6B
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 2007
MCINTOSH
(CONTINUED FROM 1B)
her from playing a complete game. She pulled down five rebounds, had two assists and two steals to make it quite possibly the best game of her career.
"When the freshmen came in they put a lot of pressure on them to score." McIntosh said, "I felt like we've been here and we can't throw all the load on them."
When Kansas faces Oklahoma State in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament today, the freshmen won't feel that pressure. Instead, they'll be able to trust that McNitosh will help them score points.
Kansan sportswriter Case Keefer can be contacted at ckeefer@kansan.com.
Edited bv Sharla Shivers
WWOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Jayhawks are tougher this time around
BY CASE KEEFER
Kansas may have defeated Missouri to end the regular season Thursday, but the result ultimately caused Oklahoma State to lose the most.
Now, instead of facing a deflated Kansas State team in the first round of the Big 12 Conference Tournament in Oklahoma City today, the Cowgirls will have to play the surging lawfhaws.
Less than a month ago, it seemed as if Kansas (10-19, 4-12) had cemented itself at the bottom of the Big 12 standings. Then the hawthays went 4-3 to end the season and passed Kansas State to move up to the No. 11 seed in the tournament.
"Everybody this time of the year
is playing for something" coach Bonnie Henrickson said, "We'll be ready, we've got good momentum going into the tournament."
As the No. 6 seed,
Okla h a m a
State (20-9, 8-8)
may need an
impressive
performance
in Oklahoma
City to get into
the NCAA
tournament.
"We get Oklahoma State, it's another shot at them and trying to get a win." senior guard Shaquina
Kansas.
"Everybody this time of year is playing for something. We'll be ready, we've got good momentum going into the tournament."
on the other hand, will be upsetminded and seeking revenge. The Cowgirls beat the Jayhawks 68-54 early in the conference season.
BONNIE HENRICKSON Women's basketball coach
Mosley said, "It's like getting a rematch."
Missouri.
With Mosley as the floor general the lajhayaws have fared well in rematches recently. Their last two victories have come avenging early season losses against Kansas State and
Plus, much has changed since the two teams last faced. Senior guards Mosley and Sharita Smith didn't
even start in the game against the Cowgirls.
Since then, both have started nearly every game and Mosley is averaging 16 points a game. Smith has been pivotal defensively, holding virtually all of the players she guarded to less than their season average.
"The Oklahoma State game seems like such a long time ago," Henrickson said. "But they were aggressive and jumped out on us early. We've got to better on Riley and Green."
Guards Danielle Green and Andrea Riley are two of Oklahoma State's most potent offensive players. They combined for 25 points and eight assists last time against Kansas. With Moseley and Smith
in the Jayhawk backcourt, the two won't find it as easy to get into a rhythm this time around.
Kansas knows its poor regular season has placed it at a disadvantage in the tournament. The Jayhawks, however, are determined to use whatever means necessary to end their season on a high note.
"We don't want to be able to say our last game we didn't give it our all," junior forward Taylor McIntosh said. "So we want to go in there, make a run and play as hard as we can."
Kansan sportswriter Case Keefer can be contacted at ckeefer@ kansan.com.
Edited by Darla Slipke
>> PGA
Golfer turns himself in, still wins
BY TIM REYNOLDS
ASSOCIATED PRESS
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla.
— Mark Wilson was a math major at North Carolina and contesses that one of his favorite things is crossing off items on his to do lists.
He can now erase the top entry on that sheet of goals.
Wilson made a birdie to beat lose Coerces on the third playoff hole and win the Honda Classic at PGA National on Monday, the 32-year player's first PGA Tour victory in 111 career tries. He won a fourman playoff that began Sunday, was interrupted by darkness, then ended when he hit from 10 feet on the par-3 17th hole.
"I didn't sleep very good last night at all just because I really wanted to finish it off here and win," he said.
a 30-tooter — in near-dark conditions, remember — on the playoff first hole.
He got into the playoff with some big putts Sunday; par from 45 feet on the 16th hole, par from 8 feet on the final regulation hole, then
Some of his competitors acknowledged buckling under pressure.
Wilson seemed cool the whole way.
"Maybe in these moments, I'm nervous," said Cocenes, who also lost a playoff to Fred Funk last week at the tour's stop in Mexico. "Mr. Wilson, he played very good."
With the win, Wilson got a $990,000 winner's check, an exemption through the 2009 season and a reprieve from making an 11th consecutive trip to the tour's qualifying school. He also vaunted 179 spots to No. 86 in the world rankings. And, if he can stay in the top 10 on the money list, he has a chance at playing the Masters for the first time.
His caddie, Chris Jones, got two things: a nice cut of Wilson's earnings, and a huge sense of relief.
Wilson, Coceres, Boo Weekley — who missed a 3-foot par putt Sunday on the 18th hole that would
have given him his first career win — and Camilo Villegas all finished the 72 regulation holes at 5-under 275. But Wilson's score included a two-stroke penalty from his round of 66 on Friday, after Jones made a major goof.
On the fifth tee Friday, Jones overheard Villegas and his caddie talking about club selection at that par 3 hole. Jones blurted out, "It's an 18 degree," referring to the hybrid club that Wilson carries in his bag.
Offering advice to competitors like that is against the rules, and Wilson knew it. So he summoned a rules official at the next hole and docked himself two shots.
"I felt like I almost cost us this tournament Friday," said Jones, who cried after Friday's round and was fighting tears after Wilson got the win Monday. "But he hung in there and knew I didn't mean to do it. It was just a mental error. ... A lot of guys wouldn't have even called it on themselves."
The Annual Student Lecture Series presents
ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR. Crimes Against Nature
11 APRIL 2007 8:00 PM LIED CENTER
5 MARCH FREE KU STUDENT TICKETS AVAILABLE AT SUA BOX OFFICE (WIT
15 MARCH FACULTY, STAFF, AND GENERAL PUBLIC TICKETS ($10)
AVAILABLE AT THE SUA BOX OFFICE, KANSAS UNION LEVEL 4
AND AT THE LIED CENTER BOX OFFICE
student union activities
www.suaevents.com
785-864-SHOW
STUDENT SENATE ■ ■ ■ ■
KU
LIED CENTER OF KANSAS
The University of Kansas
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
'Hawks try to extend season McIntosh, Mosley key to hopes of opening-round upset
Offense:
Oklahoma State brings a high-powered and exciting offense to the opening-round game against Kansas, Freshman guard Andrea Riley is the key to the offenses ignition. The Big 12 Freshman of the Year is averaging 13 points and four assists per game. As an added bonus, Riley's assist-to-turnover ratio is more than 1-to-1, an exceptional stat for any point guard, let alone a freshman. As a whole, the Cowgirl offense is a balanced and well-oiled machine, complete with four players averaging double-digit points per game. Kansas has had a topsy-turvy season on the offensive end. Most recently, the Jayhawks enjoyed an outstanding offensive outing in a 70-66 victory at Missouri. Junior forward Taylor McIntosh and senior guard Shaquina Mosley both had career-high point totals. Freshman forward Danielle McCray has started to show some long awaited consistency lately, scoring in double digits in three of the last four games.
Defense:
Advantage:
Oklahoma State's defense is ranked second in the Big 12 for two reasons. Riley and Maria Cordero. Riley provides the quickness on the perimeter and Cordero the toughness under the basket. Cordero, a junior center, has 20 blocked shots to go along with 45 steals. Riley will pester the lajhawk guards constantly with her quick hands and impressive agility. Kansas' defense has improved throughout the conference season. At the beginning of the season, the lajhawks lacked the toughness and grit that lead to great defense. Sharita Smith's emergence solved that problem. The senior guard provides little in the way of offense, but never relents on defense, a trait that will be useful against the outstanding Oklahoma State murders.
Advantage:
Momentum:
Both teams enter the tournament on hot streaks. Kansas won three of its final six games. The team's spirit is high after spoiling Missouri's senior night celebration last week, and Mosley and McIntosh appear to be hitting their strides at the perfect time. Oklahoma State recovered from a mid-season collapse to win the final three games of the conference season. Victories against Texas and Kansas State were expected, but the Cowgirls' 63-60 victory over Nebraska was an impressive upset. Oklahoma State brings a little bit of added incentive to the Big 12 tournament: An NCAA tournament bid. If the Cowgirls manage to win one or two games in Oklahoma City this week, they will be in line for an at-large bid to the Big Dance.
Advantage:
— Asher Fusco
NFL
DENVER — The Denver Broncos and running back Travis Henry have reached an agreement on a five-year deal Monday with $12 million in guaranteed bonuses.
Edited by Joe Caponio
BY PAT GRAHAM ASSOCIATED PRESS
Broncos sign Titan running back
Henry was released by the Tennessee Titans on Saturday after the two sides couldn't restructure a contract that contained an $8.3 million bonus that was due Monday. He rushed for 1,211 yards and
seven touchdowns last season for Tennessee.
The Broncos did not announce the signing of Henry, which was disclosed by a person familiar with the deal who requested anonymity because it had not yet been signed.
The Broncos were looking for a running back after dealing last season's leading rusher Tatum Bell to Detroit — along with an offensive lineman and a fifth-round pick for cornerback Dre' Bly.
The Broncos also signed special
teams player/fullback Paul Smith to a three-year deal, Smith's agent Steve Baker confirmed Monday.
Smith, 29, played last season for the St. Louis Rams. He has 46 carries for 210 yards in his career, which includes three seasons with Detroit and three more in San Francisco.
"It's a fantastic fit for Paul," Baker said. "Denver is running back heaven. They want him to be an impact special teams player and help on offense."
Seeing Green? So are we. Start Celebrating now with St. Patty's Gear. Jayhawk Bookstore ..at the top of Naismith Hill
The University of Kansas School of Law presents its second annual
Diplomat's Forum
"The United Nations and America: A Japanese Perspective"
by
Chancellor's Lecturer and former Consul General of Japan
Takao Shibata
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
12:00-1:30 p.m. - Room 104 Green Hall
This event is sponsored in cooperation with the Center for East Asian Studies