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The University Daily Kansan
Trivia question
Who founded the women's track and field program at Kansas in 1974? See Page 2B.
Sports
Inside: Kansas forward Drew Gooden has been cleared to play against Kansas State tomorrow. See Page 2B
See Page 2B
Inside: The University should rethink its student seating policy in Allen Fieldhouse, Kansan columnist writes.
See Page 4B
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Sports Columnist
KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
Brian Hanni
sports@kansan.com
Missing players risk toppling Jayhawk Jenga
With a week left in the regular season, it's time to reflect on what kind of year it it's been for Roy Williams' Jayhawks.
In order to better illustrate the Kansas season, let's take our focus off the games played on the hardwood and onto the games played in your living room. Buried under the Chinese Checkers and sitting on top of the Yahtee box is a game that perfectly shows the kind of challenge the Jayhawks have faced this year — the classic party pastime, Jenga.
For those of you who aren't familiar with Jenga, it's a game where you gradually remove the bottom blocks of a tower one by one until the structure falls apart. I've never been that thrilled with the game myself, but if you remember ESPN's commercial with Kenny Mayne and John Randle, that should show you just how exciting Jenga can be.
As each piece of the foundation is slowly removed and stacked back on top, the anticipation builds as everyone awaits to see which piece's removal will cause the collapse.
Jenga is a good comparison for the Jayhawks' season because since the first week of the season, precious pieces of the Kansas puzzle have slowly been taken away. When a severe ankle sprain temporarily jarred Luke Axtell's block loose, the tower wobbled a bit, but no more than the goal posts did at Memorial Stadium last fall. The structure was obliterated when Kenny Gregory's piece was removed against Wake Forest, but that collapse was quickly built back up.
The foundation stood strong in the early part of Big 12 Conference play as Kansas won its first six games before suffering a set back at Missouri. Then the cookie really started to crumble.
Axtell's piece was removed again because of an ailing back, and Mario Kinsey's block was thrown out of the box because of his suffering grades. And then there was the biggest blow yet.
The Hawks second-leading scorer and best rebounder, Drew Gooden, was plucked from the picture. An injured wrist suffered against Texas has kept Gooden's piece out from the foundation for the last five games. Even though he will return tomorrow against Kansas State, removing his block jolted the Jenga like none before.
Losses at Baylor and Iowa State were tough, and Gooden was sorely missed in both contests. But even with him removed, the Jayhawks have still managed to win three of the five games — proving that while his piece of the tower is extremely important, it's not completely essential to the puzzle.
When Gooden returns and Axtell gets closer to 100 percent, the Jayhawk Jenja will be back in business again. There is one piece however, that if removed, will crush Kansas for good. That piece is Kirk Hinrich.
The sophomore point guard is the glue that holds this team together and the block that keeps the 'Hawks standing tall. His value has become more and more apparent since Gooden was removed two weeks ago.
During the last five games, Hinrich has stepped up and filled the void by scoring just less than 19 points a game. He's an offensive catalyst who can score at will and distribute the ball like no other. He leads the team in shooting percentage from behind the arc at 52.9 percent, which also places him amongst the nation's top 10. He's the most consistent free-throw shooter on the team and leads the conference with 187 assists on the year. While he occasionally turns the ball over, he makes up for it with great defense as he leads the team with 33 steals.
Hanmi is a Topeka junior in journalism.
Hinrich continues to improve with every game he plays — just look at his most recent efforts: He was just three rebounds shy of the first triple double in school history as he put up 20 points, 11 assists and collected seven boards in Lincoln, Neb., Sunday.
The Jayhawks would still be able to win ball games here and there without Hinrich's Jenga block. But Kansas' tournament hopes would be down for the count if his piece was removed.
Collison steps up in Gooden's absence
By Zac Hunter sports@kanson.com
Kansas sportwriter
Since fellow sophomore forward Drew Gooden sat out for the first of five straight games with a wrist injury two weeks ago, Nick Collison has turned his game up a few notches. He is averaging 16.1, up from his season average of nearly 14 points, since the Jayhawks have been sans Gooden.
While a two-point increase in scoring production may not seem like much, take into consideration that Collison was under the weather for the games against Baylor and Iowa State, and those two points take on a bigger meaning.
"Without Drew Gooden, who is our second-leading scorer and leading rebounder, we needed to get more concentrated scoring from Nick," said Kansas coach Roy Williams. "I think we tried consciously to get him the basketball."
And that is exactly what Kansas has done during the absence of Gooden, who has been cleared to play tomorrow against Kansas State. Nevertheless, it was Collison's performance during the last two games turning some heads.
He scored a career-high 26 points in a 91-79 win against Colorado on Wednesday in Allen Fieldhouse, and topped off the week by scoring 22 in Kansas' 78-74 win against Nebraska on Sunday in Lincoln. Those two games got Collison noticed by the Big 12 Conference, which awarded him Player of the Week honor for the second time this season yesterday.
So what is the key to Collison's improved play? Ask him and he'll give you a simple answer.
"I was just getting a lot of touches inside and getting them to fall." Collison said after his career-high point total against Colorado. "I had a lot of fun out there tonight, and I think that was key. I also had some success from the foul line and that helped a lot also."
While his point total in the Colorado game was impressive, it was his seven assists that really got William's attention.
to score when the other team's defense is aimed at him, and I think that's what other teams have done the last couple games. But still, he has come through and did a nice job for us."
"It is hard for a young man
Roy Williams Kansas coach
"Nick is having a heck of a year and came up big tonight," Williams said after the game. "The most amazing thing is seven assists and two turnovers. He can play the game totally and does a great job."
While the Big 12 is recognizing him for his outstanding play during the last week, Collison has been a consistent threat in the low post for the Hawks all season. He is hitting better than 60 percent of his shots for the season, which leads the conference.
He has also hit the shots while receiving the focus of the opponents defense.
"It is hard for a young man to score when the other team's defense is aimed at him, and I think that's what other teams have done the last couple games," Williams said. "But still, he has come through and did a nice job for us."
While much of the focus is on Collison's offense, he has been an intimidating force on the defensive end. He ranks fifth in the conference in blocks at 1.75, and swatted five shots in 36 minutes in Sunday's game against Nebraska.
Kansas basketball note:
Kansas signee Wayne Simien and Aaron Miles were chosen to the McDonald's All-American team last night.
Edited by Jennifer Valdez
Kansas forward Nick Collison pounds his way toward the basket against Colorado. He had 22 points against Nebraska Sunday, which helped earn him Big 12 Player of the Week honors. KANSAN file photo.
Kansas' top duo improves ranking
By Aaron Johnson
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
— the pair is ranked No. 14 in doubles.
Kansas tennis players Rodrigo Echagarray and Eleazar Magallan know something about national markings
Echagaray, a junior, and Magallan, a sophomore, also have earned spots on the 12man Big 12 Conference preseason singles team and were one of six teams with spots on the all-league doubles team.
They helped improve their ranking by advancing to the consolation finals in the Rolex National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships Feb. 1 to Feb. 4, which showcased many of the nation's top ranked doubles tandems.
"There are a lot of good teams in the tournament," Echagaray said. "It was very important to
KANSAS TENNIS
The tournament did not start the way the duo planned as it lost to Southern Methodist's Johan Brunstrom and Jon Wallmark 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (7-5), 7-6 (7-5).
go into the tournament with a winning mentality."
"We were very inconsistent in the opening round," Echagaray said. "We were unsatisfied because we did not play well."
"Returns are a solid part of Rodrigo's game, and volleying is a strong part of my game," Magallan said. "We have played together for a year now, and that definitely helps a lot."
Echagaray and Magallan attempted to turn things around in upcoming matches by concentrating on strong aspects of each player's game.
But this was not the duo's biggest win. The Jayhawks upset Florida's No. 3 Olivier Levant and Nathan Overholser 6-3 and 6-2 before losing to UCLA's No. 1 Jean-Noel Ginda and Jean-Julien Rojer in the consolation finals.
This strategy worked as Echagaray and Magallan went on to defeat No. 10 Cody Hubble and Jarin Skube from Texas A&M in straight sets.
Kansas coach Ross Nwachukwu said he was impressed with Echagaray and Magallan's play during the match.
"It was nice to see the guys bounce back from the early-round defeat," he said.
Magallan said he was happy with the whole tournament as a preparation for future matches.
"We did what we needed to do but could have played better," he said. "Our final goal is to
Rodrigo Echagaray and Eleazar Magallan are Kansas' top doubles team. The duo upset the No. 3 and No. 10 tennis teams in the nation at the Rolex Indoor Championships in Farmers Branch, Texas, on Feb. 1 to Feb. 4. Photo by Christine Neff/KANSAN
win the NCAA's and this helped us out."
Since the tournament,
Echagaray and Magallan have
gone 2-3, defeating Indiana and Pennsylvania and losing to Butler, Iowa and New Mexico.
— Edited by Melinda Weaver
Nelson turns down pros for second time
By Courtney Craigmile
sportskansan.com
Special to the Kansan
The Seattle Mariners came knocking at John Nelson's door last summer, but the shortstop shut it in their faces, turning down the big league for the second time.
He wanted to play his senior year at Kansas.
The Los Angeles Dodgers drafted Nelson, a Denton, Texas, senior, straight out of high school in the 40th round of the 1979 Draft. Although the deal was tempting, Nelson didn't think he was ready for the pros just yet — and his parents agreed.
"My husband played sports in college, and I know that's what he wanted him to experience — the camaraderie of a team, playing in different colleges, the fight song, that kind of college experience," said Teresa Nelson. John's mother.
Nelson enjoyed the college experience so much that he decided to stay in Lawrence even after the Mariners drafted him in the
39th round of the 2000 Draft.
Kansas coach Bobby Randall said Nelson made the right choice by deciding to stay.
Nelson: will play his senior year at Kansas
"He's playing the best baseball of his life right now," Randall said. "I think he's probably having the most fun. He'll sign a professional contract without a doubt and when he does, he'll be ready to go."
Nelson began his affair with baseball as a Cincinnati Reds fan. As Nelson matured, so did his passion for the sport — as a player, not a spectator.
At Kansas, Nelson spends about four hours a day in practice, not to mention the 55 games the team will play this season.
"We home-schooled our kids." Teresa said. "So when they finished their work at about noon, my husband would take our
boys out and take them to a baseball field and play with them and coach them and drill them."
"Timewise, I don't get to do a lot of stuff," he said. "After practice, I go home, eat, try to get as much stuff as I can done, and crash."
Devoting so much time to baseball has paid off. Randall pees Nelson as great player.
"He's a good hitter this year." Randall said. "He's played so hard. He always has."
"You try to get as much as you can done before you leave because you're too worn
Last season, Nelson led the Big 12 Conference with 42 stolen bases. He batted .308 and had 21 RBL
But the dedication makes balancing a full academic schedule difficult.
This season, Nelson is leading the team with a .365 average and has swiped 10 bases in 11 attempts for the Jayhawks (6-4 overall and 0-3 in the Big 12).
GAME CANCELED
Because of the forecast for snow last night and today, the Kansas baseball game against Creighton scheduled for 3 p.m. this afternoon has been canceled. No makeup date has been scheduled. Depending on weather conditions, the Kansas/Baker game scheduled for tomorrow at 3 p.m. may still be played.
out you're not wanting to do it later," said Nelson, an education major.
Once Kansas baseball is behind him, Nelson wants to stay involved in baseball. He said he hoped for a shot at the pros this season. After that, he plans to teach and coach high school baseball.
Whatever the future brings, his mom isn't worried.
"There's going to be something else after baseball," Teresa said. "It's going to be good whatever it is. He can handle it."
— Edited by Leita Schultes
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