6B the university daily kansan
sports
tuesday, april 20, 2004
ERRORS: Tie-breaker rule used in Jayhawks' extra-inning defeat
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stepped up and lined to left field. This brought Stanley home and tied the game.
"I was trying to change the moment, " Frankenstein said. "The team really needed it." "I was trying to change the momentum. The team really needed it."
Destiny Frankenstein Sophomore shortstop
The gam e remained tied until
the tenth inning. Per the International Tie Breaker Rule, each team began the 10th inning with a runner on second.
a ruler on top of the SIU second baseman Samantha Carter bunted one into and out of the glove of first baseman Leah Mountain. This misplay allowed Doehring to move to third, and Carter to reach first.
Third basemen Haley Viehhaus lined one deep to left field, allowing Doehring to come home. An error on Wallach then allowed a routine pop up to hit the ground, driving Carter in. Kansas sent three up and three down to end the game.
Kansas begins a five-game road trip Wednesday at Arkansas. The 'Hawks will return home May 1 to play Texas at 2 p.m.
Sophomore shortstop Nettie Fierros and teammates congratulated senior center fielder Mel Wallach after she scored the first run of the game against Southern Illinois.
Edited by Michelle Rodick
SURPRISES: Defense improving
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and he's not even a starter. Junior Gabe Toomey sat out the spring with nagging injuries, but he'll be ready to go in the fall. Combined with juniors Nick Reid and Banks Floodman, the four make an outstanding line-backing group. Floodman might be the most talented of the line-backers. All Reid does is lead the team in tackles. Both should be considered for postseason accolades. But the linebackers run even deeper.
Junior Brandon Perkins led the team in sacks last season with seven from the pass rushing position. Freshman Bruce Ringwood was the top linebacker in the Kansas City area as a senior in high school in 2002, while junior Zach Mims brings size and speed to the outside linebacker spot. This group will also be joined by recruits Mike Rivera and Joe Mortensen, both of whom are talented enough to play as freshman.
Biggest non-factor: The quarterback race
Both quarterbacks have looked strong through the spring, but face it—they are both in exactly the same place they started at in the spring. Sophomore Adam Barmann had a slight lead over junior Jason Swanson, because Bar-
mann had a better grasp of the offense. Barmann still leads because he knows the offense well. That's not to say that the spring was a waste. Barmann got to practice being "the man," a different approach than he used to in college. Swanson did pick up quite a bit of the offense.
This battle should rage through the summer and the start of the fall. But as for the spring, it wasn't much of a battle at all.
Overall:
The biggest surprise was the play of the defense and it showed in the spring scrimage. Both the defensive backs and the defensive ends made significant gains, while Mangino said the offensive line could be the best he's had since coming to Kansas with freshman Cesar Rodriguez emerging as a star. The linebackers and receivers are as advertised. Senior Gary Heaggans moved into the No.3 receiver spot previously occupied by Gordon. Freshman Derek Fine moved ahead of senior Lyonel Anderson at tight end. The running backs were average, while the quarterback race has yet to take off. This team is still far from a finished product, but potential abounds.
- Edited by Danielle Hillix
RESPECT: Rudeness should stop, no matter where Padgett goes
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It's likely Padgett will play for a team with an offense that resembles the fast-paced style the Jayhawks sported in the Roy Williams era. If you paid close attention this season, the games in which Padgett looked his best were the games in which Kansas was able to get out, run and establish its fast-break offense.
Some of those efforts included scoring seven points in 11 minutes in the NCAA Tournament against Pacific and scoring 16 points in the Jayhawks' 96-77 victory over Texas Tech on Feb. 7.
While there is speculation that
Padgett will end up playing for Roy in North Carolina, I think it's highly unlikely. ESPN.com's Andy Katz may have put this rumor to rest with a report over the weekend that had North Carolina officials denying that the Tarheels would pursue Padgett.
Everyone tends to forget how upset Padgett's father and high-school coach, Pete Padgett, was with coach Williams following his departure from Kansas. Pete seems to be one of those guys who has his son's career in the palm of his hands. If that is the case, David becoming a Tar Heel would certainly be out of the question.
There are three other schools that David Padgett is reportedly considering. Nevada? Too small-market. Stanford? It plays too much like Kansas. That leaves Arizona as Padgett's likely destination. Coach Lute Olsen's teams are as high-scoring and as fast-paced as they come, and could give Padgett a golden ticket to the NBA. The Wildcats, much like the Jayhawks of old, play the style of basketball Padgett is built for.
Of course, no matter where Padget goes, the hating has to stop. Let it go. Padget busted his butt trying to fit in for one season at Kansas, and fans should appreciate that. He is in no way, shape or form a
quitter. He's just looking out for himself and taking the best route to fulfilling his goals of playing professional basketball some day. Besides, Kansas will still field one of the top-10 teams in college basketball next season without him.
It was just two years ago when a group of two-faced Kansas fans chastised Drew Gooden in the Free for All when he made the decision to forego his senior season and enter the NBA Draft. This time around, those same fans should try to save some face and let this kid go in peace.
- Greene is a Vernon Hills, Ill., senior in journalism
Freshman center David Padgett hung his head as the Jayhawks lost their second Big 12 Conference road game. Padgett will transfer schools at the end of the year.
Kansan file photo
VENTURE CAPITAL FUND Monte Johnson, director of the Rudd Foundation, will discuss the availability of a $1 million dollar business-startup capital fund available to any KU student. (www.ruddfoundation.org)
TUES. APRIL 20TH 7:30 P.M. IN THE DOLE INSTITUTE
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5 p.m. to Close-Every Evening
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