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THE UNIVERSITY OF DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2007
BIG 12FASTBREAK
Big 12 writer Mark Dent's take on the men's conference race
BY MARK DENT
RAISE YOUR GLASSES TO...
The labywhales had a dream week for the second week in a row. After an easy victory against Colorado, they turned in one of their most impressive efforts of the season in a 92-39 pasting of
Nebraska.
No one in the Big 12 is capable of producing the unstoppable defense and bal
offense that Kansas displayed in that game. Monday night it was business as usual in Manhattan. The Jawhaws won for the yawn, 24th time in a row, to top it all off. Kansas is now in first place by half a game because of Texas
Maric
A&M's loss to Texas Tech
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OK, maybe Marie didn't exactly light it up against Kansas last Saturday, but it doesn't matter. He had one of the best individual performances in Big 12 history last week against
K-State. Maric scored 41 points and grabbed eight rebounds. He shot 13-19 from the field. Here's a scary stat. Maric was only 15 for 25 from the free throw line. He
could have scored 50 points. This was arguably the best single game performance of any college basketball player this season.
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Kansas State's guard Carter Martin received a public reprimand from the Big 12 for criticizing officials after a loss to Nebraska last week. According to Associated Press, he said, "it was definitely eight against five" Martin should have been actually punished. A public reprimand is a lesser punishment than having to go to your room. Martin should have been suspended for one game. The last thing this conference needs are hot-head prima domnas barking about officiating like they're Rasheed Wallace.
Texas Tech guard Jarrus Jackson made a case for himself as the best big-game player in the league with a buzzer beater against Texas &M last week. Sorry Jackson supporters; he is still at least second best. The title of most clutch belongs to A&M's guard Acie Law IV. Before Jackson beat the Aggies, Law tied the game with a three. And Jawhawk fans aren't going to forget his game-winning three-pointer anytime soon. Both Jackson and Law are seniors, meaning someone will have to fill their roles next season. That person? Sherron Collins.
The Dora Watch
Who's More Clutch?
The Big 12 Fastbreak predicted that Texas Tech's forward Darryl Dora would not score in double digits the rest of the season after going for 18 against Kansas in January. Last week, Dora nearly did something special. He almost had more combined turnovers in his team's two games than points. Alas, a seven point outburst against Colorado gave him nine points for the week compared to six turnovers.
KEEP A CLOSE WATCH ON THE RACE FOR IRRELEVANCE...
Two weeks ago, the Big 12 Fastbreak warned Oklahoma State after a loss to Colorado that it could become a fixture in this section if it isn't careful. Needless to say, the Cowboys did not pay heed. No team has been more disappointing in conference season than Oklahoma State. It entered January in the Top 10 and is now no longer ranked after losses in four out of five games. Take away a miracle comeback against Texas Tech, and it would have lost five straight. Now, for Colorado. Don't think you can get away without mention two weeks in a row. The Buffaloes are arguably worse now than at any point this season. Why? Guard Richard Roby is even less interesting than normal. He's not even trying to impress NBA scouts anymore, and this is shown by scoring less than seven points in two of his last three games.
YOU PROBABLY SAID 'OH MY GOD' ABOUT...
Texas Tech guard
Jackson was mentioned earlier, but he didn't receive enough credit. Against Texas A&M, he dribbled the length of the floor after Law's gamey shot and sank a pull-up jumper at the buzzer. His great shot gave his team a huge victory on the Aggies home floor and put the Red Raiders back onto the bubble for the NCAA Tournament.
Kansan sportswriter Mark Dent can be contacted at mdent@kansan.com.
-Edited by James Pinick
New Mexico guard and former Jayhawk J.K. Giddens was suspended over the weekend after being kicked out of practice. Giddens left Kansas after he was involved at a fight at the Moon Bar in May 2005.
》 NCAA BASKETBALL
UNM coach suspends Giddens
BY STEVEN FERNANDEZ
DAILY LOBO
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The UNM men's basketball team will be without its leading scorer for possibly the rest of the season. J.R. Giddens has been suspended indefinitely. Lobo coach Ritchie McKay said Saturday.
Giddens was kicked out of Friday's practice, but there was no specific incident that triggered the suspension. McKav said.
Giddens did not join the team in Saturday's 74-58 win against Texas Christian at The Pit and will not practice or travel with the team until the suspension is lifted. McKav said.
"It just came to a point where I felt like it was important not only to our team, but to J.R. and the rest of our basketball family that I make the decision," he said.
McKay said the suspension was basketball related.
"He did nothing illegal, nothing unethical," he said. "This program tries to promote being a good teammate, and I want to emphasize that."
Giddens said in a news release Sunday that he does not dispute McKay's decision.
"I respect coach's decision," he said. "He's the leader of our team. He's the person of authority, and if he feels like this is what's best for the team right now, then I accept his decision."
McKay said there is no timetable for the junior guard — who was averaging 16 points per game — to return to the team.
He did not rule out the possibility of Giddens returning as early as Tuesday's game against San Diego State in The Pit and did not rule out the chance of the suspension lasting the whole season.
"There's no conditions to it," he said. "With the appropriate time, it there comes one, we'll reinstate him. If not, we'll talk about it next season."
Prior to the 2005 season, Giddens transferred to UNM after playing his freshman and sophomore seasons at Kansas. He was stabbed
in a bar fight on May 19, 2005, in Lawrence.
Giddens is a talented athlete, but the suspension was necessary, McKay said.
"He's a great kid. He's an excellent player," he said. "We'll miss his contribution to our team while he serves his suspension. But I'm not in this just for winning games. I want to see if we can't make an impact or a difference in the lives of the people that we coach."
UNM point guard Darren Prentice said the Lobos have no choice but to move on while Giddens is away from the team.
member. But we still have games left to play, and we can't let our heads get down. We just have to keep playing hard."
Having Giddens on the floor is an advantage, but UNM showed it could win without him, guard Chad Toppert said. Three players scored in double figures in Saturday's win.
"I don't really know the situation," he said. "It's always going to be a distraction if you lose a team
"J.R. draws a lot of attention," Topperd said. "When he's drawing double teams, it's easier for me and my teammates to find open looks. But I think we did a great job (Saturday)."
Giddens missed four previous games this season due to injury. He also started several games on the bench.
NCAA BASKETBALL
Cavaliers share top position, prepare for March
BY CLAYTON O'TOOLE CAVALIER DAILY
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — With a three-point victory against Florida State over the weekend, the No. 24 Virginia Cavaliers once again reclaimed a share of the top spot in the ACC with No. 5 North Carolina.
Virginia's performance - exemplified by a 9-1 record in the teams last 10 games - will most likely result in an appearance in the NCAA Tournament for the Cavaliers (18-7, 9-3 ACC) for the first time in five years. During the 2000-2001 season, then-coach Pete Pelen led a 20-8 Virginia squad with nine conference wins to the tournament, where they were promptly upset by the then-
unknown Gonzaga Bulldogs.
Nine wins has traditionally been a magic number for ACC teams vying for a place in the tournament. In what many believe to be the toughest conference in all of college basketball, a 9-7 (above .500) conference record has historically equated to having your ticket punched. Therefore, Virginia with nine conference victories already and four games remaining, would seem to be in great shape.
"It's a great feeling to be in a position like this right now," said forward Adrian Joseph, the star of Saturday's game against Florida State. "We've just got to get in the gym and work on what we do best."
Few things in life are certain, as
Florida State found out last season. Just 12 months ago the Seminoles capped off a successful ACC regular
season with two victories against Duke and Miami, bringing their conference record to 9-7. After a disappointing first round loss in the ACC Tournament to Wake Forest, however Florida
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State did not find its name among the 65 teams invited to dance last March. Despite the team's impressive performances thus far, Virginia's players realize that there is work left to do.
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A f t r Virginia's win over the weekend, ESPN's Joe Lumardi has the Cavaliers as a No. 5 seed in the upcoming tournament. A No. 5 seed would be the highest start-
cial" senior J.R. Reynolds said, "It's very big for us (the victory over FSU). We have put ourselves in a
"We're playing for something special. It's very big for us. We have ourselves in a very big position."
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"Tied for first in the ACC, it's not unthinkable that the Cavaliers could win their last four (at Miami, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, at Wake) and win the regular season crown outright if UNC loses again". Lunardi wrote on ESPN.com.
A share of the ACC title would be Virginia's first since that Elite Eight run in 1995. An outright ACC regular season title, however, would be Virginia's first since Ralph Sampson's sophomore season in 1981.
Need a break from campus?
Cheeseburger,
very big position."
for lunch.
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ward to as the regular season comes to a close.
(Originally $5.50)
ing spot for a Virginia team since the 1995 left Jones led Cavaliers earned a No. 4 seed and advanced all the way to the Elite Eight. According to Lunardi, a spot in the NCAA Tournament may not be the only thing Virginia fans have to look for
While any predictions are just speculation at this point, with four regular season games to play, the Cavaliers have certainly positioned themselves well for postseason success. For Cavaliers fans, it feels great to be back on top.
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