SEASON IN REVIEW After the women's basketball team's season ended last week, The Kansan looks at the good and the bad. 6B-7B
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 2007 WWW.KANSAN.COM
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
PAGE 1B
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Sophmore forward Julian Wright will head back to his hometown of Chicago this Friday for Kansas' NCAA tournament game against Niaqara at 6:10 p.m. at the United Center
Homeward bound
BY MICHAEL PHILLIPS
Wright, Collins set for trip home for NCAA tournament
When the United Center was mentioned to the Jayhawk players, they all thought of the same thing: Michael Jordan.
Kansas will take its turn in the
famed Chicago arena on Friday night when it begins the NCAA tournament at 6:10 p.m.
Two layhawks already have experience in the arena. Freshman guard Sherron Collins and sophomore forward Julian Wright both grew up in Chicago, where they played during high school.
Collins has only fond memories. His team played three games there, and left with victories in all three. Wright didn't fare quite as well. During his junior year, his high school team won at the United Center to advance to the state tournament. His senior year, the team lost its super-sectional game at the arena.
"It's fun playing there," Collins said. "Michael Jordan played there, so when I make a shot, I think, Michael Jordan made a shot from here."
Both players said the main adjustment would be to the size of the
SEE BASKETBALL ON PAGE 2B
The Niagara Purple Eagles defeated the Florida A&M Rattlers 77-69 on Tuesday night. Niagara will move on to play Kansas at 6:10 p.m. Friday in the opening round of the NCAA tournament.
Spring practice brings new outlook on season
》 FOOTBALL
For many people, the most recent memory of Jayhawk football is the 42-17 trouncing the team received at Missouri last November. While fans have been able to shift their focus toward March Madness and spring training, the memory still lingers for the members of the Kansas football team. But the team looks to erase the bad taste in its mouth when spring practices start today.
BY ASHER FUSCO
The team's failure to make a bowl game placed glum punctuation on an up-and-down season that was marked by inconsistency in the secondary and passing game. However, these shortcomings are providing plenty of motivation heading into spring practices.
The players went through drills designed to improve their speed, endurance and change-of-direction skills, with a focus on bulking up in the offseason. The players used the disappointment that came along with last year's 6-6 record to get them out of bed for the early morning training sessions. Despite their willingness to
"If that's not motivation, you are in the wrong sport," coach Mark Mangino said. "We're angered by it, and we're determined to get it right."
"The players are looking forward to spring ball," Mangino said. "I think they've had enough of the indoor complex at 6 in the morning. They're anxious to get started."
participate in conditioning, spring practices provide the players with a much-needed change of pace.
Along with a fresh state of mind, Kansas has some blanks on the depth chart that need to be filled before the season begins. The 14 practice sessions could help sort out some of the questions surrounding the roster.
Mangino said several positions in the backfield and secondary were up for grabs over the next four weeks.
At positions like quarterback and defensive end, nothing is set in stone.
Senior fullback Brandon McAnderson will compete with sophomore running backs Jake Sharp and Angus Quigley for carriers. Quugley has made progress in his recovery from a leg injury that cost him all of last season. The most visible position battle will be between sophomore quarterbacks Kerry Meier and Todd Reeing.
SEE FOOTBALL ON PAGE 2B
"Kerry is considered the incum
BASEBALL
Sarah Leonard/KANSAN
Sarah Leonard/KANSAI Junior infielder Erik Morrison rounds third to celebrate with coach Ritch Petit after hitting a home run. Kansas beat Penn State. 18-5
Morrison leads offensive charge
BY ALISSA BAUER
Luckily for the Jayhawks, he stuck with it.
Morrison went 3-3 with five KB1 to lead Kansas (12-8) to an 18-5 victory over the Nittany Lions of Penn State (2-9). The victory is the third midweek victory in a row to be won via blowout.
"I was about ready to hang up everything I own with baseball after my rounds of BP on the field before the game," Morrison said. "I felt pretty much terrible before this game started, so I was kind of wondering how this game was going to go."
Before the game Tuesday afternoon, junior Erik Morrison had a rough batting practice. In fact, the layhawks' starting shortstop felt shaky about the coming game.
Wasting no time, the layhawks got hot in a hurry. With one down in the bottom of the first freshman third baseman Robby Price extended his hitting streak to 12
SEE BASEBALL ON PAGE 3B
Saint Helena KANSAN
Sophomore catcher Tiffany Cranner tags UMK runner Tai Liao out at home plate. Kansas defended UMK 8-0 on the first game and 5-2 in the second.
Sarah Leonard/KANSAN
Crisosto powers sweep of UMKC
BY EVAN KAFARAKIS
》 SOFTBALL
The Kansas softball team took advantage of a short home stand Tuesday, defeating UMKC 8-0 at Arrocha Ballnack.
The Jayhawks (17-7-1) have taken 10 straight from the Kangaroos since their last loss in the series in 2002.
Kansas extended its 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning to 5-0 thanks to sophomore shortstop Stevie Cristo. Cristo cracked a three-run home run off the center field scoreboard.
"Stevie's really starting to swing
the bat well," coach Tracy Bunge said. "She's got good bat swing; we know what she's capable of doing."
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One shy of matching her freshman year total in home runs already this season, Bunge said that though Cristose was a line-drive hitter, she could elevate the ball enough to send it out of the park.
Sophomore center fielder Dougie McCaulley was 3-for-4 in the leadoff spot. She also hit her team-leading fifth double of the season.
SEE SOFTBALL ON PAGE 8B