THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN SPORTS
FOOTBALL|8A
MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2010
Gill explores recruiting options
Incoming freshman Darrian Miller and Dylan Admire will graduate high school in December and join the team for spring practice in an effort to compete for immediate playing time.
WWW.KANSAN.COM
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL—ROAD RALLY
Jayhawks remain undefeated
PAGE 10A
KU swaps leads with SMU but buckles down for a road win
BY KATHLEEN GIER kgier@kansan.com
Thanks to the Kansas bench, the Jayhawks maintain their perfect record at 8-0.
The reserves outscored those of SMU 17-8 in the 73-65 victory on Saturday.
"For me it is really exciting," sophomore Monica
Engelman said. "We are 8-0 and we are closer to our goal of being undefeated in non-conference. When we are playing harder games it
Engelman
gives us even more confidence."
Engelman led the Jayhawks with 16 points and eight rebounds. Engelman shot 7-14 from the field and 2-4 from behind the arch. She also added four assists and a steal.
"I wouldn't say I was the only one leading, but when it is kind of hectic, it is important to have at
least one person who can step up and lead"
Three Jayhawks were in double figures including senior forward Aishah Sutherland, freshman guard Keena Mays and Engelman. Every Kansas player who got into the game scored for the third game this season.
Sutherland
Mays
This was the second close road game that the Jayhawks have played in this year, but in both games they came out on top.
The Jayhawks led for a majority of the game after they fought back from their eight-point deficit and swapped leads several times. After last game's record-breaking high score, a closer game was more of a challenge for the Jayhawks.
"We gained strength from us being able to pull through," Engelman said. "We were down and we pulled back and knowing we can do that gives us strength."
Kansas shot 41.7 percent from the field though they struggled
early going down 10-2.
"I can honestly say that when they stepped up on us, we were able to stay focused and keep our heads up," Engelman said.
To stay in the game and come back from a 10-0 run by the Mustangs the Jayhawks buckled down, got a couple good stops and went down and scored.
"It was a one possession game most of the game," Engelman said. "It required you to compete at a different level and you have to pay more attention and make better passes."
— Edited by Kelsey Nill
Freshmen lead strong start to season
TRACK & FIELD
Indoor season kicks off with strong results
BY HANNAH WISE hwise@kansan.com
During Saturday's annual Bob Timmons Challenge indoor track meet, the Jayhawks made a strong impression.
Sophomore Andrea Guebelle crosses the finish line in the 200-meter dash Saturday during the Bob Timmons Challenge hosted in Anshutz Sports Pavillion. Guebelle finished third in the event with a time of 25.48.
"I thought it was a really good meet. There were a lot of really good performances on both men and women. We had freshman winning events, which was also exciting," coach Stanley Redwine said.
Karlie Brown/KANSAN
Sophomore Mason Finley improved on his weight throw results from last year throwing 56.29-feet, which earned him third place.
"It was good. I PR-ed from last year by six feet so I think it was good," Finley said.
The women's pole vaulters swept the medals with first, second and third place finishen. Freshman Demi Payne managed her first collegiate win at 3.9 meters, just short of the 4-meter qualifying mark for the NCAA. Senior Jaci Perryman and junior Julia Cummings came in at 3.8-meters and 3.7-meters, respectively.
Sophomore Rebecca Neville came in first in the 60-meter hurdles race with a time of 8.93.
"It was an OK start to the season it was a way faster start than last year. We know that I can run way faster. I am definitely going to put the race together," Neville said.
Transfer sophomore Francine Kimone Simpson's debut for Kansas was solid as she finished behind sophomore Denesha Morris in the 60-meter dash. Sophomore Andrea Geubelle rounded out the top three.
"That was pretty amazing," Simpson said. "It was pretty good to know that all three of us were in the top three."
Simpson also finished second in the 200-meter dash with a
Geubelle followed Simpson in third at 25.48. Both times are just above the NCAA qualifying times.
want to but this year it was a good start."
Experience paid off for junior Nick Canton who won high jump by clearing the two-meter mark on his first try. His teammate, freshman Nikolos Giancana, finished third also at two meter, which was ultimately a four-way tie.
Another young face for the Jayhawks was 800-
For the men, senior Keron Toussaint took
"It was my first race in college so I was really nervous and anxious coming into it," Fink said. "I want to keep dropping my times
first in the 600-yard run with a time of 1:13.03.
meter winner, freshman Dalen Fink. This was his first experience running on an indoor track; however he took right to it.
"It is a good way to start off the season," Toussaint said. "Normally I do not start out as good as I
"At the next meet we are just going to have to get better from here."
"We know that I can run way faster. I am definitely going to put the race together."
The second flight of the women's 4x400 had the Jayhawk team flying around the track for a final time of 3:44:75. The team was composed of freshman Diamond Dixon, sophomore Tavlor Washington, junior
REBECCA NEVILLE
Sophomore hurdler
Sophomore Sean Proehl won the 1000-meter race by edging
STANLEY REDWINE Coach
and staying competitive trying to keep up. We have a great group of guys we are all going to look to push ourselves."
and staying
"It was good to catch him right at the end. I almost didn't think I was going to." Proehl said.
out a competitor and getting a time of 2:35.20.
Shayla Wilson and sophomore Denesha Morris. All four of the women sped around the track for the entire race and almost lapped the last place competition.
"Even though
they are young it is a great team because they are all really fast and motivated in practice." Wilson said. "I don't think age has anything to do with it because they are all really good runners."
The men's 4x400 placed second with a time of 3:21.56.
Redwine said it was a good start to the season, but also leaves room for improvement.
"At the next meet we are just going to have to get better from here." Redwine said. "We need to make sure that our athletes train over the Christmas holidays and then we will see where we are again."
The next meet will be in Lawrence on Jan. 8, 2011, for the Bill Easton Classic.
Edited by Emily McCoy
Karlie Brown/KANSAN
Freshman middle distance runner Dalen Fink pushes past freshman middle distance teammate Nick Seckfort in the 800 meter run at Saturday's Bob Timmons Challenge hosted in Anshutz Sports Pavilion. Fink captured the win with a team of 1:56:49 while Seckfort was right on his heels finishing in fourth at 1:57:02.
COMMENTARY
BY ETHAN PADWAY
epadway@kansan.com
OU beats soon-to-be Big Ten Cornhuskers
Sooners' victory is one for the Big 12
The man known as Big Game Boob due to his lack of success in big
games finally came through, and the timing couldn't have been better. In the final Big 12 Championship game Bob Stoops led the Sooners past the Cornhuskers. This is good news for all people involved in the conference formerly known as the Big 12.
Thankfully, Stoops changed the moniker (he has lost his last five BCS Bowl games and lost to Mizzou as the number one team in the nation), and did it coming back from a 17 to nothing deficit in the early second quarter.
Had Nebraska won and gone on to receive the Big 12's automatic BCS bid it would've been the ultimate insult to the Big 12 in what is already perceived to be a down year for the conference. Pundits would claim how it's more like the Big Ten has three teams playing in the BCS, and continue to throw the remaining Big 12 teams under the bus as underachievers in a down year for the conference because of the struggles of Texas.
The ten members of the Big 12 who will remain in the conference can head into the bowl season resting easy, knowing that they won't have to watch Nebraska bring the Big 12 trophy with them to a different conference. Instead they can focus on improving the reputation of the Big 12 by winning as many bowl games as possible.
When Nebraska decided to bolt for the Big Ten, the college football world was flipped upside down. By leaving they cut ties with opponents that they have played against for decades, and in Kansas' case over a century. Even worse they have done so without showing the slightest hint of sentimentality or respect for the longstanding series.
And fans of the school's will be happy to know that next season, even though there will not be a Big 12 Championship game, there will be a defending champion to try and unseat.
That is why Bob Stoops' victory was not just a victory for Oklahoma, but also a victory for the Big 12 conference as a whole. The team that effectively destroyed the championship doesn't get to win the last one. And this year the Cornhuskers can't blame their loss on officiating like last year's loss to Texas. If they want to blame anyone, they can look at themselves and their inability to hold onto the football.
—Edited by Anna Nordling
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