6B / SPORTS / FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 2010 / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN KANSAN.COM
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Proposal to expand NCAA tournament
CBS Sports and Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. have reached a deal with the NCAA that will increase the tournament field to 68 teams and have every game televised.
The 14-year deal, slated to begin in 2011 and run through 2024, is worth more than $10.8 billion. All Division I men's teams will be seen across four national networks: CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV.
NCA A Division I Men's Basketball Committee unanimously passed the recommendation Wednesday. The Division I Board of Directors will review the proposal April 29.
Kansas coach Bill Self thinks the expansion is good for the sport.
"Many people thought it would go to 96 teams, but this will be a good way to see if the tournament needs to move towards 96 teams," he said in a press release Thursday. "I like the fact that every game will be televised in its entirety. I think that is very good for college basketball."
Aldrich to throw first pitch Sunday
Junior center Cole Aldrich will throw the ceremonial first pitch when the Kansas City Royals play against his hometown Minnesota Twins Sunday. April 25 at 1:10 p.m.
"I was too tall to play football and baseball, but this will be fun." Aldrich said in a press release Thursday. "I may have to practice a time or two before Sunday and get some tips from C.J. (Henry) since he played pro ball."
There is also a possibility, time permitting, that Aldrich will guest star in the FOX Spots MidwestTV booth during the third inning.
It's the perfect game for Aldrich because he will be watching two teams he enjoys.
"Being from the Twin Cities, I've always loved the Twins," Aldrich said. "Having been at Kansas for the past three years, I have become a Royals fan as well because it's close to catch a game."
—CoreyThibodeaux
Hitting a wall
TAMED GRUBB/ANNSJ
Jared McPherson, a senior from Olathe, belays for Nathan Wilke, a senior from Dallas, as he scales the rock wall Thursday evening inside Ambler Student Recreation Center. "I began rock climbing when I first came into the rec center as a freshman and saw the wall." McPheron said.
Tanner Grubbs/KANSAN
Offensive surge proves not enough for Kansas
SOFTBALL
BY ZACH GETZ
zgetz@kansan.com
twitter.com/zgetz
The first game between Kansas and Nebraska was a defensive struggle, and Nebraska edged Kansas 2-0. But in the rematch, the two teams combined for four home runs and 13 total runs.
While Kansas was unable to get well-timed hits in the first game, the Jayhawks focused on moving runners, freshman infielder Mariah Montgomery said.
Still, Kansas couldn't generate enough offense, falling to Nebraska 8-5 in Lincoln.
Kansas fell to 18-27 (1-11) for the season while Nebraska improved to 27-20 (6-6).
"We stranded a lot of runners in the first game and it was our goal to get some of those runners home in this game," Montgomery said.
Kansas started out hot with a two-run homer from Montgomery in the top of the first, and a bases loaded walk in the second that put Kansas up 3-0 early. Nebraska
picked up a run in the bottom of the second, but the bottom of the third was the turning point in the game.
"We came out on top early, we got runs all the way throughout the game," Montgomery said. "One inning just didn't go our way, and that kind of put it together for them."
For the 15th time this season. Kansas let a team score four or more runs in an inning.
Nebraska scored four runs in the third. Two of the runs were scored when senior pitcher Sarah Vertelka picked her back foot off of the rubber during a pitch while the bases were loaded, an illegal maneuver that allows base runners to advance.
Junior pitcher Allie Clark said even though Nebraska was getting the breaks, Kansas never faltered.
"They had a few balls drop, and things just went their way," Clark said. "We weren't down on ourselves at all."
Instead of giving up, Kansas
came back determined to win.
"We didn't stop fighting the whole game," Montgomery said. "Even after they scored those four runs, we didn't stop fighting."
Nebraska had a solo home run in the fourth, but Kansas hit its second-run homer of the game in the fifth to pull the Jayhawks within in two at 7-5. Nebraska responded with its second solo home run in the sixth, and Kansas couldn't answer, falling to Nebraska 8-5.
Though Kansas could've given up after the third inning, coach Megan Smith said she was happy the team continued to play hard.
"They came out fighting and fought the whole game," Smith said.
Though Kansas did fight, Smith said the team still needed to work on putting together a full game
"For us it's about consistency and making sure we are going out there and focusing on the little things the entire time." Smith said.
Kansas will return to action at 2 p.m. tomorrow when it begins a two game series against Texas Tech (33-12, 5-8). The Red Raiders swept the first place Big 12 team. No. 8 Oklahoma State, Thursday.
Clark said the team was already getting focused for Texas Tech and won't let the Nebraska loss linger.
"We're not the type of team to get bummed out and carry it with us," Clark said. "We expect more from ourselves, so we aren't allowing us to be that team."
with pitching, defense and offense.
Texas Tech vs. Kansas WHEN: 6 p.m. today and noon Sunday
WHERE: Arrocha Ballpark,
Lawrence
UP NEXT
VOTED TOP OF THE HILL
Nebraska 8, Kansas 5
Edited by Micheal Holtz
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