THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN SPORTS
ANIA
Undefeated streak comes to an end
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2011
Despite their first loss of the season, the Jayhawks manage to win final game of the weekend tournament
WWW.KANSAN.COM
LUCKY BREAK
Head Coach Bill Self yells out the next play to the Jayhawks during Saturday's game in Norman, Okla., where the Sooners hosted the Jayhawks. The Jayhawks won 82-70 which improved their record to 27-2 overall and 12-2 in Bin 12 play.
Chris Bronson/KANSAN
DESTINED FOR 7?
TIED WITH TEXAS AT 12-2 IN THE BIG 12,THE BALL IS IN KANSAS' COURT
BY MIKE LAVIERI
mlavieri@kansan.com
twitter/kansan/abbball
NORMAN, Okla. — The biggest help Kansas received on Saturday happened in
Boulder, Colo., 542 miles away from its game against the Sooners in Norman, Okla. For the second consecutive Saturday, No. 5 Texas was subject to a court rushing, this time by Colorado fans as the Buffaloes defeated the Longhorns 91-89.
Reed
Marcus Morris
The loss was
the second in three games for a team that looked like it was going to run the table in the Big 12
Conference. Texas rattled off nine straight wins in the Big 12 by 10 or more points, but now, after eight days, it is tied at 12-2 with Kansas, a team that is seeking its seventh consecutive Big 12 title.
While it would be an accomplishment to win the Big 12 again, sophomore guard Elijah Johnson said the biggest goal for the Jayhawks is to be in the best situation, even
though he doesn't know what that means yet.
That may mean winning the Big 12, it may mean being a No. 1 seed for the NCAA
No. 1 seed. We don't think about it that much."
Junior forward Marcus Morris believes the team received a break when Texas lost, but knows that the Jayhawks have two difficult games to go. the first of which is at home
Reed said that the team needed to take care of business in the last two games and that the ball is now in Kansas' court.
"Just because we got that break doesn't mean that it's over."
MARCUS MORRIS Junior forward
Tournament or it may mean both.
against Texas A&M before they close out the season on the road at Missouri.
"Just because we got that break doesn't mean that it's over." Morris
tournament or it may mean both:
"I think those are all our goals," senior guard Tyrel Reed said.
"Obviously, we go in every year wanting to win the Big 12 and win the Big 12 Tournament and then have your best opportunity to be a
REWIND | 4B-5B
said.
More game coverage inside
Morris is right. Kansas controls its own destiny, and if it wants to have a chance to win the conference title, it needs to win out. The team will have an idea of what it needs to do before Wednesday's
See photos and stats from the men's basketball game against Oklahoma.
game after Texas hosts Kansas State on Monday. But when Kansas takes the court at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Missouri, it won't know the outcome of the Texas game until later that night when Baylor and Texas square off in ESPN's Gameday finale in Waco, Texas.
Coach Bill Self said he very rarely pulls for anybody to win or lose, but was happy that a Kansas alum, Colorado coach Tad Boyle, picked up a huge victory.
Self also said that winning the league is a big deal, and that Texas'
loss is a better scenario than he ever envisioned.
The two teams that helped Kansas by defeating Texas are both leaving the Big 12. One is going to the Big Ten and one is going to the Pac-10, but Self sees no irony in that.
"Teams from the South will struggle more on the road with teams from the North and teams
SEE DESTINY ON PAGE 4B
Sophomore forward Carolyn Davis blocks a shot from Nebraska guard Kaitlin Burke with less than five minutes left in the game. Davis contributed a career-high 36 points and two blocked shots to the 77-61 victory over the Connushers Saturday night.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Davis' leadership propels Jayhawks to 77-61 victory
kgier@kansan.com
Kansas started the game cold, going down 13-4 before coach Bonnie Henrickson called a timeout. Davis scored the Jayhawks' first eleven points on a 7-for-8 shooting effort from the field and a 2-for-3 mark from the free-throw line.
A team leader is someone who takes control when the rest of the team is having trouble. No one embodies that definition better than sophomore forward Carolyn Davis.
BY KATHLEEN GIER
Read more about the victory inside
Those first seven minutes set Davis well on her way to a career-high 36 points for the game. She hit 16-19 shots and 4-7 from the free-throw line for
Check out the stats on the rewind.
REWIND | 3B
the game.
"I was getting a lot of easy buckets." Davis said.
Davis led Kansas to a 77-61 victory against Nebraska, improving its record to 19-9 overall and 6-8 in conference play with its third straight win. This is Davis' sixth double-double on the season.
"I am really proud of the kids from a resiliency, toughness, maturity, teamwork, confi- dence standpoint," Henrickson said.
Since the beginning of the month, Henrickson has been talking about how teams either get better or worse in February.
"I feel good that we are getting better." Henrickson said.
PAGE 1B
SEE LEADERSHIP ON PAGE 3B
COLUMN
For some Jayhawks college ball leads to NBA
BY MAX ROTHMAN
With Texas A&M, Missouri, the Big 12 Conference and NCAA tournaments on
tap, the Jayhawks can't afford to look ahead. However, almost everyone else is.
The NBA trade deadline just passed and 15 future draft picks were exchanged. By now, several bottom feeding franchises are mulling their futures instead of actual games. Oh yeah, they'll finish out the season too (just don't expect much defense or, you know, effort).
Former KU players such as Xavier Henry and Paul Pierce seemed to genuinely enjoy wearing Kansas on the front of their jerseys. But for talented-enough prospects, playing college basketball also serves as a springboard to the next level. It's another stop on their journey to the league.
(Note to consider: This writer thinks Marie Little will be a success.)
Using ESPN writer Chad Ford's rankings, let's break down the Jayhawks who, if they leave, could be taken in June's NBA Draft.
Thomas Robinson, ESPN ranking.
No. 16
Scouts love Robinson's endless motor. He fights for every rebound and, at 6-foot-9 and 230 pounds, is already built like an NBA power forward. His long arms and toughness can translate into a solid defensive presence in the paint. Some teams might be wary of spending a high draft pick on a bench player who needs to polish his offensive game.
Selby has the widest range of poten tial draft position on this team. If he continues his unspectacular but by no means paltry play, he could end up in the mid to late first round. If he heats up and leads Kansas to a successful March, as he very well could, Selby may find himself in the top five. As positives, he has strength, size, athleti cism, passing instincts and the ability to finish at the rim. If Selby can play consistently, his talents translate to a future as an NBA starter.
Surprised to see him ahead of brother Marcus? Sure, Marcus may be the better scorer and candidate for Big 12 player of the year, but, statistically speaking, Markieff does more in other areas. In per-game averages, he tops his brother in rebounding, 8.4 to 6.9; blocks, 1.2 to 0.6; and three-point percentage 41 to 36, in almost three fewer minutes. As the bigger of the twins, at 6-foot-10 and 245 pounds, he also fits more naturally into the power forward mold. NBA teams covet forwards such as Markieff who can stretch the floor and play defense.
Markieff Morris, ESPN ranking:
No. 22
Marcus Morris, ESPN ranking; No.
23
Josh Selby, ESPN ranking: No. 19
Forget statistics compared with his brother and Marcus will pass the eye test. A man that big, 6-foot-9 and 235 pounds, just shouldn't move the way he does. Spin moves, step-backs and turn-around jump-shots are just a small part of Marcus' loaded offensive arsenal. He handles the ball well and can thrive near the basket or by the perimeter. Scouts claim that his biggest obstacle will be finding a true position. He may be too small for NBA power forwards and too slow for small-forwards.
Tyshawn Taylor, ESPN ranking:
No. 65
I'm not saying he's gun-toting Javaris Crittenton, but he's no Ray Allen either. Tyshawn's questionable
SEE COLUMN ON PAGE 5B