THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN SPORTS
COLLINS | 9A Collins misses NBA chance Sherron Collins misses two flights along with his opportunity to get back on the Charlotte Bobcats.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2011
WWW.KANSAN.COM
No.8 Nebraska
TOURNEY WATCH
The Cornhuskers were far more frustrating in the season than the Cowboys, so you know who the Jayhawks want to win. Nebraska has more to play for at this point, considering that with an upset in the second round against Kansas, it might be able to find itself on the right side of the bubble. A pair of third team All-Big 12 players makes an appearance in this one: Lance Jeter of Nebraska and Marshall Moses of Oklahoma State. Jeter will face off with diminutive Oklahoma State point guard Keiton Page in what should be the best head-to-head matchup of the game.
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No. 9 Oklahoma State
No.1 Kansas
No. 5 Colorado
Prediction: Nebraska 63, Oklahoma State 56
Colorado is firmly planted on the bubble, appearing as the first team out or the last team in the field of 68 in both SI.com (out) and ESPN.com's (in) mock brackets. A loss to Iowa State not unthinkable, considering the Buffs lost to the Cyclones a little more than a week ago would be fatal to their tourney hopes. Whichever team advances has the unfriendly draw of Kansas State, which is hotter than any team in the conference coming into the post-season Colorado swept Kansas State in the regular season, and the Wildcats would no doubt dearly love another shot for revenge.
No. 12 Iowa State University
No.7 Baylor
No.4 Kansas State
Baylor vastly underachieved and fell to seventh in the conference this season, while the Sooners overachieved (yes, really) and got to 10th. All that means is that there is a huge gap in the talent level on the teams, with Baylor sporting a first team All-Big 12 player in LaceDarius Dunn, the Big 12 sixth man of the year in Quincy Acy, and All-Big 12 second teamer and the league's best NBA prospect in Perry Jones ill. Meanwhile, Cade Davis and Andrew Fitzgerald — who both garnered only honorable mention All-Big 12 — lead the Sooners. Even though Baylor is more talented, the two split the season series.
Prediction: Colorado 86, Iowa State 78
No.10 Oklahoma
No. 6 Missouri
The Big 12 postseason begins with Kansas as the favorite but plenty of quality spoilers.
Let the Big 12 games begin
If this game were played any farther away from the Mizzou campus than Kansas City, Mo., I'd be picking against the Tigers. They've been nothing short of awful away from home, but within the friendly confines of the state, Missouri is tough to beat. Led by All-Big 12 first teamer Marcus Denmong, the Tigers have lost twice in the state this season, once to Kansas and once in the very same Sprint Center they'll play in Wednesday to then-No. 14 Georgetown in overtime. Just one Red Raider, point guard John Roberson, played his way to honorable mention all-Big 12 honors, while the Tigers boast Denmon as well as the newcomer of the year, Ricardo Ratliffe, and the defensive player of the year, Laurence Bowers.
No.11 Texas Tech
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Kansas dominates first round against Colorado, 71-45
Sophomore guard Monica Engelman drives inside for a lay-up during the second half. Engelman led the team with 17 points in the 71-45 victory over Colorado in the first round of the Big 12 Championship Tuesday.
Jerry Wang/KANSAN
BY KATHLEEN GIER
kgier@kansan.com
Kansas City, Mo. — Kansas faced Colorado for a third time with the chance to send the team home before the conference shakeup next season. Kansas took that opportunity and completed the season sweep of Colorado.
A scorching shooting performance from sophomore guard Monica Engelman led the Jayhawks to a 71-45 first round victory over the Buffaloes.
Engelman led the Jayhawks with 17 points off of 7-13 shooting from the field, and 2-3 shooting from beyond the arch.
"I was a little bit of a spark player," Engelman said.
Her two three-pointers were part of a late run in the first half and the other points were spread out over her 37 minutes.
Sophomore forward Carolyn Davis followed with 16 points and 11 rebounds. This was Davis' seventh double-double of the season. When Davis picked up two quick fouls and took a seat on
the bench, junior forward Aishah Sutherland stepped up and added six points and six rebounds.
"We have to have fewer turnovers and we have to score because she scores a lot," Sutherland said.
Sutherland said that she knew exactly what to work on when she was put in the game.
"When I got in I was focused and knew what I needed to do and I wanted to rebound and when you rebound you win." Sutherland said.
Sutherland moved up to seventh place in the program for blocked shots with two this game.
This victory also marked 20 wins on the season for the Jayhawks. After a disappointing end to the regular season with two losses, Kansas was hoping to reach this landmark while continuing to move forward with post season play.
"We've got some awfully talented kids who just got hesitant and tentative," coach Bonnie Henrickson said.
Kansas will face Baylor, No.1 in the Big 12, at 11 a.m. in the second round of the Big 12 Women's Basketball Championship.
Earlier in the season, Kansas lost to Baylor in Lawrence. The 76-37 defeat has stuck with the Jayhawks.
"We remember what that felt like in the locker room, we just rolled over and let it happen,"
"When someone starts to punch you,you can't put your hands in your pockets."
BONNIE HENRICKSON
Coach
Henrickson said.
Not only was it emotionally difficult, but Davis said the game did not go as planned from a competition standpoint either.
First game
was tough," Davis said. "We don't think we went out and competed our best."
The Jayhawks learned one big
lesson from that loss and look to prevent that from happening again this game.
"When someone starts to punch you, you can't put your hands in your pockets," Henrickson said.
Edited by Becca Harsch
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WHEN: Today at 11 a.m.
WHERE: Kansas City, Mo.