THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL | 4B
How do Kansas and Michigan match up
Check out The Kansan's in-depth coverage of the Jayhawks and Wolverines non-conference battle in Ann Arbor.
THURSDAY DECEMBER 9,2010
23
WWW.KANSAN.COM
PAGE 1B
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Kansas travels to face Michigan
Junior forward Aishah Sutherland puts up a field goal on Saturday night against Memphis. Sutherland scored 14 points Saturday, leading the Jayhawks a 90-58 victory.
"Coming home after away games we get that home feel and going out onto another away game we have to keep the same energy as last time," freshman guard Keena Mavs said.
BY KATHLEEN GIER
kgier@kansan.com
Howard Ting/KANSAN
As a freshman, traveling is a change for Mays, but she enjoys being on the road.
"I like it, personally." Mays said "Just being with my team outside of the Lawrence setting and the Towers"
For the first time since 2005, the Jayhawks are perfect through eight games. Wednesday they take their 8-0 record on the road against Michigan.
As the end of the semester nears the Jayhawks are keeping up with tutoring and finishing work before they leave for road games.
"As far as travel we try to make an environment that is supportive and encouraging, but it is their responsibility to put the time in," Henrickson said.
Kansas is one of 14 teams that are undefeated in the nation at this point in the season.
"From a confidence stand point it is great," Henrickson said. "They understand it is as much about how they play and this is the outcome we want, but it keeps us focused on every game."
At 6 p.m. tonight, Kansas will play its second straight road game. The Jayhawks enter the game with an 8-0 record.
"We are just really excited and
we want to keep it going".Mays said.
"We are just really excited and we want to keep it going."
Mays' goals are pretty simple for this game against Michigan.
"Getting a win, and staying undefeated" Mays said.
The Jayhawks have three athletes averaging double figures in scoring: junior forward Aishah Sutherland sophomore forward Carolyn Davis and sophomore guard Monica Engelman.
"This group has been unselfish," Henrickson said. "They will look for a girl that is more open and in that aspect they are unselfish."
The Jayhawks have a 12.5 rebounds per game advantage over their opponents, led by Sutherland's 9.8 boards per game.
"We are expecting a lot of different play in the post than we are
KEENA MAYS Freshman guard
used to, so our forwards are going to need to come out to play and we need to feed it to them," Mays said.
Kansas will have advantages facing Michigan
"There is a size advantage but also a speed advantage with high percentage shots by everybody in transition," Henrickson said. "We have to get to the free throw line and attack and take advantage of opportunities to go inside."
Michigan enters the game with a 4-4 record after losing their most recent game to Iowa State. The Blue are led by Veronica Hicks who averages 10.9 points per game and 4.5 rebounds per game.
Edited by Tim Dwyer
COMMENTARY
Freshman guard Josh Selby dribbles between junior guard Tyshawn Taylor and junior forward Markief Morris during a 20-minute scrimmage at Late Night in the Phog. Selby, the highest rated recruit in the country, scored six points in the scrimmage.
Ryan Waggoner/KANSAN
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Nine days till Selby's return against USC
Expectation will be set high for his return on Dec.18
BY TIM DWYER
tdwyer@kansan.com
But this is not a debut that has come quietly, or quickly, and the delay and the hype and the questions after every game about a player that isn't even eligible to suit up yet have only added on to the colossal expectations that await Josh Selby.
In nine days, a freshman will play his first game as a Kansas Jayhawk. In the very barest sense of the event, that's all there is to it. A freshman will debut.
"Expectations will be a little ridiculous for him, starting out," Self said, "just because everybody's been waiting and questioning. Our USC home game will be as anticipated a home game as we've had maybe in years there in Allen."
"If you look at our team, who breaks down pressure?" Self said. "Obviously, you need a second guy that can do that. Josh is the only guy in our program that you can run really bad offense and come away with two or three points, and every team needs a guy like that."
he couldn't help but praise his playmaking ability. And Self is not one to give out undeserved praise.
But even as Self attempted to temper expectations for Selby,
It does not help temper the expectations that the high praise is heaped on him by teammates at every opportunity.
"He's just like us, he doesn't want to lose," sophomore forward Thomas Robinson said. "He has that killer instinct also, that we need added to the team. He's going to help a lot."
Selby could start as early as his first game, Dec. 18 against USC, likely replacing either Tyrel Reed or Brady Morningstar in the starting five. Self has said several times that Selby will have to win a spot
SEE SELBY ON PAGE 5B
Taking a look at this year's bowl schedule
BY KORY CARPENTER
kcarpenter@kansan.com
.
Follow this ranking of the bowl games and your college football worries will be forgotten faster than Boise State's national title hopes.
FROM WORST TO FIRST
35. New Mexico Bowl: BYU (6-6) vs. UTEP (6-6), Dec. 18: Neither team has a winning record, but BYU running back JJ Di Luigi wins the award for coolest name on a bowl team.
34. Little Caesar's Bowl: Florida International (6-6) vs. Toledo (8-4), Dec. 26: Florida International fans were probably excited to play in a bowl game this year, only to find out they're going to Detroit in December.
33. GoDaddy.com bowl: Miami, Ohio (9-4) vs. Middle Tennessee (6-6), Jan. 6: This game loses points for having a terrible name and being played in January. Unless you are a BCS-caliber bowl, you have no business playing on or after New Year's.
28. Military Bowl: Maryland (8-4) vs. East Carolina (6-6), Dec. 29: This game loses points because any bowl with the word "military" in it should not have Maryland playing East Carolina. It just shouldn't happen.
32. New Orleans Bowl: Ohio (8-4) vs. Troy (7-5), Dec. 18: This game is only this high because it's in New Orleans, so the hundreds of fans making the trip can at least enjoy a cocktail on Bourbon St. after the game.
31. Meineke Car Care Bowl: Clemson (6-6) vs. South Florida (7-5), Dec. 31: When the casual fan has zero ties to either team playing, up-tempo offenses can provide enough entertainment. Unfortunately, neither Clemson nor South Florida has an offense.
27. Hawaii Bowl; Tulsa (9-3)
vs. Hawaii (10-3), Dec. 24: Well,
at least Tulsa fans get to travel to
Hawaii on Christmas Eve.
26. Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl: Nevada (12-1) vs. Boston College (7-5), Jan. 9: Another terribly named bowl is played after New Year's. The only positive thing this bowl can accomplish is somehow living up to its namesake.
30. BBVA Compass Bowl: Pittsburgh (7-5) vs. Kentucky (6-6), Jan. 6: Compass Bowl official obviously didn't read my "playing after New Year's" rules and regulations.
29. Holiday Bowl: Nebraska (10-3) vs. Washington (6-6), Dec.
30: Something tells me Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe didn't want a Nebraska/ Iowa Insight bowl with Big 10 preview talks smothering the headlines, so he forced the Holiday Bowl to take the Huskers. Who knows? Certainly not me. I don't even get paid for this.
25. Humanitarian Bowl: Northern Illinois (10-3) vs. Fresno St. (8-4), Dec. 18: I'm not sure if playing this game on the blue Smurf Turf in Boise, Idaho hurts or helps the ranking here. I honestly can't decide.
24. Armed Forces Bowl: Army (6-5) vs. SMU (7-6) Dec. 30: Congratulations to Armed Forces Bowl officials for getting it right and selecting Army. Take notes, Military
SEE COMMENTARY ON PAGE 5B