THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN SPORTS
Early lead doesn't prevent a loss
SOCCER|8A
Jayhawks led going into halftime, but went into overtime during a Buffalo comeback in the second half. Colorado eventually won during overtime play, 2-1.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2010
WWW.KANSAN.COM
PAGE 10A
ROLE PLAY
Opurum is handed reins as defensive end
After starting the season at linebacker, Toben Opurum's skills are deemed most beneficial at defensive end
BY KORY CARPENTER kcarpenter@kansan.com
When deciding on where to play college football, sophomore Toben Opurum had the pick of the litter.
The former high school star from Plano, Texas was courted by football powers like Nebraska, Florida, and Notre Dame, among others throughout his high school career. Opurum was rated by Rivals.com as the third best fullback in Texas in 2009, and coaches Urban Meyer and Bo Pelini wanted the 6'2, 229 pound recruit in their backfields. There was just one problem. Opurum wanted to play running back at the next level. When former Kansas coach Mark Mangino offered him a spot at running back, Opurum signed his letter of intent and traveled to Lawrence, where he led the team with 554 rushing yards while adding 9 touchdowns last year as a freshman.
Evan Palmer/KANSAN
When Mangino was fired and Turner Gill took over last December, the new coaching staff emphasized speed at the running back position, and Opurum's bruising style was out of the equation.
After beginning the season at linebacker with minimal results, Opurum started at defensive end against Texas A&M Saturday. He had six tackles on the night, and Gill told reporters Monday that Opurum is staying put.
"He's definitely going to stay at the defensive end position. We decided last week that that's what his best asset is."
Opurum didn't get to Texas A&M quarterbacks jerrod Johnson
or Ryan Tannnehill, but Gill said he liked what he saw and his speed was a nice change of pace for the Kansas defense, who only has six sacks on the season.
the season.
Now at his third position in less than a year, Opurum sees his newest role as pass rusher as an opportunity to help the struggling Kansas defense.
defense.
"The coaches knew what they were doing and they are putting me in a position that I can better help my team," Opurum said.
The defense needs all the help they can get at this point. The Jayhawks are currently last in the Big 12 in scoring defense, turnover margin, and sacks. Opurum's speed on the edge was a factor in the position change, as coaches are trying to generate pressure on the quarterback.
Sophomore defensive to Tenb Oburum, jumps and tips a ball thrown by Texas A&M quarterback Jarrod Johnson Saturday night at Memorial Stadium. Opurum, who made the move from running back to linebacker before the season, started at defensive end for the first time in his career Saturday. He finished the game with six tackles, five of those being assists.
quarterback. "He has good quickness and he'll continue to get better." Gill said of Opurum. "He definitely gives more opportunities to hit the quarterback a few more times."
With virtually no pressure on opposing quarterbacks thus far in the season, teams have had plenty of time to carve up the Kansas secondary. Big 12 QBs have had even more success, put up a combined 159 points against the Jayhawks the first three conference games.
Following the Texas A&M loss, Opurum acknowledged he still had a lot to learn on the defensive side of the ball.
"I think I have improved a lot but I still have a lot of work to put in to help my team."
Edited by Leslie Kinsman
MEN'S GOLF
Jayhawks fifth of 15 in final tournament of year
Senior Jeff Bell tees off earlier this month during the second round of the Bill Ross Intercollegiate tournament. He is currently tied for 46th place in the Herb Wimberly Intercollegiate tournament. Sophomore Alex Gutesha leads the Jayhawks, tied for sixth place. New Mexico State is in first place.
Chris Neal/FILE PHOTO
ETHAN PADWAY epadway@kansan.com
The men's golf team finished the first day of the Herb Wimberly Intercollegiate tied for fifth place. The Jayhawks shot 295 in their first round Monday morning and 290 in the second round to put them at 17 over par for the tournament, tied with Boise State University.
Sophomore Alex Gutesha led the Jayhawks. Gutesha shot one over par for 72 Monday morning before he came back in the afternoon and shot a one under par for 70 to put him at even par for the day and tied for sixth place.
"He played really solid; really good day ball striking for him," coach Kit Grove said. "Obviously that's an advantage under hard conditions if you're hitting it solid and able to control the golf ball. A well struck shot is not affected as much by the wind as a mis-struck shot."
Senior Nate Barbee and sophomore Chris Gilbert finished the day at six over par. Barbee opened up with a 79 before shooting a 69 in the afternoon. Gilbert opened with a 75 before firing a 73 in the afternoon. Barbee and Gilbert are tied for 25th place.
"It was just kind of a strange morning for [Nate], but I'm proud of him for being able to fight through that and put together a really nice round in the afternoon," Grove said.
Senior Jeff Bell finished
the first day tied for 46th place. Bell opened up with a 74 before coming into the house in the afternoon with a 78. Junior Doug Quinones also opened up his day with a three-over-par 74. He came back in the afternoon with an 80 to put him in a tie for 60th place.
"Doug was actually doing well and then he made a triple late in his round and a quad on his last hole of the day," Grove said. "He ended up shooting 80 but he had two complete blow-up holes late in his round which is frustrating because he probably played the caliber where he could have shot 74 or five just as easily as he shot an 80."
COMMENTARY
Host New Mexico State finished day one in first place, shooting 574 to put them at six over par for the tournament. Timothy Madigan led the Aggies, shooting an eight-underpar 63 Monday morning. Madigan is six under for the tournament and has a two-stroke lead. Washington State is one stroke behind the Aggies and is in second place. UNLV is in third place at nine over par, Idaho is in fourth at 14 over.
The final round of the tournament will begin at 9 a.m. It is the final round of the Jayhawks' 2010 fall schedule.
- Edited by Joel Petterson
Selby faces two options this spring
BY TIM DWYER
tdwyer@kansan.com
twitter.com/UDKbasketball
Josh Selby is running out of time. Not at Kansas He can
Not at Kansas. He can wait all year at Kansas. He's got a full ride. He's cleared to do everything but play in games.
But he's got another option. Selby is easily talented enough to make a living overseas for a year if he so chooses. Brandon Jennings, the No. 4 recruit in the class of 2009, already blazed that trail when he failed to make grades and signed on with an Italian team for a season.
All he did when he made it back stateside? Dazzle the NBA world with one of the best opening months any rookie has ever had. He finished third in Rookie of the Year voting.
Here's what Selby's two choices entail:
First, he can stay at Kansas and risk the wrath of the NCAA. If they can find any wrongdoing on his behalf, he could be out for the entire season. He'll still have a scholarship, but he may never be able to play basketball at Kansas.
If he's cleared, though, Selby becomes an immediate rock star on campus (not that he isn't already). He will undoubtedly be the starting point guard for the layhawks, and he will more than likely be a star.
His second option involves infinitely less fanfare. He'll be just another face in the crowd in Europe. Jennings, who blogged often during his Italian season, constantly noted how he was not celebrated, how he lived in a small apartment, and how the pay was good but the lifestyle lacked the opulence of the American sports superstar's. He averaged 17 minutes and 5.5 points per game off the bench, far from being a star.
Fans will love him, students will love him and he'll get smiles everywhere he goes on campus. If the NBA can't reach a new collective bargaining agreement and locks out the players,he'll run the town for two years.
The punch line to both options is the same. Come May, Selby becomes a lottery pick in the NBA draft, sign a contract for millions of dollars and goes on to whatever success he may have in the league.Not such a bad life.
But Selby's in a rough spot right now. As former layhawk Paul Rudd classically put it in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," though, "When life gives you lemons, just say 'F--- the lemons' and bail."
Bailing, for Selby, would be Europe. But Euroleague play is already underway, and that window won't be open much longer.
Time to figure out what to do with those lemons, Josh.
Edited by Anna Nordlina
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