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PAGE 10A
COMMENTARY
JUNIOR NIGHT
Jayhawks deserve all-Big 12 accolades
BY TIM DWYER
tdwyer@kansan.com
twitter.com/UDKBasketball
In this space last Friday, I wrote that the layhawks had a chance to mimic the 2008 National Championship team and make a title run without a single all-conference player.
Statistically, I emphasized, there is not a Jayhawk that is the most dominant at his given position. However, as a colleague of mine (read: my boss) pointed out, you wouldn't put any money on the Jayhawks coming away empty-handed when the All-Big 12 team is announced.* Could it happen? Absolutely. Will it happen? Don't hold your breath.
*This is, of course, assuming that gambling on college sports is legal where you're from...
The two guard spots will be given to all of these four without much protest from me: Sherron Collins, Tweety Carter, LaceDarius Dunn and Jacob Pullen. Dunn and Carter are, numberswise, the best of the four, with Dunn besting the rest in scoring and Carter dishing out a league-high 6.2 assists per game.
*Again, assuming the legality of gambling in your region.
I've heard about ballots that don't have Aldrich. I've heard about ballots that don't have Collins. I heard about one that has neither. But if I were a gambling man,* I'd be pretty sold on this being the All-Big 12 team that comes out after the ballots are due a week from today.
Regardless of what the statistics tell us, Collins and Pullen are the likeliest candidates. Collins because he's Sherron Collins, the winning player in Kansas basketball history (which is, I might add, a hell of a history), and Pullen because he's been the motivating factor for an over-achieving Kansas State team that still has a shot at sneaking into a No.1 seed (Thanks, Maryland!). There isn't a coach in the league that doesn't want Collins running the point for his team.
Shooting Guard: Jacob Pullen, junior Kansas State
Inside, the numbers point to Ekpe Udoh, whose points, rebounds and blocks statistics are all just whiskers higher than Cole Aldrich's. Aldrich, though, is the type of defensive presence that is just not quantifiable. He doesn't have the block numbers of Udoh, but that's in part because teams are actually scared of going into the middle against Aldrich. Seriously. They've even said so. Ask Keith Ramsey, who said, "People didn't want to attack because he was in there and everyone was getting their shot blocked."
Point Guard: Sherron Collins, senior)
Kansas
On the wing and at power forward, the Jayhawks boast the top candidates for freshman of the year and most improved player of the year in Xavier Henry and Marcus Morris, respectively. Unfortunately for those two, a junior and a guy who has always been this good will easily walk away with those spots — probably as the only two consensus picks on the ballot. I am, of course, referring to the ever-dominant James Anderson of Oklahoma State, the frontrunner for Player of the Year, and Damion James of Texas, who has managed a remarkable season despite his burnt-orange world crumbling around him.
Last night in the Phog?
Small Forward: James Anderson, junior, Oklahoma State
Power Forward: Damion James,
senior, Texas
Center: Cole Aldrich, junior, Kansas
Edited by Kelly Gibson
Weston White/KANSAN
Junior center Cole Aldrich hits a hook shot over Kansas State center Luis Colon. Aldrich finished Wednesday's game with nine points and three blocks
"I know sending me out with a win meant the most to him," Collins said.
But the Academic All-American is just enjoying the present moment, while trying not to put any focus on himself. Wednesday night belonged to Collins, and he said that was the way Aldrich wanted it.
Aldrich could leave early for NBA draft
- Edited by Cory Bunting
BY COREY THIBODEAUX
chithodeaux@kansan.com
twitter.com/c thibodeaux
As the "one more year" chant echoed throughout Allen Fieldhouse Wednesday, junior center Cole Aldrich displayed all the emotion he built up coming into the night during senior guard Sherron Collins' speech.
Collins owned senior night. He was the only graduating senior, which was fitting considering the mark he is leaving on the university.
Collins will be leaving after this season, and Aldrich may be done playing in Lawrence as well. He has avoided the topic all season, but even Collins expects the duo to move on together.
Before Wednesday's game, Aldrich skipped over the question of it being his last home game and did what he always does by putting the spotlight on someone else.
"It's been special sharing this moment with him," Collins said. "It might have been his last home game too."
"I'm just looking forward to getting Sherron through it," Aldrich said.
But the way Aldrich sat in tears during Collins' senior speech, it looked like he should have addressed the crowd as well. Even coach Bill Self said the night was important for his big man.
While it wasn't his best output, Aldrich had a profound effect on the night as well. For instance, senior night would not have happened this year because Collins might have left after last season if it wasn't for Aldrich.
"It's a senior night," Self said. "It's not a
inferior night, but it's emotional for Cole."
Aldrich only went for nine points and four rebounds in Kansas' 82-65 victory against Kansas State. He had a few devastating blocks, but that was about it for the highlight reel.
The layhawks have a game against Missouri coming up as well as the Big 12 and NCAA tournaments, so the speculation will have to linger for a while.
"Cole was half my reason for coming back to school," Collins said. "Most people didn't know that."
Aldrich had the chance to leave last year as well, but chose to come back for his junior season. If he does decide to leave after this season, NBA draft boards project him to go in the early-to-middle first round.
Team hopes for senior night statement game
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
mrothman@kansan.com
twitter.com/maxrothman
BY MAX ROTHMAN
The Jayhawks will vie to make their senior night a memorable one with an upset against No. 15 Texas A&M Saturday at 7 p.m. in Allen Fieldhouse.
But Saturday's game will be about more than simply winning and losing. It will serve as a commemoration of Kansas' senior class: guards LaChelda Jacobs, Kelly Kohn, Danielle McCray and Sade Morris; and forward Porscha Weddington.
"We've got a lot of work to do," coach Bonnie Henrickson said. "For all the seniors in our program, we've got to get better effort and compete."
But to capture a truly special senior night, the Jayhawks will likely need a statement victory. The underlying theme: Keep the Aggies off of the charity stripe.
Nebraska easily defeated Kansas 77-52 Wednesday after reaching the free throw line 30 times.
"How do you manufacture points? You manufacture them at the free throw line",
SEE WOMEN'S ON PAGE 6A
Senior guard Kelly Kohn shoots a three in the second halfof Saturday's game at Nebraska. Kohn ended with five points in the 77-52 loss to No.3 Nebraska.
Mike Gunnoe/KANSAN
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