Sports
1B
The University Daily Kansan
Friday, May 7, 2004
'Kansan' predicts Big 12 football
By Kevin Flaherty
kflaherty@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
While the Big 12 Conference has typically been strong top to bottom, the drop off of Colorado and Nebraska has hurt the strength of the Big 12 North. Four teams have a chance to win the North, while the South is as strong as ever. Kansan staff writer Kevin Flaherty offers his predictions.
1) Oklahoma
The Sooners are loaded with talent including one of the best offensive and defensive lines in the nation.
Quarterback Jason White won the Heisman Trophy last season and Mark Clayton is the Big 12's best receiver. Lance Mitchell, linebacker, and Antonio Perkins. cornerback, will help to boost a defensive unit that lost All-Americans Teddy Lehman, Derrick Strait and Tommie Harris. The one weakness of last season's team was its inability to run the ball, but Oklahoma signed the top running back in the
nation, Adrian Peterson, to st right in and play. He and jur ior college recruits Rem Ayodele, defensive tackle, and Chijoke Onyenegecha, cornerback, are both immediate impact players, so they should help to bolster a team that should compete for a national title again.
2) Texas
Texas once again will have one of the stronger teams in the nation, but can they win the important games to take a step toward the national championship?
Vince Young is
Vince Young one of the rising young talents in the conference, and his development as a passer will be the key for this team to make a play at the Big 12 title. The running game will be fine, with Cedrick Benson running behind a typically huge Texas line. The receiving corps
must replace last season's three starters, including first-round draft pick Roy Williams. The defense, led by Rodrigue Wright and Derrick Johnson, has great athleticism and playmaking ability.
In what should be a down year for the Big 12 North,
Kansas s State still returns the
31 Kansas State
most talent. Despite losing quarterback Ell Roberson and most of the cogs from last season's defense, this should be a strong team. Dylan Meier and Alan Webb will fight it out for the starting quarterback job. Darren Sproles is the best running back
in the Big 12 and should be primed for a big season. The receivers will be improved as the young players develop. The offensive line will miss starters Nick Leckey and Ryan Lilja, while Marvin Simmons will try to boost a linebacking group without Josh Buhl and Bryan Hickman, who graduated. Even with the losses, this is still the most talented team in the North.
4) Oklahoma State
4) Oklahoma State
This is a team that will slip under some people's radars this season, but they shouldn't. Vernand Morency, running back, is a sleeper pick for Big 12 player of the year. The offensive and defensive lines will be strong, and the Cowboys' defense should improve as the young defensive tackles get used to Big 12 play. Josh Fields, quarterback, may be headed to play baseball, but this team has several quarterbacks to replace
5) Texas A&M
The Aggies struggled in their first year under coach Dennis Franchione, but there is too much talent for them to stay down. Three consecutive top-15 recruiting classes are starting to
pay off with talent such as quarterback Reggie McNeal, running back Courtney Lewis, linebacker Justin Warren and defensive tackle Johnny Jolly. Look for A&M to be much improved on both sides of the ball and possibly take a run at Oklahoma State's position.
6) Nebraska
Who knows how this passing game will turn out? Joe Dailey looked like a star and then like a dud in spring practice. His consistency is key, but the Cornhuskers did discover some receiving talent in the spring. The running back position is loaded, with Cory Ross, David Horne and Tierre Green. Dailey should be well protected by a line featuring Richie Incognito at center. The defense returns lots of talent, especially in the secondary where both Fabian Washington, cornerback, and Josh Bullocks, safety, could make a play for All-Big 12 honors. Barrett Ruud is one of the most underrated linebackers in the Big 12.
on Missouri and its chance to win the Big 12 North. While any one of four teams could win this season,
SEE FOOTBALL ON PAGE 6B
BASEBALL
Kansas tries to stop slump against strong Texas team
By Ryan Colaiani
rocolaianni@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
It's not a good time for the Jayhawk baseball team to face the country's No. 2 team. Heading into their series with the Texas Longhorns, the Jayhawks have lost 11 of their last 12 conference games.
Kansas is coming off a heartbreaking 11-8 loss to SMS on Tuesday night. The team's bullpen gave up seven runs in the top of the ninth, surrendering the loss. The Jayhawk pitching staff has struggled, allowing 122 runs in the team's last 12 conference contests.
Coach Ritch Price and pitching coach Steve Abney have made changes in the team's rotation, hoping to remedy the staff's recent woes. Senior Ryan Knippschild, who usually starts the first game of a conference series, will pitch on Sunday. Junior Ken Livesey has been added to the rotation and will pitch tonight. He is 1-2 on the season with a 6.75 ERA. He has started two games this season.
he has bayhawks' high-octane offense, which boasts a .322 season average, may be slowed this weekend. The Longhorns arguable have the best pitching staff in the county. For the season, Texas has conference-leading 2.46 team ERA.
The Longhorn pitching staff is led by junior J.P. Howell who is 10-1 with
SEE SLUMP ON PAGE 6B
Courtney Kuklen/Kansan Junior infielder Travis Duniap attempted to hit the ball Tuesday afternoon during the third inning of the game against Southwest Missouri State.
By Eric Sorrentino
esorrentino@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Tyler Hall is taking all the right steps to make his PGA dream a reality.
The senior golfer has finished an oustanding career with the Jayhawks and is turning his sights toward becoming a part of the PGA Tour.
"With everything going well, I'd like to head home to New Jersey for at least a good part of the summer," said Hall, a Wayne, N.J., native. "I'm going to try and play in as many tournaments as I can get into and build my resume."
Hall
Hall said that after the summer, he was thinking about moving to Scottsdale, Ariz. — a popular location among young golfers looking to succeed at the professional level.
To say that Hall has been effective for Kansas golf since his redshirt season in 1999 would be an understatement. Hall competed in 34 tournaments during his Kansas career. He also recorded 10 top-10 finishes for the Jayhawks, including four top-10 finishes this spring.
"When he's out there,he's all business,and he's really working hard,"
"When he's out there,he's all business,and he's really working hard. He's given his all,and that's all I can ask for.I'll miss Tyler's dedication."
coach Ross Randall said. "He's given his all, and that's all I can ask for. I'll miss Tyler's dedication."
Ross Randall Kansas golf coach
Hall was recruited by a handful of schools out of high school. His father, Larry Hall, was a golf professional who knew Randall. Hall decided to join Randall at Kansas and the rest is history.
Hall's highlight from the spring was his second-place individual finish at the Colorado-Stevinson Ranch Invitational in California. This included a remarkable score of 67 on his second round. The Jayhawks went on to win the tournament as a team.
team.
"I really think his best golf is in front of him," Randall said. "The thing with golf is that you have to make such a tremendous time commitment. I'm really happy for him because golf is an
SEE GOLFER ON PAGE 60
Jayhawks' regular season closes against Cyclones
SOFTBALL
Kansas softball will wrap up its Big 12 Conference regular season this weekend with a series against Iowa State.
By Jonathan Kealing
jkealing@kansan.com
kansan sportswriter
Kansas owns a 30-25-1 record, which includes a 6-10 mark in the Big 12. Iowa State has a 12-29 record, and a 2-12 record in the Big 12.
a 2-12 record in the league. Kansas is on a three-game conference winning streak, after taking one from Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb., and then sweeping Texas last weekend.
"We've talked about going 5-0 to finish out the season. If we do that, we should go into the tournament in sixth place," coach Tracy Bunge said.
Iowa State has struggled all year and has managed two victories against Big 12 teams.
came on March 28 against Texas Tech and defeated then-No. 20 Oklahoma for its second victory.
ISU's first victory
Kansas swept both of its games against Texas Tech with a 2-1 and 4-1
"We've talked about going 5-0 to finish out the season. If we do that, we should go into the tournament in sixth place."
Tracy Bunge Kansas softball coach
victory, but did not fare so well against Oklahoma. The Sooners downed the layhawks 10-1 and 2-1.
Last time the Cyclones came to Lawrence, each team won one game.
Iowa State is led by senior Julia Lindsey at third base who is hitting 311.
Also doing well for the Jayhawks is freshman pitcher Kassie Humphreys who was named last week's Big 12 Pitcher of the Week. Humphreys pitched in two of last week's three victories.
Leading the Jayhawks at the plate is sophomore shortstop Destiny Frankenstein who has a hitting average of 280.
Humphreys has a team-leading 1.50 ERA and has recorded 177 strikeouts.
The entire team is focused on that sixth place, because teams that are
satisfaction.
"We don't want to be in the play-in game again. We did it last year and it's no fun," Frankenstein said.
ranked seven through 10 must all compete in a play-in game during the Big 12 Tournament.
The Big 12 Tournament is in Oklahoma City, Okla., from May 12-15 at Hall of Fame Stadium.
Kansas is in seventh place with two games to play. Oklahoma State is in sixth place, and has one game remaining.
Kansas and Iowa State will meet at 2 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.
Edited by Guillaume Doane
TALK TO SPORTS. Contact Henry C. Jackson or Maggie Newcomer at SPORTS@KANSAN.COM