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Sports
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Kansas plays host to Pro Day
Jake Sharp, Dezmon Briscoe and Kerry Meier are participating. FOOTBALL | 8B
Production by committee
WV X.KANSAN.COM
THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 2010
HISTORY AWAITS
PAGE 1B
The Oklahoma-Oklahoma State game was part of the opening session of the Big 12 men's basketball tournament Wednesday at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo. Kansas' game against Texas Tech will open Thursday's session at the Sprint Center.
Weston White/KANSAN
Kansas one win away from 2,000
KU would join UNC Kentucky with victory
BY COREY THIBODEAUX
cthibodeaux@kansan.com
twitter/c/ c_thibodeaux
The Jayhawks have little to gain from the Big 12 tournament, but with a monumental landmark in reach, they will be plenty motivated.
"We round up, so we're technically already there." Self ioked.
Coach Bill Self isn't worried about his team having something to play for, considering it is still sour from an early exit in last year's conference tournament and the Jayhawks sit at 1,999 victories — one away from history.
If Kansas can defeat Texas Tech today, it will have reached the 2,000-victory mark, something only two other teams have ever done. Kentucky currently sits at 2,017 victories, and North Carolina won number 2,000 last week.
Self has contributed 198 of those victories
in seven seasons with the Jayhawks. But he isn't taking all the credit for getting the team to the doorstep of 2,000 victories.
"It is a great milestone, but I haven't had much to do with them getting 2,000," he said. "But I think it is reason for fans to feel good about the program."
Every coach except for James Naismith has a winning record at Kansas. Today's players knew what they kind of program they were coming to when they were recruited.
Out of any team that has been around for at least 100 years, Kansas has had the fewest coaches with eight. Self ranks fourth on that list in career victories, behind Phog Allen, Ted Owens and Roy Williams.
"Being at Kansas, you get a great coaching staff that is able to get the most out of their players each year," junior guard Tyrel Reed said. "They are great at recruiting, so it's just a testament to the University and our coaches."
As good as Kentucky and North Carolina's programs have been, they haven't been on top at all times. For example, the defending national champion Tar Heels are having a miserable season this year, going 16-15 with a 5-11 record in the ACC.
"Being at Kansas, you get a great coaching staff that is able to get the most out of their players each year."
TYREL REED Junior guard
"You come to a school like Kansas where there's not a rebuilding year ever, and you can be on good teams consistently," Taylor said. "I think it's good, and I'm proud to be part of it."
Sophomore guard Tyshawn Taylor looks at what North Carolina is going through and is glad he came to Kansas.
Out of all the talented players that have come through Kansas — Wilt Chamberlain, Danny Manning, Paul Pierce, Raef LaFrentz — senior guard
Sherron Collins has more individual victories than any player.
When talking about the "face of Kansas basketball," Collins wasn't ready to put himself on Kansas' Mount Rushmore. Instead, he said, former players like Julian Wright
KANSAS VS. TEXAS TECH
**WHEN:** 11:30 a.m.
**WHERE:** Sprint Center, Kansas City, Mo.
**WATCH:** ESPN2
and Brandon Rush paved the way for him to lead this year's team on the floor.
No matter who gets the most credit for it. Collins said, anyone who has ever donned the crimson and blue is to thank for reaching 2,000 victories.
FOR COVERAGE OF WEDNESDAY'S BIG 12 TOURNAMENT GAMES, SEE PAGE 9B
"Coach always said if you win, the pie is big enough for everybody, and everybody will get recognition." Collins said. "That's exactly what's happened."
— Edited by Jesse Rangel
BASEBALL
Jayhawks hit four home runs in shutout against Tabor
BY BEN WARD
bward@kansan.com
twitter.com/bm_dub
Kansas (9-3) has had its share of big innings, extra base hits and balanced offensive contributions so far this year. But one element that had been missing from the Jayhawks' hitting game was home runs.
It showed up in a big way in Wednesday's game against the Tabor Blueiacs.
After only two home runs this season — both by junior outfielder Jimmy Waters — Kansas blasted four as part of a 14-hit barrage and the Bluejays 15-0.
Coach Ritch Price said that the emergence of Kansas' power hitting was drawn from improved at-bats since the onset of the season.
"I think the big thing is, the more games you play and the more reps you get, the better job you do with strike zone discipline," Price said.
But despite impressive offensive numbers, the Jayhawks saw the victory as just taking care of business.
"It's all a progression."
With the Jayhawks already up 3-0 in the second inning, Waters put the game out of reach for the Blueiacs.
Stepping to the plate with the bases full in the second iming. Waters unloaded, launching a towering shot to straight away center field — about 400 feet away. The ball cleared the tarp set on the outfield wall, roughly 40 feet off the ground.
In the next inning, junior outfielder Brian Heere hit a solo home run, sophomore outfielder Jason Brunansky hit a two-run shot and freshman catcher Alex DeLeon hit a pinch-hit three-ran homer.
"We go in there expecting to put up a lot of waters" Waters said.
Jerry Wang/KANSAN
SEE BASEBALL ON PAGE 5B
Freshman pitcher Thomas Taylor winds up for a pitch during the first inning against Labor Wednesday. Taylor pitched for the first three innings, allowing four hits and finishing with four strikeouts.
COMMENTARY
Next win won't match the hype
BY ALEX BEECHER abeecher@kansan.com
let's take a step back in time to the days of 1999 when Harry Potter and "Is that
your final answer?" dominated the pop culture landscape. Or at least they came close. The truth is that nothing was bigger in 1999 than Y2K.
After a year's worth of speculation and obsession, the time came. The clock struck midnight, the ball dropped and the year 2000 arrived.
Nothing happened.
Y2K came and went, and the world felt altogether unchanged. People still read Harry Potter and quoted Regis Philbin — unfortunately.
It turned out that all the hype over the year 2000 was for naught, which is about how I feel about Kansas (probably) winning the 2,000th game today.
Of course, it must be said that Kansas might lose to Texas Tech today. Given that the game will in fact take place, the mathematical possibility does technically exist.
But, if only for the sake of argument, let's assume that the Jayhawks handle the Red Raiders with ease. Kansas would become only the third program to reach such a milestone, crossing the line just behind North Carolina and half a lap back from Kentucky. It would certainly be another prominent feather in an already very decorated Kansas basketball cap.
But, like Y2K, its effect will be just about nil.
Kansas will still have more work to do the next day, more games to win down the road.
Seeding matters. Just ask the 2007 Kansas team, which played UCLA in Los Angeles by virtue of being the fourth-ranked 1-seed. Not only would a higher seed mean an advantage in fan support, but it would also pit Kansas against lower valued teams.
The Big 12 tournament will still be there for the taking. But perhaps more importantly, the quality of play Kansas demonstrates in Kansas City, Mo., will go a long way in determining where the team travels on its road to the Final Four. Should the top-ranked Jayhawks cut down the Sprint Center nets, the No. 1 overall seed would likely follow. That, in turn, would guarantee Kansas fans short trips to tournament sites — including the regional finals in St. Louis.
The advantage gained by having a few thousand extra fans in attendance might be miniscule. So too would the difference in quality between teams awarded 2-seeds. But in the NCAA tournament, games frequently come down to single possessions. In games that tight, no advantage is too small to be dismissed. Not when winning the national title is the goal.
Which is why, neat accomplishment though it is, win number 2,000 doesn't merit excessive celebration. No single win will merit that celebration until April 5 in Indianapolis.
— Edited by Taylor Bern