JUST ANOTHER BIG MONDAY
The Jayhawks take a six-game winning streak to Norman, Okla., to face the struggling Oklahoma Sooners. Turn to Game Day for a full breakdown of tonight's game.
8B
MONDAY,FEBRUARY 26,2007 WWW.KANSAN.COM
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
PAGE 1B
KANSAS 89, IOWA STATE 52
ARE THEY WORTHY?
Anna Faltemeyer/KAMSA
Forward Julian Wright puts the finishing touch on a dunk in the second half of Saturday's victory against Iowa State. Wright finished the game with 12 points and eight rebounds.
Jayhawks step up, others fall as tournament draws near
BY MARK DENT
A quick flash of the scoreboard and Allen Fieldhouse erupted.
to Louisiana State.
The fans weren't watching a replay of a Sherrron Collins pass or a Brandon Rush dunk.
All they saw was a
Significant? Just a little bit
score. Not the score to the blowout they were witnessing. No, they saw the final score of Florida's 66-56 loss
A Kansas City, Mo., high school standout has committed to Kansas as a walk-on. See page 28 for more
inhamed Iowa State 89-52 on Saturday, but Florida's loss may have been the bigger victory. That loss, combined with two Wisconsin losses, gives the Jayhawks a better
seed in the NCAA Tournament.
SEE BASKETBALL ON PAGE 4B
Junior guard Russell Robinson will be able to play a portion of tonight's game against Oklahoma, but probably will not start.
Robinson's role unclear
Robinson practiced with the team Sunday for the first time since spraining the bottom of his foot, and coach Bill Self said he has been progressing well in his recovery. Self added that Robinson could have played Saturday if
it was absolutely necessary.
The game tips off at 8 p.m. and will be televised as part of ESPN's Big Monday. Oklahoma (15-12, 6-8 Big 12) lost to Texas on Saturday afternoon and is not in contention for an NCAA tournament bid.
For complete pregame coverage, see Game Day on page 88.
Michael Phillips
>> WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Recent momentum falls flat in Boulder
BY ASHER FUSCO
Kansas has played with renewed energy and offensive efficiency in its past few games. Unfortunately for coach Bonnie Henrickson, her players may have forgotten to stuff these improvements into their suitcases
before Saturday's trip to Colorado. Without their newfound swagger, the young Kansas players reverted to old ways in the 59-50 loss against the Buffaloes.
"I thought we came out flat," Henrickson said.
"I thought we came out flat. First we couldn't score, then we couldn't defend."
freshman forward Sade Morris misfired most frequently, shooting 3-for-11 and 2 for-9, respectively. Kohn still managed to score nine points, good for second most on the team.
"First we couldn't score, then we couldn't defend. We were very impatient offensively."
Despite the offensive struggles,
Kansas displayed flashes of the
The layhawks' impatience manifested itself with a 30 percent shooting performance and 17 turnovers. Freshman guard Kelly Kohn and
BONNIE HENRICKSON Kansas women's basketball coach
toughness. With 3:29 remaining in the second half, Kansas pulled within one point on senior Shaquina Mosley's jump shot. The field goal capped a 6-0 run, four of which were scored by
Mosley. The Buffaloes struggled to put distance between themselves and the jayhawks, and the points margin remained within six points until the final minute.
SEE MOMENTUM ON PAGE 3B
BASEBALL
ANNIE FILE HARDEN
The Jayhaws struggled with their pitching in the weekend against the Stanford Cardinal. The team looks to get back on track at 3 p.m. on Tuesday against Oral Roberts at 10 a.m.
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Single innings trouble Kansas
BY ALISSA BAUER
One big inning is often the culprit in a baseball loss. On Friday night against Stanford, it was the five-run first inning. On Saturday, the Cardinal's three-run seventh served as the one big inning.
One big swing did the trick on Sunday afternoon.
Despite its second intense comeback of the series, Kansas (7-4) failed to prevent the sweep in Palo Alto, Calif., with the trying run left stranded on third base in the ninth inning of Sunday's game. Picking up its
"You give up a five-spot in an inning and you are battling the rest of the game."
Making the most of the opportunity, Jahl gave his team a 6-1 lead by the end of the third inning.
With two down in the bottom of the second sophomore lefty Andy Marks (2-1) walked shortstop Adam Gaylord in to give the Cardinal a one-run edge. Marks entered the series finale with a 0.73 ERA, but was unable to get that final out. Thus, allowing Fujii the chance to bat.
RITCH PRICE Kansas men's baseball coach
first home sweep in more than a year, Stanford (7-5) broke open a 2-1 game in the bottom of the third inning in Sunday's game off the bat of catcher Brian Jubl. With two outs and the bases loaded, the junior hit a grand slam over the left field wall.
"I think obviously it was the biggest swing of the game," coach Ritch Price said. "You give up a five spot in an inning and you're battling the rest of the game."
an uphill battle for Kansas the remainder of the game.
Marks settled down and threw a strikeout to end the inning, but wouldn't last through the fifth after surrendering seven runs in his 4 1/3-inning start, which
resulted in his first loss of 2007.
"I think he was very disappointed in himself", Price said. He knew Marks watched former Kansas pitcher Kodiak Quick save his team from being swept more than a handful of times on Sundays last season and now Marks puts that pressure on himself.
SFE BASEBALL ON PAGE 3B
1.