy in Wisconsin. They also have a commitment from Nigel Johnson, a point guard from Riverdale Baptist in Upper Marlboro, Md.
"After multiple conversations, Angel feels an obligation to be closer to his family," Weber said. "Just like the loss of our seniors, this will be another opportunity for someone to step up."
NBA
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13) tries to block Brooklyn Nets forward Reggie Evans (30) in the first half of Game 2 of their first-round NBA basketball playoff series played in New York.
Chicago beats Brooklyn to tie first-round series
Uluol Deng bounced back from a poor opener with 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Bulls, who became the first team to win a road game this postseason.
Carlos Boozer had 13 points and 12 rebounds, Joakim Noah gutted his way through a foot injury to make three fourth-quarter baskets, and the Bulls beat the Brooklyn Nets 90-82 on Monday night to even their first-round series at one game apiece.
NEW YORK - Chicago evened its playoff series the only way it knows how: with bruising Bulls defense.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Noah finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Bulls, who host Game 3 on Thursday.
Chicago held the Nets to two baskets in the third quarter to build a big enough lead to hold off a charge in the fourth.
Brook Lopez scored 21 points for the Nets, who shot 35 percent
After an unrecognizable defensive effort in a 106-89 loss in Game 1, when they allowed the Nets to shoot 16 of 20 in the second quarter, the Bulls got back to the mentality that has helped them overcome a number of injuries, including the season-long absence of Derrick Rose.
Noah, who has battled plantar fasciitis and whose status was in question coming into the series, played 26 minutes, just passing the 20-to-25 that coach Tom Thibodeau said he would be limited to.
Joe Johnson scored 17 points but shot 6 of 18 for the Nets, who couldn't even reach the 87.5 points they averaged against the Bulls in the regular season, let alone the 106 they rang up in the opener.
from the field and were just 4 of 21 from 3-point range. Star point guard Deron Williams was 1 of 9, finishing with eight points.
Two nights after the first major postseason game in Brooklyn since the 1956 World Series, the crowd wasn't as energetic and neither were
the Nets, who didn't give the fans much to cheer about with poor starts in both halves.
The Nets were trying for their first 2-0 lead in a series since the first round in 2004, when they swept the Knicks. But they couldn't get the quick pace that favored them in Game 1, forcing themselves to beat Chicago's defense in the half court, and they couldn't do it.
The Nets missed eight of their first 10 shots, allowing the Bulls to get into the defensive game they need. Brooklyn shot just 33 percent in the first quarter, missed five of its six 3-point attempts, and Chicago led 20-17.
Brooklyn was 2 of 19 (10.5 percent) in the quarter, missing all three 3-point attempts. Noah's low-scoring backup, Nazr Mohammed, had as many baskets in the period as the Nets.
C. J. Watson scored the final five points of the half, including a 3 at the buzzer that trimmed Chicago's lead to 47-46.
NASCAR
Brad Keselowski (2) (i)avoids Kyle Busch (18) and Joey Logano (22) as they wreck during a NASCAR Sprint Cup series race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan. Sunday
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Keselowski proud of finish after mechanical difficulties
ASSOCIATED PRESS
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Brad Keselowski arrived at Kansas Speedway with the specter of NASCAR sanctions hanging over Penske Racing, and the first few laps of Sunday's race weren't going a whole lot better.
He sustained some damage when he got bumped early on,
and then lost a lap when he failed to get out of the pits quickly enough. And by the time the final laps were ticking away, the sheet metal on the rear of the car had finally
Penske Racing was dealt severe sanctions by NASCAR after inspectors found unapproved parts under the cars of Keselowski and teammate Joey Logano two weeks ago at Texas. Among the punishments were six-race suspensions for seven members of the two teams, probation through the end of the year, $100,000 fines for each crew chief and 25-noir
"It's been a long week, but you know what? We're not giving up."
But things could be getting a lot more difficult.
come loose, flapping like tinfoil in a 200 mph breeze.
"Usually you're not happy unless you win," Keselowski admitted, "but you know, a day where you can fight through adversity like we did and get a solid finish, that's kind of is a win, yes."
BRAD KESELOWSKI NASCAR driver
After the back bumper sheared off, he came in for a late pit stop that allowed the crew of his No. 2 Ford to patch things up. Keselowski charged back onto the track, and then through the field, roaring to a sixth-place finish that made him feel as if he'd won the race.
Nor should they be. The defending Sprint Cup champions are sitting third in points, trailing only Jimmie Johnson and Kasey Kahne as the series shifts to Richmond next weekend.
"It's been a long week," Keselowski said, "but you know what? We're not giving up."
Especially given everything the Penske team has gone through.
penalties for each of the drivers.
The team has appealed the sanctions, arguing that they were operating in a "gray area" with regard to modified rear-end housings.
and the hearing is expected to take place this week.
"I certainly don't think it's cheating," Roger Penske told The Associated Press from the IndyCar race in Long Beach. "We all work in the gray areas. We're trying to be as competitive as we can, we've got very creative minds and it takes a lot of creative minds to be competitive."
It will be up to a three-member panel to decide whether creative was also illegal.
In the meantime, Penske Racing arrived at Kansas Speedway with crew chief Paul Wolfe and the rest of the No. 2 team intact, along with Logano's No. 22 team and the No. 12 of Sam Hornish Jr.
For most of the afternoon, it was turning out to be forgettable.
Logano bailed out on the apron when he saw Kyle Busch skidding down the banking of the corner midway through the race, but he had nowhere to go. The two cars wound up in a bone-jarring, nose-to-nose collision that sent debris scattering over the track's recently
repaved asphalt.
Keselowski's car wasn't in much better shape. The minor damage to the rear quarter panel from early in the race kept peeling away bit by bit.
Hornish got into trouble with 84 laps to go when Marcos Ambrose got sideways right in front of him. The two collided, and Casey Mears joined in a wreck that also included Danica Patrick, leaving two of the three Penske entries looking like aluminum cans that had been stepped on.
"I could feel something was wrong with it, but I couldn't see it." Keselowski said afterward. "So you don't know what magnitude it is. Obviously it must have been pretty severe."
It was severe enough that his crew was concerned.
"On that last restart, he kept asking the spotter before we started, he said, 'Where's the wind?' The wind feels different," said longtime Penske executive Walt Czarnecki. "At one point he said, 'It's like I've got a parachute hanging out the back of the car.'
When it eventually popped off,it brought out a caution that allowed Matt Kenseth to seize control,and ultimately hold off Kahne for his second straight win at Kansas.
But the yellow flag also allowed the No. 2 team to finally bend their car back into shape, and that was enough for Keselowski to start driving to the front as the end neared.
"Wasn't that great?" Penske said. "With all the trouble they had, and the accident on the first lap, and Joey and Sam being in the wrong place at the wrong time, I think it was an amazing finish, and shows just how tough the team is. We've got to move on here and keep on racing."
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