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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
WWW.KANSAN.COM
▼ BUNT 'EM OVER
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2006
Shorts, sports on writer's mind
Short shorts.
PAGE 12A
You know, the ones with the stuff written across the back?
That's the first thing that came to my mind Friday afternoon as I was enjoying the beautiful weather with friends at a local outdoor establishment. I was dreaming of spring, a time when such weather will be commonplace. That led me, naturally, to my second thought: What will we be talking about come March with respect to KU athletics?
The thought was intriguing. There are a lot of issues to hash out in a lot of different sports at the University before we can know what we'll see. I decided I would take on the task of finding the five most pressing questions, and then I'd answer them.
After my nap, of course.
Question #1: Will the men's basketball team jell completely in time for a tournament run?
Answer: This is a tough question right out of the gate. This is a different Kansas team than the team that played in Maui, Hawaii. Before making a run, the Jayhawks have to make the NCAA tournament. With an RPI hovering around 80 and with fewer than 40 days until Selection Sunday, the Jayhawks have some work to do. The true test will come Sunday when Oklahoma, fresh off a victory against rival Texas, steps into Allen Fieldhouse.
Question #2: If the said tournament run does happen, how many of our freshmen will be back next year?
Answer: With the possible exception of guard Brandon Rush, it's safe to say that they will all return for their sophomore seasons.
Forward Julian Wright has made big strides so far, but he still has a lot of wrinkles in his game that he needs to iron out. He is a raw talent that could use another year to mature. Guard Mario Chalmers has made the biggest improvements of any of the freshmen, but he is definitely a four-year player. He and sophomore guard Russell Robinson make up the toughest defensive backcourt in the Big 12. We're blessed to have them together for the next two years. Rush may be wise to make the jump because he has all the tools to do so. As for guard Micah Downs, I'm pretty sure he's not coming back.
Question #3: Can Kansas women's basketball coach Bonnie Henrickson and the Jayhawks pull it together in time to save their season?
Answer: Their confidence took a serious blow Saturday when they were waxed by Baylor, but they have a chance to bounce back tonight against Colorado. The 'Buffs beat the 'Hawks in the first meeting, and a triumph by Kansas might get the team back on track. With a 2-5 conference record, the Jayhawks probably need to win five or six of their last nine games to get to the Big Dance. With a tough road ahead (at No. 11 Oklahoma and two games against 5-2 Missouri), the chances appear very slim.
BASEBALL
SEE SHORTS ON FAGE 10A
Hawaii trip all business
WONTBY ALIISA BAUER
@kansau/kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
For the typical baseball fan, kicking back and watching an opening day game is a little piece of paradise. figuratively speaking.
For Kansas, however, that paradise is quite literal.
For the fourth consecutive year, the Jayhawks will fly to Hawaii to open their season against the University of Hawaii-Hilo Vulcans. Tonight's first pitch is set for 11 p.m.
"It's really an outstanding place to open the season." Kansas coach Ritch Price said. "It also helps prepare us for the next weekends against West Coast teams where we'll be outside everyday."
Despite the tropical locale, Price said he had every intention of making it clear that the trip was strictly baseball.
"Everybody thinks this is a glamorous place to go and it is — when you go in the summertime," Price said. "But it's all business, no doubt about that."
His players echoed that thought.
"I think we might have one day off, but it's going to be party enough just playing." freshman catcher Buck Afenir said.
Hilo, an independent Division I program, will kick off its 30th season tonight after a dismal 6-34 mark last year.
Much like the Jayhawks, the Vulcans will return nearly their entire set of infielders and outfielders. Kansas will only have to fill the catcher and left fielder
positions left vacant because of graduations.
When the two got together last season, the Jayhawks swept the series, outscoring them 56-18 in the process.
Sophomore third baseman Erik Morrison said the team would use the trip as a learning experience.
"We don't look at Hawaii for us to go out and beat up on a team." Morrison said. "We go out and see what areas we need to go out and improve on to start the non-conference season, which is a lot tougher this year."
The Jayhawks will arrive in Hawaii a little weary. On top of the strain of an eight-hour flight, the Jayhawks were in classes at the beginning of the week and won't take off for Los Angeles until Tuesday night.
Price said his team was ready to go despite the travel schedule.
"We've played as good as any team I've coached in the last 10 days," he said. "We're knocking the ball around as good as it can be done. We're ready to start seeing some different-colored jerseys, too."
- Edited by Matt Wilson
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Kansas freshman guard Ivana Catic brings the ball up court. Junior guard Shaquna Mozley replaced Catic in the starting lineup last Saturday in Kansas' 90 - 40 loss to defending national champion Baylor.
After Baylor loss, Colorado game begins crucial stretch
Jayhawks hope to rebound
Kansas Jayhawks (13-5, 2-5 Big 12)
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Player to watch:
Junior guard Shaquina Mosley. After spending the first months of the season on the bench, she took the starting spot from freshman Ivana Catic on Saturday. Her athleticism allows her to play aggressively, and it is rare for a player to get an uncontested shot on her.
Handle the zone defense. When Kansas visited Colorado in January, the Buffalooes used a zone defense to shut down the Jayhawks' scoring attack. Since then, the Jayhawks have improved against zone defenses, but success will hinge on whether the KU guards can make three-pointers against the zone. That would allow senior forward Crystal Kemp more room to work inside.
Season in review:
With a 2-5 conference record, all five remaining home games become must-win situations to keep NCAA tournament hopes alive for Kansas. Kansas has played well at home this season, losing only once in Allen Fieldhouse to Texas A&M.
Kev to victorv:
Kansas lost to defending national champion, Baylor, 90-40 Saturday. It was the worst loss in the history of the program. Kemp was in foul trouble early and the guards struggled to make shots. Kansas coach Bonnie Henrickson said she had told her players to have a short memory span and to put the loss behind them.
Previous game:
Buffaloes must establish presence in paint, contain Kemp
Michael Phillips
Rachel Sevmour/KANSAN
Colorado Buffaloes (6-14, 1-7
Big 12)
Freshman guard Brandon Rush shoots a jump shot over a Texas Tech defender Monday night in Allen Fieldhouse. Monday night's victory placed the Javahays in a tie for second place in the Bin 12 Conference.
Jasmina Ilc. Kansas has had difficulty defending strong post players in conference play. The junior forward enters the game in the top 10 in the conference in scoring, averaging nearly 16.3 points per game. For Colorado to have an opportunity to win,
Player to watch:
Colorado must find a way to repeat the performance it had against Kansas earlier in the season. Kansas senior forward Crystal Kemp was held to only 12 points, a season-low at the time. If the Buffaloes can contain
spots, as players are shooting a conference-leading 73.7 percent from the line.
Colorado has not won a Big 12 game since defeating Kansas in Boulder, Colo., last month. Statistically, Colorado ranks near the bottom of the conference in nearly every offensive and defensive category. Free throw shooting is one of the team's bright
Illic must establish an inside presence early in the game.
Season in review:
Colorado fell to Nebraska, 70-54, Saturday in Lincoln, Neb. It was the Buffaloes' 12th straight road loss, dating back to January 2005.
Kemp again, the pressure will fall on the shoulders of the Jayhawks' streaky shooting guards.
Key to victory:
Last time out:
Ryan Schneider
Losses no matter to Jayhawks
The Big 12 Championship, which seemed like an extreme thought two weeks ago, is now in plain sight.
The Jayhawks are tied for second place in the Big 12 Conference and are only a half game back of Texas.
"From the get-go I thought we were going to be real good," freshman guard Brandon Rush said. "Everything would start to come along and it has, so we are proving people wrong. They said we were going to get killed in Big 12 play and what are we, third? Second. That's good."
"I think the appearance was, from our stand point a week and a half ago or two weeks ago, that we might lose contact with the leaders, particularly Texas," Kansas coach Bill self said.
The Jayhawks have their thoughts set on bigger things like winning the Big 12 Conference.
After four straight victories, back-to-back losses to Kansas State and Missouri appear to be forgotten for the Kansas men's basketball team.
Kansas has also won 10 of its last 12 games.
"Everyone is just stepping up every game and getting a team effort points-wise, rebounding-wise and assists-wise," sophomore guard Russel Robinson said.
BY RYAN COLAIANNI
rcolaiaanni@kansan.com
KANSAN SENIOR SWITWRITE
Self said even though the team has improved, it still didn't fully
If it weren't for Oklahoma beating Texas, Kansas would be further back in the conference race. Rooinson said he watched the Oklahoma-Texas game Saturday night.
Kansas has nine remaining games — five in Allen Fieldhouse and four on the road. This weekend's game against Oklahoma will be important for the conference standings. The Sooners are 4-2 in conference play and have won four straight, including an 82-72 victory against conference-leading Texas last weekend. Kansas also will play Texas in Austin in a few weeks, which could decide how the top of the Big 12 shapes up.
understand the importance of every possession on the offensive side of the ball. He said it's been an extremely fun team to be around lately.
"That is one of our goals, is to win the Big 12 and we just try to take it one game at a time, prepare for each game, and I think we have done a good job of that so far." Robinson said.
"I kind of wanted them to win, to kind of make the game on Sunday more interesting." Robinson said.
Self said the chances of winning the Big 12 and keeping up in the conference standings depended on the outcome on Sunday against Oklahoma.
"A win on Sunday would certainly enhance ours because I don't think Texas is going to lose very many games," Self said.
Edited by Lindsey St. Clair
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