2B SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 14 2007
COMMENTARY
Collins' play key to victory
"Coach self told me that I was the missing piece he needed
to win a national championship," said Kansas freshman Sherron Collins about when he committed to Self in October 2005.
It appears self knew exactly what type of impact the 5-foot 11 bulldog out of Chicago would have. We just don't know if Self expected the impact to come in Collins' freshman season. One thing is certain, however. The 2006-07 layhawks will go as deep in March as Collins will carry them.
Looking back at Kansas' losses, it is easy to see what type of team has the ability to give it fits. It won't be a team like Missouri that will try to play an up tempo style. Nobody outside of Chapel Hill, N.C., has the athletes to pull that off. No, it will be a team that will slow the game down, play an active zone and make the game as ugly as possible. Look back at the Bradley and Oral Roberts debacles if you need further clarification. Scratch that. For your sanity, do not look back at those games
Enter Collins. He remains the only Jayhawk that can get to them rim at will. His penetration is able to break down zone defenses regularly. With Collins out of the game, the offense against the
zone often goes stagnant with 25 seconds of passing around the perimeter and then a guarded jump.
Since conference play began, Collins has been the player Self expected during his recruitment. Early in the season he lacked aggressiveness, often standing around
becoming better at taking care of the ball, with a 2.4 assist-to-turnover ratio, highlighted by Saturday's two turnover performance in 27 minutes against Missouri's high-pressure defense.
Collins' three-point marks-manship will be key as teams try to force the jawhaws to beat them from deep. As Self continues to see smaller teams, he may spend more time playing four
"Coach Self told me that I was the missing piece he needed to win a national championship."
the perimeter. Now he routinely slashes through defenses and creates opportunities for others while maintaining his impressive ability to finish around the hoop.
In 10 conference games, Collins has only had one game falling to reach double figures: a nine-point point at Nebraska. He is averaging 12.9 points per game while shooting 58 percent from the field and 50 percent from behind the arc. He is also
SHERRON COLLINS Freshman guard
guards at a time like we saw against Kansas State. With Collins, Brandon Rush, Mario Chalmers and Russell Robinson in the game
at the same time, the lavahaws become awfully difficult to defend with all four being able to slash and shoot.
We'll find out this March if Self really is Nostradamus and Collins is the piece to make the Jayhawks run to Atlanta complete.
Sarraf is a Lawrence senior in journalism.
Edited by James Pinick
athletics calendar
TODAY
Swimming and diving at Big 12 Championships, all day College Station, Texas
Women's basketball vs. Mis
Men's basketball vs. Colo
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
Swimming and diving at Big 12 Championships, All day College Station, Texas
Swimming and diving
Big 12 Championships, All day College Station, Texas
Softball vs. South Carolina, 11 am. Tallahassee, Fla.
Tennis vs. Brigham Young, 2 p.m. First Serve Tennis Center
Softball vs. Florida State; 6:30 p.m.Tallahassee, Fla
a. m. Tallahassee, Fla.
SATURDAY
Swimming and diving at Big.12 Championships, All day, College Station, Texas
Softball vs.Jacksonville.11
Tennis vs. Utah, 11 a.m. First Serve Tennis Center.
Men's basketball vs. Nebraska, 3 p.m. Allen Fieldhouse
Softball vs. Memphis, 6:30 p.m. Tallahassee, Fla.
SUNDAY
Women's basketball vs. Kansas State, 1 p.m. Allen Fieldhouse
Baseball vs. North Dakota State, 3 p.m. Hoglund Ballpark
>> TRACK AND FIELD
Thrower rises above crowd
BY TAYLOR BERN
Anyone who has ever met Egor Agalonov can attest to his intimidating stature, but it's his focus and determination that set him apart from the crowd.
The 6-foot-3 junior thrower has
made a name for himself in both the weight throw (indoor) and the hammer throw (outdoor). At last year's Big 12 Indoor Championships, Agafonov defeated teammate
their Newcomer of the Year award.
Aqafonov
Agafonov has won five of the six meets he has competed in this season, and boasts a season-best throw of 74-00.75. The results, however, have not surprised Agafonov.
Shelldon Battle in the weight throw by more than two feet for the crown and went on to place second at the NCAA Championships. The performance was more than enough for the Kansas coaches to honor him with
"We worked really hard in the fall, so this is nothing unusual or irregular." he said. "It's been pretty predictable."
Agafonov started his career at the Russian University for Physical Education before making the move to the University of Kansas after his freshman year. Agafonov came to Kansas to join an elite track team and a prestigious college. He admits to finding lectures "interesting" and likes to study.
"Sports are not all my life," he said. "I'm young now, but who knows what will happen in the future."
The 2006 indoor and outdoor All American treats regular meets like practice and gears up for the Big 12
and NCAA Championships, making the next three and a half weeks the best time of the season. And don't expect him to lay back and rely on luck.
"I really don't believe in luck, because it's luck if you win one meet, but to win several competitions is many years of practice and thousands of hours of weight lifting," said Agafonov.
Upon leaving his office, coach Stanley Redwine joked that he wouldn't mind a full team of Agafonovs.
Kansan sportswriter Taylor Bern can be contacted at tbern@kansan.com
"We may not do too well in the sprints or distance," he said, "but wed always work hard and take the top eight spots in the throws."
Edited by James Pinick
>> NFL
Retired Barber to join NBC former Giant to appear on 'Today,' Sunday football pregame
ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK — Former NFL running back and new "Today" show correspondent Tiki Barber said his offseason work at Fox News Channel made him recognize he had a passion for a career outside of sports.
Barber also said his problems with New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin had "started to take its toll on me."
The just-retired NFL running back was formally introduced as an NBC Universal employee Tuesday. He'll contribute news and human interest stories to "Today," and he'll be an analyst on NBC's Sunday highlight show "Football Night in America" in the fall.
He spurned offers from Fox and ABC/Disney to take the NBC job.
"My dream has always been to be on the 'Today' show." Barber said.
Barber, 31, retired as a ProBowl running back, scoring a touchdown in the NFL all-star game last weekend. Barber and his disciplinarian coach had their rough patches, particularly when Barber said the Giants were outcoached after a playoff loss a season ago.
Barber laid the groundwork for a broadcasting career while still active in the NFL. He was a correspondent for the Fox News Channel morning program "Fox & Friends," and has two programs on Sirius Satellite Radio, one on general topics and another on football that he does with his twin brother, Ronde Barber of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Zucker compared Barber to Joe Garagiola, another "Today" personality with a sports background, and former Giants star and longtime broadcaster Frank Gifford.
Zucker, the presidents of NBC News and Sports, and "Today" co-host Matt Lauer.
Barber "pops through the screen" and is incredibly popular with women, who make up the bulk of the "Today" show audience. Zucker said.
"He's incredibly handsome, he's incredibly charming, he's incredibly personable and he's incredibly smart," he said, "and that's a rare quality."
NBC News President Steve Capus also said Barber came with a backup.
Few other novice broadcasters would get such a lavish introduction to their new business: a news conference attended by NBC Universal President and Chief Executive Jeff
"On those days when you're not feeling well, we'll call Tampa Bay and get your brother," Capus said.
VALENTINE'S DAY ONLY AT THE HAWK
$100
ALMOST ANYTHING
JOIN US
February 20, 21, 22 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at OREAD BOOKS | Kansas Union | Level 2
ONE STOP SHOPPING FOR ALL YOUR GRADUATION NEEDS
MEET STOP SHIPPING FOR ALL YOUR GRADUATION NEED Booths: Official KU Grad Announcements, Caps and Gowns Class Rings by Balfour, Alumni Association University Career Center, Commerce Bank and STA Travel
Edwards Campus students unable to attend: The KU Bookstores at Jayhawk Central will have a complete selection of regalia and diploma frames plus order information for class rings and announcements