2B
SPORTS / TUESDAY. MARCH 23, 2010 / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / KANSAN.COM
OUOTE OF THE DAY
"The pitcher has got only a ball. I've got a bat. So the percentage of weapons is in my favor and I let the fellow with the ball do the fretting."
Hank Aaron
FACT OF THE DAY
Since a poor outing against Baylor on April 5 of last season, junior reliever Brett Bochy has a 4-0 record with a 1.49 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 36 1/3 innings pitched.
Kansas Athletics
TRIVIA OF THE DAY
Q: Why is Bochy's father famous?
A: He is the current manager of the San Francisco Giants and played for the Houston Astros, San Diego Padres and New York Mets in a nine-year MLB career.
Kansas Athletics
SCORES
Man's NIT Tournament:
Rockland Island 85, Nevada 83
Virginia Tech 65, Connecticut 63
Illinois 75, Kent State 58
Cincinnati, Dayton, late
Women's NCAA Tournament:
No. 1 Tennesseeee 92, No. 8 Dayton
64
No. 1 Stanford, No. 8 Iowa
No. 2 Duke 60, No. 7 LSU 52
No. 2 Texas A&M 71, No. 7 Gonzaga 72
No. 3 Florida State 22, No. 6 St.
John's 65
No. 4 Kentucky 70, No. 5 Michiga
No. 4 Kentucky 70, No. 5 Michigan State 52
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Hokies advance to quarterfinals in NIT
BLACKSBURG, Va. — Dorenzo Hudson scored 17 of his game-high 27 points in the second half to lift Virginia Tech past Connecticut-65-63 in a second-round NIT game Monday night.
The Hokies (25-8) who tied a school record for victories, advanced to the quarterfinals of the NIT, where they will play Rhode Island at home on a date to be determined.
Following a timeout with 22 seconds left and the Hokies trailing 63-62, Hudson buried a 17-foot jumper with 14.1 seconds to go to give them a one-point lead.
After UConn (18-16) called a timeout, Kemba Walker, who led the Huskies with 18 points, had a shot blocked by Virginia Tech's Jeff Allen. Walker got the loose ball and threw it to Gavin Edwards, who missed a layup and the Hokies' Terrell Bell got the rebound.
Walker fouled Bell with less than a second to go and Bell made the second of two free throws, giving Tech a 65-63 lead. Walker's long shot was off the mark as time expired.
Associated Press
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MORNING BREW
Ballard's departure is a win
Baldwin City. For somewhere so close, I've had to explain its whereabouts frequently. Usually
whereabouts frequently. Usually the answering of the innocent enough "Where are you from?" question begins with me saying Baldwin City is about 20 miles due south. When that elicits blank stares, and further geographical explanations do nothing to help. I end describing it simply as the town with Baker University and the Maple Leaf Festival.
University and the major business The latter, unless you really -- and I mean really -- like giant turkey legs and honey, little crafts booths, may not be of any interest to you. And the former wouldn't be either, except for one recent bit of news: Kansas Director of Basketball Operations Brett Ballard has filled Baker's head basketball coaching position, vacated by the retirement of 25-year coach Rick Weaver.
You could be forgiven for losing this tidbit in the cacophony surrounding Kansas' early exit from the NCAA Tournament. Cole and Xavier are almost assuredly gone. Sherron definitely is. Thus the team, which was supposed to be one of the greatest in Kansas' illustrious history, has disinistered.
But Ballard landing at Baker — small news from a small town or not — is a feelgood story which shouldn't be drowned out by more "what ifs."
BY ALEX BEECHER
For Ballard, the Baker gig represents his first chance to run a program. And yes, it may be an NAIA program in Baldwin City, but the increase in responsibility gives him a chance to get his feet wet as a coach on a stage that provides little in the way of pressure. Furthermore, learning to function with decidedly sub-Kansas resources can only help Ballard. If he moves into the ranks of NCAA coaches one day, Ballard will bring with him lessons taught by experiences he never would have received at Kansas.
For Baker, the benefits are obvious and numerous. Ballard played under Roy Williams and worked for Bill Self. He's privileged to have seen, first hand, how two NCAA championship-winning coaches run top-tier programs. Having played and worked at Kansas also gives Ballard a certain cache that few other NAIA coaches can claim. Not that Baker
will ever land Rivals' top-100 players, but neither will its competition. And Ballard's high profile background can only help. Add in the fact that Ballard has connections throughout the Midwest from running Kansas' basketball camp, and Baker's talent level should be expected to rise.
That rise in talent, in theory, should also lead to an increase in wins. Consequently, winning games should give Ballard the credibility he needs to take whatever the next step is in his career. The situation, at least at this point, looks like a win-win. And a winning situation, for Kansas fans, should feel awfully therapeutic right about now.
Edited by Michael Holtz
Arizona beats San Diego in 10 Ian Kennedy pitched five scoreless innings for the Diamondbacks
MLB
ASSOCIATED PRESS
TUCSON, Ariz. Righthander Ian Kennedy is making a strong case to join the Arizona Diamondbacks' rotation.
Kennedy struck out eight in five scoreless innings and the Arizona Diamondbacks earned a 5-4 win in 10 innings over the San Diego Padres on Monday.
Down 4-0 entering the bottom of the ninth, the Diamondbacks tied the game with two run homers by John Hester and Drew Macias, Arizona's lake, Wald
drove in the winning run on a single in the 10th.
Kennedy lowered his ERA to 2.70.
He allowed two hits — a two-out double by Will Venable in
strikeouts from the get-go," said Kennedy, who could follow Dan Haren and Edwin Jackson in the rotation. "If they come, that's awesome. (Catcher Chris) Snyder called a great game. We worked really well together."
Arizona manager A.J. Hinch said Kennedy threw one of the best outings of the spring by a Diamondbacks starter.
"I really don't go out for strikeouts from the getgo."
"Excellent. Ian was really, really good. He had good rhythm. He had good command." Hinch said. "He had swing-and-miss pitches."
"I really don't go out for
the first inning, and a single by Chris Denorfia in the third inning. Kennedy then picked off Denorfia at first.
IAN KENNEDY
Diamondbacks pitcher
Kennedy bounced back from his previous outing, when he allowed four runs and seven hits and struck out none in 3 1-3 innings against the
"The outing in Tempe I kind of took it as just a bad day," Kennedy said. "The next day I kind of just moved on. In my
Los Angeles Angels.
bullpens, I really wanted to work hard for this start, and I was happy with how those went. I worked on my fastball command."
Padres left-hander Clayton Richard threw six shutout innings, striking out three and walking two.
Entering the game,
Richard had thrown 6 2-3
innings this spring.
"The defense played great behind me, got them some opportunities keeping the ball down," Richard said. "They definitely made the most of it."
He was slated to pitch five innings, but he kept pitching
Notes: Hinch said the Diamondbacks will likely begin the season with four starting
"Ian was really, really good. He had good rhythm. He had good command."
because his pitch count was low. He said he felt good throughout the outing.
The Padres backed him with five double plays.
"It's great this point of spring training to get the six-inning mark." Richard said. "Every time you pass an inning, it's kind of exciting.
"It's what you're looking forward to in the spring, getting more and more innings."
A. J. HINCH Diamondbacks manager
pitchers, as Brandon Webb is expected to miss the start of the season. He has yet to pitch in a Cactus League game. Arizona is allowing
Webb to build his arm strength through long toss. No date is set for his next bullpen. ... The Diamondbacks are off today.
... Arizona reassigned outfielder Evan Frey, catcher Carlos Corporan and infielder Ed Rogers to minor-league camp. ... Tony Abreu collided with Padres first baseman Matt Stairs in the fourth after Abreu hit a grounder. Abreu reached on an error and stayed in the game.
Rhode Island advances to third round of NIT
ASSOCIATED PRESS
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
James scored a career-high 34 points and locked up Luke Babbitt, Nevada's leading score and the WAC player of the year.
KINGSTON, R.L. — Delroy James has established a reputation for being one of the Atlantic
The Rhode Island star was back at it on Monday night and also turned on the defense Monday night, helping the Rams beat N.
sive players.
"If you play hard on defense you have to attack on offense."
DELROY JAMES Rhode Island forward
'They were able to match up
with (Babbitt),
athletically,
Nevada
coach Dave
Carter said. "I
thought they
contested his
shots
and made it very
difficult
for him to score"
beat Nevada 85-83 in the second round of the National Invitation Tournament.
Babbitt
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entered as the eighth-leading scorer in the country with a 22.1 average, but finished with 14 points. He connected on only two of 14 shots — both in the second half — and scored 10 points at the free-throw line.
"He missed some easy ones that he normally would make," Carter said. "But sometimes when you're physical and you're able to contest shots and make guys work for it I think that's what they did tonight."
As a result, the Rams (25-9) will play a third-round game
Brandon Fields led the Wolf Pack (21-13) with 25 points, while Keith Cothran added 16 for Rhode Island and teammate Lamonte Ulmer grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds.
Wednesday at Virginia Tech, which eliminated Connecticut 65-63.
"（Babbitt） is a very good player, a top 20 pick," James said. "I tried to make it a rough night for him. If you play hard on defense, you have to attack on offense."
regulation gave Rhode Island a seemingly comfortable 74-64 lead. But the Wolf Pack connected on all 10 of their free-throw attempts down the stretch and Fields drained a 3-point shot with 5.2 seconds left to pull Nevada within 84-83.
"I don't think I've ever been involved in a game where my team only made two turnovers."
Cothran then sank one of two
JIM BARON Rhoade Island coach
James drained one of his five 3-point shots to spark a 24-16 run and give the Rams their largest lead of the first half at 36-26.
James' layup with 4:49 left in
Fields then scored seven consecutive points for Nevada to forge a 37-37 tie, but Rhode Island's Will Martell and Stevie Mejia combined to score five straight points for a 42-37 halftime lead.
tree-throw attempts and Nevada threw the ball away on its ensuing possession. That turnover was the Wolf Pack's 16th, and Rhode Island capitalized by eor
Conversely, Rhode island committed only two turnovers.
ing 23 points off Nevada's miscues.
"I don't think I've ever been involved in a game where my team only made two turnovers," Rams coach Jim Baron said. "That shows we made good decisions."
THIS WEEK IN KANSAS ATHLETICS
Baseball vs. Creighton, 3 p.m.
TODAY
FRIDAY
Tennis vs. Iowa State, 2 p.m.
WEDNESDAY No events scheduled.
Women's basketball at Illinois State, 7:15 p.m.
THURSDAY
Track & Field at Razorback Spring Invitational, Fayetteville, Ark., all day.
Track & Field
Baseball at Baylor, Waco, Texas. 6:30 p.m.
SATURDAY
Soccer
Softball at Texas A&M, College Station,Texas,1 p.m.
ter 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, 12p.m.
Baseball at Baylor, 1 p.m.
Tennis vs. Nebraska, 2 p.m.
NBA
Magic beat 76ers
PHILADELPHIA — Rashard Lewis scored 24 points, Dwight Howard added 23 points and 15 rebounds, and the Orlando Magic notched their third straight 50-win season with a 109-93 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night.
Vince Carter contributed 17 points and Matt Barnes had 14 for the Southeast Division-leading Magic (50-21), who won 50 games in three straight seasons for the first time since 1993- 96.The Magic have won three straight and 10 of 11.Mickael Pietrus and Jason Williams had 10 apiece.
Howard was 9 for 11 from the field in his league-leading 55th double-double for Orlando, which has won seven consecutive regular-season games against the Sixers.
Andre Iguodala and Elton Brand led the Sixers with 23 points apiece, while Samuel Dalembert had 16 points and 14 rebounds. The Sixers have dropped three in a row and fell to 11-24 at home. They own the third-fewest home wins in the league behind only Minnesota (nine) and New Jersey (three).
Philadelphia got within 71-67 with 4:46 left in the third quarter before the Magic pulled away thanks to their deft 3-point shooting against the worst 3-point defensive team in the league.
Seven different Magic players connected on at least one 3-pointer, with Barnes going 4 for 4. Orlando was 16 for 31 from beyond the arc.
After a dunk by Iguodala closed the gap to 93-84, the Magic quickly responded with a running hook shot by Howard and a 3-pointer by J.J. Redick for a 98-84 advantage with 6:14 remaining.
Philadelphia never got closer than eight the rest of the game.
Associated Press