Sports
The University Daily Kansan
1B
Friday, April 16, 2004
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Leading scorer transfers to Old Dominion
By Jesse Newell
jnewell@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Sophomore forward Tamara Ransburg will not return to the Kansas women's basketball team next season, deciding this week to transfer to Old Dominion.
According to The Kansas City Star, Ransburg, who averaged 10.3 points and 7.1 rebounds for the Jayhawks last season, committed to Old Dominion coach Wendy Larry during a trip to Norfolk, Va., last week. The 6-4 forward then told new Kansas coach Bonnie Henrickson of her intentions this week.
SEE BASKETBALL ON PAGE 8B
Courtney Kuhlen/Kansan
Tamara Ransburg, sophomore forward, will transfer after this semester.
Mixed sentiments
Fans express range of emotions about David Padgett's departure
By Jodie Krafft
jkraft@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Attitudes among students were mixed yesterday after the sudden declaration that David Padgett would depart the University of Kansas.
depart the University in a press release yesterday, Kansas coach Bill Self and David Padgett announced the freshman center would transfer at the end of the semester
"I'm heartbroken. I wish he was staying," said Aaron Lovitt, Salina senior. "He was the next Nick Collison. He would have gotten stronger in the off-season."
or seas. Lovitt said he attended most games his freshman and sophomore years and has watched them on TV since then. He said he always supported Padgett, despite his inconsistencies.
"I was always optimistic about him." Lovitt said.
Noah Rodenbeek, Salina senior, said he was a dedicated Kansas basketball fan, but not a Padgett fan.
"I hate Padgett. I always thought he brought the team down," he said.
Even though he thought Padgett was a good player, Rodenbeek said Jeff Graves didn't deserve to be replaced during his senior year.
Abbey Close, Enid, Okla., freshman, said Padgett was set up for freshman failure because of all the hype surrounding his first year at the University.
University. "You can't put that much pressure on a freshman and expect him to perform well," Close said.
Cole Rodenbeek, Noah's brother, grew up in Reno and went to high school with Padgett. The sophomore said he talked to Padgett occasionally in high school and thought he might go to Arizona because it's closer to home.
"I hope he does good wherever he goes, but it's sad to see him go." Cole
SEE PADGETT ON PAGE 8B
Kansan File Photo
Freshman forward David Padgett struggles to lob a hook shot over Texas forward Bryan Boddicker during the Feb. 23 game in Austin, Texas. Padgett announced yesterday that he would transfer at the end of the semester.
Sophomore runner Chris Jones competed in the Jayhawk Invitational indoor meet in January. Jones finished fifth in the men's 5,000 meter run during yesterday's Kansas Relays.
KU RELAYS
'Hawks begin on right foot at 'Distance Carnival' races
Junior Kim Clark claims victory in 800-meter run
By Michael Phillips
mphillips@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
She stood atop that platform yesterday afternoon following her victory in the women's unseeded 800-meter run, an indication that things were looking up during the Jayhawks' first day of the Kansas Relays at the Memorial Stadium track.
Kim Clark, Elkhorn, Neb., junior, won the event with a time of 2-minutes, 11.3 seconds, more than six seconds faster than second place Megan Manthe, Anoka, Minn., junior.
The track events held yesterday made up the "distance carnival." The shortest run was 800 meters and the longest was 10,000 meters.
Kansas sophomore runner Benson Chesang was jumping around and giving high-fives in the infield, but it wasn't his victory he was celebrating.
His brother Matthew Chesang, a
Clark
Benson Chesang
junior at Kansas State, won the 5000-meter run after blowing away his competition on the final lap.
"It feels great to win at such a large event," Matthew Chesang said after the meet.
Kansas runner Chris Jones finished the event in fifth place.
The only field event of the day was the hammer throw. The men's side was dominated by Nick Welihozkily.
His best throw, 64.25 meters, was almost eight meters farther than the second place contestant's.
The women's hammer throw winner was Delisa McClain of Oklahoma State.
Her best throw was 54.41 meters.
The longest event of the Relays, the 10,000-meter run, was taken on the women's side by Kris Woolf of
Southeast Missouri State at 39:8.67.
She finished fourth in last year's relays.
On the men's side, the victory went to David Cheromei of Butler County. He said afterward that he ran well, but added that "the race was not so competitive."
The night ended with the women's and men's open 5K run.
Marla Rhoden finished ahead of the 16 other women to win the event.
The event was an opportunity for everyone to run the track and be a participant in the Relays.
The Topeka resident comes down annually for the Relays, but had never run a race on the track.
David Johnston and Steve Riley had both competed in the Relays before as Kansas students.
Johnston joked that he was out "to relive my former glory days."
There were 27 runners in the men's competition, ranging in age from current students to senior citizens.
The race was won by Pat Melgares in a time of 16:00.99.
Today's events begin at 8 a.m. at Memorial Stadium.
Edited by Guillaume Doane
Football team to work out kinks in scrimmage
By Kevin Flaherty
kflaherty@kansan.com
Kansan senior sportswriter
In last season's spring scrimmage, the offense dominated behind quarterback Bill Whittimore.
Whittemore, scrambling out of the pocket despite suffering a knee injury months later, completed a high percentage of his passes and moved the offense at will.
often is what "Bill looks real sharp." Mangino said last spring. "He has a chance to be one of the best quarterbacks in the nation."
In this year's edition of the spring scrimmage on Sunday, the Jayhawks will try to find a replacement for their record-setting signal caller.
record-setting eight. The leading candidates at this point are Adam Barmann, sophomore, and Jason Swanson, junior, and through spring practice, Mark Margino, Kansas football coach, said Barmann had a slight lead.
Barmann said there was no tension between the two quarterbacks.
"I'm looking forward to the competition, and I know he's looking forward to the competition," Barmann said. "We're friends, I see him all the time, there's no animosity between us."
Regardless of who starts off the scrimmage, both quarterbacks will be tested. While most colleges that hold their spring practices hold actual scrimmages, Mangino's version of spring ball involves putting the offense and defense in different situations. Sometimes the offense will start near the goal line, other times it will have third down and eight yards to go from the opposite 20 yard line. At almost no point is it a straight scrimmage.
It puts a strain on both the offense and the defense and keeps both involved in different game situations. While the quarterback matchup will be one of the more interesting storylines, another will be to watch and see which side of the ball Charles Gordon
sophomore, will play. He has spent time at both defensive back and wide receiver in the spring, and could play either or both in the spring game.
If the format stays the same as last season, the team will start out with special teams work and move into offense against defense in varied situations.
against defense in winter.
The defense will have a different look than it did last season with several new starters. John McCoy, senior, a situational pass rusher last season is making the transition to full time defensive end opposite last season's starter David McMillan, senior. A healthy Travis Watkins, senior, and Chris Brandt, freshman, will likely be the two starting defensive tackles. Kevin Kane, junior, will probably get Gabe Toomey's, junior, reps at starting middle linebacker because Toomey has been banged up all spring. Nick Reid, junior, and Banks Floodman, junior, are the two starting
SEE FOOTBALL ON PAGE 8B
Senior wide receiver Brandon Rideau attempted to elude a defensive player during a 2004 spring practice drill. The Jayhawks will hold their spring scrimmage Sunday.
LK TO SPORTS: Contact Henry C. Jackson or Maggie Newcomer at SPORTS@KANSAN.COM