The next pick-up period for men's basketball tickets began yesterday. Games in this pick-up period include Texas A&M, Kansas State and Nebraska. Tickets can be picked up at the Allen Fieldhouse ticket office or online at kuathletics.com.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2007 WWW.KANSAN.COM
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
PAGE 12A
>> 'HORN BORN, 'HAWK BRED
Rivalry move bad for KU
BY TRAVIS ROBINETT
KANSAN SPORTS COLUMNIST
TRОВИНТЬ@KANSAN.COM
Jayhawk fans have one less chance to tear down the goal posts next season. Kansas is set to play Missouri in Arrowhead Stadium for the next two years, and security most likely won't let any unauthorized personnel on the field.
That's the only good news about this new deal from where I sit. Details of ticket sales and money surpluses for the University of Kansas aside this is not a good thing for Kansas football program.
Before Athletic Director Lew Perkins agreed to the two-year deal he should have read up on Kansas football's recent history. Can Kansas win away from home? Not often.
After five seasons of conference games, coach Mark Mangino has only managed two wins outside of Lawrence: Iowa State last year and Missouri three seasons ago. With Chase Daniel returning for the Tigers, the jayhawks probably won't stand a chance on a neutral field.
Next season Kansas will play five conference games away from the safety net of Memorial Stadium. This is also the last year before Kansas has to play Texas and Oklahoma again. We shouldn't be giving away a home game.
This is bad news for Mangino who is in a make-or-break year. This deal should have waited until Kansas football had a stronger footing. Sure Kansas has earned bowl eligibility three of the past four seasons, but not once it has had a winning conference record.
The athletic department may ask "But what about the television contracts and the recruiting advantages that will come of this?" OK, the game will be televised. So what? Last season's game was on ABC but hardly broadcast to anyone. Only Kansas, Missouri and tiny slivers of Nebraska and Iowa were able to watch.
Not even Texas, a state with four Big 12 schools, watched the Border Showdownd. Most of the nation was shown Florida vs. Florida State instead No recruit who didn't already know about Kansas saw that game.
It doesn't make sense to move the game to Arrowhead. The only type of regular season game played on a neutral field is a big-named rivalry. Texas and Oklahoma play in Dallas. Florida plays Georgia in Jacksonville. Both games are national spectacles of intense competition between established powers in college football. Those games often decide which team finishes at the top of the conference and which must wait until next year.
The only thing this game will decide is regional bragging rights and which minor bowl game Kansas and Missouri will play in. Also, because alcohol is served at Arrowhead stadium, we might get to see which student body would win in a brawl, that is if the students even attend (the game is during Thanksgiving break).
Oh, and one last thing to think about. Kansas will play Missouri in Missouri every time the game is at Arrowhead. That is definitely not a good thing.
Robinett is an Austin, Texas senior in journalism.
Edited by Darla Slipke
》 MEN'S BASKETBALL
Old friend becomes foe
BY MICHAEL PHILLIPS
When Darrell Arthur returns home to Texas Wednesday night, he probably won't receive a warm welcome.
"I think Darrell might get a few boos," junior guard Russell Robinson said.
The lavahwaks head to Texas to face Baylor, the school that Arthur almost went to. He said the crowd won't be entirely against him, though.
He'll also see a familiar face on the court with him. Baylor forward Kevin Rogers was a high school teammate of Arthur's at South Oak Cliff in Dallas.
"I'm going to have some family members there, so I think it will go both ways," he said.
This year, both have emerged as top players in the Big 12 Conference. Rogers is in the conference's top 15 in blocked shots, offensive rebounds and defensive rebounds.
Arthur's stats aren't as gaudy, mainly because he has to share time with established players like junior Sasha Kaun and sophomore Julian Wright.
Both have received significant amount of playing time, and the two former teammates will likely guard each other for a good portion of Wednesday's game.
"I think that may be a little bit overblowed," coach Bill Self said. "I think he'll be more excited to play against Kevin than to play against Baylor."
Rogers and Arthur were friends in high school, and teamed up to win the Texas state championship during their senior year.
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
For a few months, it looked like they would be reunited at Baylor. But it came to decision time, and Arthur began to feel torn.
"People were calling me every day trying to see where I was going to go," he said. "They were getting kind of upset that I hadn't picked a
Darrell Arthur will face former high school teammate, Kevin Rogers when the Jayhawks take on Baylor in Wednesday night's game.
SEE ARTHUR ON PAGE 11A
.
Rookie coaches boost Conference play
BIG 12
The third-year Texas A&M coach never battled against Norm Stewart or Roy Williams and never saw Jamaal Tinsley lead Iowa State to a conference title.
Billy Gillispie shouldn't be one of the Big 12's elder statesman.
Heck, he's only visited Allen Fieldhouse once.
But with six new coaches this season. Gillispie has been cast into the role of a veteran. He sees a new face on the opposing bench nearly every game, and he likes what he sees.
"The coaches were good here before, and they're great now," Gillisie said during Monday's Big 12 Basketball Coaches Teleconference. "I think everybody's trying to be a national power here. It's very difficult
Bob Huggins
Jeff Capel
Sean Sutton
Greg McDermott
Doc Sadler
Mike Anderson
New Big 12 Coaches
Kansas State (13-6, 3-2)
Oklahoma (11-6, 3-2)
Oklahoma State (16-3, 2-2)
Iowa State (11-8, 2-3)
Nebraska (12-5, 1-2)
Missouri (11-6, 0-4)
when you play in a league like this,
"I think that's everyone's goal."
It's been less than three months since the season started, but new coaches at Iowa State, Missouri Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Nebraska and Oklahoma have elevated the level of play in the Big 12.
Insomeways,theleague'simprovement was expected. Missouri's Mike Anderson and Kansas State's Bob Huggins knew nothing except the NCAA tournament at Alabama Birmingham and Cincinnati,respectively. Oklahoma State's Sean Sutton learned to coach under his legendary father Eddie.
The new coaches helped the Big 12 compile an impressive record in non-conference play.
The six rookies combined for a 63-19 record in the season's first half. Included in that mark are wins against Arkansas, Southern California, Pittsburgh, Syracuse and Creighton, all of which solidified the Big 12 as one of the best conferences in the country.
"It's a great league, one of the better leagues in the country," Anderson said. "This league from top to bottom is as good as any league."
Anderson has found that out the hard way.
He, along with two of the six other new coaches, has struggled out of the gate in G1 12 play. After an 11-2 start, the Tigers have dropped all four of their conference games. At Nebraska. Doc Sadler lost his first two conference games before his team blew out Colorado last Saturday.
Greg McDermott's Iowa state team has been the most puzzling since league play began. The Cyclones won their first two games, but since then have struggled. McDermott's bunch has lost three straight, but impressed
SEE BIG 12 ON PAGE 11A
》 TURNING PRO
1
Ex-'Hawk faces new obstacles
Former Kansas basketball player Crystal Kemp is well on her way to becoming the newest addition to the list.
According to the CIA World Factbook, Romania's main imports include products like fuel, machinery, and metal.
BY ASHER FUSCO
Kemp starts career with Romanian team
After a brilliant career at Kansas chock-full of accolades and achievements, Kemp recently left the United States to continue her basketball career in Romania.
Kemp finished her four-year college stint among Kansas' all-time leaders in points, rebounds, field goal percentage, and blocked shots. At 6-
foot 2, she stood out as one of the most intimidating and polished players in the Big 12 Conference throughout her tenure at Kansas.
Kemp
"Crystal was one of the best
post players I've coached," coach Bonnie Henrickson said. "She used her size to her advantage and had great touch in the lane."
Immediately after her final game as a Jayhawk, Kemp planned on continuing her basketball career as a coach. In the months following her Kansas career, she attended several seminars and served as an intern to learn more about coaching.
"The time difference is eight hours ahead." Kemp said in an email interview. "It's challenging trying to talk and communicate with family and friends."
Adding to her already long list of apprehensions was the fact that the Topeka native had never been outside of the United States.
Along with discovering the nuances of dining in a country where, Kemp said, "the ketchup tastes like cranberry sauce," she had to overcome the subtle differences between American and Romanian basketball.
In Europe, games are divided into four 10-minute quarters with no media time-outs, giving players fewer opportunities to rest.
During the same time, Kemp attended the WNBA scouting combine. Although she was not selected in the 2006 WNBA draft, Kemps interest in playing basketball was rekindled. Working alongside coach Henrickson, Kemp was able to sign a contract with a team based in Romania, Livas Biandra Taroviste.
Kemp completed her degree at the University of Kansas in December and then flew to Romania. When she arrived in Europe, the season was already underway.
The toughest challenge Kemp has faced is the language barrier. With only three teammates who speak passable English, Kemp must wait for a translator to relay messages from the coaching staff. She often catches herself shouting commands to her teammates in English by instinct, only to realize the other players have no idea what she is saying.
"Playing in Romania is definitely a lot different than playing in America," Kemp said. "But like any player I just play the game."
SEE KEMP ON PAGE 11A