THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN SPORTS
BIG 12 BASKETBALL | 6A
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2011
Big 12 power rankings
With the Big 12 season at its midway point, the Kansan breaks down where Kansas and all its opponents stand right now.
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PLAYING CATCH-UP
Losing won't stunt growth
Aaron Harris/KANSAN
Sophomore guard Angel Goodrich goes up for a lay-up against Colorado Wednesday night at Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas went 31-50 from the floor.
Freshman guard Keena Mays lays the ball up off of a fast break in the second half Wednesday at Allen Fieldhouse. Mays recorded 16 points in the 81-53 victory over Colorado. Mike Gunnee/KANSAS
Kansas tries to boost its conference record
BY KATHLEEN GIER kqier@kansan.com
Players like senior Krysten Boogaard and sophomore Angel Goodrich are stepping up to help the younger players stay focused for the remainder of the season. These players have either seen the difficulty of last year's season or the success of making the WNIT Championships in 2009.
Championship Kansas sits with a 15-8 record blemished by a 2-7 conference mark. Tonight against Iowa State, Kansas looks to change its fortune and get another victory in the Big 12 Conference.
"After losing five in a row, that is really an eye-opener," Boogaard said.
The Jayhawks started Big 12 play with a loss, but quickly found success against the Colorado Buffaloes, whom they defeated for their two conference victories. Now looking at the season, Boogaard said every game down the line was more important.
"Anyone could win the Big 12 title and we could win our next seven games and be contenders," Boogaard said.
Winning seven straight games, including two against ranked opponents, is easier said than done, however. Goodrich emphasized the importance of the team staying together and keeping the younger athletes positive.
young, almost unaccepted. "We've struggled no doubt, but you have to help them see the potential" Goodrich said.
"Go make the best of the rest of the season and do not go down easy," Boogaard said as two of her focuses for her teammates.
Boogaard is following a similar tactic when she talks with the other players. She tries to put the season in perspective for each player, helping them focus on how to finish out their respective season in a positive way.
Practices were one of the main areas that Goodrich mentioned as a place to keep the team together.
"We have good plays at practice and that is what builds momentum for games," Goodrich said.
Though the success in practice has not necessarily been translating to games, the positives outweigh the negatives. Boogaard also sees practice as a time for the team to work on communication as its
members get to know each other better throughout the season in an attempt to limit turnovers.
State is a threat from beyond the arch. Kansas shot only 33 percent from long distance while allowing Texas to shoot 50 percent in its 80-68 loss on Saturday.
attempt to harm Kansas is looking to defend the 3-point line as Iowa For this game, Kansas is looking to defend the 3-point line as Iowa
The Jayhawks will also work on limiting fouls, which have caused trouble the last couple games, by sitting players on the bench prematurely.
"We are trying to be more physical, but we have to be more disciplined," Goodrich said. "We cannot start games with two or three players on the bench, we need the
rotation because that only makes it harder."
— Edited by Corey Thibodeaux
COLUMN
Selby's absence is a non-factor
Here's the paradox of Josh Selby, as simply as I can put it: If a player is at his best when he is the focal point of an offense, how can he succeed as a sidekick?
Selby has the makings of a star — even his detractors will say that — but as a star in the making, he's in need of the spotlight. Not through any fault of his own — it's what made him a great high school player and will make him a great player at this level - Selby is best
with the ball in his hands and the freedom to work outside of the offense. In five of his six best offensive performances from an efficiency trendpoint
Selby
standpoint,
he's taken double-digit shots, So,
somewhat bizarrely, the more Selby
BY TIM DWYER
tdwyer@kansan.com
twitter.com/UDKbasketball
shoots, the more efficient he is. But he's a "broken floor" player, as Self has said. Selby's brilliant at, above all else, making a play when there isn't one to be made. When Kansas' offense collapses, if they can get the ball in Selby's hands, chances are things will work out okay for the Jayhawks.
But after watching the last two games with Selby on the sideline
— without question the two best offensive performances of the season — one thing has become strikingly clear: Kansas' offense doesn't collapse. Not often, at least. Not in the hands of the right players.
Kansas is best when it trots out five veterans — juniors Tyshawn Taylor and the Morris twins and seniors Brady Morningstar and Tyrel Reed — because those five understand the offense and work the offense to perfection. The Morris twins in particular are vital in Self's high-low scheme because they are, Self says, the two best passers on the team, and the offense runs predominantly through them.
"Every time we run our offense," Mario Little said, "We feel like we are going to get a good look."
Take this incredible stat from the Missouri game: Of Kansas' 103 points, only four came on the fast break. That means 99 of them came in a half court set. That's amazing against any team... let alone an uptempo squad like the Tigers. It's a product of the fact that, for a huge
open book for someone.
This column originated as a counter to the talk about Kansas being better without Selby. I wanted to write that he just needed time, and he would get there. But here's my epiphany: Josh Selby is already there, if he's allowed to play like Josh Selby. When he can be the focal point of the offense and make a play on a broken floor, he's a starter for the Jayhawks.
majority of the time, the Jayhawks' offense was getting open looks, and the guys on the floor were hitting them. Little was spot on. Every time Kansas runs its offense, it feels like there's going to be an open look for someone.
But Kansas doesn't need that right now. So unless Selby can figure out how to succeed within the offense, that starting spot that's gone to Morningstar because of Selby's injury should just stay with Morningstar.
A
— Edited by Sarah Gregory
TWEETING WITH THE KANSAN
"Is Kansas better with Selby or without Selby?"
@UDKbasketball
@skormanik
"Without.The ball seems to get in a wider variety of players hands,so more players are stepping up."
"Better with him! Right now we don't really have a true scorer from the guard spot."
@sterenghetty
@WFNYTD
"Depends on the opponent and which Josh Selby shows up. He's still our only guard who can really create his own shot."
@thatdaleykid
"I think we are better with him, provided he plays within his role. He's too explosive and gifted not to play him."
@bnitty5br
"We're better with Selby because he provides a scorer who can create his own shot and come March that will be needed."