SPORTS / WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2010 / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / KANSAN.COM
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"When we played softball, I'd steal second base, feel guilty and go back."
— Woody Allen
FACT OF THE DAY
Coming into Tuesday's game against Creighton, Casey Lytle led the team on steals with 5. He has only been caught once.
Source: Kansas Athletics
TRIVIA OF THE DAY
Q: Who has stolen the most bases in a single game in Kansas history?
A: John Nelson and Pat Karlin both stole five bases in a game. Nelson did it in 2001 and Karlin did it in 1989.
- Kansas Athletics
SCORES
Men's NIT Tournament:
Men's NI Touraiment:
Texas Tech 87, Mississippi 90
North Carolina 60, UAB 55
Women's NCAA Tournament
Women's NCAA Tournament:
No. 1 Connecticut 90, No. 8
Temple 36
No. 1 Nebraska 83, No. 8 UCLA 70
No. 2 Notre Dame 84, No. 10
Vermont 66
No. 2 Ohio State 67, No. 7 Mississippi State 87
No. 3 Oklahoma 60, No.11 AR-Little Rock 44
No. 3 Xavier 63, No. 6 Vanderbilt
62
No. 3 West Virginia 55, No. 11 San Diego State 64
Lots to see in rest of tourney
MORNING BREW
After "the second round slaughter," it's understandable if you want nothing to do with basketball for a while. We don't need to replay reasons why — you've probably already done so in your head repeatedly. But Kansas or no Kansas, the NCAA tournament goes on. Below are the remaining 16 teams in the tournament, each with a reason to keep your eyes glued to the television.
Northern Iowa: Let's get the one that's still hard to swallow out of the way first. Without a serious contender left in this bracket, the Panthers have a legitimate shot at a George Mason-esque dash to the final four. They continue their road against...
Ohio State: Two words — Evan Turner. The 6-foot-7-inch swing man is the lone reason that the Buckeyes have achieved so much this season. Many think that he will be a top three pick in the 2010 NBA draft and could end up having a better career than likely first pick John Wall of Kentucky. Search "Evan Turner game winner vs. Michigan" on YouTube and you'll understand.
Michigan State: The Spartans barely escaped their first-round game against New Mexico State with help from a controversial lane violation call. Then sophomore guard Korie Luscious hit a buzzer-beating three, trumping Maryland in the second round. But two-time all-Big Ten selection Kalin Lucas ruptured his left achilles tendon late in the first half of that game and was lost for the season. This team reminds me of Villanova — an equal chance to win a title or drop its next game.
Syracuse: If center Arinze Onuaku returns from injury, the Orange may have its best crack at a title since Carmelo Anthony was around. Future NBA lottery pick Wesley Johnson is the team's best player, but guard off the bench Scoop Jardine is the team's best name.
Tennessee: Despite beating both Kansas and Kentucky in the regular season, this year has been a troublesome one for the Vols. Four players were arrested at a traffic stop in December and leading scorer Tyler Smith was kicked off the team shortly after. Twenty-seven wins and a Sweet Sixteen spot later and I think Bruce Pearl feels just fine - until his team likely gets whooped by...
BY MAX ROTHMAN
mrothman@kansan.com
Butler: Piping it from dowwwwwwtowwwn, Shelvin Mack strokes it with the best of 'em. As a five seed, the Bulldogs are no longer the trendy upset pick they used to
Kansas State: Is it just me or is CBS covertly running the new hit series "The Frank Martin show" during tournament games? This love affair is getting a little out of hand. Consider maybe getting the camera on Jacob Pullen as he knocks down seven three-pointers instead of Martin's every move. I mean we all respect the guy, but come on!
Xavier: Jordan Crawford may be playing better basketball than any one player in this tournament. Although it is unlikely that the Musketeers get past the Wildcats, Crawford's Dr. Jesque scoop layup against Minnesota was one of the best plays of the tournament.
Duke: The Blue Devils may be playing better than any team not named Kentucky in the entire tournament. Jon Scheyer and Kyle Singler are as solid as they come. But that doesn't mean that the Dukies aren't prone to their annual tournament collapse. I see them losing in the Elite Eight to a more athletic team from the Big 12 like...
Baylor: Led by guys named Tweety and Darius, the Bears were a trendy Final Four pick from the start. Although they've barely clawed their way to victories against Sam Houston State and Old Dominion. Baylor looks like a serious force. A Baylor-Kentucky Final Four match-up could be the most entertaining game of the tournament.
Purdue: After losing emotional leader Robbie Hurmiln to an ACL injury, many bracket piercises crossed the Boilermakers off in round one against upset hopeful Siena. Well, Siena isn't what it used to be and Purdue still has ETwaun Moore. A sweet and surprising rebound, but I don't see them getting past Duke.
St. Mary's A Gael — similarly pronounced as a bird of the night, a strong wind or the name of a Jewish mother. These Gaels are of a Celtic origin and their names are
enough to make you root for this Cinderella story. Matthew Dellavedova, Beau Levesque, Mickey McConnell, Clint Steindel and Omar Samhan. If the Big Red can't do it, I'm pulling for the Gaels.
Washington: The Huskies are admirably carrying the cushion-soft Pac-10 on their shoulders. In quiet fashion, Washington has won nine games straight. Led by Isaiah Thomas (no relation to the worst GM in Knicks history) and Quincy Pondexter, this team may have hit its last stop against the Mountaineers.
West Virginia: Coach Bob Huggins can win anywhere. Anywhere. Cincinnati. Kansas State, West Virginia. No matter the under-appreciated program, the guy can turn offensive juggernauts into like-minded defensive studs. With Sherron Collins and the aforementioned Lucas out of the tournament, DaSean Butler is the best clutch shooter standing.
Cornell: The Big Red has validated its pre-tourney buzz with precise passing and university textbook execution. I wonder what a conversation between big men Jeff Foote of Cornell and Demarcus Cousins of Kentucky may be like. Foote: "Hey Demarcus, do you know the definition of the word 'commitment?' Cousins: "Yeah B, until I'm signing checks in the league next year."
Kentucky: Kansas fans still have something to root for after all: UK losing. Few things could remedy the pain of Jayhawk nation more than seeing Calipari and his freshmen army featuring Patrick Patterson fall unexpectedly. Although the Wildcats have been the most impressive team in the tournament so far, something about a young and untested (SEC schedule) team beams glimmers of hope. Down with Wall and the Wildcats, I say!
-Edited by Megan Heacock
THIS WEEK IN KANSAS ATHLETICS
No events scheduled.
TODAY
THURSDAY
Women's basketball at Illinois State, 7:15 p.m.
FRIDAY
Tennis vs. Iowa State, 2 p.m.
Baseball at Baylor, Waco, Texas, 6:30 p.m.
Track & Field at Razorback Spring Invitational, Fayetteville, Ark., all day,
SATURDAY
Softball at Texas A&M, College Station, Texas, 1 p.m.
Soccer vs. KU Men's Club Team, 2 p.m.
Baseball
at Baylor, Waco, Texas, 3
p.m.
Rowing
at Texas, Austin, Texas, TBA
SUNDAY
Softball at Texas A&M, College Station, Texas, 12p.m.
baseball
at Baylor, Waco, Texas, 1
p.m.
WALTER S. SUTTON LECTURE SERIES
Tennis vs. Nebraska, 2 p.m.
THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND THE KU INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR ETHICS IN BUSINESS PRESENT
"Ethical Decision Making in a Transparent World" Kathleen Edmond, Chief Ethics Officer, Best Buy
Wednesday, March 24, 2010 at 7 p.m. Woodruff Auditorium, Kansas Union, 1301 Jayhawk Blvd Free to the public. No RSVP necessary.
KU SCHOOL OF BUSINESS KU INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR ETHICS IN BUSINESS The University of Kansas The University of Kansas
hawkchalk com
.