Sports
Monday Coverage of this weekend's action in baseball,softball and track.
The University Daily Kansan
12A
Friday, April 9, 2004
Nianq, Wilkes to leave team
By Henry C. Jackson
hjackson@kansan.com
Kansan sports editor
Kansas basketball players Moulaye Niang and Omar Wilkes will be granted releases and be allowed to transfer at the end of this academic year, according to news releases sent after last night's basketball award ceremony.
Wilkes, a 6-foot-4 freshman guard, will transfer to a school on the West Coast, Kansas coach Bill Self said in a media release last night.
"Omar did very well in school, and I really believe he is going to be an excellent college basketball player," Self said in the release. "Unfortunately for Kansas, it will now happen on the West Coast."
The release did not indicate where Wilkes would transfer, but his father, Jamaal Wilkes, played college basketball at UCLA and professional basketball for the Los Angeles Lakers. Rumors have also circulated about a potential transfer to Cal or Stanford, two schools
also close to his family's home in Los Angeles.
Awards were presented last night to the men's basketball team. See page 6A.
Rumors about a move for Niang, a 6-10 sophomore center, had been ciru
lating for more than a week, and the San Diego Union-Tribune reported earlier this week that the center would visit San Diego State University and possibly Texas Christian University, where former Kansas assistant Neil Dougherty is coach.
Last night's news release confirmed the Tribune's report, saying that Niang would visit both schools soon.
Niang's transfer does not come as a surprise, but as recently as two months ago Wilkes denied he was transferring in an interview with the Kansan. It is thought that both players considered leaving Kansas because of playing time, but Wilkes also expressed an interest to play basketball and go to school closer to his home.
Niang
Wilkes
"I've thoroughly enjoyed my time here, and I've built many great relationships which I'm sure I will continue on a personal level off the court now," Wilkes said in the release. "However, I believe it's in my best interest to pursue my education and my basketball career closer to home where I can interact more with my family and feel more comfortable."
Wilkes saw sparse minutes as a reserve guard this year, and was behind
junior guards Jeff Hawkins and Michael Lee as well as freshman guard Jeremy Case on Selfs depth chart for most of the season.
Though showing potential at times, Niang struggled to compete for minutes with Kansas' post players during his time at Kansas. Niang did not receive much playing time, despite the team having only two healthy big men last year.
This year, with freshman center David Padgett taking up more minutes, Niang saw even less time, and walk-on and sophomore forward Christian Moody got the majority of the minutes in the post when Padgett and senior forward leff Graves were in foul trouble.
Niang said he loved his time at Kansas, but that he would need to consider going somewhere where he could get more playing time.
"I love my teammates, I love the fans, everything is just great out here," Niang said in the news release. "However, I'm the type of player who wants to be part of everything, and I want to play."
If both players transfer, Kansas will have two scholarships available for next year. That could smooth the path for Malik Hairston, a 6-6 high-school guard from Detroit. Hairston, a McDonald's All-American, has a short list of schools he is still considering, including Kansas, UCLA and possibly Michigan and Ohio State. He is supposed to meet with Self soon.
A longer shot would be landing 6-11 high-school center C.J. Giles. Giles signed a letter of intent to play for the University of Miami, but the school recently fired the coach who recruited him, Perry Clark. The school has said that it would not entertain any request from Giles to transfer until it appoints a new coach. Kansas recruited Giles before he signed with Miami, but no one can speak to him about playing for the Jayhawks until a release is given by Miami. Giles' father also played basketball at Kansas.
Kansas' wide receivers improved
Edited by Ehren Meditz
By Kevin Flaherty
kflaherty@kansan.com
Kansas senior sportwriter
Just one year ago, Kansas' wide receivers were viewed as a weak point of the football team.
Dropped passes and lack of overall speed led Athlon Sports Magazine to rank the Kansas receivers as the 11th best in the Big 12 Conference, ahead of only run-happy Nebraska. Other publications followed suit, and the Jayhawk wideouts were rated as either the 11th or 12th best wide receivers in the conference by almost every preseason annual.
Charles Gordon, Kansas freshman wide receiver, aided by teammates, pushed down the field during the Oct. 18 Homecoming game against Baylor. The Jayhawks won the game 28-21, and Gordon ran for 52 yards and scored one touchdown.
After a breakout season in 2003, Kansas' receivers may now be one of the strongest points on the team. Out of the fires of criticism came a wide receiver corps that helped Kansas finish fourth in the conference in passing, despite missing its starting quarterback for three games and most of a fourth.
Kansan File Photo
Perhaps the best fact about the 2003 receivers is that the top four all return for the 2004 season.
The receivers that played in 2003 were a far cry from the dismal 2002 season. Focusing all year on honing hand-eye coordination and catching the ball, the receivers played up to their potential, giving Bill Whittemore a well-rounded cast of targets to throw the ball to.
Adam Barmann, sophomore quarterback, said the return of experienced receivers is a plus for the team that is looking for a starting quarterback.
"It's huge. When they're coming
back to the huddle, they're always telling me things, look for me on this break," Barmann said. "They're so smart, it's a big help to me because they're so savvy out there."
They are not only smart, they provide a variety of different receiving types.
Mark Simmons, junior, is the deep threat. Mark Mangino, Kansas football
coach, said Simmons had deceptive speed. He has explosive rather than distance speed, and Simmons knows
SEE IMPROVED ON PAGE 10A
One-time Jayhawk a star in Ireland
The basketball hero who didn't make Roy's cut
By Samia Khan skhan@kansan.com Kansan staff writer
It was practicing outside every day in the cold and rain that helped Chris Bracey get where he is today. He didn't give up when the neighbor complained about the noise and that the dribbling basketball was making her television screen jump. The alley behind his house was never too small or dark for him to shoot hoops. It is for all those reasons that Bracey is on the verge of his basketball dreams.
Bracey, a KU student from Fall 1998 to Spring 1999, helped his professional European league team in Ireland win the nation's playoffs last season. Next season he plans to sign a contract to play in a bigger European country. But he had to push himself through 10 years of trials to get to this point.
Bracey remembers the devastation of being cut for the first time his sophomore year at Oak Park River Forest High School in Chicago. He thought he had done everything right.
Chris West, Chicago senior, stands with Chris Bracey, former KU student. Bracey is playing pro basketball and was MVP of his team in Tralee, Ireland. He took the team from worst to first in one season
Bracey practiced on his own. He ran track to stay in shape. He used the hoop in the alley behind his house to practice his handling and shooting skills for three to five hours every day. Bracey played pick-up games against men twice his age at the YMCA to build his confidence.
Bracey's best friend since the eight grade, Christopher West, made the team that year. West, a Chicago senior, said it was hard to go to practice, knowing Bracey had to go home.
"He came home with tears in his eyes," said his mother, Peggy Bracey.
Both West and Bracey continued to play and practice. West said he fed off of Bracey's tenacity. Even after being cut twice, Bracey maintained his determination and workout regimen.
Junior year began and tryouts for the team soon came. He was cut again.
They ran drills until 10 every night, or until it was so dark outside that their mothers asked them to come inside. By their senior year, the work had paid off. West said it was obvious they were the best players at tryouts that year. They
Contributed Photo
both made the team.
Bracey was named the team's most valuable player, averaging 16 points and seven rebounds per game. He made the West Suburban All- Conference team.
But it was only one year of experience, and not enough time to make a big name for himself.
Jayhawk for a while
Bracey could have played at a junior college, but he chose the University of Kansas. He fell in love with the campus and his mother wanted him to put his education first. He decided to attend the University with West.
SEE IRELAND ON PAGE 7A
BASEBALL
Jayhawks flying high after rout, face Aggies
By Shane Kucera
skucera@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
The Jayhawks' victory against the
Still riding the momentum from Wednesday's bashing of Wichita State, Coach Ritch Price's Jayhawks will take on Texas A&M today in the first of a three-game series.
shockers was the first against a top 10 team this season and the second victory of the season against a ranked opponent.
Price
The Texas A&M Aggies are coming into the series ranked 15th by the Baseball America Poll.
TALK TO SPORTS: Contact Henry C. Jackson or Maggie Newcomer at SPORTS@KANSAN.COM
The Aggies have returned 17 letter winners this season. Experience has been a reason for the team's 27-8 overall record. Texas & A.M.'s 4-5 Big 12 Conference place it fifth.
Victories in this series are important for the Jayhawks. The Big 12 is proving to be strong this season. Texas, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas A&M are currently ranked in the Top 25.
First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Hoglund Ballpark.
Both Baylor and Oklahoma were previously ranked.
With a 1-5 record in conference play, multiple victories against Texas A&M could help Kansas move ahead of Missouri, Texas Tech and Kansas State in the Big 12.
- Edited by Nikki Nugent
SOFTBALL
Team looks to regroup with successful double-header
The Kansas softball team will look to correct a recent spell of losing play when it takes on Texas A&M in a double-header this weekend.
The two games will take place Saturday with the first pitch scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Game two should start about 1:30 p.m.
After a rough outing against Missouri on Wednesday, Kansas will have to bring its bats back to life if the team hopes to have a shot at A&M.
Kansas fans can watch the game via Livestats by going to www.kuathletics.com and following the links to softball and livestats.
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- Jonathan Kealing
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