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ARE YOU READY FOR SOME HUGGS? Bob Huggins brings his Wildcats to Lawrence tonight for the first Sunflower Showdown this season. Check out game day to get you ready for all the action.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2007 WWW.KANSAN.COM
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
PAGE 1B
KANSAS VS. KANSAS STATE. 8 TONIGHT. ALLEN FIELDHOUSE
RIVALRY FINALLY REVIVED
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Junior guard Russell Robinson struggles to dribble against the Wildcats in Manhattan last year. The Jayhawks won the game 66-52. The Jayhawks hope the momentum from this game will carry over to tonight's contest at Azen swimming
Both teams in Big 12 title race
BY MICHAEL PHILLIPS
Here's the setup: the Jayhawks are up 12 points in the second half. After a few costly turnovers, the opponent chips away at the lead, ultimately winning the game 59-55 in the final minutes.
Afterward, coach Bill Self tells reporters that the team "had a lot of bad possessions in the last 10 minutes."
That was the scene in Lawrence
on jan. 14, 2006, as the layhawks lost to the Wildcats in a game that could have been ripped straight from this year's playbook.
"That wasn't a great feeling," sophomore guard Brandon Rush said of that game. "It was pretty bad at the end, when they were stomping on the Jayhawk."
The lahayws will look to build on their one game winning streak against the Wildcats tonight. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. in Allen Fieldhouse
For the first time in a long time, the rivalry has implications beyond just bragging rights. The winner will take sole possession of second place in the Big 12 Conference.
It is also the first Sunflower Showdow that K State coach Bob Huggins has participated in. Huggins has promised to bring excitement back to what has been a lopsided rivalry, something Self-
SEE BASKETBALL ON PAGE 8B
Rivalry revisited tonight
"The one person I want to go against is Sasha Kaun from KU! Bennett said to Howard Richman of the Kansas City
More than one rivalry will be showcased Wednesday night Kansas State center Jason Bennett and Kansas junior center Sasha Kaun played each other in their high school days in Florida Kaun hasn't commented about their past playing experiences, but Bennett had some choice words for Kaun.
Star. "I played against him my ninth-grade year in high school. They beat my high school by like two points, so that's what I want. I want Sasha Kaun."
Bennett (isn't) just after Kaun He wants the whole team
"I want to beat KU here," Bennett said. K-State has not defeated kansas in Manhattan since 1983.
Mark Dent
Huggins brings winning attitude
BY MARK DENT
The stigma of a DUI still hangs over his head. Graduation rates may never be his main priority. And his players have had enough run-ins with the law to warrant building a private prison on the campus where he coaches.
But Bob Huggins is best known as a winner, and he has proven that during his first season at Kansas State (17-6, 6-2 Big 12).
"I thought it was a great hire," Kansas coach Bill Self said. "It brought instant interest to our league and primarily to K-State."
Interest that hadn't been present since the 1980s when their teams featured stars such as Mitch Richmond and Rolando Blackmon. Plus, the Wildcats are winning, Kansas State has won six conference games in a row and seven overall.
This is what college basketball fans expected when Huggins was hired last March. The man who had reached 14 straight NCAA Tournaments at Cincinnati brought immediate change to a struggling program.
Ticket sales skyrocketed. Nike's Jordan Brand wanted to design new uniforms. The team took on Huggins' gritty style.
"Their whole team is going to be physical and tough," sophomore guard Brandon Rush said. "They've changed and the emphasis is now on defense and being tough."
Recruits who previously wouldn't have known the Kansas town of Manhattan from the New York borough have started to notice the Wildcats' new coach, Freshmen Jason Bennett and Luis Colon signed in the spring and are already contributing to the Wildcat wins. Junior college transfer Blake Young has also been a big help for K-State this season. Last fall Huggins inked an even bigger recruit, Bill Walker, who only played in six games before tearing his ACL. Next year Huggins has arguably the best recruiting class in the country, which includes *Rivals*, com No. 1 prospect Michael Beasley.
Instead of just building for the future, Huggins has improved the present team. Last year, former coach Jim
SEE K-STATE ON PAGE 8B
KANSAS 70, COLORADO 68 QT
BY CASE KEEFER
Mosley's overtime heroics secure win
In last week's game against Texas Tech, Shaquina Mosley had a chance to win the game at the buzzer. But instead of driving to the basket, the senior guard settled for a jumper.
Tuesday night, Mosley learned her lesson.
With four seconds remaining in overtime in the 70-68 victory against the Colorado Buffaloes, she drove the lane for a game winning layup.
"I was just thinking it to the rim, don't just settle for a jump shot."
Moslev said.
After coming so close game-aftergame, Kansas (7-16, 1-9) finally won its first Big 12 Conference game.
With 34 seconds left in regulation, it looked like it was going to be yet another night with the same ending. Colorado guard Whitney Houston made the second of two
"I'm excited for Sharita, Shaq and all the upperclassmen," coach Bonnie Henrickson said. "It's good to get that monkey off of our back."
SEE VICTORY ON PAGE 3B
Anna Faltermieier/KANSAN
FOOTBALL
Twins to continue football career at home
Ryan and Brian Murphy, Lawrence Free State seniors, are expected to sign with Kansas today. The Murphy brothers verbally committed to the Jahwacks last June.
BY ASHER FUSCO
Luckily for Ryan Murphy, someone will always be there to help him fight through the two-a-day practices in the searing August heat. The same could be said for Brian Murphy.
The transition from high school to Division I-A football is jarring. Opponents are faster, practices are longer and the coaches are more demanding. The pressure of balancing academics and athletics has ended the careers of many promising football players.
The twin brothers who teamed
up to torment defenses at Lawrence Free State High School plan to take their football careers several miles down the road to the University of Kansas.
The brothers, who verbally committed to Kansas last June, will make their pledges official today.
At Lawrence Free State, Ryan played quarterback. Brian lined up several yards behind him at running back. Naturally, their on-field rapport was nearly seamless.
"I just always knew where he was to be," Ryan said. "I knew that
SEE FOOTBALL ON PAGE 7B