BIG GAME, BIG MONDAY Check out game day to get prepared for tonight's nationally televised game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
MONDAY, JANUARY 29, 2007
WWW.KANSAN.COM
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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SPORTS
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KANSAS 97 COLORADO 74
PASSING GRADE
Amanda Sellers/KANSAN
Mario Chalmers, sophomore guard, drives past Colorado guard Xavier Slain during the second half of Saturday's game in Allen Fieldhouse. Chalmers scored 21 points against Colorado and brought down five rebounds. The Jayhawks defeated the Buffaloes, 97-74.
'Soft' and showy play to stay home as Kansas travels north to Nebraska
BY MICHAEL PHILLIPS
One thing needs to be cleared up about Julian Wright's monster embarrassment of a monster jam.
"You can't count that as a missed dunk because he didn't get the ball off the floor," coach Bill Self said.
The sophomore forward was attempting to do a full rotation with his
arm when he bobbled the ball and hit the floor.
"I wouldn't have the cahones to try the windmill in front of 16,000 people," sophomore guard Brandon Rush joked. "He tried to play it off by laying down on the ground like he was hurt."
Highlight shows have replayed the moment into oblivion, and Wright's pride has had a short time to heal, but the play may
KANSAS VS.
NEBRASKA
8TONIGHT, ESPN
have brought to light an ugly truth about this jahvah team.
"Our big, guys play soft," Selt said.
It may seem like nitpicking after a 97-74 beating of Colorado;
Junior Russell Robinson, sophomores Mario Chalmers and Brandon Rush and freshman Sherron Collins all finished with double-digit scoring, something none of the big men could boast.
but the team knows it will have to play flawlessly tonight to leave Nebraska with a victory. The ESPN Big Monday game starts at 8 p.m.
Other statistics broke down the same way. Kansas had 19 steals to Colorado's 10, but the Buffaloes
It was the layhawk guards that played well on Saturday.
SEE BASKETBALL ON PAGE 4B
Robinson regains confidence stops hesitating during games
Thinking is usually a good thing - except if you're Russell Robinson.
In basketball, there's a fine line between making the smart play and thinking too much. The latter had admittedly been Robinson's problem for most of the last month.
"Before, I was pushing it." Robinson said after tying his season high with 12 points in Saturday's victory against Colorado. "I was hunting a little bit. Now I'm just letting it come."
On Saturday, Robinson nailed
Just a few weeks ago, Robinson often appeared to hesitate, even before taking a wide open shot. That split-second thought, questioning whether to pass or shoot, would throw him off. Not surprisingly, he missed the shot.
The last few games have been a different story, though.
And that's the difference.
BY RYAN SCHNEIDER
BY RYAN SCHNIDER
KANSAN SPORTS EDITOR
RSCHNEIDER@KANSAN.COM
a couple three-pointers that he might have missed earlier in the season simply because he took the shot in rhythm.
That's all Robinson's ever needed to do. He's never been asked to lead the team in scoring or to make the key basket in the clutch. All he's ever had to do is make smart decisions.
No stopping. No thinking.Just shooting.
And that's just what coach Bill Self has been looking for in his point guard.
SEE SCHNEIDER ON PAGE 4B
>> WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
--coach Bonnie Henrickson said. "I think we hung our heads, got upset and set up play with much poise in the second half."
Sarah Leonard/KANSA
Taylor Mcintosh, junior forward, drives to the basket for Saturday's game in Lincoln. Neb Mcintosh contributed 16 points and five rebounds for the jackets, who lost 78-58.
Kansas deflates against Nebraska
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Jayhawks lose 78-58 in Big 12 game
LINCOLN, Neb. — During player introductions at the Devaney Center on Saturday, the lights dimmed and a giant spotlight hovered over the Nebraska starting five.
For Kansas, the 40 minutes of regulation were spent trying to steal the spotlight and earn its first Big 12 Conference victory of the season. Despite keeping it close in the first half, the lajhawks faded in the second and lost 78-58.
BY CASE KEEFER
"Our response was disappointing."
The loss to the No. 25 Cornhuskers means the lavvahs falls to 0.
the season against Sacramento State
Nebraska forward Danielle Page also added to the lahayws headache. She finished with a career-high 17 points and five rebounds.
"We were undisciplined," Henrickson said. "They were too good to give easy looks, we needed to make them take tough shots."
Although freshmen have scored 60 percent of Kansas' points this season, it was the upperclassman that stepped up offensively Saturday. Junior guard Taylor McIntosh, who is known for her defensive prowess,
"Our response was disappointing. I think we hung our heads, got upset and didn't show much poise in the second half."
Kansas was prepared for a close game, and the main task would be shutting down Cornhusker forward Kelsey Griffin.
BONNIE HENRICKSON Kansas coach
That didn't happen. Griffin attacked the rim with ease and finished the game with a season high 24 points. She added 10 rebounds for her ninth double-double of the year. Senior guard Shaquina Mosley had the Jayhawks only double-double of
7 in the conference. Since taking charge of the Kansas program, Henrickson is only 1-13 against ranked opponents.
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had a career high 16 points.
"Scoring isn't my first priority," McIntosh said. "We were moving the ball more and getting open shots."
For the third consecutive game, Mosley led the lawhavas
with 18 points. Mosley was relatively quiet in the second half after scoring 15 in the first.
"I think our seniors lost their poise, and they got to be the best kids I have on the road." Henrickson said. "I can't be worried about their emotions."
With just more than a minute remaining in the first half, Kansas caught some breaks and had a chance to take the lead.
SEE DEFLATED ON PAGE 3B
the week ahead
Men's basketball vs.
Nebraska, 8 p.m. Lincoln,
Neb
TONIGHT:
Brandon Rush (right) and the Jayhawks travel to Nebraska to take on the 'Huskers on ESPN's "Big Monday"
Women's basketball. vs. Texas Tech, 7.
p.m. Allen Fieldhouse
WEDNESDAY:
THURSDAY:
Baseball vs. Hawaii-Hilo
midnight, Hilo, Hawaii
FRIDAY:
Baseball vs. Hawaii- Hilo, 8 p.m., Hilo, Hawai.
The Kansas baseball team open its season this week-end with five games on the Hawaiian islands.
Track at Husker Invita tional, Lincoln, Neb, All day.
SATURDAY:
**Women's basketball**
vs. Texas A&M, 6 p.m. College Station, Texas
Baseball vs. Hawaii-
Hilo, 6 p.m. Kona, Hawaii
Track at Husker Invitational, All day
Men's basketball vs. Texas A&M, 8 p.m. Allen Fieldhouse
Tennis vs. Syracuse, TBA, Winston-Salem, N.C.
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