2B
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
VEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2007
COMMENTARY
NBA age restriction good for college fans
When the NBA decided to institute an age limit requiring players to be 19 years old to enter the draft, potential early entry candidates complained that the rule was unfair and rightfully so.
But their loss is college basketball fans gain.
Nearly every night, fans have a chance to tune in and watch superstar talent that has no business ever setting foot on a college campus.
KANSAN.COLUMNIST
K_SARRAF@KANSAN.COM
A week ago, we had the pleasure of witnessing one of the greatest games in Big 12 Conference history when Oklahoma State defeated Texas 105-103 in triple overtime. Leading the way for Texas with 37 points and 11 rebounds was 6-foot-10 phenom Kevin Durant. For those that have not yet seen Durant play, tune in while you have the chance. Durant has a combination of size and skill that may come around once in decade. He is still exneperienced and will have off nights, as evidenced by his 4-for-15 shooting game against Villanova. But his averages of 24 points and 12 rebounds a game make him a legitimate candidate for National Player of the Year honors.
"Monster" really is the only word that can describe Oden. At 280 pounds and coordination not seen from a big man since a kid from LSU named Shaquille O'Neal entered the league. Oden puts the fear of God into any opponent who enters the lane. He made Indiana's All-Big Ten Conference center DJ. White look like a child, blocking four shots while holding him to 3-for-14 shooting. Hes also averaging 15 points and nine rebounds per game shooting left handed while his surgically repaired right wrist heals.
Durant's play has even garnered discussion of him possibly being the No.1 overall pick in June's NBA draft, ahead of Ohio State's seven-foot monster Greg Oden.
Durant and Oden are just a few of the players who would otherwise likely be in the NBA, a league recently focused more on drafting potential than proven production, as evidenced by the seven high school players taken in the first round in 2004. Versatile forward Brandon Wright is No. 2 North Carolina's second-leading score.
Thaddeus Young and Javaris Crittenson have led Georgia Tech to a 13-5 record following an abysmal 10-17 campaign a season ago. Daequan Cook, Mike Conley Jr., and David Lighty team with Oden to help the Buckeyes to a top five ranking and give them perhaps the nation's best freshman class since Michigan's Fab Five in 1992. D.J. Augustin and Damion James team with Durant to make Texas a team that no one wants to face come March, despite the departures of three players to the NBA, Kansas' Darrell Arthur is the Jayhawks' second-leading scorer and has admitted he would have considered the draft. Imagine the Jayhawks without Arthur this season.
Thanks to the age limit, "youth" is no longer an excuse. The Jayhawks, whose major contributors include two freshmen, three sophomores and three juniors, are one of the more veteran teams ranked in the top ten. Florida won the national title a season ago starting four sophomores, North Carolina's top nine includes five freshmen and three sophomores, while UCLAs top eight includes five sophomores and three juniors.
Washington big man Spencer Hawes has post moves not seen since Nick Collision was around and Arizona's human pogo stick Chase Budinger makes Arizona one of the buds most entertaining teams.
That's not all.
The time to win in college basketball is now. Talented players will not be around for long. Teams led by freshmen will make runs to the Final Four. So sit back and enjoy the gift given to us college basketball fans alike by the NBA.
Sarraf is a Lawrence senior in journalism.
Edited by Stacey Couch
DUKE LACROSSE
Attorney receives extension to respond to State Bar
DURHAM, N.C. — Mike Nifong, the Durham district attorney who removed himself from the Duke lacrosse sexual assault case has received an extension to respond to the ethics complaint filed against him by the North Carolina State Bar for his handling of the allegations.
He was initially scheduled to answer by Tuesday. His lawyer, David Freedman, said he was given
more time, though the deadline was unsure.
The State Bar complaint alleges that Nifong violated ethics rules by making public comments about the lacrosse team in the early weeks of the case.
Three players have been charged with sexual offense and kidnapping stemming from a March 13,2006, team party at which a stripper hired by the team said she was attacked.
Associated Press
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KANSAS JAYHAWK BASEBALL HOGLUND BALLPARK • LAWRENCE, KANSAS • 2007 SEASON
ACTUAL LINEUP FROM 2006
NAME POS YEAR NAME POS YEAR
MATT BATY CF SENIOR
RITCHIE PRICE SS SENIOR
JARED SCHWEITZER 1B SENIOR
GUS MILNER RF SENIOR
JOHN ALLMAN LF SOPHOMORE
ERIK MORRISON 3B SOPHOMORE
PRESTON LAND DH FRESHMAN
RYNE PRICE 2B SOPHOMORE
BUCK AFENIR C FRESHMAN
BROCK SIMPSON RF JUNIOR
CASEY LARSON CF JUNIOR
JOHN ALLMAN LF JUNIOR
ERIK MORRISON SS JUNIOR
PRESTON LAND 1B SOPHOMORE
ROBBY PRICE 3B FRESHMAN
JOE SERVAIS C JUNIOR
RYNE PRICE 2B JUNIOR
JUSTIN ELLRICH DH SOPHOMORE
SP- RICKY FAIRCHILD CP- DON GZYZ SP- ZACH ASHWOOD CP- PAUL SMYTH
PROJECTED 2007 LINEUP
BIG CHANGES UPCOMING FOR BASEBALL
BY ALISSA BAUER
Editors Note: With the start of the baseball season less than two weeks away, Kansan baseball reporter Alissa Bauer offers her projections on the starting lineup for the upcoming season.
After returning an almost complete lineup from the 2005 season, Kansas had the seniors and the experience to be successful in 2006.
Seizing the opportunity, the layhawks won their first Big 12 Tournament Championship, advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1994.
However, in the final game of 2006, half of the jayhawks' starting position players, plus the game's starting pitcher and the closer, were on their last year of eligibility. The first four hitters in that 2006 season finale lineup combined for a .321 batting average on the season and included several All-Big 12 players.
This year, those first tour hitters are gone.
"It's going to be different," said Erik Morrison, junior third baseman turned shortstop. "I don't even know how to say it — it's going to be different."
The holes left in the top half of the 2006 lineup are balanced by the second half of the order that returns this season. Though Kansas did lose its leading RBI man and the player with the highest batting average, a fair share of offensive power is back this spring.
ly trailed Gus Milner with 52 RBI Junior outfielder Brock Simpson garnered lead off experience during former center fielder Matt Baty's nearly six-week long injury recovery last season.
Morrison led the l Jayhawks with 14 home runs last season and bare-
"There's definitely some big shoes to fill, but if you look at our production in the latter half of the lineup towards the end of last year, you know the capability is there," Morrison said.
The addition of the third Price brother to sport a Jayhawk uniform, Robby, is expected to pay off quickly. The four-time first-team All-Sunflower Conference player from Lawrence's Free State High School is likely to start at third base on opening day, moving Morrison to shortstop.
"It's their time to move in," Morrison said of the freshmen and new players. "And either take the challenge and step up or take the challenge and fail. But failure is not an option on this team, so were going to battle through it."
Junior outfielder John Allman, who picked up an All Big 12 second team nod last season, is the only true starter slated to return to the outfield. Although limited, Simpson did prove his ability to play right field, while junior Casey Larson is a prime candidate for center.
Despite the extensive lineup alterations, nothing will look more different in 2007 than the Jayhawks pitching staff.
Not one weekend starter will retake the mound this spring.
Starters Kodiak Quick and Ricky Fairchild each completed their eligibility last season and currently pitch with Major League organizations. Left-handed Sean Land would have returned for his senior season, but he was one of the record-high seven jayhawks to be taken in last year's Major League Baseball draft.
Price and his staff went to work and brought in arms from a variety of places, including big-name baseball universities.
Junior letty Zach Ashwood comes to Kansas this season from Texas Christian University and sophomore right-hander Brett Bollman transferred from Arkansas this fall.
Sophomore southpaw Nick Czyz continuously improved on the mound last season, peaking with his victory against Nebraska in the championship game of the Big 12 Tournament. He will be a likely contender for a spot in the rotation, but it's replacing his older brother Don, who was named National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year, that is likely to create the biggest challenge.
"I think that we'll be fine," Ashblood said. "We have a good staff it's just that nobody knows about it since most of the guys are young"
Price made sure to work sophomore right-hander Paul Smyth in at closer knowing full well someone would have to step up and fill the large shoes Czry left behind.
Kansan senior sportswriter Alissa Bauer can be contacted at abauer@kansan.com.
Edited by Ryan Schneider
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