OB THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN INTRAMURALS
SPORTS
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3. 2006
JaySox defeat Delta Chi 4
BY HEATH RIFFEL
hriffel@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTSWRIVER
Going into Wednesday's game at the Student Recreation Fitness Center, the JaySox had never played together as a team. Team members said they knew that could be a challenge, and they didn't feel they had much of a chance to win.
Matt Kolarik, Hutchinson junior, and his roommate, David Piatt, Neodesha junior, formed
Despite their inexperience, the JaySox passed the ball well and ran a coordinated offense to defeat Delta Chi 4 by a score of 38-32.
"We are out of shape, and we were fatigued because we only had one sub," Kolarik said. "Even though we did not play well today, I'm still pleased with the way we ended up playing."
the team with some high school classmates of Piatt.
It was the first game for both teams, which was evident from
the low score and shaky shots early in the game. Both teams were strong defensively; Delta Chi 4 tried both the 2-3 zone and man-to-man defense. Neither was enough to overcome the JaySox.
In the first half, Kolarik was hot from behind the three-point line and had several steals. Most of the help in the scoring department came from Platt. The JaySox led 15-9 at the half.
The second half saw improved shooting from both teams. Reed
Niermeyer, Naperville, III., junior, led the Delta Chi 4 offense. Offensive scoring also came from Mitchell Tetuan, Topeka junior and Aaron Eckley, Oskaloosa, Iowa, junior.
The season-opening game had both teams fighting for breath by the end of the game. But the Jay-Sox were able to overcome the fatigue that came from having only one substitute, compared to Delta Chi 4's five bench players.
Edited by James Foley
Yao's the man in All-Star fan balloting
NBA
Tim Johnson/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Houston Rockets' Yao Ming, of China, holds the ball high after catching an inbound pass over Milwaukee Bucks' Jiri Welch. Yao edged out Kobe Bryant as the top voterate in fan voting for the NBA All-Star game.
BY TIM REYNOLDS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Yao Ming edged Kobe Bryant as the top votegetter in fan balloting for the 55th NBA All-Star game Thursday, and Shaquille O'Neal became the fifth player in league history to earn 13 consecutive selections for the mid-season showcase.
"What happened two years ago, that really motivated me to come out and play even harder," James said.
Yao and Tracy McGrady give the host Houston Rockets two starters in the Feb. 19 game. They were joined on the Western Conference squad by Bryan, San Antonio's Tim Duncan and reigning MVP Steve Nash of Phoenix — who will be a first-time All-Star starter.
Added Cleveland coach Mike Brown: "It's an honor to be around him, it's an honor to work with him and I'm excited for him and his family because he definitely deserves it."
Cleveland's LeBron James was the top Eastern Conference voteter, edging O'Neal by 15,155 votes. It's the second straight All-Star trip for James, who says he's still drawing motivation from being snubbed during his rookie season.
“Hopefully, I can become a staple, like my teammate Shaq,” Wade said. “I'm grateful that NBA fans think so highly of my game.”
Jermaine O'Neal will miss the game with an injury, Detroit's Rasheed Wallace finished third in the voting among East forwards, meaning he'll likely be a strong candidate for that starting spot. But no Pistons were voted into the starting lineup, despite the team's 38-6 record — the NBA's best by a wide margin.
Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal and first-time All-Star starter Dwyane Wade of Miami rounded out the East's starting five.
Philadelphia's Allen Iverson.
Yao edged Bryant by 71,107 votes for the top overall spot in the balloting, despite missing 21 games following surgery to clean out an infection in his left big toe. It's the fourth All-Star trip for the 7-foot-6 center from China and the eighth for Bryant, who leads the NBA in scoring and had an 81-point effort — the second-biggest night in NBA history — last month in the Los Angeles Lakers' win over Toronto.
Yao finished with 2,342,738 votes; Bryant had 2,271,631 in the closest finish among the top two players since Vince Carter edged Alonzo Mourning by 33,385 votes in 2000.
DOWN THE HALL
Jayhawks need to play like Steelers
Sunday will mark one of the happiest, yet saddest days of the year for sports fans across America. It's Super Bowl Sunday, but it's also the last game of the most-watched sport in America, which will go into hibernation for the next seven months.
But have no fear, sports fans. College basketball will help the time pass just fine — at least until March.
The words college basketball and March are beginning to have more and more meaning across Lawrence lately. Kansas is making noise in Big 12 Conference play, winning five of its first seven conference games. Another victory could propel the Iavhawks into the Top 25.
On Sunday, the Super Bowl should be second on the list for people in Lawrence. This might be the most important game of the season for Kansas against No. 19 Oklahoma. Kansas is only one game behind conference-leading Texas in the Big 12. Oklahoma is tied with Kansas and Colorado for second place.
The Jayhawks have yet to see a team with the frontcourt and size of Oklahoma. The Sooners' Taj Gray and Kevin Bookout weigh 238 and 270 pounds, respectively. For Kansas to win on Sunday, it must get production from its post men, who will have to play with an aggressive, smash mouth mentality much like the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Sophomore forward Darnell Jackson is quickly turning into
TIM HALL thall@kansan.com
the most productive big man on the team. The Oklahoma City native hasn't scored fewer than 10 points during the Jayhawks' four-game winning streak. While sophomore center C.J Giles has been buried on Kansas coach Bill Self's bench, Jackson has been the first post player to enter the game behind sophomore center Sasha Kaun and freshman forward Julian Wright. Jackson has even been more productive at times than Kaun, who has only reached double-figure scoring once in the past eight games.
But who cares which big man has had the hot hand? Come Sunday, Kaun needs to come ready to play. Giles has to contribute. Jackson needs to bang his body around and act strong in the paint.
If the Jayhawks don't get aggressive play, tough defense, rebounding and diving-on-the-floor intensity from the big men, afternoon Super Bowl parties will be spoiled by a Kansas loss.
So get your Super Bowl parties ready, but remember to keep basketball in mind first.
Hall is a Woodbridge, Va., senior in journalism.
NFL
Broncos sign center to contract extention
DENVER — The Denver Broncos and 12-year veteran center Tom Nalen have agreed to a three-year contract extension.
The deal was announced Wednesday.
"I'm very happy," Naien told The Denver Post in Thursday's editions. "This contract will put me at 37, 38 at the end, and I'd like to play three more years"
Keeping Nalen on the team was a priority because of his abilities and his place in team history, general manager Ted Sundquist said.
The Associated Press
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