THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN SPORTS
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL | 6A Aggies take down Jayhawks Kansas' 31 turnovers contributed to 81-58 loss against No. 6 Texas A&M.
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Players disagree on the importance of No.1 ranking
BY TIM DWYER
tdwyer@kansan.com
The argument for each team is an easy one. Ohio State has one loss on the road at a top-15 opponent. Kansas' one loss was to the now-No. 3 team in the country. Texas lost a few in a brutal non-conference schedule, but won at Allen Fieldhouse, which Jayhawk fans know is mighty difficult. Don't tell Marcus Morris that, though.
tell Marcia that "There's been a lot of talk that they might put Texas at No. 1," he said, "but I can't see how."
sad, but PETE will Junior forward Marcus Morris wants it bad. Tyshawn Taylor doesn't really care. But the No. 1 ranking in the country is not subject to the whims of those who may hold it, and it will go to whatever team the sportswriters and coaches dearest worth.
deem worries:
"I want to be ranked No. 1."
Morris said, after a few minutes of Taylor saying how it didn't matter.
"I've been waiting for him to ask me that."
Junior guard Tyshawn Taylor cited last year's early March exit as proof that being No. 1 — like the Jayhawks were for 14 of 18 weeks in the regular season — doesn't mean
much at all.
much at all.
"We were No. 1 all last year," he said, "and we've got nothing to show for it."
Morris says with No. 1 comes a target and he thinks the Jayhawks are ready for it. They may find out soon after getting their ranking.
"I want to have that chip on our shoulder every time we go out. I want to get everybody's best shot,"
The polls are released Monday afternoon, and the Jayhawks play the second leg of the Sunflower Show down
the bottom of the ESPN thing, too," Taylor said, referencing his own off-court troubles last year. "They'll be fine."
But while Morris is preoccupied with wanting to have a top rank to guard, coach Bill Self said he doesn't want to worry about defending a No.1 ranking.
"We were No.1 all last year and we've got nothing to show for it."
"I think it's almost a defensive mode trying to hang on some
at 8 p.m. Monday in Manhattan.
Kansas State is in the midst of a debacle of a season. After beginning the year ranked preseason No. 3, the Wildcats have fallen out of the rankings and into a number of eve-catching headlines.
The latest from Manhattan is the departure of forward Wally Judge and a Kansas City Star report that forward Curtis Kelly is under investigation by the school.
"My name's scrolled across
TYSHAWN TAYLOR Junior guard
thing," Self said. "We need to be in attack mode no matter what."
Self's argument is backed up by the fact that Kansas has played its best basketball
of the season since it has been chasing Texas for the conference lead. Give the layhawks something to chase, and they can do an awful lot of winning.
"Being No. 1, being No. 2, being No. 3, it doesn't really matter," Taylor said. "At the end of the day, we're not going to go home sad."
— Edited by Sean Tokarz
Junior guard Tyshawn Taylor puts up a shot from beyond the arc Saturday against Iowa State. Taylor scored 14 points in the Jayhawk 89-66 victory.
COMMENTARY
Jeff Withey should use his height to aid team in Robinson's absence
BY MAX ROTHMAN mrothman@kansan.com
Not long ago, Jeff Withey could practically take a nap on the bench and get away with it. Bill Self had other things to fume over.
With the Morris twins forcing scouts to salivate and Thomas Robinson slam-dunking so fiercely that the ball often splintered the hardwood on its way down. Withey sat comfortably on the bench.
The Morrira are still inspiring Pavlovian effects, but Robinson tore the meniscus in his right knee on a dunk against Missouri and will miss about two weeks. So during Saturday's 89-66 victory against Iowa State, Self entered Withey into the equation and the seven-footer fit the part. In nine minutes played, he finished with eight points, connecting on all three-shot attempts and two free throws, two rebounds, two blocks and a steal.
He did look goofy out there, though I doubt even double-doubles could shed that trait. He seemed nervous, too. On the court, he was hesitant, occasionally shying away from attacking the Cyclones instead of dictating with his size.
ference, joined by media jesters Marcus Morris and Tyshawn Taylor, Withey shook slightly in his mammoth-sized shoes. After Withey shared brief and quiet words on his playing time, Morris and Taylor dominated the rest with their usual hilarity.
Withey tried responding to a later question, squeaking out a soft syllable or two, but was quickly beat to it by Morris. He just backed down and let his more upspoken teammate, who didn't even notice Withey's attempt, take it away.
But no one is asking Jeff
At the post-game press con-
Withey to develop a Taylor- or Morris-like demeanor. No one is asking him to dunk ferociously and then find the camera with two clenched fists. He simply needs to use his
in the middle and swat a shot here and there.
"Nobody's going to be able to get in there and take a layup," Morris said. "He's so long and he has great timing."
The last time Withey received this much playing time, he fouled out and surrendered two turnovers against UMKC in 14 minutes played. Even though Withey's expanded role is more by necessity than it is by desire or readiness, it's still nice to see Self strip the leash off the big puppy.
Most, if not all of the student section agrees. When Withey converted on a turnaround hook shot that was within arm's reach of the hoop, Allen Fieldhouse bursted. Simply put, we want to see Withey succeed.
Come to think of it, they're used to be another huge white guy, this one from Bloomington, Minn., who never played when he
first became a Jayhawk. Cole Aldrich waited patiently for his time to come. By the time Withey arrived in Lawrence, Aldrich and Sherron Collins ruled the Fieldhouse.
This team doesn't need another ruler, but it does need a serviceable stop-gap. The fact that fans just love the guy could be considered an added bonus. Jeff Withey, nap time is over.
first became a Jayhawk. Cole
- Edited by Samantha Collins
SOFTBALL
Jayhawks go undefeated during opening weekend
BY HANNAH WISE
hwise@kansan.com
The matchup against the Tar Heels was the first collegiate start for freshman first baseman Kendra Cullum and freshman shortstop Ashley Newman. By the end of the weekend, Newman led the team's batting average
Kansas started its season in Jacksonville, Fla., by defeating the No. 25-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels 5-4. The Jayhawks then moved on to defeat Buffalo twice 13-3 and 5-1. Bethune-Cookman 5-0 and host, Jacksonville 6-1.
Five straight wins in three days. The best start to the season since 1998. Coach Megan Smith and the Jayhawks went into the weekend expecting to see hard work. They did see that and more from across the board.
at .500 going
7-for-14.
Clark
"She is phomenal at the plate," Smith said. "She did a really good job using her speed," Overall,
five bases during the weekend.
Throughout the weekend the Jayhawk pitching staff showed how depth pays off. Senior pitcher Allie Clark set the tone by fending off the Tar Heels.
Clark threw a complete game shutout against Bethune-Cookman allowing only two hits. The Jayhawks solid defensive play kept Bethune-Cookman
from scoring any runs.
"As a pitcher, throughout all those innings I was thinking, 'Ground balls. I need to get ground balls for my defense. I need to work the clark." Clark said. "I was doing as much as
M. Hull
I could out there for my team."
Freshman
pitcher
Kristin
Martinez
made her
first collegiate start
"Kristen was a huge bright spot for us," Smith said. "She came in and was absolutely fearless."
against Jacksonville. She shew all seven innings striking out six batters and walking two.
The Kansas defense appeared in senior catcher Brittany Hile's play from behind home plate. During Sunday's game against Buffalo, the Bulls' batter lay down a sacrifice bunt with a runner on first. Hile's quick reaction to the ball sent it flying across the field to sophomore infielder Mariah Montgomery in time to pick off
R. Hull
the runner and get the out.
The Hull twins were producing plenty of power for the Kansas offense over
the weekend. During Friday's game against Buffalo, sophomore outfielder Maggie Hull hit
a grand slam over the left field wall to bring in three runs for the Jayhawks.
"For me a grand slam is just as good as getting the bunt signal and laying it down or getting a walk," Maggie said. "I am just happy to help my team out in any way."
Sophomore outfielder Roste Hull used her speed in slapping to earn her two hits and batted in two runs in Sunday's Buffalo game. At the top of the seventh she hit a single to the right side of the infield and batted in her sister Maggie as well as Cullum.
"I was
Maggie said when Cull u m was up to hit, she knew Smith would give her the "hit away sign."
Ingle
freaking out in the dug out; I was jumping up and down," Maggie said. "I was so excited because I knew that she was going to get the job done".
The team will be spending a few days in Lawrence to prepare for their next trip to Deland, Fla., for the Stetson Hatter Invitational.
"We are going to refocus and approach next weekend like it is opening weekend again," Smith said. "We can't get too excited about 5-0, we've got to get back to work."
Edited by Samantha Collins