THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN SPORTS
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Kansas faces tough Nebraska team
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3,2010
VOLLEYBALL | 3B
The No.5 Cornhuskers have won every match they've played in Lawrence and come to town with the No.2 player in the country, Brooke Delano.
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KANSAS 92,WASHBURN 62
Frontcourt controls Ichabods
PAGE 1B
Smaller starting lineup is effective but taller lineup could be used
Junior forward Marcus Morris puts up a jump shot over Washburn forward De'Andre Washington during the second half. Morris led the team with 28 points and seven rebounds in the 92-62 victory at Allen Fieldhouse Tuesday night.
Jerry Wang/KANSAN
BY TIM DWYER
tdywer@kansan.com
twitter.com/UDKbasketball
it it can remain healthy, Kansas' frontcourt has the potential to be one of the best in the conference, if not the nation.
Full box scores and more photos inside
If injuries, like Jeff Withey's lingering broken foot, pester the Jayhawks though, depth in the frontcourt could be a serious issue. Kansas has only four legitimate big men — Withey, Thomas Robinson and Marcus and Markieff Morris. To make up for the shortage in size, coach Bill Self gave 6-foot-6 Mario Little the nod as the starting power forward in Kansas' 92-62 exhibition victory against Washburn on Tuesday. The move worked against the Ichabods, who feature no player taller than 6-foot-9, but could be detrimental against some
Basketball season is under way, so be sure to stay informed on this year's young and fast team.
REWIND | 4B-5B
of the oversized frontcourts in the Big 12.
"If somebody goes down, the way our team is now." Self said. "you're looking at playing Mario a lot inside and we're too little, at least against some teams."
cerned, though.
All three jayhawk big men who played came up limping in a two-possession span toward the middle of the second half. The problem was nothing more serious than cramps for all three, but any more serious injuries could have lasting effects for the Jayhawks. Marcus isn't too con-
"Maybe a little bit," Marcus said, "but we haven't had jeff yet. But we'll have jeff in the next couple days so we'll be fine."
The timetable for Withey's return has already extended past the expect-
available to practice in the next seven to 10 days
Picking up the slack in the meantime is Marcus, who was as stellar as expected against the undersized Ichabods. Morris, the Jayhawks' returning leading scorer, finished with 28 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field in 22 minutes. He was a perfect 11-for-11 from the free-throw line and pulled down seven rebounds
"We're just not tall guys, but I do think we have enough bodies when we're healthy."
"We'll have him hopefully start, to where he's at least able to play by the start of the season," Self said.
ed four weeks. Self said he had hoped Withey, who, at 7-feet, is the team's tallest player by a few inches, would be on the floor Tuesday against Washburn, but he hasn't even had the chance to practice with the team yet. Self said he hoped Withey would be
BILL SELF Coach
while leading the team in steals and assists with three of each.
COMMENTARY
Markieffwasn't as overpowering as his twin, but had a big night of his own, finishing with 12 points and eight rebounds in 22 minutes of playing time. Both
twins are expected to get more minutes as the season progresses, and will likely see the offense focus even more on their versatility.
"Marcus has to get touches more often. Markieff has to get touches more often," Self said.
"Right now it's kind of, whoever's open shoots it, which is a good way to play. But in big games you've got to play through your best guys."
Self said that, as much as inju-
"If you have the twins and Thomas and Jeff and Rio, a lot of people don't have five guys." Self
said. "We're just not tall guys, but I do think we have enough bodies when we're healthy"
Edited by Clark Goble
Jayhawks' guards are main focus
BY NICOLAS ROESLER
nroesler@kansan.com
The crowd erupted to a deafening decibel level for the first time this season when senior forward Mario Little passed a breakaway alley-oop to sophomore guard Eliiah Johnson.
Despite the ensuing technical foul called on Johnson for his chin-up on the rim after the dunk, the fans in Allen Fieldhouse got their first taste of what the Kansas guards should be able to do this year.
The guards put on a show Tuesday in the win against Washburn, maybe not with their shooting, but with their ability to move a defense and score inside.
The starting lineup began the game exactly the way many fans would've expected it to. Senior guard Tyrel Reed made the first three-pointer of the game and junior guard Tyshawn Taylor managed the game well, scoring only when he needed to. One surprising play came when senior guard Brady Morningstar made a baseline cut and whipped the ball around on a reverse layup.
Taylor led the guards as a group in points with 12. But the more important statistic from the guards was their assisting. Each of the guards, including the ones coming off the bench, had at least two assists. The area that obviously needs work is three-point shooting.
"Those threes will fall," Taylor said after the game. "We have good shooters."
Without the outside shot working right now, the guards found other ways to score. Coach Bill Self said that Taylor's ability to get shots inside would make him a key factor in the offense.
"He shot the ball with confidence, but the biggest thing is he's just so athletic," Self said. "He can get to the paint whenever he wants to."
Both Reed and Morningstar also got the start, leaving Johnson on
SEE ROESLER ON PAGE 5B
FOOTBALL
'Thin' depth chart forces players into new positions
BY KORY CARPENTER kcarpenter@kansan.com
Early season injuries hurt the offensive, defensive lines
Senior running back Angus Quigley knows his team's depth chart is thin.
safely recycle.
Gill has been forced to put players who are usually starters onto the special teams as well. Backup players usually fill special team roles.
Injuries on the offensive line and defensive line and to the secondary have forced players to take on new positions and roles in coach Turner Gill's system.
"Guys are banged up, but were not going to make excuses," Quigley said Tuesday.
"We've had to make some tough decisions because there's not much depth, so we're playing a lot more guys on special teams. So there's that question for us: How much do they play? How many reps?" Gill said.
The players doing double duty could be a factor in Kansas' fatigue. The spread offenses in the Big 12
also might play a role. Players don't have as much time between plays and defenses are forced to cover sideline to sideline. A traditional offense would run the ball between the tackles more than a spread offense.
Before the season even started, the coaching staff received devastating blows when linebacker Huldon Tharp
But injuries are certainly the biggest thing hampering the jayhawks' depth.
"Guys are banged up, but we're not going to make excuses
and offensive linemen lef Spikes, two starters from last season, suffered season-ending injuries at the beginning of training camp in August. Running back Rell Lewis also had his season ended after tearing ligaments in his knee in early
Before the barrage of injuries depleted much of the lines, Gill's recruiting efforts showed that he
ANGUS QUIGLEY Senior running back
September. Lewis was expected to challenge for the No. 2 running back spot behind Quigley.
noticed the lack of offensive linemen he inherited from Mark Mangino. According to Rivals.com, Gill and his staff have already locked up six offensive linemen for next year. In accordance with NCAA rules, coaches are allowed to comment on recruits, but the number of linemen
on their way to Lawrence next year tells fans all they need to know: Gill doesn't like having a thin depth chart, and he's doing what he can to change that in 2011.
Mike Gunnoe/KANSAN
— Edited by Clark Goble
Senior running back Angus Quigley finds a noie and runs for a large gain against Iowa state Saturday. Quigley recorded 124 an purpose yards.