SPORTS
2006
toonal
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Kansas id to
non- at the
involutional in
-12) will play
nament
western,
Diego
Hawaii,
of its
ll begin
kas A&M
I by angles
ian Anderson
em-
he brash-
doesn't
coaches
room.
te to play
have
by the Tues-
was
or bonus
Eagles
te him
paying
imality kicked off follow- ts and prepeared k Dono-
THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2006 MEN'S BASKETBALL
evens
n other
ever, Mi-
idly have
has
person
ng him
aden
Eagles
In his
ohia, but
de-
just one
$48.97
iated Press
Kansas' region looking sharp
BY DANIEL BERK
dberk@kansan.com
KANSAN SE'FORD SWIMMER
Best player in the region
Here is a glance at the Oakland region and what to pay attention to in the first round.
Adam Morrison, Gonzaga. All Morrison did this season was lead the nation in scoring. The junior forward averaged 28.4 points per game this season. To put that in perspective, the most points a Kansas player scored all year in a single game was 25 by sophomore center Sasha Kaun. Morrison scored more than 40 points five times this season, including a season-high 44 points against Loyola Marymount.
Second best player in the region
Rodney Carney, Memphis. Carney is one of the most exciting players in college basketball. His highlight-reel dunks make it on SportsCenter almost every time his team takes the floor. Carney averages 17.5 points per game and more than four rebounds per game. Carney is Memphis' number one scoring option and might be the team's best defender. He usually defends the opposing team's best player. He has already guarded Morrison this year and also Duke senior guard J.J. Redick. Memphis is the No. 1 seed in the region and plays Oral Roberts in the first round Friday.
No. 8 seed Arkansas vs. No. 9 seed Bucknell. It's easy to pick the 8/9 game as the best match-up in the first round, and this region is no exception. It's an interesting game that will feature Arkansas from a major conference in the Southeastern Conference and Bucknell from the Patriot League. When the pairings were originally announced, Kansas fans in Dallas for the Big 12 Tournament booed when they saw Bucknell in the same region as Kansas. Arkansas fans probably cringed as well. Bucknell has proved it won't be intimidated in the first round, no matter who it draws. It should be a close, low-scoring game that gets decided at the end. Arkansas played Kansas this season in the Maui Invitational and won by one point.
Best match-un in the first round
Marcus Slaughter from San Diego State against Marco Killingsworth from Indiana. These are two of the most physical power forwards in all of college basketball. Slaughter scared San Diego State fans when he flirtd with the idea of jumping to the NBA. He attended the NBA pre-draft camp, before deciding to return for his junior season. Slaughter comes into the game averaging 16.6 points and 11 rebounds per game. Killingsworth, who is an inch shorter than Slaughter, but has 40 pounds on him, comes into the game averaging 17.3 points and eight rebounds a game. Killingsworth's best game of the season came against Duke when he
Best game in the first round
scored 34 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. His production slowed down, before he registered three straight double-doubles heading into the NCAA tournament.
Best chance for an upset in the first round
San Diego State against Indiana. Most analysts on ESPN were shocked when Indiana received a No. 6 seed. The team was thought to be on the bubble, but obviously wasn't. Indiana's season looked to be over when coach Mike Davis announced his resignation effective at the end of the season. Indiana struggled up until the announcement, losing six out of seven games. The Hoosiers recovered to win five out of their last seven games. The point is they are a very streaky team, and if they are not hitting their outside shots, any team is capable of beating them. San Diego State comes into the tournament as one of the hottest teams in the country. The Aztecs have won six games in a row and eight out of their last nine games. Besides boasting Slaughter, San Diego State also has the reigning Mountain West Player of the Year in junior guard Brandon Heath. Heath is averaging 18.5 points per game this season and could give Indiana defenders a headache.
Best potential second-round game
If both teams take care of business in the first round, the Kansas-Pittsburgh game looks to be the most intriguing. Pittsburgh boasts
If both teams take care of business in the first round, the Kansas-Pittsburgh game looks to be the most intriguing.
one of the best guards in the Big East in Carl Krauser. Krauser averages 15 points and nearly five assists a game. Kansas sophomore guard Russell Robinson would likely guard Krauser. Robinson was named to the All-Big 12 Defensive Team by the league's coaches this season. Those two would be a fun match-up to watch. Also, Pittsburgh has a talented big man in junior Aaron Gray. Gray is a seven-footer and will be a good match-up for Kansas big men Kaun and sophomore center CJ Giles.
This pick will not be popular among KU fans, but No. 2 seed UCLA boasts one of the best guards in the nation in sophomore Jordan Farmar. Farmar is complimented by sophomore Aaron Afflao in the back court. The two guards combine to average more than 30 points a game. UCLA is similar to Kansas in that its top four scorers are freshmen and sophomores. UCLA coach Ben Howland has turned the program around since the university fired its former coach Steve Lavin. UCLA has won seven games in a row.
Pick to represent the Oakland region in the Final Four
- Edited by Timon Veach
No work, all play
Nicoletta Niosi/KANSAN
Austin Pulliam, Overland Park freshman, plays soccer in front of the Art and Design Building Wednesday. Pulliam said he was on his way to do homework, but decided to stop and play soccer for awhile.
NFL
Linebacker joins Browns
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Linebacker Willie McGinest signed with Cleveland on Wednesday, leaving New England to rejoin Brown's coach and former Patriots defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel.
The 34-year-old McGinest, a member of three Super Bowl winners, had been with the Patriots since getting drafted in the first round in 1994. He's the NFL career leader in postseason sacks with 16 and has 78 in the regular season. He signed a three-year, $12 million deal with $6 million in guarantees and incentives.
McGinest looked a bit out of place holding a No. 55 Browns jersey and said it seemed odd. He said he held no animosity toward New England for releasing him and looked forward to helping build the Browns into a winner.
to be a part of a family. They made me feel like family. They made me feel needed, like I could come in and help them."
The Browns were 6-10 last year in Creennel's first season and have been one of the most active teams this offseason. Cleveland has signed center LeCharles Bentley, wide receiver Joe Jurevicius, offensive lineman Kevin Shaffer, punter Dave Zastudil and defensive lineman Ted Washington.
"I didn't want to go to a team to sign a contract and get some money," said McGinest, wearing a Brown's cap. "I wanted
Meanwhile, NFC champion Seattle resigned Rocky Bernard, who led them in sacks this season. Bernard had been one of the more widely sought defensive linemen on the market. The Seahawks also re-signed wide receiver and punt returner Peter Warrick, the fourth overall pick in the 2000 draft, who they picked up when he was cut last season by Cincinnati.
Miami confirmed that it got quarterback Daunte Culpepper from Minnesota in return for a second-round draft choice. The deal was made public Tuesday.
URGENT
GIVE PLASMA GETCASH
fauna donations are needed to help save burn, trauma and shock victims
ZLB Plasma Services
CASH TODAY!
816 W. 24th
Lawrence, KS 66046
785-749-5750
www.zlbplasma.com
www.WAAGROUP.COM
Texas and Oklahoma
public affairs, and social media use.
posted of address, and social media use.
contact information.
with coupon • long hair extra
required qualifications:
30 or more credit hours by time of employment (60 hours preferred)
KU enrollment during semester employed with a minimum 2.75 GPA (3.0 GPA preferred)
Be eligible to work with the Learning Community for the entire fall semester or academic year depending on LC
position description:
Peer Educators (PES) work with approximately 20 students as part of a Learning Community. They will cofacilitate a seminar course with faculty or staff member, provide academic-related, out-of-class programming and serve as a resource for the participants in your community.
interested?
go to www.tlc.ku.edu or if you have other questions contact Linda Dixon at Idixon@ku.edu or 864.0187
apply, go to the HR website at jobs.ku.edu
paid for by KU