kansan.com
Volume 125 Issue 84
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
COMMENTARY Big 12 title not yet wrapped up
No pressure, right?
All the Jayhawks have
to do is beat Taylor in
Waco and they'll have their ninth consecutive Big 12 title in the trophy case.
They lose, and the Wildcats break the Jayhawks' monumental streak.
The competition for the Big 12's No. 1 spot would be finished right now if Kansas State lost to Baylor. Kansas would have clinched a share number nine at home on senior night instead of on the road against the Bears.
Think it'll be easy for the Jayhawks? Think again. This Big 12 championship trophy isn't gift wrapped for Kansas. This race isn't over and it won't be won easily.
Sure, there's no pressure — except for the entire weight of Jayhawk nation thinking and hoping the Big 12 crown will stay with the crimson and blue.
Instead, Scott Drew, Baylor, an errant inbounds pass and a last-second 3-pointer from Rodney McGruder gave Kansas State the win and a shot at an outright Big 12 championship.
So here's what's left:
On Saturday, Kansas will play at Baylor and Kansas State will play at Oklahoma State. The Jayhawks have the easier game.
If both teams from this state win, then they'll both have a piece of the Big 12 championship, yet the Jayhawks would truly have the "champion claim," seeing as they beat the Wildcats twice this season.
If Kansas wins and Kansas State loses, Lawrence will have sole custody over the trophy. If the opposite happens, and the Jayhawks are shocked by Baylor and the Wildcats beat the Cowboys, then the Big 12 trophy will reside an hour and a half away in Manhattan.
The last scenario isn't the one to bet on, but it's certainly in the realm of possibility. It's pretty damn possible, really.
Baylor has a boatload of untapped talent. Austin Rivers is potentially one of the trickiest players to defend in the conference, and Pierre Jackson may be the most undervalued guard in the country.
If Baylor's team can play to its potential, which is asking a lot with coach Scott Drew running the show, then Kansas will be in a battle to keep its conference win streak alive.
If Baylor plays like it has against the Jayhawks in recent years, the Jayhawks will waltz to its ninth 3s of 12 title.
My guess is the former. Winning on the road in this conference is not easy, and it just gets harder when both teams know what's on the line. Not to mention Baylor was embarrassed against Kansas State on Saturday.
If they respond angrily, it does not help Kansas. If they're emotionally distraught, Kansas will celebrate.
It's clear nothing is for sure in college basketball, and that includes this Big 12 race.
Yet, fans and the media alike seem to be betting on Kansas to win number nine — and that sounds like some major pressure to me.
Edited by Brian Sisk
SISTERS ON THE COURT
Senior guard Monica Enzelman from San Antonio. Texas.
FAMILY AWAY FROM HOME
TRAVIS YOUNG/KANSAN
Senior Monica Engelman reflects on four years of family at the University
NATHAN FORDYCE
nfordyce@kansan.com
With more than 1,000 points, 400 rebounds and nearly 300 assists, senior guard Monica Engelman made herself a name while wearing the crimson and blue jersey of the Kansas Jayhawks. And, after four year at the University, her career is nearly over.
"I'm going to miss being a Jayhawk and just being here," Engelman said. "What I'm going to miss the most is just my family away from home. It's going to be difficult to be away from."
The San Antonio, Texas natives journey to becoming a Jayhawk started during a recruiting visit when she participated in a camp held at the University. It was from that visit that Engelman knew she wanted become a Jayhawk, especially after she talked with the coaching staff, headed by Bonnie Henrickson.
"I felt like they were interested in me," Engelman said. "I went back to San Antonio and it felt good and I committed the next
day after the camp."
Playing behind All-American guard Danielle McCray, Engelman was able to learn and soak in every bit of information she possibly could to ensure she would one day
Henrickson's ability to relate to her as a person and not just a basketball player allowed Engelman to see who she was going to be dealing with as a member of the team. Engelman said she remembers her camp visit to Lawrence and how important Henrickson made her feel.
"What stuck out to me was that she cared about me as a person," Engelman said. "She wasn't just looking at me like 'okay she's good.' She's another body I can have on the team.' She cared about me as a person. So in high school when I was messing up and getting into trouble, she would have those talks with me. It wasn't like we always talked about basketball and I think that's important. She cared about me as an individual and my life."
It was those talks and her will to succeed that prompted Engelman to make her mark as freshman.
be a prominent player and not just a role player off the bench.
Henrickson said the one thing about Engelman that really sticks out is her willingness to succeed, which she wittensed during Engleman's first year at the University. While the team was in the Bahamas, the Jayhawks had lost two tough games and Henrickson said she was fuming.
"Monica says, 'I just wanna know what I need to do for you to trust me to play.' Henrickson said. "And you know what I thought, 'That kid right there, that kid has a chance.'"
But Henrickson remembers the curly-haired freshman coming up to her and sitting beside her, despite her fuming.
"And were flying commercial on the way home, and we're in the airport and there isn't a single person who wants to be within 30 yards of me, my staff included." Henrickson said. "I am sitting by myself in the airport watching film and I am not a happy camper."
Henrickson said that at that moment she knew what kind of
a player Engelman could become. She said it took a lot of guts for Engelman to come her and after they talked.
Engelman understood what she had to do: play better on the defensive end. Engelaman said she wanted to be a sponge and soak everything in that she was told from her coaches and players.
Senior guard Angel Goodrich has witnessed Engelman grow up over the past four years. Goodrich fondly remembers playing alongside Engelman on the hardwood of Allen Fieldhouse.
"She started off well but then got herself into a little slump and then she got out of it," Goodrich said of her senior teammate. "That's where I've seen her grow as a player and person. I just respect her in every aspect as a person, a player and a teammate."
Goodrich said she noticed how Engelman improved her ability to talk during games. Whether it's communicating on the floor or in the huddle, Engelman's voice has become more pronounced.
Engelman, who is averaging 9
points per game over the course of her career, said she never looks back and wishes she would have attended school somewhere else or done something different throughout her career.
"KU has done nothing but take care of me," Fngelman said. "I'm still really proud to be a jawhawk."
Like many of her teammates, Engelman doesn't care about her own personal statistics or success.
When asked what she was going to remember about her time at the University, Engelman's answer didn't have to do with her first basket jayhawks or her 1,000th point. It was about her sisters, her teammates.
"Every moment that I can think with just stems from being with my teammates," Engelman said. "They're like my sisters and family. Whether it's hanging out and going to do something or just a game or practice. But everything I remember stems from my teammates."
- Edited by Brian Sisk
WOMEN'S BASKTEBALL
Kansas celebrates seniors with victory
MAX GOODWIN
mgoodwin@kansan.com
Once the final buzzer sounded after Kansas's 74-67 victory against TCU on Senior Night, the three seniors knew it was time to relax and reflect on the past — at least for a few minutes.
Forward Carolyn Davis and guards Angela Goodrich and Monica Engelman stood together, watching the Senior Night video after earning a much-needed victory, reflecting on how they have changed during their years as lavwahys.
There are the small things: Engelman and Davis have both changed their hair styles; Goodrich no longer sports the number 23 on her jersey.
"There were some good laughs," Engelman said.
But more importantly, there are the changes that couldn't be seen on video. There are the ways that they've grown as individuals.
"It's amazing to watch our
Then there are the changes that they've made in the women's basketball program at Kansas, and that is the reason they came to Lawrence.
transformation," Davis said. "Just to see how we've grown."
"I feel like we came in and made a little noise and we've continued to make noise," Davis said. "I think we've changed the face of women's basketball here."
The night was nearly a perfect representation of what the three of them have done throughout their careers. Davis scored 27 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Goodrich dished out 12 assists. Engleman scored 13 second-half points.
"We went out doing what we do best," Davis said. "That's what made it so special."
The seniors have each contributed to the success of the women's team in their own way. But they have all come together as leaders this season, and they showed that in leading on the court in Tuesday
night's victory against TCU.
They have shown that throughout most of their careers at Kansas. They have all left their mark on the Kansas women's basketball record books. They have also left their mark on the individuals they have shared their careers with.
Goodrich said that the friendships she made as part of the team are something she'll remember for the rest of her life.
EMILY WITTLER/KANSAN
"Because of the hardships and the adversity, and the good times you go through together, it's just something you cherish forever," Goodrich said.
These seniors still have the most important games of their season left to play, but when they do leave for good, it will be with the knowledge that they have helped build the program into something better than it was before they arrived, Kansas coach Bonnie Henrickson said.
Carolyn Davis, Monica Engelman, and Angel Goodrich, senior Kansas Women's Basketball players, smile during Senior Night on March 5 at Allen Fieldhouses.
"If all of us can say that about
anything in our lives, that's pretty cool! Henrickson said.
Goodrich said that the emotion of playing her last game hadn't quite hit her yet, but she did have a moment in the locker room before the game began, where she realized it was the last time she would be preparing for a game in that locker room with her teammates.
"It's still emotional, but I'm just excited because we're still playing," Goodrich said. "It's not our last game."
— Edited by Madison Schultz