10B THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
TUESDAY, APRIL 11.2006
NCAA BASKETBALL
Decision looming for new recruit
BY DOUG TUCKER THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Two days before he planned to announce his choice for college, Florida prep star Jason Bennett was still struggling to make a decision, his coach said Monday.
Bennett is ranked among the top 25 prospects by Rivals.com and spent two days at Kansas State last week with Bob Huggins, the longtime Cincinnati coach who was named head coach last month by the Wildcats.
The 7-foot-3 Bennett said earlier that he had narrowed his decision to Auburn or Kansas State. But Rex Morgan, Bennett's coach at Arlington Country Day High School in Jacksonville, Fla., disputed reports that Kansas State had emerged as the winner.
"There has been too much speculation," Morgan told The Associated Press on Monday, "Someone told me somebody was being quoted as saying that he's decided on Kansas State. But he hasn't officially committed anywhere."
As an undergraduate, Bennett committed to Cincinnati when Huggins was still the Bearcats coach. Huggins remained in contact this year while he was out of coaching and not subject to NCAA restrictions on when college coaches can contact recruits.
Bennett has said he would make his decision known at a news conference at noon Wednesday at his high school.
Duane and Darlene Bennett accompanied their son on his visit to get to know Kansas State.
"He and his parents have not made a decision. They hope to do so tomorrow (Tuesday) night," Morgan said.
Bennett averaged 12.5 points, 13.5 rebounds and eight blocks last season for Arlington's 2A state championship team. He would give the Wildcats a big, intimidating presence inside, which they have lacked for many years.
Coaches are not allowed to speak puberty about recruits this close to the signing period. But several have noted that Bennett could immediately become one of the best defensive centers in the Big 12.
"In my opinion, he's the best defensive player in high school this year," Morgan said.
Big 12
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B
No. 6 Texas at Kansas State (April 8-9)
Scores: Texas 7, Kansas State 2; Texas 10, Karni
State 2; Texas 7, Kansas State 9.
Player of the series: Texas junior outfieldder Carson Kainer. He went 11-for-15 with a run, nine RBL a home run and two stolen bases.
Pitcher of the series: Texas junior Kyte McCulloch was an out shy of a complete game last Friday. Nevertheless, McCulloch earned his third straight victory, bringing his record to 4-4. He struck out seven in the game and allowed only two runs.
Note: Texas is 15-3 over its past 18 games after going 9-8 in its first 17.
Oklahoma State at No. 26 Baylor (April 7-9)
Scores: Baylor 14, Oklahoma State 0; Baylor 8,
Oklahoma State 2; Baylor 14, Oklahoma State 3.
No. 4 Nebraska at Missouri (April 7-9)
Note: Gorsett extended his hitting streak to 10 games and hit his Big 12-leading 14th home run of the season on Sunday.
Player of the series: Baylor senior outfielder Seth Fortenberry went 5-for-10 with five runs, three RBI, an inside-the-park home run and three stolen bases. Baylor hadn't had an inside-the-park home run since 2003 and hadn't had one at home since 2003.
Player of the series: Nebraska junior outfielder Luke Gorsett continued his onslaught of the Big 12, going 7-for-15 with five runs, eight RBI and two home runs. Missouri intentionally walked Brandon Buckman in the top of the 13th on Saturday to get to Gorsett. He made them pay with a two-run double that put Nebraska up for good.
Pitcher of the series: Baylor senior Ryan LaMotta pitched a three-hit shutout on Friday, striking out four.
Pitcher of the series: The entire Nebraska bullpen. They combined for 8.1 shutout innings on Friday and Saturday. Their 5.1 scoreless innings on Saturday kept Missouri hitters at bay until Nebraska pulled away in the 13th inning.
Scores: Nebraska 6, Missouri 3; Nebraska 5
Missouri 2; Nebraska 13, Missouri 7
Note: Oklahoma State is 0-6 on the road but 3-0 at home in the Big 12.
No.29 Oklahoma at Texas A&M (April 7-9)
Scores: Texas A&M 3, Oklahoma 1; Oklahoma
1, Texas A&M 0; Oklahoma 6. Texas A&M 3
Player of the series: Senior infielder Ryan Rohlinger jump-started the Oklahoma offense on Sunday, going 2-for-4 with a two-run home run.
Pitcher of the series: Oklahoma starters. Seniors Daniel McCutchen (4-5), Steven Guerra (8-1) and PJ Sandoval (5-1) struck out 22 batters in 24.2 innings last weekend and allowed only six runs.
Sandoval, however, was the only one of the trio who came out of the series with a victory. McCutchen was saddled with the loss on Friday despite striking out 13. Guerra received a no-decision on Saturday
Note: Since taking two of three games against then-No. 5 Florida, Texas A&M has gone 6-14.
- Edited by Frank Tankard
SCHEDULE AND STANDINGS
Randall Sanders/KANSAN
Non-conference games
Big 12 Standings (Overall, Big 12)
Texas (24-11, 9-2)
Nebraska (24-5, 7-2)
Baylor (22-11, 7-5)
Oklahoma (24-10, 5-4)
Kansas (22-13, 6-6)
Missouri (16-14, 6-6)
Texas Tech (23-13, 5-6)
Oklahoma State (18-11, 3-6)
Texas A&M (19-16, 3-9)
Kansas State (21-8, 2-7)
Source: Big12Sports.com
Sophomore outfitter John Allman, left, and senior infielder Ritchie Price avoid a collision during the seventh inning of the home opener against Western Illinois on March 3.
Baseball
Tues, April 4
New Mexico State 9 vs. Texas Tech 4
Nebraska 6 vs. Creighton 4
Oral Roberts 5 vs. Oklahoma State 2
Rice 11 vs. Texas A&M 6
Oklahoma 4 vs. Texas-Arlington 3
TCU 18 vs. Baylor 8
Six unearned runs Southern Illinois scored in the seventh were enough to seal the victory and the series sweep, increasing North Dakota State's losing streak to six games.
While Kansas takes the field tonight winning six of its past nine, North Dakota State suffered a sweep at the hands of Southern Illinois last weekend. Fighting through the final out in the series finale, the Bison tied the game at six in the fifth and at eight in the sixth.
Wed. April 5
Wichita State 4 vs. Kansas 0
Kansas State 16 vs. Kansas Newman 3
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B
Left fielder Jared Sullivan led the Bison offense last Sunday, going 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI. On the season, Sullivan has remained consistent, hitting .305. His seven doubles lead the team.
Kansas will bring a potent left fielder of its own in sophomore outfielder John Allman. The St. Louis native is hitting .341 and is tied for the team lead with nine doubles. Last weekend against Texas Tech, Allman went 5-for-10 and drove in five runs.
Tonight might be a chance for young KU players to gain playing time on the field, though
"We'll get a chance to get our bats going, a chance for my younger guys to get some AB's," Price said.
Junior right-hander Brendan McNamara (0-1, 4.08) will take the hill this evening. Freshman lefty Nick Czyz (0-1, 9.20) will start the second game of the two-game set, starting Wednesday at 3 p.m.
As a team, Kansas is hitting just .286 to North Dakota State's .230, but the Jayhawks have knocked out 53 home runs to the Bison one's.
"I think the big thing for us is we get to play some midweek games," Price said. "What that really does is prepare your team to hit on the weekend. We haven't played very many of those yet."
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