THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 2006
WWW.KANSAN.COM
PAGE 1B
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Hallman at end of tough road
Jared Soares/Kansan
Clutch shots have become a hallmark of Hallman's career, especially in her senior season. Even though fellow senior Crystal Kemp is the focus of Kansas' offense, it's Hallman that gets the ball in the clutch. Opponents often double-team Kemp in the paint leaving Hallman open on the wing. Hallman's ability to make a pass or get to the basket is why Henrickson gives the ball to her in critical situations.
Senior Guard Eric Hallman has ridden a roller coaster of emotions in her years at KU. She'll play her final regular-season game home Thursday against KSU.
"The fact that she puts the ball in my hands sets me up for shots that I know that I can make and
take every day in practice, that gives me a lot of confidence," Hallman said. "I want that pressure."
"I want that pressure."
The pressure on Hallman to come up with clutch baskets has never been greater than in conference play this season. With postseason hopes hanging in the balance, Hallman hit game-winning shots in both games against Iowa State this season.
sons ago and a suspension earlier this season.
For Hallman, those shots paled in comparison to a basket she made earlier in the season. Kansas trailed by three points with 26 seconds remaining against Wisconsin in December, when Hallman hit the game-tying shot.
BY RYAN SCHNEIDER
rschneider@kansan.com
KANSAN SENIOR SPORTSWRIVER
Editor's note: The Kansan will profile all three women's basketball seniors this week, leading up to Thursday's game against Kansas State.
For Erica Hallman, there's just something about the second half.
The second half is when she's been most comfortable all season, knocking down clutch shots
Whether it's the mounting pressure as the game winds down or the rush of adrenaline she feels as her shots fall, Hallman lives for the final 20 minutes.
"My brother always called me a second-half player," Hallman said. "I have struggled a lot this season in the first half, but I'm a shooter and I'm a scorer, and I got a lot of confidence in myself and Bonnie has a lot of confidence in me."
The best evidence of her love for the second half came Saturday against Missouri. Hallman scored 20 of her career-high 29 points in the second half of the overtime victory against the Tigers.
Confidence has been key for Hallman on and off the floor in her four years at Kansas. Though she's never lost her confidence, it was definitely shaken by a coaching change two sea-
with games in the balance.
SEE HALLMAN ON PAGE 3B
Seniors warrant respect
BUNT 'EM OVER
MATT WILSON
mwilson@kansan.com
Tonight in Allen Fieldhouse, Kansas seniors will play their final home game.
The seniors were part of former coach Roy Williams' next-to-last recruiting class at the University of Kansas, with the exception of guard Jeff Hawkins, who took a redshirt during the 2001-2002 season. The group of Hawkins, former forward Moulaye Niang, forward Christian Moody and guard Stephen Vinson were not the most talented players to ever don the crimson and blue. However, their hard work and hustle in practice and in game action have helped the Jayhawks put together a stellar four-year run.
During the seniors' time on campus and on the court, the Jayhawks have had tons of success. Together, the seniors have posted a record of 97-31, which includes a 49-13 mark in Big 12 games and an 8-3 record in the NCAA tournament. The Jayhawks reached the national championship game in 2003
the class' freshman season and won two Big 12 Conference titles. There is still a chance they could add a third conference crown this season.
SEE WILSON ON PAGE 3B
Moody emerged as a big contributor last season when forward Wayne Simien was injured halfway through the year. He played great basketball and was trusted to spell Simien upon his return. That flexibility helped the Jayhawks win a share of the conference title. CBS announcer Billy Packer went so far to say Moody was the greatest walk-on in the history of college basketball during a game at Kentucky, which Kansas won and Moody tallied a team-high 11 points and seven rebounds.
As for this year, Hawkins helped hold the team together. With the team foundering at 10-6 and questions about its tournament hope circulating, Hawkins turned in some stellar performances. Hawkins has always played suffocating defense, but the number that sticks out is his 38 percent three-point shooting on the season, which ranks second on the team. His five-for-five performance against Nebraska in January helped the Jayhawks start their season-high 10-game winning streak.
MEN'S BASKETBALJ
Emotions will touch Moody
BY RYAN COLIAIANNI
colaianni@kansan.com
KANSAN SENIOR SWITTERWRITER
He's been called the greatest walk-on of all-time by CBS' Billy Packer.
He has won the hearts of numerous Kansas basketball fans.
Tonight, he will play his final game at Allen Fieldhouse.
Christian Moody, the nice, personable guy from Asheville, N.C., arrived at Kansas in 2002 with little chance of making much of an impression.
He battled against former Jayhawks Nick Collison and Wayne Simien in practice, but it wasn't until coach Bill Self arrived that his minutes began to pick up. He started for nearly all of the 2004-05 season, which earned him a scholarship this season.
"There are some guys out there that pay their own way because they're promised something at the end," Self said. "When you talk about a guy that goes somewhere with no anticipation of being a scholarship guy or being a starter or a guy to impact a program, you'd have to put Christian right at the top of every list."
He single-handedly carried Kansas in a January 2005 game against Kentucky, when the Jayhawks were without the services of Simien. Moody scored 11 points, which led to Packer making the infamous statement.
"it's an honor for him to put those words together close to my name," Moody said.
This season, Moody's role has changed. Instead of seeing significant time on the court, Moody has mentored the young Jayhawk post players, specifically Julian Wright.
"One big reason why the freshmen have done better here and done so well in the league is because the seniors have accepted their roles and haven't fought it." Self said. "If they had fought it, our chemistry wouldn't be near as good as it."
Earlier in the season, Moody asked Self what he wanted his role to be with Wright.
"I said, your role is to teach him and to beat him. That is a tough combination." Self said.
Despite the lack of playing time from Moody, he said that he was still having fun because the team has been playing well.
"It has been really rewarding to see how far the young guys have come. Just watching them go from being to freshmen that have never played D-1 to playing as hard as they have been and as well as they have been, has been really great to see," Moody said.
Moody said he had a lot of people to thank when he gives his speech following the game against Colorado. Many of his family members will be in attendance, and he said he would try to keep his speech short but may have a difficult time not crying.
"It is going to be hard not to, just because this place means so much to me and it feels like I have been here a long time, but not long enough." Moody said. "It is going to be a fun night, but it will be an emotional night."
Joining Moody in the starting lineup tonight will be fellow seniors Jeff Hawkins and Stephen Vinson.
"I am excited for the chance to have all three of us to start because I don't think that has ever happened before." Moody said. "I know we are going to be fired up and full of energy."
— Edited by Matt Wilson
Megan True/KANSAN
Kansas senior forward Christian Moody dunks the ball over Missouri's Kalen Grimes during the second half of Kansas' 79-46 victory on Feb.18.Tonight will be Moody's last game in Allen Fieldhouse with the Jayhawks.
European tour a success for Gault
MARK DENT
mdent@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWRITER
Holly Gault learned a lot in Europe.
For the junior defender, a trip across the Atlantic for the Under 21 National Soccer Team gave her experience against top level competition, nine days of European adventure with her teammates and a newfound dislike for tea.
"They had at least 15 different types of tea over in England," Gault said. "It was served with every meal and was even in the corner of the stadium to drink during the soccer games."
Loathing of tea notwithstanding, Gault's European tour could best be called a success for her and the U-21 team.
Gault, who had trained with national teams in the past but had yet to travel for a tournament with them, left for Europe on Feb. 10. The team played against the Scotland National Team and the England U-21 National Team.
Against Scotland, the U.S. team won easily by the count of 3-1 but fell to the English team 2-1 on a field that Gault noted was wet and ravaged by bad weather, which made it easier for the home team's style of play.
Amanda Sellers/KANSAN
"The Europeans play a more direct game and try to attack right away," Gault said. "U.S. teams care more about holding possession and playing with a more pretty style."
Plenty of excitement has been generated by Gault herself from all of her accomplishments during her career at Kansas. Besides playing for the U-21 National Team, Gault has twice been named First-team All Big 12 and also a First-team All American, accolades that have earned respect from teammates and her coach.
Junior defender, Holly Gault recently returned from a week-long trip playing with the U.S. Under 21 National Team. Gault was one of a few selected Big 12 athletes to participate in the program.
"Being selected to the U-21 team is a great honor for her and a reward for all of her hard work," head coach Mark Francis said. "It's a reflection of the impact she's had on the program."
Gault said she wanted to continue playing for the U-21 team as long as she could. In July, the team will play
in the Nordic Cup, the top competition for players at that age level. Gault said she wanted to make that team and also would like to be part
of the full Women's U.S. National Team at some point.
SEE GAULT ON PAGE 3B
>
1
---
3