THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2006
WWW.KANSAN.COM
BUNT 'EM OVER
PAGE 1B
Top seed rank not crucial for March victories
I must confess: I didn't see this coming.
Kansas' victory over Baylor Tuesday has cleared the way for a made-for-primeTime match-up with Texas this weekend, assuming the Longhorns take care of business against the Kansas State Wildcats tonight. Who would have thought the two teams would be tied in the Big 12 standings at this point in the season after the Jayhawks' sluggish start?
Actually, quite a few people did. I caught some heat after a previous column in which I said nobody would challenge the Longhorns for the league title. I'm sure a lot of you reading this today claim you knew it would happen all along, too. (Yeah, right.)
It seemed to me that Texas was in a class by itself, but Kansas has come together and closed the gap in the past month. The Jayhawks have won 10 games in a row, their longest streak since last year's 14-game streak to start the season. They now have the potential to beat any team in the country on any given day, in stark contrast to the beginning of the season when they had potential to be beaten by anyone.
Will Kansas win in Austin Saturday? It would be peachy if they did, but it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if they didn't.
The victor will most likely earn the No.1 seed in the Big 12 Tournament, but that isn't necessarily a good thing. Only four of the nine previous conference tournaments were won by the top seed. Plus, judging by the way the season has played out so far, the two teams will probably meet in the championship game anyway, thus rendering the top spot insignificant.
On top of that, winning the conference tournament isn't very important. Of the past 10 national champions, only four teams out of nine won its conference tournament (there was no Pac-12 Tournament in 1997 when Arizona won the NCAA title). In 2002 and 2003, Kansas reached the Final Four without winning the league tournament.
A loss in late February to an excellent Texas team wouldn't be all bad. It might just refocus Kansas in time for a deep run in March, maybe into April if all goes well. If that happens, the Jayhawks may see the Longhorns yet again in Indianapolis at the Final Four.
If you had to choose, which game would you rather see Kansas win?
- Wilson is a Windsor, Mo.,
senior in journalism.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Sluggish victory
'Hawks plod past Bears
BY RYAN COLAIANNI
rcolaianni@kansan.com
KANSAN SENIOR SPORTSWRIVER
Bring on Texas.
Despite playing down to the ability of the Baylor Bears, the Kansas Jayhawks were able to pull out a 76-61 victory Tuesday night at Allen Fieldhouse.
day's game against Texas, which could break a tie for first place in the conference.
The victory set up Satur
will be the scene of ESPN's "College Gameday" on Saturday night. If Texas beats Kansas State tonight, the game Saturday will be for the top spot in the conference.
"We haven't had a big game like this on the road," freshman forward Julian Wright said. "We have played in hostile environments already, and I think that we have been through a lot."
The victory will bring even more hype to the contest that
The Jayhawks know that they will have to play a near flawless game to beat Texas.
SEE BEARS ON PAGE 4B
Hawkins sits after incident at McDonald's drive-through
BY DANIEL BERK
dberk@kansan.com
KANSAN SENIOR SPORTWRITER
At least it wasn't senior night tonight.
One game before Jeff Hawkins was supposed to play his last game in Allen Fieldhouse, the senior guard was on the bench in a suit serving a suspension
Hawkins was cited for leaving the scene of an accident and driving without insurance after he struck another vehicle attempting to cut in line
Kansas coach Bill Self said,
at a local McDonald's drive-through, according to a police report.
Hawkins got his food and attempted to leave the parking lot, but was stopped by an officer, according to the report.
Hawkins told the officer that he "was unaware" he had struck the woman's vehicle. Lawrence Police Department spokesman Kim Murphree said the officer who stopped Hawkins had no reason to suspect he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
"I'm not necessarily upset with Jeff because he got in a fender bender in a parking lot. I'm upset with Jeff because he didn't handle it a very mature manner." Self said. "I think he could have handled it better and not worried so much about getting his food."
after Tuesday night's 76-61 game, that he expected Hawkins to return to the lineup Saturday against Texas.
to confront Hawkins, he told her that the accident was her fault.
The woman told police that when she got out of her vehicle
The accident occurred around 2 a.m. Sunday at 1309 W. Sixth St., in the McDonald's drive-through lane. The Lawrence woman whose vehicle was struck by Hawkins' 2000 Buick told police she was attempting to pull up to the drive-through speaker when Hawkins pulled in front of her, striking the passenger side of her 2002 Kia.
Self said he found about the incident on Sunday, but didn't want to talk about it until he decided what he was going to do with Hawkins for the Baylor game. He said he told Hawkins Tuesday morning that he would not play in the game.
SEE HAWKINS ON PAGE 4B
Carly Pearson/KANSAN
Freshman forward Julian Wright scores a basket against Baylor on Tuesday night. Wright scored 20 points in 22 minutes of playing time. The Javihawks defeated the Bears, 76-61.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
'Hawks have high hopes
Kansas Jayhawks (15- 9, 4- 9 Big 12 Conference)
Last time out
The Jayhawks got their first road victory of the season by beating Iowa State 57-56 in overtime. The game started slowly, with each team shooting less than 20 percent from the field, but picked up toward the end. The lead was exchanged through the final minutes and into overtime. After the game, coach Bonnie Henrickson announced that the team was no longer kicked out of the locker room — a punishment she had levied against them earlier in the season.
Junior guard Sharita Smith has played brilliant defense in her last two outings. She shut down Nebraska's kiera Hardy a week ago and Iowa State's Lyndsey Meddens on Saturday. It will be important for Smith to function as part of the offensive unit tonight. Opposing defenders often back off when she has the ball, daring her to shoot.
Player to watch
Season in review
With three games to play, Kansas is sitting on a 4-9 record in Big 12 Conference play. While this eliminates the Jayhawks from the NCAA tournament, the postseason is still very much an option. Kansas is being looked at by the WNIT. Beating Texas Tech in front of a hostile road crowd would go a long way toward securing Kansas' selection.
Key to victory
Michael Phillips
When Smith enters the game, freshman guard Ivana Catic heads to the bench, leaving the team without a true point guard. Senior guard Erica Hallam fills in at the position, but the Jayhawks run a play where Smith brings the ball down and makes a series of passes designed to get an open shot for Hallam or senior guard Kaylee Brown. If Texas Tech can't adjust to the strategy, look for Hallam to have a big night.
Texas Tech Red Raiders (12-12, 7-6 Big 12 Conference)
Last time out
Forwards not named Davis. Davis will receive the majority of Kansas' defensive attention and will force Texas Tech's other post players to step up.
Texas Tech dropped to 500 on the season after its loss 73-60 at Baylor on Sunday. The Red Raiders tied the game at 52 with 11 minutes remaining, but a 12-4 run by the Bears put the game out of reach. Tech's LaToya Davis led the team with 23 points and 10 rebounds. The Red Raider's senior forward/center is third in the Big 12 Conference in scoring, averaging 18 points a game.
Player to watch
Season in review
Texas Tech has been one of the league's most disappointing teams.The team will need to
win the Big 12 Conference Tournament to continue its streak of 16 straight NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament appearances. The Red Raiders have lost two straight coming into tonight's game.
Key to victory
Kansas and Texas Tech are both battling for a spot in the Woman's National Invitational Tournament. The marquee match up of the night will feature Davis against Kansas' Crystal Kemp in the paint. If either player gets in foul trouble early, the attention will shift to the bench. They key to stopping Kansas will be guarding the three, as Texas Tech leads the conference in three-point basket percentage.
Ryan Schneider
INTRAMURAL SPORTS
Team wins in final minute
BY CASE KEEFER
ckeefer@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWRITER
Brandon Maples had the Dank Nuggets in control of Monday night's intramural basketball game. The Overland Park junior scored 20 points in the game, and his team found itself ahead of the Big N Tastys 55-51 with 3:25 left.
That was until Jonathan Cool.
Cooley made two three-point shots in the final 30 seconds, leading the Big N Tastys to a 61-59 victory. Both times, the ball didn't even touch the rim. Cooley hit the second of his three-pointers from nearly half court.
ey, Overland park senior, had anything to say about it.
"I was just feeling good and in transition where I knew I could hit it." Coolev said.
The Dank Nuggets initially appeared to be the superior team
on the court because of Maples play.
Maples orchestrated the Dank Nuggets' attack. He played hard defense and made remarkable passes to help his team's point total.
"I try to be a leader on the floor and be vocal,but the whole team is what makes the plays," Maples said.
The Big N Tastys relied on team chemistry to carry them to victory.
Cooley proved that this method paid off. He scored 22 points in the victory.
SEE INTRAMURAL ON PAGE 3B
Cooley said the Big N Tasties have made it a habit to play together at least twice a week, outside of their official games.
The Big N Tastys' camaraderie was evident. Cooley, Scott Self, Topeka senior and Ben Lancaster, Lawrence senior, ran an effective offense and communicated well.
Michelle Grittmann/KANSAN
Eric Williams (13). Wichita junior, drives past Ben Lancaster (21), Lawrence senior, toward the bakset during the intramural game between the Dank Nuggets and Big N Tastys. It was an eight-point victory for the Big N Tastys, 59-51.
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