BASEBALL FALLS TO COWBOYS Kansas lost the final game of its series with No.14 Oklahoma State Sunday,7-3. In the loss,sophomore pitcher Andy Marks struck out 10 Cowboys.
MONDAY, MARCH 26, 2007 WWW.KANSAN.COM
8B
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
ELITE EIGHT: UCLA 68, KANSAS 55
MISSED OPPORTUNITIES
On the bench, Sasha Kaun, Darnell Jackson, Rodrick Stewart, Brady Morningstar and Jeremy Case grimly watch their team members play out the final minutes of the game against UCLA in the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. The Jayhawks struggled during the second half to keep up with Bruins and missed 19 lavups. Kansas lost to UCLA in the Elite Eight, 68-55.
Amanda Sellers/KANSAN
Failed offense proves defense does not always win games
BY MICHAEL PHILLIPS
SAN JOSE, Calif. — The layhawks might have had more luck with a carnival game than they did against the UCLA Bruins on Saturday.
Kansas missed several layups and tip-ins on its way to a 68-55 loss that left the players baffled at how something so easy became so hard.
"The rim wasn't friendly for us," sophomore guard Brandon Rush said. "It was just one of those days where things weren't going right."
Meanwhile, the home-state Bruins seemed to be playing with an
oversized hoop. When Kansas made a late run with less than five minutes remaining in the game, guard Darren Collison hit a long three-pointer as the shot clock expired to seal the victory.
"We played very good defense", sophomore guard Mario Chalmers said. "Tonight, the hoop was as big as the ocean for them."
Instead of slowing things down, the Bruins decided to run with the Jayhawks. The game moved at a quick pace throughout, with turn
SEE BASKETBALL ON PAGE 4B
by the numbers
21
turnovers committed
19 missed layups
53. 3
17
steals by Kansas
percent shooting for UCLA
33-5 final record
4
straight Elite Eight losses for Bill Self
Afflalo breezes past Jayhawks Saturday in route to Final Four
BY MICHAEL PHILLIPS
SAN JOSE, Calif. — UCLAs best player, by far, was guard Arron Afflalo. His 24 points led the Bruins to a 68-55 victory, but just as important was his ability to find open teammates in key situations.
Twice, with the ball in Affalos hand and the shot clock running down, he made the right play and killed a Kansas rally.
On the final possession of the first half, Kansas cut the lead to one with a dunk from sophomore guard Brandon Rush. Holding the ball at
Instead of trying to get past Rush for the points, he passed the ball to forward Josh Shipp, who made a wide-open shot.
the top of the arc, Affalo engaged in a one-on-one match-up with Rush
"When they hit that three at the half, the crowd got behind them, and they got the momentum after that," freshman forward Darrell Arthur said.
In the second half Aftalo stepped up his game even more, scoring 15 of his points. With four minutes to
SEE AFFLALO ON PAGE 5B
Women's basketball coach Bonnie Henrickson added another post player to help address her team's lack of depth in the paint. PAGE 6B
NEW ADDITION
GRAND OPENING
Kansas opened its outdoor track and field season with several NCAA regional qualifying marks. Junior Ashley Brown set a new school record in the 100meter hurdles. PAGE 7B
CLEAN SWEEP
The Kansas softball team recorded its first series sweep of the season against Oklahoma State this weekend. The Jayhawks are now 23-9-1 on the season. PAGE 6B