Sports THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
QB spot still up for grabs
Turner Gill remains undecided about starter. KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
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TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 2010
LAUGHS ALL AROUND
Junior Cole Aldrich shares a laugh at the men's basketball banquet after receiving the Danny Manning Award and being recognized for his Academic All-American award. Both Aldric and Sherron Collins received the Danny Manning award but Collins was unable to attend the event.
Adam Buhler/KANSAN
Self ends season with a quip
BY COREY THIBODEAUX
cthibodeaux@kansan.com
www.twitter.com/c_thibodeaux
It was the way the season should have ended, but the Jayhawks didn't have their most important piece.
Senior guard
senior guard
Sherron Collins
was not present at the team's season-ending banquet Monday night at Holiday Inn because he was signing paperwork for his new agents, Andy Miller and justin Zanik.
"It would have made the night a little more special just because we've had a great three years together," Aldrich said. "But I understand."
Coach Bill Self said the agents told him that Collins, who had to fly to Chicago, would be back in time for
"The season didn't end as we wanted, but they still love us, they still show they care."
Collins and junior center Cole Aldrich tied for the Danny Manning Mr. Jayhawk award, but Aldrich would have rather had his teammate present to share the award.
XAVIER HENRY freshman guard
the banquet. His flight didn't arrive in time.
Regardless of the team missing its leader, the night was full of positives since its bitter exit from the NCAA tournament. The video highlights and the applause by the
crowd reminded freshman guard Xavier Henry the fans still live for the crimson and blue.
"The season didn't end as we wanted," Henry said, "but they still love us; they still show they care.
That's all we ever wanted."
Self, who was full of jokes and quips about everyone, said life has been better since the NCAA tournament ended because there is finality to the season.
And he made sure everyone was laughing.
He joked about Tyler Reed's claim about being the most athletic player on the team, yet failed to dunk all season. He called out Jordan Juvenemann for leaving a timeout during a game this season to impress a girl. And he coined a new nickname for Tyshawn "Facebook" Taylor.
It was full of some embarrassment, but a lot of pride after summing up what the team accomplished this season. Self said it was a good night for all who came.
"It's a feel good end to the season," he said "I'm sure our players enjoyed it, and the turnout was awesome."
Edited by Anna Archibald
SOME QUICK NOTES
- Henry and Aldrich are both in the interviewing process for agents and neither could put a timetable on when they will make their decision.
Sophomore Marcus Morris will most likely be the Big 12 Player of the Year next season, Self said.
Self hinted that Director of External Relations Barry Hinson will take over for Brett Ballard as Director of Basketball Operations.
Self also mentioned assistant coach Joe Dooley is sticking with Kansas.
BASEBALL
Team looks to relief players for victory
BY BEN WARD
bward@kansan.com
twitter.com/bm_dub
Freshman Tanner Poppe said he hopes tonight's game against Missouri State isn't a repeat of the March 31 matchup at Hoglund
Ballpark. But just in case it is, he's ready.
for three in the eighth, and two more in the ninth - before Poppe got the final two outs to save the 7-6 victory for the Jayhawks.
The layhawks looked to be coasting towards a victory in that game, as they carried a comfortable 7-1 lead heading to the eighth inning. With
"Hopefully it's not as close as it was last time," Poppe said. "We've been in a ton of close games later, so hopefully we can string together-
regular closer Brett Bochy resting a tired arm, Kansas had to turn to untested relievers to close out Missouri State.
"Hopefully it's not as close as it was last time. We've been in a ton of close games lately..."
The move didn't work out as well as planned. The Bears rallied
TANNER POPPE freshman pitcher
er at bats and pitch well and we won't have to be in that situation."
Even though Poppe and his teammates hope for a more decisive finish tonight, the circumstances are
similar: Kansas (19-13-1, 3-5-1) won't have Bochy available if they need to nail down a victory in the final innings.
SEE BASEBALL ON PAGE 8A
MEN'S GOLF
KU in fifth after first day
Gilbert propels team in wake of Barbee's injury
BY ANDREW WITUSYZNSKI
awitusyzski.com
Day one is done for the Jayhawks at the Mizzou Intercollegiate in Columbia, Mo., and, with 18 holes to go the Jayhawks, sit in fifth place. Without Nate Barbee, the team's lowest scorer and a junior from Dakota Dunes, S.D., Chris Gilbert, a freshman from Simi Valley, Calif., stepped up to catapult the Jayhawks to their position among the field of 15 teams.
awituszynski@kansan.com
"I was pretty proud of the way the guys played without Nate today," coach Kit Grove said, "It's always tough to play without your number one player."
Barbee is out with a back injury and is being rested for the Big12 Championship later this month.
Justin Yang/THE MANEATER
"Nate is a real competitor and he wanted to be here." Grove said "But I had to put my foot down and keep him at home. His health is the number one concern."
Gilbert did his best to fill the void
Kansas freshman Chris Gilbert drives the ball on the 18th hole Monday afternoon at the UMB Mizzou Intercollegiate in Columbia, Mo. Gilbert has competed in all 10 of Kansas' events this season.
and came up with a 74 and a 68 in the first two rounds. Gilbert is in 6th place individually.
"Chris played really solid today and
SEE GOLF ON PAGE 9A
PAGE 10A
COMMENTARY
Opurum stands out in running back lineup
BY MAX VOSBURGH
mvosburgh@kansan.com
twitter.com/MVSports
After losing two-year starter Jake Sharp to graduation, it's time to hand the ball off to sophomore running back Toben Opurum.
Opurum is getting ready this spring to add on to his impressive breakout freshman season that unfortunately ended with a leg injury.
In a team that features a new coach, new uniforms and new players at many of the skill positions, one returning player stands out as someone who brings talent and experience to the Jawhawks' backfield
1
"I wouldn't say I am 100 percent right now." Opurum said after Friday's practice. "I am not going to lie to you about that, but I am out there running through some stuff."
Opurum has been working to get healthy again and practicing with a new look offense that will feature a new quarterback and a larger variety of formations.
"We say this every year, but I think we have the potential to have a lot of depth with what we're doing" Opurum said.
Opurum has work to do if he wishes to match what Green did his second year. Green, who earned honorable mention All-Big 12 in 2003, rushed for nearly 1,000 yards his sophomore season.
Despite having to split carries with Jake Sharp last season, Opurum led the team in rushing, becoming the first freshman to accomplish the feat since Clark Green did it in 2002.
Kansas will certainly have depth next year at running back. In addition to Opurum, senior Angus Quigley, junior Rell Lewis and freshman Deshaun Sands are all running backs on the jayhawks' roster. Incoming freshmen Brandon Bourbon and James Sims also will compete for playing time this season. However, Opurum's numbers from last year make him stick out from the pack and indicate that he has the potential to be the star of the offense for the next three seasons.
Opurum's 554 yards and nine touchdowns last season were good enough to be named to the All-Big 12 freshman team by Rivals.com.
"I am feeling pretty good right now," Opurum said. "Obviously, there are a lot of new things that I need to pick up on, but I think everything is going well."
Edited by Kristen Liszewski
ADMINISTRATION
Athletics dept. settles lawsuit
BY CLARK GOBLE
cgoble@kansan.com
www.twitter.com/clark.goble
Kansas Athletics announced Monday that its lawsuit against Larry Sinks, the owner of Joe-College, and Victory Sportswear, the store's merchandise provider, has been resolved. Neither will have to pay the damages and legal fees accumulated in the trademark-infringement lawsuit.
In 2008, a federal judge found Joe College guilty of willfully infringing on Kansas Athletics' trademarks and ordered the company to pay $127,337 in damages to Kansas Athletics Inc. Last year, a judge awarded Kansas Athletics Inc. more than $650,000 in attorneys' fees.
In exchange for not paying, Joe College made an agreement that prohibits them from making or selling merchandise that infringes on Kansas' trademarks, including using the school colors with words that identify the University, student athletes or faculty members. Products without school colors that bear words connecting the product to the University are also legally forbidden under the agreement.
"We are extremely pleased that we can now put this case behind us," Athletics Director Lew Perkins said in a statement. "We did not want to initiate this lawsuit, but it was important to protect KU's trademarks from infringement and dilution. The jury correctly ruled that the defendants willfully infringed on our marks, and we hope the action we took serves notice that we will take all due action to protect those marks."
Joe College, 734 Massachusetts St., closed its doors on March 31. Online sales were also halted.
Edited by Cory Buntina