THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 24, 2009
SPORTS
3B
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PREVIEW
KANSAS VS. KANSAS STATE 7TONIGHT, BRAMLAGE COLISEUM, MANHATTAN, FSN
Offense
Freshman guard Kelly Kohn had established herself as Kansas' primary scoring threat earlier in the season. She's still the team's leading scorer, averaging 10.7 points per game, but has fallen into a slump. In the last two games, Kohn has scored only seven points while shooting just 11 percent from the field. Shaquina Mosley has done everything in her power to balance Kohn's troubles. The senior guard scored a career-high 19 points against Iowa State on Saturday. The Jayhawks will need someone else to assist Mosley in the scoring department tonight. Kansas State's offensive production has been consistent all year. Forward Claire Coggins and guard Kimberly Dietz are both averaging double digits in points.
Defense
Advantage:
If Kansas State has done its homework, the Wildcats will implement a zone defense against Kansas. The Jayhawk offense has looked uncomfortable all year against the zone. Iowa State's decision to run the zone held Kansas to 48 points on 28 percent shooting. Senior guard Sharita Smith and junior forward Taylor Mcntosh are in the starting lineup solely for defense. Even with the two, Kansas' defense has given up an average of 68 points to conference opponents. The Wildcats are holding opponents to 34 percent shooting, and forward Shana Wheeler has 36 blocks. Kansas State also has a size advantage, especially with Kansas sophomore forward Marija Zinic injured. The Wildcats will look to exploit the mismatch and grind out points in the paint.
Momentum
Kansas State has lost two straight games after being ranked No. 25 in the nation. The losses, however, were both to Big 12 opponents on the road. Kansas finally broke its seven game losing streak a week ago with a victory against Sacramento State, but they followed that performance with an embarrassing 27 point loss to Iowa State. The Jayhawks are still looking for their first conference win and currently sit at 0-5 in the Big 12 Conference. The Wildcats are 2-3 in conference play but are eager to get back to a national ranking with an overall record of 14-4. It's been more than five years since Kansas last defeated Kansas State, which puts all the pressure on the lavwhaws.
Advantage:
— Case Keefer
NHL
Disputes persist for Penguins Arena negotiations force team to threaten to leave city
ASSOCIATED PRESS
PITTSBURGH Gov. Ed Rendell said Tuesday that should arena negotiations with the Pittsburgh Penguins break down and the team decided to move, the state might ask the National Hockey League to intercede.
Rendell, responding to Penguins owner Mario Lemieux's comments that last week's arena talks had taken a step backward, said the latest proposal was so good that he couldn't imagine that the NHL would allow the Penguins to leave.
Rendell said the latest proposal called for the Penguins to pay less than 18 percent of the arena's cost — a reference to the percentage of PNC Park's construction covered by the Pirates. The Penguins' arena is projected at $290 million, but could cost more.
The state's other major sports teams — the NFLs Eagles and Steelers, the NBAs 76ers, the NFLs Flyers and baseball's Phillies — all paid a higher percentage. Rendell said. Philadelphia's 76ers and Flyers share the Wachovia Center, which was built mostly with private funds.
As one incentive, the Penguins would keep all revenue for non-hockey events, except for some parking fees — a provision that could not
them millions of dollars per year.
However, Lemieux said he was "very disappointed" with Thursday's negotiations involving the team and state, county and city leaders.
The Penguins were surprised when they were asked to share development rights near Mellon Arena with Detroit businessman Don Barden. The successful bidder for a Pittsburgh slot machines parlor, Barden has agreed to contribute $7.5 million per year to the arena.
"As always, we're going to explore our options," Lemieux said in Dallas, where he was attending the NHL All-Star game. "When we get a deal we like, we'll sign it."
Penguins officials, including Lemieux, visited Kansas City immediately before the first round of arena talks Jan. 4. The team is weighing whether to visit Houston's Tovota Center.
"Sooner or later, we're just going to make a decision and go with it," Lemieux said.
At his All-Star news conference Tuesday, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said there was no set date for the Penguins to decide whether to stay or leave.
"My hope is that a building on terms that make sense to the fram
chise will be achievable in Pittsburgh and this will become a non-issue." Bettman said, "But at some point in the not-too-distant future, in a matter of weeks, we have to start focusing with some certainty on what the (2007-08) schedule is going to look like.
"Time is of the essence, but I wouldn't want to portray an urgency today," he said.
The Penguins, despite playing in the NHL's oldest arena, are considered one of the league's strongest U.S. franchises. They are playing to nearly 95 percent of arena capacity — a much higher percentage than teams based in Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Washington, Miami and Atlanta.
Despite the lack of progress last week. Rendell said he was not discouraged.
"I've done about four of these stadium negotiations either as mayor (of Philadelphia) or governor and this is the way it goes." Rendell said. "One side says things are looking good, then the other side says 'No, you haven't satisfied our demands, we're going to look elsewhere.' There's give and take."
>> KANSAS VS. K-STATE, 7 TONIGHT, FSN
'Hawks need strong showing Wildcats have owned season series the past four years
BY ASHER FUSCO
More than 2,000 days have passed since the Kansas women's basketball team last defeated Kansas State.
Since January of 2001, the Wildcats have handed the Jayhawks 11 straight losses by an average margin of 21 points.
"They have a lot of talented kids," Henrickson said. "Their freshmen are a year older and wiser."
To call this once healthy rivalry one-sided would be an enormous understatement, but the Jayhawks will have to overcome more than history when they visit the Wildcats Wednesday night. After languishing near the bottom of the Big 12 standings for many years, Kansas State has emerged as a team worthy of respect.
Coach Bonnie Henrickson has failed to defeat Kansas State in five tries and knows her team will face a stiff challenge in Manhattan.
Kansas State's most valuable asset is its smothering defense.
Though the Wildcats are in the midst of a two-game losing streak, they have posted a 14-4 overall record and spent one week in the Top 25 this season.
Forward Shana Wheeler has performed admirably on the defensive end in the place of injured for
ward Marlies Gipson. Wheeler's 36 blocked shots have helped the Wild-cats hold opponents to a stifling 34 percent field goal percentage.
Kansas State's main offensive duties are split equally between two guards, Claire Coggins and Kimberly Dietz. The two guards
have combined to attempt almost half of the team's field goals this season, and each is averaging more than 12 points per contest.
to avoid becoming its own worst enemy. The lajahawks' play has been frustrating in recent weeks because of inconsistent contributions.
In addition to a talented group of players, Kansas State
Freshman guard Kelly Kohn shot a combined 2 for 19 in the past two games after scoring in double figures for the four previous games.
BONNIE HENRICKSON Women's Basketball coach
"They have a lot of talented kids. Their freshmen are a year older and wiset."
will have an electric environment at Bramlage Coliseum working to its advantage Wednesday. Though the Kansas State faithful have been notoriously hesitant to embrace the men's basketball program, the fans seem to turn out in drove in support of the women's team.
"They have an absolutely great atmosphere." Henrickson said. "It's a great fan base that has been very supportive and helps them be successful at home."
With out injured sophomore forward Marija Zinic, Kansas has struggled to score or defend in the low post. Freshman forward Porscha Weddington and junior forward Taylor McIntosh have shown flashes of strong play but have struggled against larger opponents in the team's five conference losses.
No matter how Kansas State plays Wednesday, Kansas will have
Whether it is Kohn, McIntosh or some other Jayhawk, someone will need to step up if the Jayhawks hope to reverse the course of history in Manhattan.
Kansan sportswriter Asher Fusco can be contacted at afusco@kansan.com.
Edited by James Pinick
》 TENNIS
Roddick dominates down under
ASSOCIATED PRESS
MELBOURNE, Australia — Andy Roddick was ruthless, treating his close friend like little more than warmup fodder for his semifinal showdown with Roger Federer.
The 2003 U.S. Open champion flattened Mardy Fish without blinking Tuesday, making only four unforced errors in a 6-2, 6-2, 6-2
quarterfinal win at the Australian Open.
"I tried my best to kind of put our friendship to the back of my head," Roddick said. "You know, it's
Roddick said he could remember making more errors in one game than he had in the entire match against Fish, who lived with him in Boca Raton, Fla., for a while and went to his high school.
Federer has been ranked No. 1 since February 2004 and next month he'll break Jimmy Connors' record of 160 consecutive weeks atop the rankings.
always difficult. It's a weird, weird situation."
Next up is how to beat Federer, something he has not managed since Montreal in 2003. That was the year he ended at No.1 and collected his only major title.
Then "Just for Juniors" is for YOU!
Just for Juniors is a new program that will honor one upperclassmen at KU with a free class ring. The award is for any student that is currently in their third year at KU, with at least 60 KU credit hours, a 3.0 GPA, and is currently a member of Tradition Keepers, the student membership program of the KU Alumni Association.
For an application and more information, go to www.kualumni.org/rings. Deadline to apply is February 2. If you are not a current Tradition Keeper member, you may join at the time of application for the Just for Juniors ring award.
The winner will receive a free ring of their choice. This award is sponsored by the KU Alumni Association and Balfour Class Rings.
For questions, contact Jennifer Alderdice at 864-4760 or jalderdice@kualumni.org
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