KANSAN.COM / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / MONDAY, JANUARY 25. 2010 / SPORTS
7B
PREVIEW (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
Senior guard Sherron Collins sees an improved team from last year's squad. The 15-4 Tigers are third in the Big 12 standings and already have a victory against the formerly ranked No. 10 Kansas State.
"Mizzou is a different team," Collins said. "They always turn up the pressure, so it's time to get ready for that."
The laj Hawks exacted revenge 90-65 on the Tigers when they came to Allen Fieldhouse last season. In that game, Collins had 25 points, six assists and five rebounds, but he said he wants to get Aldrich and sophomore forward Marcus Morris more involved.
Collins doesn't expect it to
"I think they always have our attention just they way they're playing," he said. "They're very well coached."
be easy.
The layhawks are in the midst of one of their toughest stretches of the season. After getting home from Iowa State Saturday night, they essentially have a day and a half to prepare for the Tigers.
They will then have to travel to Manhattan on Saturday to take on their other rival, the Wildcats. With K-State and Texas both losing this weekend, Morris said this stretch will be a deciding factor if Kansas wants to stake itself atop of the Big 12.
"I feel like it big every year." Morris said of the K-State and
Missouri rivalries. "They're both great teams and every game is going to be a game."
Coach Bill Self has the same mindset on the importance of this week's schedule. Kansas has beaten the weaker teams of the Big 12 so far, but the most critical games are just ahead.
"People say that probably half or more than half of our season has been used up." Self said. "I still think we have 90 percent of our season left. All that matters is what happens this point forward."
Edited by Becky Howlett
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NFL
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New Orleans Saints kicker Garrett Hartley (5) celebrates with his teammates after kicking the winning field goal during overtime in the NFC Championship. The Saints defeated the Vikings 31-28 to advance to the Super Bowl against the Indianapolis Colts.
Saints win NFC, advance to their first Super Bowl
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NEW ORLEANS — They sure ain't the Aints anymore.
The New Orleans Saints are heading to their first Super Bowl after battering Brett Favre and beating the Minnesota Vikings 31-28 in overtime Sunday on unheralded Garrett Hartley's 40-yard field goal.
Favre threw away Minnesota's best chance to win, tossing an interception deep in New Orleans territory in the closing seconds of regulation. Then the Saints won the coin toss and soon it was over.
The team that had no home five years ago after Hurricane Katrina ravaged its city and the Superdome overcame a slew of mistakes in the biggest game the Big Easy has ever seen.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Fearre wipes his face as he leaves the field following the team's loss to the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Championship Sunday. The Saints defeated the Vikings 31-28.
"This is for everybody in this city," said coach Sean Payton, the architect of the Saints' turnaround. "This stadium used to have holes in it and used to be wet. It's not wet anymore. This is for the city of New Orleans."
Forget the paper bag masks and that long history of losing that started in 1967. Moments after Hartley's kick, they were toasting their hometown winners on Bourbon Street.
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"It's a moment I've been waiting
for for a long time and obviously we're not done yet," said Saints quarterback Drew Brees.
The biggest mistake belonged to Favre. Flushed from the pocket in the final minute, he seemed to have room to run to set up a field goal. But hampered by a left leg injured in the third quarter, the 40-year-old quarterback threw cross-field and was intercepted by Tracy Porter at the 22.
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Indianapolis CUs quarterback Peyton Manning celebrates after the Colts' 30-17 in the New York Jets in the AFC Championship on Sunday. The Colts will move on to play the Saints at the Super Bowl Feb. 7.
Colts make Super return
New York Jets quarterback Mand Sanchez tries to press under pressure from indianapolis Colts linebacker Clint Session during the second half of the Colts 30-17 victory against the Jets.
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INDIANAPOLIS — This is perfect for the Indianapolis Colts: They have Peyton Manning and they're back in the Super Bowl.
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The four-time MVP threw three touchdown passes and the Colts rallied from an 11-point, first half deficit to beat the New York Jets 30-17 Sunday in the AFC championship game.
The Colts (16-2) are now headed back to the NFL title game for the second time in four years and their fourth Super Bowl in franchise history. Better yet, they're heading back to their lucky city — Miami, where they've played all four of those games and won there twice.
"I thought we just kept our mouths shut and went to work this week," Manning said.
DINNER IS ON YOUR PARENTS.
The big-talking Jets, and their equally big-talking coach, Rex Ryan, were all the incentive Indy needed Sunday.
A month ago, when the New Yorkers last came to town, Indianapolis coach Jim Caldwell pulled his starters in the third quarter and gave up a chance at a perfect season to focus on a Super Bowl run. Fans booed throughout the fourth quarter and when the Colts left the field, and some spent the past month complaining publicly.
That's over now.
Manning stayed on the field for every Colts play and instead of blowing a lead, the Colts rallied behind their leader.
This time, fans counted down the final seconds while streamers and confetti hung in the air, flash bulbs popped incessantly and when the official announcement was made, roars cascaded from the rafters.
Players savored every precious moment. Receiver Pierre Garcon, who had 11 catches for 153 yards, both career-highs, and the goahead score raised a Haitian flag to
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But Caldwell does have Manning, who drove the Colts right through New York's No.1 ranked defense with his uncanny precision. He
USE KU CUISINE CASH & BEAK EM BUCKS
After falling behind late in the first half, Manning responded. He took the Colts 80 yards in four plays, hooking up three straight times with Collie, including the 16-yard TD pass that made it 17-13 with 1:13 to go in the half.
other was rookie Austin Collie, who had a career-best seven catches for 123 yards, his first 100-yard day as a pro.
McCafferty, of
the Baltimore
Colts — have
won it.
JIM CALDWELL Indianapolis Colts head coach
"You can have great man coverage, but that ball is right where it needs to be," safety Jim Leonhard said.
"Peyton just had an outstanding game. He's just one of those guys that can adjust to different situations."
kept dropping passes right over the fingertips of defenders, and the frustrated jets couldn't stop him.
Manning was just getting start
INTRODUCING DOMINO'S NEW PIZZA 2 MEDIUM PIZZAS 2 TOPPING
Garcon was one beneficiary. The
The next time he got the ball he took the Colts 57 yards in eight plays, connecting with Garcon in the back corner of the end zone to make it 20-17 with 8:03 left in the third quarter.
Manning finished 26 of 39 for 377 yards. He became the first player in league history with seven 300-yard postseason games. That broke a tie with Kurt Warner and Joe Montana.
"The guys
honor his family and friends who still live there.
jim Caldwell became only the fifth rookie coach to reach the Super Bowl. Only two others — San Francisco George Seifert and Don
have always been a very confident bunch and they do a great job of hanging in there." Caldwell said. "Peyton had just an outstanding game. He's one of those guys that can adjust to different situations. ... A real champion."
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