BIRDS OF A FEATHER Eagle exposition draws crowd to Free State High School
THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2007 WWW.KANSAN.COM
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
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>> WAITING TO GRADUATE
Self offers advice all fans should follow
KANSAS ROARS BACK AFTER TOUGH DEFEAT IN LUBBOCK
When Kansas lost to Texas Tech on Saturday, Kansas players and fans were treated to a sight they're all too familiar with: Students and fans storm the court.
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— Edited by Mark Vierthaler
Kealing is a Chesterfield, Mo., senior in journalism and political science.
When Nebraska comes to town this coming season, or when it's Kansas State's turn to visit Lawrence in 2008, students and fans need to stay off the field. Students and fans should confine their revelry to the stands and local bars.
At his weekly press conference Monday, coach Bill Self said 50 percent of the time Kansas lost on the road, fans of the home team stormed the court. While the number is probably more of a guess, and likely a bit overstated, Self was visibly upset by the behavior.
Kansas football fans need to at least pretend like they're used to winning. Enough with rushing the field. Enough with tearing down the goalposts. Take some advice from Bill Self and leave the playing surface to the players.
Self's remarks became the hot topic on message boards and local talk radio by Monday night. And while some talk show hosts tried to maintain a sense of balance and analysis of the basketball situation, countless fans turned to simply bashing opponents as tactless and as fans not used to winning.
Sure, there was the victory against Texas in 2002 when a few foolish fans tried to run the floor, but the vast majority stuck to their seats and booed those who were spoiling the sacred floor.
Kansas football fans, that is.
Probably valid points, and points that could serve as a lesson for Kansas fans too.
WACOWAKE-UP
Kansas football fans, that is,
In the past two seasons, Kansas
fans have torn down the goal-
posts four times in 2005 against
Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa
and in 2006 against K-State.
Sure, tooball players have pads and aren't as vulnerable to rabid fans, but in 2005 Charles Gordon, NFL quarterback, had a run in that could have proved injuring. A Kansas fan stepped on his ankle on the way to the goal posts.
Enough already. Kansas fans are rightly indignant that their basketball players — virtually gods of Jayhawk land — are endangered by the actions of foolish fans. Kansas fans should share the same concerns for their football players.
I can't be sure, but Id guess Chuck would have been quite upset if his college career had ended early because of a fan stepping on his ankle.
Storming the court — or the field — is a sign of a program that isn't used to winning. In the past five years — and probably long before that — Kansas fans have never stormed James Naismith Court en masse.
Junior guard Russell Robinson shoots over Baylor's Kevin Rogers. Robinson and the Jayhawks improved to 4-1 in Big 12 play and moved back into first place.
Rod Aydelotte/ASSOCIATED PRESS
BY MICHAEL PHILLIPS
WACO, Texas — For the first time all night, Sasha Kaun hesitated.
"Cheese," the junior center said. "No, wait, sausage."
The victory, coupled with Texas A&M's loss to Texas Tech late Wednesday night, put the Jayhawks into a four-way tie for first place in the Big 12 Conference.
Pizza selection aside,he was in full attack mode as Kansas throttled Baylor 82-56 Wednesday night.
The Bears made only one of their first
"We looked a lot more like the team were supposed to look like," he said. "It looked more like a group than a collection of really good players."
17 shots, and the Jayhawks ran their offense through the big men — just the way coach Bill Self drew it up.
Inside the paint, sophomore forward Julian Wright lit up defenders for 16 points. His contribution was felt in other places,
The Bears rebounded after their 1-for-17 start and kept pace with the lajwayks for the rest of the game, but they never came closer than 18 points in the second half.
His success is especially important to the team because of his ability to move the ball between the guards and the centers. It's an advantage that Kansas relies on to properly run its offense.
1000
1000
"Whenever I focus on just one area, I don't think I'm giving as much to the team," he said. "My best games are when I play an all-around game, all over the court."
though. He also contributed two blocks and three steals.
"Iulian is one of those guys that when he plays well, usually Kansas follows," Self said. "He was really good tonight, and he was
back to being who he is."
The Jawahays finished the game with 18 assists to Baylor's six. The team moved the ball around and involved several players in each offensive possession.
It was an improvement from Saturday's loss to Texas Tech. After that game, the coach said his team showed a lack of patience on offense.
That wasn't the case Wednesday.
"We played more team ball instead of individual," freshman guard Sherron Collins
SEE VICTORY ON PAGE 4B
» WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Sloppy offense forces Jayhawks to 12th-straight loss against Wildcats
BY ASHER FUSCO
MANHATTAN — Kansas had chance after chance to leave Bramlage Coliseum with a victory Wednesday night, but came away empty-handed.
The Jayhawks saw their last chance slip away on a series of missed shots on the final possession of the name.
Kansas lost to Kansas State 59-55 in a game that was sloppy, but hotly contested throughout.
The loss was the Jayhawks 12th straight to the Wildcats.
It was defensive intensity that allowed Kansas to stay in a game that looked like a mismatch at the start. Kansas State jumped out to an 8-1 lead in the first two minutes of
action, only to have their lead cut to three just two minutes later.
After trailing by seven points at halftime, the lavhawks turned up the pressure on the Wildcats, holding them scoreless for a five-minute stretch early in the second half.
The crowd fell silent when freshman forward Danielle McCray put the Jayhawks on top 41-39 with 12:18 remaining.
For the final few minutes of the
...
SEE DEFEAT ON PAGE 8B